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The golden age

Pamela Allardice
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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Getty Images
Seeing as better nutrition and improvements in medicine mean that we're probably eventually going to live for longer, it's good to know that we're going to feel happier as we grow older.

According to reports presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in August 2009, adults in their eighties are generally more content than those in their late teens.

Studies by researchers at the Stanford Center on Longevity show that older people have more control over their emotions. For example, they are more likely to avoid situations that make them stressed, and better able to shrug off criticism.

Interestingly, two of the most important factors in ensuring future happiness — the quality of a person's social network (which makes them 60 percent less likely to show signs of cognitive impairment) and the level of their education (for every additional year of education, you can increase life expectancy by over a year) — are both aspects of life that you do have some control over, compared with prolonged, stressful situations like an illness that you cannot control.

Your say: Do you agree with this study? What has been the happiest time in your life so far? Share with us below...

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