According to a study, the happiness curve goes down at a certain age – but then goes up again, proving that the midlife crisis does exist.
How happy or unhappy we are and when in our lives is not easy to answer. According to a new study, however, there is a certain age at which we are supposed to have reached the peak of unhappiness.
Economics professor David Blanchflower surveyed people from 132 countries – and it turns out that people’s happiness and well-being decline steadily after age 18 – regardless of relationship status, employment or education. According to the study that the National Bureau of Economics published, the lowest point is reached in people’s late 40s, and they are particularly unhappy. In industrialized nations, things start to go downhill at age 47, and people hit rock bottom emotionally in developing countries at age 48.
The reason: In midlife, people often question their previous life. Do you want to go on as before? Possibly one regret having done or not done some things. Many want financial security on the one hand; on the other hand, they wish to experience still something that makes them feel young again – in other words, the midlife crisis strikes, as Blanchflower clarifies to “The Irish Times”: “There is a midlife crisis and the happiness level is lowest in the mid-40s.” For women, this is compounded by the fact that menopause begins in the late 40s, and physical changes come along with questions about life’s purpose.
The good news is that after this low, things pick up again. People reported being happier and more satisfied once they began to become “more realistic” about their life goals, Blanchflower explains.
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