Happiness in men and women reverses as they age

William Atkins
Wednesday, 30 July 2008 19:43

Science - Health

A British-American study found that women are happier when they are younger adults and men are happier when they are older adults, with respect to accomplishing goals of family life and personal finances. Could this be a reason why older men like younger women?


The study by the researchers is published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, which concentrates on the scientific understanding of subjective well-being.

The title of the research paper is “Aspirations, Attainments, and Satisfaction: Life Cycle Differences Between American Women and Men.”

The paper is authored by Anke C. Plagnol (the Department of Sociology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom) and Richard A. Easterlin (the Department of Economics at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles in the United States).

The study concludes that happiness in humans is directly associated with the strength of family life (and the desire for a happy marriage) and personal finances (including the major purchases of such material things as homes, cars, and vacations).

In fact, about 90% of both men and women want to have a happy marriage. Plagnol states, "Differences between men and women in aspirations for marriage and children are fairly small. Gender differences in satisfaction depend largely on attainment." [Reuters: "Age takes glow off women's happiness: study”]

Specifically, the study finds that younger women are happier then men as younger adults, while men are happier than women when becoming older adults.

Plagnol and Easterlin found that women attain success in personal finance and family life earlier in life than men, so are happier than men when they are younger. When men find financial and marital success later in life, then they become happier than women.

What did the researchers find about happiness in men and women at specific stages in their lives? Please read on.