There are many studies, research and discussions regarding happiness within the older adult cohort. Why are they so happy? What decisions did they make in their earlier stage of life to be happy or content in the latter? Have they found the proverbial Fountain of Youth? It may not be all that mysterious when considering the elder’s perspective of life, their attitude about life and its challenges. Many studies on the aged have shown happiness when physical and mental activity, health, social support, and financial security are met. And, there are other studies that have been conducted to show other aspects of happiness. Those studies concentrate on the elder’s state of mind, their personality, and their attitude about life. More specifically,
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Adaptation is the dynamic process by which the thoughts, feelings, behavior, and biophysiologic means of the person continually adjust to a constantly changing environment (Psychological adaptation, 2012). A rock musician, Pete Townshend, at age 20, wrote song lyrics stating that it is better to die than to grow old (Lacey, Smith, & Ubel, 2006). Now in his early 70’s, he has a different perspective about the aged, perhaps because he himself is an older adult experienced in adaptation or changes in his life. In his younger days, he, like many young adults, believed that getting old was nothing to look forward to. It was so undesirable that death before old age was a better alternative. The study Lacey, Smith and Ubel (2006) conducted asked 273 participants, ages ranging from 21 to 40, and another 269 participants, ages ranging from 60 to 86 to answer questions about their own current happiness and to give their perception of happiness of those are age 30 and 70. The example of Townshend shows very similar opinions of those in the studied young cohort. The young adults perceived that those at age of 70 were less happy than those at age 30. Interestingly, the older cohort also said there was less happiness at 70. To understand this the researchers further analyzed the responses and found that although the older adult cohort thought there would be less happiness at age 70 versus 30, they also felt they were still happier than they thought they would be at their current age. (Lacey, Smith, & Ubel,
Adaptation is the dynamic process by which the thoughts, feelings, behavior, and biophysiologic means of the person continually adjust to a constantly changing environment (Psychological adaptation, 2012). A rock musician, Pete Townshend, at age 20, wrote song lyrics stating that it is better to die than to grow old (Lacey, Smith, & Ubel, 2006). Now in his early 70’s, he has a different perspective about the aged, perhaps because he himself is an older adult experienced in adaptation or changes in his life. In his younger days, he, like many young adults, believed that getting old was nothing to look forward to. It was so undesirable that death before old age was a better alternative. The study Lacey, Smith and Ubel (2006) conducted asked 273 participants, ages ranging from 21 to 40, and another 269 participants, ages ranging from 60 to 86 to answer questions about their own current happiness and to give their perception of happiness of those are age 30 and 70. The example of Townshend shows very similar opinions of those in the studied young cohort. The young adults perceived that those at age of 70 were less happy than those at age 30. Interestingly, the older cohort also said there was less happiness at 70. To understand this the researchers further analyzed the responses and found that although the older adult cohort thought there would be less happiness at age 70 versus 30, they also felt they were still happier than they thought they would be at their current age. (Lacey, Smith, & Ubel,