People 'get happier as they age'

[IndianaGreen]

People 'get happier as they age'

Page last updated at 23:06 GMT, Friday, 7 August 2009 00:06 UK

Most people get happier as they grow older, studies on people aged up to their mid-90s suggest.

Despite worries about ill health, income, changes in social status and bereavements, later life tends to be a golden age, according to psychologists.

They found older adults generally make the best of the time they have left and have learned to avoid situations that make them feel sad or stressed.

The young should do the same, they told the American Psychological Association.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8183522.stm

[C_U_L8R]

1. Or maybe the grumpy ones don't live that long

just saying.

[Iris]

2. I just visited my 90 year old aunt

I was amazed at how content she is.

[elocs]

3. I believe that as people approach senior citizen status they have learned to be more content

and accepting of their lives. Life is about choices and consequences and as you get older, regrets and how to live with them. You reach an age where you finally come to terms with your poor choices and also the realization that you will never be a movie star, a model, a rock star, or a professional athlete, or be rich and famous. You begin to learn to be comfortable and satisfied with who you are and what you have. Ultimately, that makes you happier than when you were younger.

[Chemisse]

4. As I get older I learn to screen out things that upset me

But not to any pathological degree. I think it is rather adaptive.

[bananas]

5. "Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory" - Albert Schweitzer

[Tumbulu]

6. I agree with that! (nt)