DiarioLibre.com:
Es la 'crisis de la mediana edad' solo una excusa?
14 October 2014
However, a study published earlier this year found that an average decrease of subjective happiness, or welfare as described by economists in middle age, between 40 and 42 years occurs. Professor Nattavudh Powdthavee, coauthor of the longitudinal research conducted in three countries, said that this confirms previous studies showing a relationship between age and the use of antidepressants. ...
Dr. Hannes Schwandt, Princeton University, believes midlife, unlike childhood and old age, has not been investigated. Last year, he published the research focused on the ''unfulfilled expectations''. It was found that young people are optimistic perhaps even ''too optimistic'' - while those in their forties and fifties feel repentance before they feel at peace with themselves in older age. ''Maybe people of middle age can learn from the elderly, who are less regretful and more accepting'' he suggests. ...
Paul Dolan, professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics and author of Happiness by Design believes we need a mix of purpose and pleasure to feel truly happy. In a future article, argues that much of the economic literature on midlife crisis centers on our assessments of what makes us happy rather than our actual experiences. In other words, the stories we tell ourselves about what makes us happy, which a prestigious job is good- even depress us our daily experience of this work.
This article was published online by DiarioLibre.com on October 14, 2014
Link to article here
Related Publications
'Unmet Aspirations as an Explanation for the Age U-Shape in Human Wellbeing', Hannes Schwandt, Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper No.1229, July 2013
Happiness by Design: Finding pleasure and purpose in everyday life, Paul Dolan, Allen Lane, August 2014, ISBN 9780241003107 Details
Related Links
Paul Dolan webpage
Nattavudh Powdthavee webpage
Hannes Schwandt webpage
Wellbeing Programme webpage