Getting older and happier

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A nationwide study, published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, used the Internet to ask people who were 20 to 40 years old and 60 and up which age group would be the happiest.

Most incorrectly thought younger people would be happier than older people, said Heather Lacey, lead author of the study by the Center of Behavioral and Decision Sciences in Medicine, a joint program of the University of Michigan and the VA Ann Arbor Health System. "We are notoriously bad at predicting what's going to make us happy," Lacey said. "Strong literature proves people grow happier as they age. But people's beliefs are completely opposite. Everyone relies on stereotypes."

Many who hear about the study still can't believe older people would be the happier population, said Peter Ubel, senior author of the study. "They are wrinkly, arthritic, they can't jump as high as me, their opportunities are shrinking. How could they possibly be happier?" Ubel said. "But then you look at the MTV generation, where the smallest personal slight makes you go crazy. It makes sense."