Study: Men Become Happier Than Women by Midlife

[DJDamage]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5479994&page=1 (watch the video).

I think this all ties to "sexual marektability" as Rollo once put it. When they are in their 20's women are the happiest because their sexual marketability is the highest (their looks). Men achieve that later in life in their 30's and 40's due to financial situation, while women start to lose out during that age due to their fading looks, and their inability to compete with younger women.

Its funny how those so called "experts" aren't even touching on this topic (due to the fear of offending women) and come up with other reasons to try and explain this.

 

[edger]

Haven't read the article yet, but it's actually funny that many of you guys continue to believe that as women get older(30's, 40's), they loose their sex appeal. As I've said in the past, I beg to differ. There are A LOT of hot, sexy older women out there. At least here in NY. Maybe it's a NY thing, I don't know..all I know is, they're everywhere here, especially in the suburbs. And when I say older, I'm not just talking about 30's and 40's, but yes, 50's too. Come to NY, maybe you'll see what I'm talking about, lol..seriously All these older women have nice faces, along with tight, shapely, creamy bodies to match. PlasticSurgeon has even said the same. He's from Long Island where I'm from, and knows the deal around here.

Oh yeah, and have I ever mentioned, they're just as hard to pull too? I've dealt with quite a bit of 'em. My toughest lay yet was a hot 43 yr old MILF back in 2003. And that's no lie either, I'm being dead serious, as always. Yeah I got to nail her that same night that I met her, but not before having to sweat heavy bullets to do so. So much for the young ones being hard, eh?

I disagree with the claim that the older babes are in stiff competition with the younger babes. If that were honestly the case, then I wouldn't have had just as much of a hard time with the older ones.

 

[STR8UP]

Haven't read the article yet, but it's actually funny that many of you guys continue to believe that as women get older(30's, 40's), they loose their sex appeal.

Dude, you're cool and all, but you have some WARPED ass views on how things work. Youth will ALWAYS prevail, all else being equal. And even with all else NOT being equal, I would rather be in a relationship with a 25 yr old "7" than a 35 yr old "8" any day of the week.

Yea, I saw the 39 yr old cougar in the tight jeans standing out in front of Chipotle today yapping on the cell phone. Problem is, when I finally saw her face (which was not unattractive, BTW) she went from a 9 to a 6 since I THOUGHT I was checking out a 20 something, but she turned out to be a "mature" woman.

Fukk toys are one thing, but REAL men want young, nubile females. Whatever your fetish is it has no correlation to the collective attitudes of men in general.

 

[STR8UP]

Oh yea, and as for the article....it makes perfect sense. My male friends who are getting divorced and such are scrambling to fill a void, whereas us guys who have made it on our own this long are basking in the glow of mature manhood. Meanwhile, the "mature" women I know are bitter, desperate, and seem to be getting pickier by the day.

Something about that doesn't add up......

 

[betterthandead]

Generally both men and women get more hangups by more negative relationship experiences rather than by the age. I know some guys who've had been in a couple of long term bad relationships and they are jaded and very discriminate on who they want to share time and energy with. It's everyone, not just some men or some women.

 

[Ballie]

Love the article. As a fit 50 year old I am happy, being single. Can afford to buy the Motorbike I always wanted, can eat what ever - healthy food because I am going to gym and do what ever I please. Also, as a DJ, I can pull in the younger woman - but its not an issue any more at all. My happyness does not depend on a woman. I have got my mother (feisty 80 year old) my sister - they both stood beside me during my divorce and my lovely daughter.

My ex is a fat miserable woman who men her age won't look at - why should we. As someone said in this forum "The best revenge is living well" Heh heh heh!

 

[Scaramouche]

Dear Str8up,
Yep,they are miserable a good indicator is their permanently downturned faces,so many of these frumpy old tarts have permanent creases projecting downwards from the corner of their mouths...Feel no pity Mate,they bought it upon themselves with this Feminist Frog dribble,As they have sown,so let them reap...

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

EDGER, it's not that there aren't very attractive women in their 30s, 40s or even 50s - I'd argue they're exceptions to the rule, but they do exist. However, the issue isn't about men finding an attractive older woman, but rather women experiencing sexual competition anxiety increasing as they age.

To my knowledge there are no cosmetic lines selling make up intended to make women look older - why do you suppose that is? In fact virtually every attempt women make with efforts to their appearance is to retain a youthful appeal. The very reason an attractive woman of 40 is outstanding to us is BECAUSE she's managed to (relatively) successfully forestall the appearance of what we'd associate a woman of 40 to look like. They know this. It's a consistent condition throughout their lives as they receive reinforcement (in the form of attention) from as early as pre-puberty. They are ever-aware of the impact their appearance has with regards to men and it's use in garnering attention with them and within the social order of their same sex peer group.

