People ’get happier as they age’

人隨著年紀增長會越來越快樂

◎鄭寺音

Most people get happier as they grow older, studies on people aged up to their mid-90s suggest. Despite worries about ill health, income, changes in social status and bereavements, later life tends to be a golden age, according to psychologists.

針對年齡到90多歲中期者的研究顯示，多數人年紀越大會越快樂，心理學家說，雖然擔心健康不佳、收入、社會地位改變與喪親之痛，晚年生活仍比較會是黃金時代。

They found older adults generally make the best of the time they have left and have learned to avoid situations that make them feel sad or stressed. The young should do the same, they told the American Psychological Association.

他們發現，年紀較長的人，一般都會善加利用他們剩餘的時間，也已學會避免讓他們感到難過或有壓力的情況。心理學家告訴美國心理學協會，年輕人應該也這樣做。

Work carried out by Dr Laura Carstensen, a psychology professor at Stanford University, asked volunteers ranging in age from 18 to mid-90s to take part in various experiments and keep diaries of their emotional state.

史丹福大學心理學教授卡斯登森請年齡18到90多歲中期的志願者參與各種實驗，並每日記錄他們的情緒狀態。

She found the older people were far less likely than the younger to experience persistent negative moods and were more resilient to hearing personal criticism. They were also much better at controlling and balancing their emotions - a skill that appeared to improve the older they became.

她發現，年紀較大者，情緒持續負面的經歷遠比年齡較輕者少，對於針對個人的批評也比較有彈性。他們也比較善於控制與平衡情緒，那是一項似乎會隨著年齡增長加強的技巧。

新聞辭典

make the best of：片語，充分利用。例句：We should make the best of this valuable opportunity.（我們應該充分利用這個寶貴的機會。）

resilient：形容詞， 有彈性的。例句：She’s a resilient girl - she won’t be unhappy for long.（她是很有彈性的女孩，不會不快樂太久。）

envisage：動詞，想像、設想。例句：Train fare increases of 5% are envisaged for the next year.（火車車資明年預估將上漲5%。）