Benedict Carey reports some good news for older adults in the New York Times. Our emotional well-being improves as we grow older. And, the novel coronavirus pandemic confirms this scientific finding.
The data show that people who are 50 and older fare better than younger people on a range of emotions. Older people are more positive, regardless of wealth or education. What’s the reason?
Some might think that older people experience less stress than younger people because they have learned to accept life and all its quirks. Others might think that older people have figured out a way to dodge the negative stuff, at least mentally. Scientists tested the emotions of 1,000 adults in the context of the novel coronavirus.
Here’s what they found. The threats of getting COVID-19 and dying from COVID-19 were far greater for older adults than for younger adults. But, older adults and younger adults reported the same stress levels in response to COVID-19. Older people, in fact, reported less distress than younger people.
To be sure, people over 50 tend to have different daily routines than people under 50. They tend to have older children who are better able to fend for themselves. Older people also generally have more resources, making it easier for them to get help and to cope with COVID-19 and other stressors. In addition, older people are generally not as focused on self-improvement as younger people, spending their days doing things they enjoy rather than on taking risks or being challenged.
In short, older people face fewer disruptions in the face of a pandemic than younger people. One result appears to be that older people experience less stress.
Here’s more from Just Care:
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