As men age and mature, so too matures (or at least should) not only their understanding of how and why women behave as they do, but also their capacity for providing for the long term security that women have as a primary requirement. At 35 to 40 a Man's expected to have achieved a certain degree of his own ambitions and should reasonably be enjoying some of the fruits of those efforts. Even when this isn't the case, this is the perception and expectation. It's this ability to see the forest for the trees at 35 to 40 that escapes a lot of men - due in no small part to the efforts (in the form of various social conventions) of women concerned with their own long term security in the face of a declining sexual marketability.

As I said above, this may not even be the case, physically, for some women, but it's the perception of age and competition anxiety that it increasingly causes as she ages that prompts her to seek out long term commitment from an acceptable, marriage-able Man able to provide it. And as a caveat let me say now that this security comes in MANY different forms, not exclusively financial, but also emotional, reliable, familial security.

 

[Deep Dish]

Its funny how those so called "experts" aren't even touching on this topic (due to the fear of offending women) and come up with other reasons to try and explain this.

The study, to be published in the next issue of the Journal of Happiness Studies, says that early in adult life, women are more likely than men to fulfill their aspirations for material goods and family life, but later, they may be divorced or separated and less financially secure. Meanwhile, men's finances and family life improve, making them "the happier of the two genders," the study says. Economist David Blanchflower of Dartmouth University, one of several researchers who have studied the effects of age on happiness, says this new research is "really important work" because it shows how people form aspirations differently. This study looked only at satisfaction with finances and family; other researchers say future studies need to delve into other factors that might affect happiness, such as divorce and religiosity.

In all fairness, the article was a brief summary of the study. In fact, I would barely call the article an article because it was so brief. Secondly, I would offer the experts do touch upon the topic of sexual marketability but albeit in allusory reference, i.e. "aspirations for material goods and family life." (This was, after all, an economic study, not anthropology.) Moreover, since "happiness" is complex, the authors were served right to say factors other than finances affect happiness.

 

[mrRuckus]

that shows women's happiness decreases, while men's increases, exceeding women's by age 48.

Woohoo only twenty more years until i'm happier than the average woman. If I don't die first.

Meanwhile, men's finances and family life improve, making them "the happier of the two genders," the study says.

Why would men's family life improve when they get older? Why would women's get worse? Since when does losing your children through divorce equate to happiness? Ohhh i get it! Kids = miserable.

 

[edger]

Str8, Rollo, guys, I'm in total aggreance that a man will generally be on the prowl for a woman in her 20's for purposes of a long-term relationship, rather than a woman in her 30's/40's..I've always acknowledged that and understood it...all I'm saying, is that, when it comes strictly to lays, older women are just as hard to pull.

 

[ketostix]

If we are talking in generalities then I'm going to be a stinker and sort of side with Edger. Sure some older guys score with younger women, but that's not the norm. The norm is as long as a woman is pre-menopausal she's going to have options. And if she's 30-something or 40 and hot like these women in NYC Edger sees, then I don't see her losing any market value over not being a 20 year old girl. Give it maybe another 8-10 years.

The reality is, and this might vary by region, most younger girls are 18-22 and in college with plenty of horny college guys around and a big social circle. They don't need some 30-something guy. Then these girls graduate and start working and pair off with some guy similar in age from their similar in age social circle. I know there are exceptions but this is generally whats going on.

Anyway, any attractive girl 23-28 has a long list of suitors for a lot of reasons, she's younger, less likely to have kids, there's more singles in her age group etc. So I don't doubt at all their market value drops when they hit 30 and maybe have kids in tow, but the problem with the market is there's plenty of guys after any woman young or old. And a 30-something woman that is hot and doesn't have kids would be in demand. I haven't seen too many of them though, maybe in NYC.

 

[edger]

If someone lined up a hot 40-something woman and a hot 20-something girl, all things being equal, which would you select for sex? (if you had to choose one, haha.)

The hot 40-something yr old without a doubt. And for a couple of reasons:

1. They are more experienced in the bedroom

2. They radiate more sex appeal and act more feminine, like a TRUE woman(an older woman is ALL woman). And the reason for this woud have to be attributed from having more experience of what it's like to be a woman.

 

[ketostix]

The hot 40-something yr old without a doubt. And for a couple of reasons:

1. They are more experienced in the bedroom

2. They radiate more sex appeal and act more feminine, like a TRUE woman(an older woman is ALL woman). And the reason for this woud have to be attributed from having more experience of what it's like to be a woman.

Thanks to guys like you Edger even the 40-something year old women think they're desirable j/k.

