Yang's findings are based on periodic face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of Americans, beginning in the early 1970s. About 28,000 people ages 18 to 88 participated. Although there were ups and downs in overall happiness levels during the study that generally corresponded to good and bad economic times, at every stage older Americans were the happiest.
In general, the odds of being happy increased five percent with every 10 years of aging. Overall, about one-third of Americans reported being very happy at age 88, versus about 24 percent of those in their late teens to their early 20s. And throughout the study years, most Americans reported being very happy or pretty happy. Less than 20 percent said they were not too happy.
A separate University of Chicago study found that about 75 percent of people betwee 57 and 85 engage in one or more social activities at least every week. Those include socializing with neighbors, attending religious services, volunteering or going to group meetings. Those in their 80s were twice as likely as those in their 50s to do at least one of these activities.
While this is good news for the aging population, Yang's study also found that baby boomers were the least happy. They could end up living the unfortunate old-age stereotype if they can't let go of their achievement-driven mind-set, one aging expert believes.
Previous research also has shown that mid-life tends to be the most stressful time. Cornell University sociologist Elaine Wethington notes, "Everyone's asking you to do things and you have a lot to do. You're less happy because you feel hassled."
The new studies show "if you can make it through that," there's light at the end of the tunnel, Wethington said.