Ageing Well: Attitudes towards ageing, happiness and depression over the lifespan

Abstract

Impactful new research shows that across the globe happiness levels start high in childhood, decline through our 20s and 30s, reach their nadir during midlife and begin their recovery around 50, reaching their peak around age 70. Relatively less is known about happiness trends in the later stages of life. An important factor in ageing positively may be attitudes towards ageing. The current study is a cross-sectional evaluation of attitudes towards ageing, happiness, depression and quality of life of three groups of generally well educated and healthy adults reflecting those in midlife (40-55 years), those in young-old age (56-74 years) and those in old-old age (75 years plus). There were significant differences between the three age groups on standardised measures of happiness and three domains of attitudes towards ageing. With the exception of the psychosocial loss domain of the attitudes towards ageing questionnaire, midlife participants evidenced lower levels of happiness and more negative attitude towards ageing than the older groups. The study was the first of its kind to consider attitudes to ageing, depression, happiness and quality of life across three qualitatively different age groups. Overall, an interesting pattern of results emerged suggesting that while happiness appears to increase in later-life, the relationship between age and attitudes towards ageing is more nuanced.