Middle age is a phase in which a great balance is achieved. Recent studies, in fact, confirm the tendency to be happier at this stage of life
Last update: 24 March, 2022
What is usually referred to as "middle age" is the season of life that goes from 40 to 60 years. Until recently, it was claimed that this phase was marked by a profound crisis. However, several studies have shown that if anything the opposite is true. Everything seems to indicate that middle-aged people tend to be happier.
Life expectancy is currently much higher than before. There have been historical moments when reaching 50 was a real mirage. Today, on the contrary, exceeding this age is quite common. Not surprisingly, a further increase in human life expectancy is expected in the future.
From all this it follows that the well-known youth have now extended their time limits even further. People marry later and have children later in life. And these are just some of the circumstances that explain why middle-aged people are happier.
“Age is a matter of mind rather than matter. If you don't care, then it doesn't matter. "
-Mark Twain-
Happier in middle age, science says so
Researchers Nancy Galambos, Harvey Krahn and Matt Johnson, of the University of Alberta, Canada, conducted a study on happiness in different ages of life. The study, very complete and thorough, has been carried out for several years.
To carry it out, they formed two groups. One made up of people aged 18 to 43, the other by individuals aged 23 to 37. The points of reference examined concerned the milestones of life, such as change in marital status, health status, work aspects, etc.
The study led to five interesting conclusions:
- Most people show that they are happiest after age 40.
- There are higher degrees of happiness in people who are married and have a job. Either way there is better physical health.
- There is no evidence of the so-called midlife crisis.
- In general, people show greater optimism and serenity towards the future after the age of 40.
- The feeling of well-being begins to grow from the age of 30.
Most people tend to be happier when they enter the middle age stage.
The myth of the midlife crisis
About three decades ago the term "midlife crisis" began to become popular. The idea circulated that, in this season of life, most people were confronted with the great existential questions. Men and women began to feel the weight of the years, which had passed too quickly, producing sadness and regrets. The tendency was to behave often in a childish way, in order to remain anchored to that idea of ​​youth.
The origin of this thesis is to be found in a study conducted by the economics professor at the University of Warwick, Andrew Oswald. According to this teacher, happiness is shaped like a "U". The greatest level of well-being would appear around the age of 20 and then, in the twilight of life, around 70. The moment of least well-being, therefore, would coincide with middle age, around 40 years of age.
However, research from the University of Alberta and other studies have shown that this is not true. I agree that at 43 there is a decline in the feeling of happiness. Despite this, during this phase of life, as a whole, the feeling of well-being is stable and tends to grow. This means that many manage to reach fullness precisely in the period referred to as middle age.
Be happy after middle age
Both the increased life expectancy and the relativization of the concept of youth make it very rare today to see a 40-year-old person grappling with an existential crisis. In fact, the opposite is observed. Today, many men and women experience a fulfilling phase of fulfillment in their middle age.
As a young person, inexperience and lack of control over one's emotions can play tricks. It therefore becomes normal to commit many mistakes, even if, precisely by virtue of youth, one has the strength and time to overcome them. But there is no stability, serenity or understanding of situations. This causes suffering, especially in the sphere of feelings and love, which generates enormous expectations in boys and girls.
With the passage of time, however, the ability to decipher the events of life increases. Impulsiveness and excessive intensity of emotions are also reduced. It is not surprising, therefore, that with the arrival of middle age we can feel more happy. Generalizing is never correct and probably not everyone will. But this combination of experience and vitality certainly translates into greater well-being. Both emotional and physical.
Middle-aged people tend to be happier because they have almost completely lost the impulsiveness of youth and have the tools to analyze and understand the situations around them.
