Happiness Is ... Being Old, Male and Republican

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

livescience.com – Sat May 16, 9:56 am ET

Americans grow happier as they age, surveys find. And a new Pew Research Center survey shows the tendency is holding up as the economy tanks.

Happiness is a complex thing. Past studies have found that happiness is partly inherited, that Republicans are happier than Democrats, and that old men tend to be happier than old women.

And even before the economy got nasty, seniors were found to be generally happier than Baby Boomers. Some of that owes to the American Dream being lived by past generations, while Boomers work two jobs and watch the dream whither.

In times like this, it's clear how age can have its advantages. While not all seniors are weathering the recession well, for many the impact is much less severe than it is for younger people.

Why? Many people 65 and older retired and downsized their lifestyles before the economy imploded, according to Pew analysts. Most aren't raising kids and many are not so worried about being laid off. Loss of income can be, of course, a source of stress and displeasure. (While money doesn't buy happiness, a study in February showed cash can help, especially when people use it to do stuff instead of buy things.)

If you're thinking that Republicans are happy just because they perhaps make more money, that does not seem to be the case. The study that found Republicans to be happier than Democrats also showed that it held true even after adjusting for income.

It's those age 50-64 who've "seen their nest eggs shrink the most and their anxieties about retirement swell the most," the Pew survey found. It also finds that younger adults (ages 18-49) "have taken the worst lumps in the job market but remain relatively upbeat about their financial future."

Not everyone in any category is blissful, of course. Other research has shown that happiness in old age depends largely on attitude factors such as optimism and coping strategies. Add financial planning to the list.

In the new Pew telephone survey, taken in March and April of 2,969 adults, here's how many respondents in each age group said they had cut back on spending in the past year:

18-49: 68 percent

50-64: 59 percent

65+: 36 percent.

And is the recession causing stress in your family?

18-49: 52 percent

50-64: 58 percent

65+: 38 percent.

Now for the good news: A study in January found that key groups of people in the United States have grown happier over the past few decades, while other have become less so. The result: Happiness inequality has decreased since the 1970s. Americans are becoming more similar to each other on the happiness scale.

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[scandal 951]

I'm a Democrat and I'm miserable.

It's 4:30AM and I'm awake and can't sleep and am all alone while my honey is halfway around the world, stuck there apart from me for coming on a year now because our immigration system is unable to keep the wrong people from entering, but perfectly competent at preventing the right people from doing so.

Life sucks.

Rotten tomatoes, curdled milk and fermented eggs for you too, so nyeah.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

I'm a Democrat and I'm miserable.

It's 4:30AM and I'm awake and can't sleep and am all alone while my honey is halfway around the world, stuck there apart from me for coming on a year now because our immigration system is unable to keep the wrong people from entering, but perfectly competent at preventing the right people from doing so.

Life sucks.

Rotten tomatoes, curdled milk and fermented eggs for you too, so nyeah.

be a republican - we're happier! (the 2012 campaign slogan).

[scandal 951]

I'm a Democrat and I'm miserable.

It's 4:30AM and I'm awake and can't sleep and am all alone while my honey is halfway around the world, stuck there apart from me for coming on a year now because our immigration system is unable to keep the wrong people from entering, but perfectly competent at preventing the right people from doing so.

Life sucks.

Rotten tomatoes, curdled milk and fermented eggs for you too, so nyeah.

be a republican - we're happier! (the 2012 campaign slogan).

[Nagishkaw 510]

I'm a Democrat and I'm miserable.

It's 4:30AM and I'm awake and can't sleep and am all alone while my honey is halfway around the world, stuck there apart from me for coming on a year now because our immigration system is unable to keep the wrong people from entering, but perfectly competent at preventing the right people from doing so.

Life sucks.

Rotten tomatoes, curdled milk and fermented eggs for you too, so nyeah.

Wouldn't you rather be schizoid than incomplete? Try not to be broken and finicky. We are all at their mercy at some point or another.

[endoftheroad 1]

Republicans are happier than Democrats

IGNORANCE IS BLISS

sorry, couldn't resist

[Nagishkaw 510]

Well, that certainly is getting your point across.

[endoftheroad 1]

Well, that certainly is getting your point across.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Well, that certainly is getting your point across.

maybe it's because the democrats are so busy bashing republicans that unhappiness results from it

[Nagishkaw 510]

That has to be it.

[JimandChristy 1,689]

Happiness Is ... Being Old, Male and Republican.....Being a member of the NRA and thinking Michael Moore is a communist...

Edited May 17, 2009 by JimandChristy

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

still no word yet on why steven hates happy people.

[almaty 19]

I am a democrat and happier than a pig in sh!t...the gop is out of power and relying on a crazy ####### like palin to rescue them..and take marching orders from a pompous drug addict...

Edited May 18, 2009 by almaty

[Danno 1,228]

Happiness Is ... Being Old, Male and Republican.....Being a member of the NRA and thinking Michael Moore is a communist...

Thats a funny clip... BUt didn't M. Moore promise to leave the country if Bush was re-elected?

That alone was reason enough to vote Bush.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

This might shed some light on the subject... denial is not a river in Egypt.