Although “age is supposed to bring happiness and contentment,” according to Professor Jean Twenge at San Diego State University in California, her recent study shows that adults 30-years old and up are no longer as optimistic about their lives as their parents and grandparents were.In fact, while those in this age group used to be happier than younger adults and teenagers during the 1970’s, their “happiness advantage” has been steadily declining as they continue to feel less satisfaction with their lives both now and for the future. On the other hand, there has been a noticeable uptick in ”very happy teens,” she reported.
In searching for reasons, other experts contend that the drastic shift in world conditions, including increasing financial pressures have created a harsh awakening for a generation of young adults who were once led to believe that they “could do anything they set their minds to,” and are quickly learning that it often is not true. In addition, many college students worry that their education won’t be sufficient to achieve what their parents have, while the rapid changes in technology and mass of information available at their fingertips is leaving many people overwhelmed (and feeling somewhat obsolete) as they struggle to “keep up with the Joneses.”
Still, Twenge said that there has been an overall drop in happiness among people 30-years plus of about 5% since the 1970’s (down from 38% 40-years ago to 33% today), her study published online in the journal of Social Psychologicsl and Personal Science contends that the majority of Americans still reported being “very happy” when surveyed.
