HHS HealthBeat (September 18, 2006)

Happy old

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

When you're young, being young looks more fun than being old. But older people may actually be happier.

Heather Lacey of the University of Michigan found that when she examined how happy people thought they were – or would be – at different stages of life. Her research in the Journal of Happiness Studies was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Lacey says older and younger people thought being young was better. But she thinks that's due to our youth culture and possibly to older people's nostalgia. When the question was who was happier as they were right now – older people were.

So is the secret of happiness in our stars or ourselves? Lacey thinks it's in adapting.

"I think it's a little bit of both. We find ways within ourselves to be happy, regardless of what the stars give us." (five seconds)

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September, 26 2006