New study provides insight into age and happiness

According to a study recently published in the "Journal of Happiness Studies", there is good news for those worried about growing older. The study found that older people are generally happier than those in the earlier stages of life.

The study found, for example, that older people develop their inner emotional resources over time. This means that they are better able to cope with the ups and downs of life. They are happier than younger persons, who tend to be more vulnerable to influence from external factors.

Interestingly, a survey suggests that both younger and older people mistakenly believe that age brings misery.

At the basis of this mistake is the tendency to believe that happiness is based upon external circumstances, when this is in fact not so. While external circumstances may contribute to emotional highs or lows, inner emotional resources are in fact the true reason for joy or sorrow.

It is then good news to learn that, at more than 50 years old, a person is no less happy than at twenty. In fact, the ageing person can look forward to increasing levels of sustained happiness with time.

There is no need to pine for the joys of youth, as these were much more fleeting than the pleasure and stability of age.

  What's this?