Happiness tends to increase with age, but how can it be sustained beyond 80?
This article explores the trajectory of happiness, the impact of aging, and strategies to face challenges gracefully.
Reaching the age of 80 brought a sense of exhilaration—achieving this milestone felt truly worth celebrating. Physically, there seemed to be little difference from being 50 or even 70. However, subtle signs of aging began to emerge—thoughts about mortality, diminishing abilities, and concerns over memory lapses. Friends were dealing with knee surgeries, hip replacements, and cancer treatments. Questions about occasional forgetfulness also arose—were these normal changes or early indicators of dementia? As one 85-year-old friend aptly noted, “When you’re 80, someone gets off the bus at every stop.”
During the pandemic, while writing Silver Sparks, a study highlighted that most individuals tend to feel happier as they grow older. This finding was particularly intriguing, as the 60s and 70s proved to be unexpectedly joyous decades. Realizing this trend was common offered inspiration. Yet, entering the 80s brought doubts—would this happiness persist? Or was this apprehension merely a reaction to the seemingly minor transition from 79 to 80? It was possible that internalized biases about aging were influencing these thoughts.
This curiosity prompted a return to research on happiness. The goal was to determine whether happiness indeed declines after 80 and, if it remains steady, to uncover the strategies that help individuals sustain their sense of contentment despite the inevitable challenges and losses.
The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50
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Revisiting the Happiness Curve
In The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50, Jonathan Rauch describes a “U-shaped curve” of happiness. Studies indicate that happiness peaks in the 20s, declines through midlife, bottoms out around 50-55, and then begins a steady climb, forming a smile-like curve.
But what happens after 80? Rauch’s book cites studies such as a 2014 survey by the UK Office for National Statistics, which surveyed 300,000 people. The findings showed happiness rebounding after midlife, peaking at 70, and then gradually declining after “80 and above.” Notably, the data cut off at 80.
A separate Gallup World Poll from 2010-2012 offered a more optimistic perspective. Spanning 160 countries, this survey found happiness rising until age 85. The 2024 World Happiness Report also indicates that Americans aged 60 and older rank 10th globally in happiness. By contrast, younger Americans under 30 have seen their happiness levels plummet to 62nd place out of 143 countries.
Although some studies suggest a decline in happiness beyond 80, the overall trend remains upward. The question remains: how does happiness persist amid significant changes and losses?
Happiness Despite Hardships
Conversations with eight friends, including two recently diagnosed with chronic illnesses, provided insights into navigating life’s challenges in later years. Their approaches included:
- Accepting reality, often drawing strength from practices like the Serenity Prayer.
- Embracing the present moment.
- Finding solace in nature, whether through outdoor landscapes or indoor greenery.
- Cultivating gratitude.
- Relying on the support and joy of family and friends.
- Engaging in creative activities.
- Helping others.
- Pursuing long-desired endeavors previously left unexplored.
These personal reflections align with academic findings. Stanford University’s Laura Carstensen has noted that as people near the end of life, they focus more on what truly matters. Her research also highlights that older adults prioritize positive information and experiences. While aging presents its own set of hardships, it heightens sensitivity to life’s beauty. This heightened awareness fosters gratitude, appreciation, and resilience.
Gratitude serves as an effective strategy for navigating difficulties. On challenging days when negativity arises, it helps to focus on the positives: being alive, maintaining relative health, having access to food and shelter, and enjoying the companionship of loved ones. Recognizing that hope and happiness remain attainable beyond 80 reinforces the belief that aging can cultivate profound joy and contentment.
