A study carried out in the US has revealed that women become unhappier than men in later life, despite experiencing greater overall life satisfaction in early adulthood.
According to the survey to be detailed in an upcoming report in the Journal of Happiness Studies, women start out far happier in life than their male counterparts because reaching key milestones earlier on in life, such as marriage and financial success, brings them greater satisfaction. As time goes on however, the situation is reversed, with men feeling more satisfaction with finances and family later in life, and a greater sense of fulfilment in terms of material possessions.
Researchers found that our happiness and level of life satisfaction is attributable to the gap between what people want, and what they actually have. In early life, around 90 per cent of men and women want to be married, yet more women than men actually achieve this in their 20s or early 30s. Similarly, in early life, women are more likely to fulfil their dreams of acquiring a home, car or holiday retreat. According to lead researcher Anke Plagnol, sociologist and economist at the University of Cambridge in England, this is partly due to the tendency for women in the United States to marry older men at a younger age.
“Usually people who are married have a better financial situation since often they have double incomes,” Plagnol said. “They also are more likely to fulfill their financial aspirations.”
Interestingly, the survey revealed that both men and women feel they need more to be happy, the older they get. Younger men and women taking part in the study selected just three or four items from a list of ten things they considered they needed to be happy, compared to older participants who chose an average of six. The finding confirms that people’s wants do change over time and adapt to achievement, despite a general assumption in economic theory that preferences are stable.
As Plagnol told LiveScience, “What that means for happiness is quite interesting. When you acquire something in the material goods domain, it will not really increase your happiness because you just adjust your aspirations.”
Three key age milestones detailed in the study:
41: Age at which men’s financial satisfaction exceeds women’s
48: Age at which men’s general happiness exceeds women’s
64: Age at which men’s satisfaction with family life exceeds women’s
YOUR SAY: Do you agree women feel less satisfied with life in older age? And do you want more, the older you get? Tell us your thoughts below.
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