Ageing in the 21st Century: Longer Lives and Happier Golden Years

As more people live well into their 80s and 90s, it's reassuring to know that most people grow happier as they age, according to researchers who spoke at the 117th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, held this year at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

"Life expectancy changed because people changed the way they lived," said Lauren Carstensen, PhD. "Now that we're here, we have to keep adapting. We are in the middle of a second revolution and it's up to us to make adulthood itself longer and healthier."

Carstensen, a psychology professor at Stanford University and founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, said the percentage of people on the planet who are over 65 is expected to more than double by the year 2050, and the fastest-growing segment of the population is people over age 85.

Susan Turk Charles, PhD, of the University of California, Irvine, presented a review of several psychological studies on ageing and mental health. She found that with the exception of people with dementia-related diseases, mental health generally improves with age. One study she cited—a 23-year longitudinal study looking at three groups of people, each at different stages in their lives—found that emotional happiness improved with age.

Increased Emotional Intelligence

Research has shown that older adults exert greater emotional control than younger adults, meaning older adults are more likely to actively avoid or limit negative, stressful situations than do younger adults. Charles presented results from one study in which younger and older adults reported their thoughts and emotions after hearing personal criticism by two other people. Younger adults focused more on the negative comments, while older adults were less likely to dwell on negative statements.

"Based on work by Carstensen and her colleagues, we know that older people are increasingly aware that the time they have left in life is growing shorter," said Charles. "They want to make the best of it, so they avoid engaging in situations that will make them unhappy. They have also had more time to learn and understand the intentions of others, which help them to avoid these stressful situations."

However, Charles also said that these age-related benefits for older adults may not appear when older adults are faced with prolonged, distressful situations. "We know that older adults who are dealing with chronic stressors, such as caregiving, report high rates of physical symptoms and emotional distress," she said.

Social Ties Promote Brain Health

Carstensen and Charles both acknowledged the importance of social relationships on longevity. Scientists have been uncovering evidence that the quality of people's relationships can influence the way their brains process information and how they respond physiologically to stress. "These changes have a profound impact on health outcomes," Carstensen said.

She cited a recent study of more than 1,000 Swedish seniors in which those who had a strong social network were 60% less likely to have symptoms of cognitive impairment than those who did not. None of the participants showed signs of dementia before the study. The researchers assessed participants' social situations, including whether they were married or single, lived alone, and enjoyed their social circle.

Healthier Minds As We Age

Another important finding: while older people's minds may appear to be slowing down, Meredyth Daneman, PhD, of the University of Toronto at Mississauga, said that may not always be the case. In a series of studies comparing young adults to older adults during various cognitive and hearing tests, she found age-related declines in the ability to understand spoken language are often the result of a decline in hearing, rather than a decline in brain function.

Carstensen offered several suggestions for people who want to prepare for old age now:

• Envision ways to thoroughly enjoy the years that lie ahead and imagine what it would be like to live a healthy, happy 100 years.
• Design your social and physical environments—home, spending habits, eating habits—so that your daily routine reinforces your goals.
• Diversify your expertise and activities and avoid putting your social investments into only your spouse, children or job.

Source: The American Psychological Association is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its affiliations with 60 U.S. and Canadian local associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.