Many women feel happier in later life, especially in the years between 50 and 70, according to a 20-year study by the University of Melbourne.
The first major study to look at depression and negative mood over an extended period, it followed over 400 middle-aged women from the 1990s and looked at physical, lifestyle and health factors as well as general wellbeing.
The researchers found that negative mood scores in Australian women dropped significantly as they moved from midlife (between the ages of 50-64) to later-life (over the age of 65).
Depressive symptom scores also fell considerably between the ages of 60 and 70.
Growing older has its benefits
The reason? More “me” time. For many women, their mood improved as they wound down from full-time work and family responsibilities.
“They are free to enjoy the fruits of their hard work and are able to prioritise their own needs and wants,” study author and psychologist Katherine Campbell said.
The women in the study reported feeling more patient, less tense, and more comfortable within themselves they entered their sixties.
And bonus – no more menopause symptoms!
Co-author professor Cassandra Szoeke does say more research is needed. “Physical illness, medication use, and worrying about becoming ill are all more common in older adults and have been shown to inflate scores that measure depression,” she says.
But generally the news is positive. It just proves what we’ve always known – women just get better with age.
