Old Age Sees Decrease In Happiness: Only A Myth

By Staff

Thursday, March 11, 2010, 12:40

Young men who believe that ageing is associated with a decline in happiness are more likely to engage in risky health behaviours than those who accept it cheerfully.

The negative view of the aging process may act as a disincentive to behave sensibly and spend most of their present in anticipation of the 'miserable old age'.

Young people wrongly believe that ageing is associated with a decline in happiness. However, the actual fact is that there is no difference of happiness between young and old people.

A conscious attempt to condemn this myth will help in reducing risky health behaviours such as excessive drinking.

In the case of binge drinking by men, most of them underestimate the happiness on old age and start drinking in their youth. Therefore, it should be worthwhile to emphasise on the happiness of old age to reduce addiction to alcoholism.