Age at Fifty May Not Bring Enhanced Happiness for All Individuals
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A new study published in the Journal of Labor Economics has shed light on an unexpected factor that influences happiness in men over 50: unemployment. Conducted by researchers from USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and experts from Amsterdam, the study focused on mental well-being in unemployed men aged 50 and over.
The study found that unemployed men in their 50s are 23 percentage points more likely to report depression compared with their gainfully employed peers. However, the findings suggest that this trend may not be as straightforward as it seems. By the age of 65, the mental health gap between unemployed men and their employed peers disappears.
According to the study's lead author, Coen van de Kraats, being jobless in midlife isn't just about lost income, it's about lost identity. The shift in social expectations erases the stigma associated with job loss, allowing the men's mental health to improve once they are no longer facing such powerful social expectations surrounding their working life.
The improvement in happiness after 50 may have more to do with the unique situation that a particular group is facing, rather than biological or social norms impacting happiness. The study's data suggests that the "rise" in happiness over 50 may really be a reflection of increased happiness among the unemployed demographic group.
The dramatic mental health improvements among unemployed men may have skewed the research on the U-shaped curve of well-being, a concept popularized in the book "The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50". This curve shows happiness peaking in the 20s, plummeting in the 40s, and rising again after 50.
Beyond biological changes or social norms, several key factors influence the improvement of happiness after age 50. These include psychological growth and self-awareness, emotional intelligence, continued engagement and activity, mental well-being practices, and identity shifts linked to retirement.
Older adults tend to develop greater awareness of themselves and their preferences, allowing more realistic expectations and better emotional regulation, which reduces dissatisfaction caused by unrealistic desires. They may also be more motivated to pursue meaningful personal goals as they become more aware of mortality.
Emotional skills such as altruism, optimism, impulse control, emotional growth, humor, and resilience improve with age. Between ages 50 and 75, people increasingly use mature emotional strategies which enhance mental health, resilience, and a sense of life purpose.
Maintaining regular activities that bring joy and social interaction reduces depression linked to inactivity in older adults. Preventing activity restriction through scheduled activities and social support promotes well-being.
Gratitude, kindness, nurturing important relationships, mindfulness, and engaging in activities that create a "flow" state contribute to sustained happiness and cognitive strength in later life.
The reduction of social pressure of work and retirement can ease mental stress and improve well-being, especially in men, by reducing work-related identity loss and societal expectations.
These findings highlight the role of psychological adaptation, emotional growth, proactive lifestyle choices, and shifts in social roles in improving happiness after age 50 — effects that go beyond simple biological aging or social norms about aging. Making a solid plan to respond to these challenges could help avoid having to wait years until retirement age for mental health to be restored. Exploring options to get back into the workforce may be helpful for unemployed men who suffer until reaching traditional retirement age.
[1] Psychological factors and activity involvement enhancing happiness and emotional regulation [2] Retirement easing societal pressure on identity and improving happiness for some [3] Practices to boost wellbeing and sustained mental health in aging [5] Emotional intelligence and mature coping strategies increasing with age
- As retirees transition out of the workplace, practicing mental health-and-wellness strategies like gratitude, mindfulness, and engaging in activities that create a 'flow' state can contribute to sustained happiness and cognitive strength, demonstrating the importance of health-and-wellness in the aging process.
- The study on workplace-wellness and mental health of men over 50 suggests that the improvement in happiness after 50, previously associated with biological changes or social norms, may also be due to the development of emotional intelligence and mature emotional strategies, further emphasizing the role of science in understanding and improving mental health in aging.
