UNLIKE HER FATHER at the same age — when he allegedly ate a bug on a dare — my 17-year-old is one of those kids who thinks and worries about the future.
She just finished her third year in high school and worries the best is behind her, to which I tell her she has no idea how great the next decade is going to be.
Next time, I may say the next six or seven decades.
It just seems way too easy to assume life peaks when we’re in our teens, 20s and 30s, but that may not be the case at all. A peer-reviewed study published in February in the journal Nature Mental Health said the self-perception of people “flourishing” improves with age.
Researchers looked at more than 200,000 people in 22 countries over five years — 38,312 were in the U.S., which was the biggest number of people in the study. Other countries involved included Brazil, China, Australia, five European nations, India, Egypt, and more.
Slightly more than half of the subjects (53%) were considered middle-aged (30-59 years old.) Of those surveyed, 51% were women, 52% were married, 57% were employed and had between nine and 15 years of education under their belts.
Most participants were born in the country in which they were surveyed (94%), and 32% of subjects attended religious services at least weekly.
For the survey, the researchers defined “flourish” as “the relative attainment of a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are good, including the contexts in which that person lives.”
Right. No bug-eating.
The study said past research showed a U-shaped curve that showed higher well-being in youth, a dip in middle age, and a rebound later in life.
But the new data tells a different story.
Flourishing now appears to be relatively equal, from ages 18 to 49, but increases significantly after 50.
The researchers defined ‘flourish’ as ‘the relative attainment of a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are good, including the contexts in which that person lives.’
It said that includes aspects of life such as inner peace, optimism, mastery, meaning and purpose, and gratitude.
This is where we avoid jokes about people being grateful they’re still alive.
The team suspected the shift happened for a couple reasons: rising mental health challenges among young people and more fulfillment that comes with life experience.
So, what do we do with this information?
Well, first off, we throw it in the face of our children next time they make fun of us for not understanding how our phones work and still being on Facebook.
Then we laugh convincingly and tell them we’re flourishing and they’re not (keep a notecard with the definition of “flourishing” in your pocket, just in case).
Don’t make assumptions about the path ahead
Then, while we’re grateful people our age are flourishing, don’t just assume it’s going to happen. Getting older can be hard work. But it’s still probably easier than raising small children, competing hard for promotions at work, and generally having to find our way through life like we did when we were younger. One of the great things about getting older is the knowledge that we’re a lot closer to knowing who we are and what to do with that knowledge.
But there’s still work to do.
It’s no secret that human bodies have accumulated wear and tear as we age. We need to get busy fighting that with lots of exercise and eating right, while cutting out the things that are bad for us (smoking, drinking, eating bugs).
Mentally we might feel like we’ve earned a rest. And that’s just it — we do need rest. Get lots of sleep, push yourself without overdoing it. Read, write, do puzzles, play games, play music, paint … keep that brain sharp.
Flourish psychologically and spiritually. Be around positive people as much as possible. Meditate, get a dog, travel, date — whether you’re single or not (you can date your partner — just get out of the house and your routine).
We don’t have to dread getting older. Science says we flourish once we pass middle age, which is a great thing to look forward to. So get to it. The best is yet to come.
Reach Tony Hicks at tony@baycitynews.com.
What does a longer lifespan mean to you? Talented local columnists tag-team every Friday to tackle the challenges that inform your choices — whether you’re pushing 17 or 70. Recent Stanford Center on Longevity Visiting Scholar Susan Nash looks at life experiences through an acerbic personal lens, while other longtime writers take the macro view to examine how society will change as the aging population grows ever larger. Check in every Friday to expand your vision of living the long game and send us your feedback, column suggestions and ideas for future coverage to newsroom@baycitynews.com.