skinnyboy
Aug 1st, 2008, 06:54 PM
Read a similar story to the one I posted below in my local paper today.
Shouldn't be earth shattering news to anyone over 30, but just in case...
Men become happier than women by midlife
By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY
Women start out as happy young adults but by midlife wind up the sadder sex, says a new study on satisfaction related to financial circumstances and family life, which past research has shown play a significant role in well-being and happiness.
Researchers analyzed decades of national data on 47,000 men and women to create a statistical model that shows women's happiness decreases, while men's increases, exceeding women's by age 48.
"Our approach looks at the aspirations people have and how well they fulfill them," says economist Anke Plagnol, at the University of Cambridge in England, the study's lead author.
Plagnol and co-author Richard Easterlin, an economist at the University of Southern California, used data from Roper surveys and from the General Social Survey at the University of Chicago.
The study, to be published in the next issue of the Journal of Happiness Studies, says that early in adult life, women are more likely than men to fulfill their aspirations for material goods and family life, but later, they may be divorced or separated and less financially secure. Meanwhile, men's finances and family life improve, making them "the happier of the two genders," the study says.
Economist David Blanchflower of Dartmouth University, one of several researchers who have studied the effects of age on happiness, says this new research is "really important work" because it shows how people form aspirations differently.
This study looked only at satisfaction with finances and family; other researchers say future studies need to delve into other factors that might affect happiness, such as divorce and religiosity.
"Marriage and religion are two of the biggest factors in life satisfaction," says Arthur Brooks, a Syracuse University economist.
The version I read mentioned that most of us who have lived long enough should already know this. Women who are in their physical prime can attract older dudes who have power and position. Once they hit the downside of their physical prime then they sometimes get replaced with a younger version and end up, as the writer above mentioned, the sadder sex.
Conversely, young dudes often get snubbed by women of their own age because they don't have the power and position to attract them.
Now what the study might not mention is if you're like my friend, middle-aged, divorced, not interested in a serious relationship, then you will find all the easy sex you want among all those single, divorced, financial unstable, and miserable middle-aged women. If that's what you want.
Note: I speak in general terms only. I know of older women that are single and wouldn't give my friend the time of day. But there are many others who are obviously willing.
Shouldn't be earth shattering news to anyone over 30, but just in case...
Men become happier than women by midlife
By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY
Women start out as happy young adults but by midlife wind up the sadder sex, says a new study on satisfaction related to financial circumstances and family life, which past research has shown play a significant role in well-being and happiness.
Researchers analyzed decades of national data on 47,000 men and women to create a statistical model that shows women's happiness decreases, while men's increases, exceeding women's by age 48.
"Our approach looks at the aspirations people have and how well they fulfill them," says economist Anke Plagnol, at the University of Cambridge in England, the study's lead author.
Plagnol and co-author Richard Easterlin, an economist at the University of Southern California, used data from Roper surveys and from the General Social Survey at the University of Chicago.
The study, to be published in the next issue of the Journal of Happiness Studies, says that early in adult life, women are more likely than men to fulfill their aspirations for material goods and family life, but later, they may be divorced or separated and less financially secure. Meanwhile, men's finances and family life improve, making them "the happier of the two genders," the study says.
Economist David Blanchflower of Dartmouth University, one of several researchers who have studied the effects of age on happiness, says this new research is "really important work" because it shows how people form aspirations differently.
This study looked only at satisfaction with finances and family; other researchers say future studies need to delve into other factors that might affect happiness, such as divorce and religiosity.
"Marriage and religion are two of the biggest factors in life satisfaction," says Arthur Brooks, a Syracuse University economist.
The version I read mentioned that most of us who have lived long enough should already know this. Women who are in their physical prime can attract older dudes who have power and position. Once they hit the downside of their physical prime then they sometimes get replaced with a younger version and end up, as the writer above mentioned, the sadder sex.
Conversely, young dudes often get snubbed by women of their own age because they don't have the power and position to attract them.
Now what the study might not mention is if you're like my friend, middle-aged, divorced, not interested in a serious relationship, then you will find all the easy sex you want among all those single, divorced, financial unstable, and miserable middle-aged women. If that's what you want.
Note: I speak in general terms only. I know of older women that are single and wouldn't give my friend the time of day. But there are many others who are obviously willing.