People aged 40-59 are least happy and most anxious
- Mar 29, 2016
- 2 min read
“Don’t grow up – it’s a trap!” goes one wry birthday card message. According to a report, this could be right.
Middle-aged people are the least happy, have the lowest levels of life satisfaction and the highest levels of anxiety, the latest official wellbeing statistics show.
Even people aged over 90 report better life satisfaction and happiness than those aged 40-59, the study from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found. While women overall reported experiencing higher levels of anxiety than men, they were happier and more satisfied with life than men.
People aged 40-59 are generally the least satisfied of all, with unhappiness most pronounced among those aged between 50 and 54. Pressures of looking after children and ageing parents could be taking major toll on this age group, ONS study suggests.
“It is also a stage in life at which the pressures of a job and financial pressures, such as mortgage repayments, might peak. The expectation that you should be reaching the heights of your profession, while also coping with an uncertain job market, could also have an impact."
Happiness followed a similar pattern, with respondents aged 40-59 generally reporting low levels of happiness, and 50-54-year-olds the least happy of all. Those with the highest levels of life satisfaction were aged 70-74, followed closely by 65-69-year-olds and 16-19-year-olds. Over the age of 75, happiness levels declined, but even those aged over 90 were happier than people in middle age.
“Anxiety as a mental health problem is not the same as being ‘a bit tense’ and it’s important to seek help as soon as possible if you feel like your anxiety is interfering with your ability to do the things you normally would. If you feel that you or someone you know may have anxiety, it is important to speak to someone, such as your GP or friend or family member, as soon as possible so you are not alone in dealing with it and can get the right help and support.”
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