The U-curve emerges in answers to survey questions that measure satisfaction with life as a whole, not mood from moment to moment. The exact shape of the curve, and the age when it bottoms out, vary by country, survey question, survey population, and method of statistical analysis. The U-curve is not ubiquitous; indeed, one would be suspicious if a single pattern turned up across an immensely variegated landscape of surveys and countries and generations and analyses. Still, the pattern turns up much too often to ignore.
They found a relationship between age and happiness in 80 countries, and in all but nine of those, satisfaction bottomed out between the ages of 39 and 57 the average nadir was at about age The curve tends to evince itself more in wealthier countries, where people live longer and enjoy better health in old age. Sometimes it turns up directly in raw survey data—that is, people just express less overall satisfaction in middle age.
Some scholars—including Easterlin, the grand old man of the field—take a dim view of making such adjustments. In other words, if all else is equal, it may be more difficult to feel satisfied with your life in middle age than at other times.
Blanchflower and Oswald have found that, statistically speaking, going from age 20 to age 45 entails a loss of happiness equivalent to one-third the effect of involuntary unemployment. Not everyone is prepared to go so far. Many psychologists have their doubts, partly because the U-curve is a statistical regularity that emerges from large data sets, and psychologists prefer to study actual people, whether individually or in experimental groups, and ideally across their whole lives.
In recent work, however, U-curve researchers have begun to find evidence that is harder to dismiss as mere statistical correlation. Oswald, Terence Cheng, and Nattavudh Powdthavee have found the U-curve in four longitudinal data sets from three countries: an important kind of evidence, because it traces the lived experiences of individuals over time, rather than comparing people of various ages in a statistical snapshot. Zookeepers, researchers, and other animal caretakers filled out a questionnaire rating the well-being of their primate charges more than captive chimps and orangutans in Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and the United States.
I think where the evidence points is this: being satisfied is perfectly possible in midlife, but for a great many of us it is harder. That is how the U-curve felt to me, and how it feels to some of the people I unscientifically surveyed for this article. He said he now experiences difficulty feeling contentment, leading to some of the same self-doubt that I felt: a creeping suspicion that he is fated to be whiny.
He also wondered whether his dissatisfaction has been a cause of some of his problems, not just an effect. Something sufficient for my wife to leave. If I did a deep psychological dive, I might say that nothing will ever make me content. I see life as a challenge to overcome rather than an adventure to be enjoyed.
Maybe that will change in my 50s. My friend K. In the past few years, things have turned upward, markedly so. I measure my worth now by how I can help others and contribute to the community. It was always striving and looking ahead, as opposed to being in the now and feeling grateful for the now.
I think I feel a great gratitude. When I am in a situation when I can moan a little bit or feel bad about some of the difficult things that have happened, the balance sheet is hugely on the side of all the great things that have happened. And I think that gratitude has helped me be both more satisfied and more giving. The same has been true for me. Though I still have my share of gloomy days, I find it far easier than I did in my 40s to appreciate what I have, even without writing down lists of good things, as I had to resort to doing a decade ago.
It certainly helps that my pet cause, gay marriage, has met with success, and that I myself achieved legal marriage at age But something has changed inside, too, because in my 40s, I had plenty of success and none of it seemed adequate, which was why I felt so churlish.
For me, after a period when gratitude seemed to have abandoned me, its return feels like a gift. Carstensen described to me this pattern in her own life. I feel it now. Of course, the most interesting question, and unfortunately also the hardest question, is: Why is happiness so often U-shaped? Why the common dissatisfaction in middle age?
And why the upswing afterward? Part of the answer likely involves what researchers call selection bias: unhappier people tend to die sooner, removing themselves from the sample. Also, of course, middle age is often a stressful time, burdened with simultaneous demands from jobs, kids, and aging parents. I can attest that I experienced the U-curve without dying off in the process; so do other people, as we know from happiness research that follows individuals over time.
This is an FDA cleared non-invasive treatment for multiple mental health disorders. TMS therapy uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain that affect mood, which helps you get back to your best life quickly and with no side effects. Among the many depression treatment options out there, TMS therapy is an excellent, pain-free solution that is covered by most major insurance companies. The best part is there are no side effects from TMS therapy, making it an excellent solution for those who fear the side effects of medications.
This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer. Capetta, A. Department, M. Development in Midlife. Doheny, K. Midlife Crisis: Depression or Normal Transition? McFadden, J. Morin, A. Check our help guide for more info. Start Today. Free Consultation. All blog posts. Signs You Are Experiencing Depression vs. A Midlife Crisis. March 24, by W. Nate Upshaw, MD. Want to beat depression for yourself or a friend?
Do you want to beat depression for yourself or a friend? We are here to take the journey with you. Talk to us. A tense or strained relationship can leave everyone involved unhappy, and lasting changes in relationships with children, friends, parents, or partners can leave you feeling lonely.
Considering if your emotional and physical needs have shifted can help you get more insight on areas for growth. A couples or family therapist can help you identify sources of relationship stress and explore your options for change.
As you may have noticed, many signs of a supposed midlife crisis — sadness, irritability, less interest in life, thoughts of death — resemble key symptoms of depression. Keep in mind that mental health symptoms can certainly show up for the first time as you approach middle age. Therapy can help, no matter your age or stage of life. In fact, many therapists specialize in offering support for life transitions and the mental health symptoms that show up alongside these changes. A therapist can offer more insight on what might be going on and help you explore new ways of finding fulfillment.
After all, the sun has to set in order to rise again — and rise it will, on the dawn of the rest of your life. Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health.
Take it from the people who actually study sex for a living — there are tried-and-true tips for every stage of your life and relationship. We spoke to…. Here are psychologists' take on it. An introvert is often thought of as a quiet, reserved, and thoughtful individual.
Inter Jour of Behavioral Dev. Young onset dementia. Alzheimer Society of Canada. Published September 11, National Center for Health Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published February 13, Blanchflower D, Oswald A. Is well-being u-shaped over the life cycle? Lachman ME. Development at Midlife.
Annual Review of Psychology. Tartaglia C, Clinician-Scientist. Is that midlife crisis really Alzheimers disease? The Conversation. Published September 19, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Are Midlife Crises Real? Happiness Slump.
0コメント