 

[synergy1]

If we are talking in generalities then I'm going to be a stinker and sort of side with Edger. Sure some older guys score with younger women, but that's not the norm. The norm is as long as a woman is pre-menopausal she's going to have options. And if she's 30-something or 40 and hot like these women in NYC Edger sees, then I don't see her losing any market value over not being a 20 year old girl. Give it maybe another 8-10 years.

The reality is, and this might vary by region, most younger girls are 18-22 and in college with plenty of horny college guys around and a big social circle. They don't need some 30-something guy. Then these girls graduate and start working and pair off with some guy similar in age from their similar in age social circle. I know there are exceptions but this is generally whats going on.

Anyway, any attractive girl 23-28 has a long list of suitors for a lot of reasons, she's younger, less likely to have kids, there's more singles in her age group etc. So I don't doubt at all their market value drops when they hit 30 and maybe have kids in tow, but the problem with the market is there's plenty of guys after any woman young or old. And a 30-something woman that is hot and doesn't have kids would be in demand. I haven't seen too many of them though, maybe in NYC.

you bring up an important point about social circles of most girls aged between 20 and 25. The social circle is an easy form of trust that allows women to become easily involved with someone. Depending where you live, it is more or less difficult to break into these social circles if you are 10 years older as common interests probably don't exist. Lets face it, an average 35 year old guy won't have too much in common with kids 10 years his junior. Why would a group of guys who are trying to get with a number of hot girls in their social group invite along a 30+ year old dude? Again, unless they all have common interests, work together, or something, that 30 year old guy is most likely going to be excluded from that social circle.

Its not to say that there are exceptional 30+ year old guys consistently banging girls in their 20s. I know there is, I see these dudes out in Boston all the time and have nothing but mad respect for them.

 

[penkitten]

if middle aged men are so dang happy , why do you hear so many stories of "he's going through a mid life crisis"???

in my opinion, some switch gets turned on in men when they get middle aged. some are going to wrestle turmoil running from their wives buying sports cars and to-pays and others become extremely profound in wisdom. you never know which switch will get turned on until it does.

 

[Master Bates]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5479994&page=1 (watch the video).

I think this all ties to "sexual marektability" as Rollo once put it. When they are in their 20's women are the happiest because their sexual marketability is the highest (their looks). Men achieve that later in life in their 30's and 40's due to financial situation, while women start to lose out during that age due to their fading looks, and their inability to compete with younger women.

Its funny how those so called "experts" aren't even touching on this topic (due to the fear of offending women) and come up with other reasons to try and explain this.

This theory always seems to assume that all men make tons of money when they're older, and no woman ever does.

 

[STR8UP]

Edger....you can HAVE the 40 yr olds....they are all yours buddy....

Seriously though, I'm not saying I wouldn't fukk an attractive older woman, but I'll take a 20 something ANY day of the week over a woman 30+. And a serious relationship with a woman that age? Forget about it.

Depending where you live, it is more or less difficult to break into these social circles if you are 10 years older as common interests probably don't exist. Lets face it, an average 35 year old guy won't have too much in common with kids 10 years his junior. Why would a group of guys who are trying to get with a number of hot girls in their social group invite along a 30+ year old dude?........

Its not to say that there are exceptional 30+ year old guys consistently banging girls in their 20s. I know there is, I see these dudes out in Boston all the time and have nothing but mad respect for them.

I'll be 37 in a couple of months, and out of the last half dozen women I've had sex with, only ONE was in her 30's. The rest range from 21 to about 26. And if you count the ones I've "fooled around" with, the youngest was 20, The next oldest had turned 21 about two weeks before I met her, and once again there was only ONE who was in her early 30's.

See, I don't find it difficult at all to fit into younger circles. I have more than one group of friends who fall in the early to mid 20's category. Most people think I am in my late 20's, so that probably helps, plus the status thing, but I can honestly say that I genuinely "click" with younger folks as long as they aren't immature.

 

[STR8UP]

2. They radiate more sex appeal and act more feminine, like a TRUE woman(an older woman is ALL woman). And the reason for this woud have to be attributed from having more experience of what it's like to be a woman.

A truly FEMININE woman knows how to be feminine before when she's still a child.

And as for the "radiating sex appeal".....I suppose some men would say that about "big beautiful women" as well. Have at it my man!

 

[Ballie]

Hey Scaramouche - these lighties (young guys) don't get the picture maybe they're poser's. I thought this was a mature forum - only us Ballies (old dudes) really know we have our choice in woman from 20+. They might have the youth - but as they say not many okes 50+ have the body they used to have when they were catching tubes at Jefferies and my favourite spot North Beach SA