News Brief

The story examines the studies which have been coming out recently, all pointing to the conclusion that older people are happier—-how can that be? They’re old!

The body of evidence is substantial. The size of the studies tend to be large enough to satisfy the biggest skeptics.

Even the question about why some studies show the elderly to have higher levels of depression is asked and answered.

Age-ism is an attitude that needs to go in for rehab. Prejudice often is rooted in fear and we are a people who are taught that old is over, done, finished, cooked.

This round-up of studies may show why that view may be wrong.

Washington Post

“Young people — the very people we think from the stereotype are best off — in fact have high levels of anger and anxiety and also high levels of depression, compared to middle-aged adults.”

“Younger adults were far more likely to have financial worries, troubled emotional relationships and professional stressors, she said.

“The image of youth or young adulthood as the best time of life is probably not an accurate stereotype.”

Having momentarily smashed the stereotype of carefree youth, now read the whole story.

Source: Washington Post, July 13, 2008