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Aging Is Satisfying, New Research Shows

Date:
June 17, 2008
Source:
University of Queensland
Summary:
New research is turning conventional wisdom on its head when it comes to grumpy old men and women. Researchers found that younger adults engaged in a lot more social activities, but were no happier with their social lives than older adults. Researchers noted that older adults appear to see the good things in life more easily and are less likely to be upset by the little things that go wrong.
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University of Queensland research is turning conventional wisdom on its head when it comes to grumpy old men and women.

Professor Bill von Hippel, from UQ's School of Psychology, has been examining the links between people's age and their social satisfaction and he has turned up some surprising results.

In collaboration with Julie Henry and Diana Matovic from the University of New South Wales, Professor von Hippel measured social activities and social satisfaction in older adults between the ages of 66 and 91, and younger adults between the ages of 18 and 30.

He said they found younger adults engaged in a lot more social activities, but were no happier with their social lives than older adults.

"Despite older people engaging in fewer social activities with others and spending more time alone each day, they are just as socially satisfied as their younger counterparts," Professor von Hippel said.

The reason for this social resilience seems to lie in how older and younger adults perceive their social activities.

"Our research suggests that if a young person and an old person have the same experience, the older adult is likely to find it more uplifting," he said.

"Older adults appear to see the good things in life more easily and are less likely to be upset by the little things that go wrong.

"As a consequence, their daily experiences bring them just as much satisfaction as younger adults, even if they have lost friends or a spouse, or if they can no longer get out as much as they would like.

"This may be the wisdom of ageing, the ability to experience everyday life as uplifting."

The research was published in the June issue of the American Psychological Association journal Psychology and Aging.


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Materials provided by University of Queensland. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

University of Queensland. "Aging Is Satisfying, New Research Shows." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 June 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080616094222.htm>.
University of Queensland. (2008, June 17). Aging Is Satisfying, New Research Shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080616094222.htm
University of Queensland. "Aging Is Satisfying, New Research Shows." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080616094222.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

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