Happiness in old age is ‘attitude of mind’

HAPPINESS in old age is an ‘attitude of mind’ and has nothing to do with being in good shape, according to new research.

A study of 3,600 elderly people found depression and anxiety had the worst effect on life satisfaction, followed by low income and sleep disorders.

But poor physical health such as low activity levels or a number of illnesses had little impact –contrary to previous findings.

Interestingly, living alone made women vulnerable to a low sense of well-being but not men – suggesting the latter cope better with the death of a spouse.

It was encouraging that eight in 10 (79%) participants, whose average age was 73, had high subjective well-being – or happiness.

Epidemiologist Professor KarlHeinz Ladwig, an expert in mental health at the Technical University of Munich, said appropriate services and interventions are vital – especially for women.

He said: “Ageing itself is not inevitably associated with a decline in mood and quality of life.

“It’s rather the case that psychosocial factors such as depression or anxiety impair subjective wellbeing.

“And – in the case of women – living alone also plays an important role.”

He added: “To date the impact of emotional stress has barely been investigated.”

Prof Ladwig analysed data derived from the KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) health study that has been following thousands of Germans for three decades.

Lead author Dr Karoline Lukaschek said: “The impact of stress on emotional well-being has barely been investigated in a non-clinical context.

“Our study therefore explicitly included anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.”

The researchers measured happiness by using a questionnaire devised by the World Health Organisation.

Trying to uncover the most important causes for happiness, the scientists mainly identified ‘psychosocial factors’ rather than physical.

Prof Ladwig said: “The findings of the current study clearly demonstrate appropriate services and interventions can play a major role for older people, especially older women living on their own.

“We know high levels of subjective well-being are linked to a lower mortality risk.”

Last year a study of a similar number of elderly people by French scientists suggested ‘strong link’ between happiness and good physical health.

In 2014 researchers at University College London said enjoying life is the key to healthy ageing.