Old age is not downhill: The satisfactions and well-being of oider Australians

Abstract

it is widely believed that old age is a period of psychological and emotional decline. This paper reviews sample survey evidence for the 1980s and the 1990s which appears to show that Australians aged over 60 have about the same levels of life satisfaction and lower levels of anxiety md depression than adults under 60. Fewer major life events, whether favourable or adverse, happen to older people compared to younger. Life becomes less turbulent; there are fewer emotional highs and lows. it is argued that these results cannet be explained away as due to either resignation in old age or selective survival. The survey sources are the Victorian Quality of Life Panel Survey 1981-89 (n=942) and th..