Study questions U-shaped pattern of happiness over lifespan
A new analysis of UK data challenges the long-held belief that happiness follows a U-shape through life, dipping in midlife before rising again. Researchers found that well-being remains stable or slightly increases with age. This finding, published in Psychological Science, suggests the curve may not be universal.
The conventional wisdom in psychology has long posited that happiness traces a U-shaped trajectory across the lifespan. According to this view, people report higher life satisfaction in youth and old age, with a notable dip during middle age, often around 40 to 50 years old. This pattern has been observed in various studies, including large-scale surveys from the US and Europe, and has fueled discussions of a 'midlife crisis.'
However, a recent study led by Julia M. Rohrer from the University of Leipzig, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Edinburgh and the London School of Economics, casts doubt on this narrative. Published on October 15, 2024, in the journal Psychological Science, the research analyzed responses from 51,338 participants in the UK Household Longitudinal Study, aged 16 to 101. The dataset, collected between 2009 and 2023, included repeated measures of life satisfaction on a scale from 0 (not at all satisfied) to 10 (completely satisfied).
The team's statistical analysis, which controlled for age, period, and cohort effects, revealed no significant U-shaped curve. Instead, average life satisfaction scores showed a flat or gently upward trend with age. For instance, the lowest scores were reported by those in their late teens and early 20s, around 7.2, while scores for those over 70 hovered around 7.5 to 8.0. 'Our findings suggest that the U-shape is not a general feature of well-being across the lifespan,' Rohrer stated in the paper. She emphasized that previous detections of the curve might stem from methodological issues, such as cross-sectional data biases or selective samples that overrepresent certain demographics.
The study also examined potential variations by gender, education, and income. While men and women showed similar patterns, higher-educated individuals reported slightly higher satisfaction overall, but no U-shape emerged in any subgroup. This contrasts with earlier research, like a 2010 analysis by Blanchflower and Oswald, which identified a midlife low around age 44 in the US and other countries. The new findings align with longitudinal data from other nations, such as Australia and Germany, where stability is more common.
Implications of this research could reshape how society views aging and mental health. It challenges the idea of inevitable midlife malaise and supports policies focused on early-life interventions rather than expecting a natural rebound. As Rohrer noted, 'These results highlight the importance of using robust, representative data to understand true patterns in human well-being.' While the study is limited to the UK context, it calls for further global investigations to confirm if the U-shape holds elsewhere or if cultural factors play a role.