No one looks forward to getting old; in fact, it can seem pretty scary. But you might be surprised to learn that aging brings some benefits. All things being equal — given reasonably good health and a secure economic situation — older people tend to be happier than younger people, according to a growing body of research.
A widely cited study published in 2016 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry looked at more than 1,500 people from 21 to 100 years old and found that mental health increases rather than decreases as we age. People in their 20s and 30s reported more depression and anxiety than older people. Older people reported being happier overall despite the normal deteriorations in physical and cognitive health that accompany aging.
What accounts for this counterintuitive finding? It might be down to time and freedom.
