Happiness Study: Why Men Stay All Smiles and Women All Tears?
Would it suffice to say men are more carefree about the challenges, worries and problems around them and women are not? That would explain it all. A study conducted by the University of Cambridge (England) suggests that women tend to start of as happy in their initial and younger days but grow up to be the sadder ones around midlife. The basis of the study being happiness or satisfaction attained from financial stability and family life.
Anke Plagnol, an economist and lead author of the study says that the researchers looked into the aspirations of people and what they did or how successful were they in meeting their desires.
About 47000 men and women are being studied upon for decades to arrive at some solid results. Finally, researchers from the University of Cambridge are able to tell that women’s happiness decreases than that of men whose increases much ahead of women on attaining 48 years and beyond.
Expert cite an important parameter for judging the levels of happiness – they say that the extent to which one can fulfill his or her aspirations makes a person either happy or satisfied at the end of the day.
This study which is going to be published in the next issue of the Journal of Happiness Studies reveals that women during their earlier years are financially stable, competent and are able to meet their material desires quiet successfully and are hence happy and content with life.
However, towards their late 40s or so, on account of situations like divorce, separation, etc they feel burdened with life and the problems coming their in terms of lack of financial and emotional securities. On the other hand, men feel less burdened (thanks to our patriarchal belief systems) and probably more free from ties, relationships, commitments, sharing wealth and riches, etc.
Of course, divorce or separation can happen much before than expected thereby adding to the trauma of women to become sad much before their time. Refuting traditional thoughts and beliefs, women of today believe in securing their lives in a better way and are hence stealing the top position in almost every second corporate firm. However, emotional grief is something that cannot be met with money.
Though finances and family play a major role in determining one’s happiness, there are yet other factors that contribute significantly in making one content in life – religion, divorce, etc. Arthur Brooks, an economist from Syracuse University says that religion and marriage today have a huge impact on one’s satisfaction and/or happiness levels.
No matter what it takes to be happy or sad; it is the “power of choice” that helps people reach their goals and desires. Sometimes, circumstances and situations don’t favor us but people still believe in trying – trying to be happy and in that sense, we can’t help but surrender to the men for their will to stay happy come what may!