As age goes up, so does happiness

With each passing year, each related study or survey, the mind-body connection becomes clearer. Addressing one without at least acknowledging the other is foolhardy. Extra stress or anxiety? No wonder you caught that cold. Stretch that long term and risks of heart disease, cancer, and a whole lot more increase. Conversely, reduce anxiety or change perception, and risks decrease, along with aches, pains, and interrupted sleep.

If it sounds simple that's because it is - key emphasis on perception, which apparently changes with age. At least about age.

In February AARP published a survey which asked 1,800 adults aged 40 to 90 how they feel about aging. Here's what they found:

When is one "old?" 63 (said people in their 40s); 68 (in 50s); 73 (in 60s); 75 (in 70s). The one 90-year-old said she wouldn't be old until 95.

"Physical health doesn't keep me from doing what I want." 58 percent of those in their 40s agreed; 63 percent in their 50s; 69 percent in 60s and 70s. Isn't that ironic?

"I have more energy for my age than I expected." 24 percent of those in 40s agreed; 57 percent in 50s; 54 percent in 60s; 64 percent in 70s.

While attitude may seem indirect, laughter, they say, is the best medicine. AARP's survey suggests aging may help one take himself less seriously:

"As people age, they deserve more respect." 60 percent of those in 40s agreed, but only 46 percent of those in their 60s.

"It's OK to make jokes about people who are 'old.'" 28 percent of those in 40s agreed; 29 percent in 50s; 35 percent in 60s; 43 percent in 70s.

Now about happiness, it seems to grow steadily for men until they surpass 70. After that, it tends to decline, due to anxiety over declines in physical health, according to a joint Boston University-Oregon State University study in 2014 of 1,300 men aged 53 to 85. They didn't study this aspect for women, nor could I identify another which did. However, a 2012 Gallup survey of 340,000 men and women aged 18 to 85 did conclude that genders follow similar emotional patterns with age, that happiness increases (and stress decreases) steadily after age 50, and that most people in their early 80s report being happier than they were at 18.

The peak age for stress? Early 20s. Apparently we all feel much calmer in middle and late age, although women tend to worry more (generally about family) than men do.

Why are the oldest adults happier than the youngest? Gratitude, apparently. The same 2012 study, published in the National Academy of Science proceedings, suggests older folks are more grateful and satisfied with what they have, less focused on desiring more. They're also in better control of their emotions.

And that gets us back to the platitudes of attitudes. We really are, according to 2010 research from Purdue University, just as old as we feel. While chronological age naturally matters, those who feel capable are more capable, and those who don't aren't, even if they're younger. In fact, a person's perceptions of how young they feel, and of their own cognitive abilities, was a greater - yes, a greater - influence on actual abilities than was chronological age. These conclusions from the multi-year "National Survey of Midlife Development" confirmed earlier research.

So don't buy into this society's overemphasis on looking and acting young, and "fighting" getting older. It doesn't work anyway; we just look ridiculous for the effort. Getting older is good for you; that's a scientific fact.

"There's only one alternative to getting older, so suck it up." - Whoopi Goldberg, 58

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network who loves her increasingly white hair and calmer mind. Contact her at sholeh@cdapress.com.