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The Road to Unhappiness

Will more men die smiling than women?

by Peter Gilstrap
Posted August 4th, 6:00am | Science/Health

In yet another bit of evidence from the never sleeping minds in relationship science, we now learn that, while men and women are all at the same party, by the time the keg runs out, it’s the gals who are leaving bummed out. Which is an allegorical way of saying that women are going to end up less happy than men.

An upcoming report in the Journal of Happiness Studies (yes, it’s for real, though in this case shouldn’t it be Unhappiness Studies?) states that—though they start life off happier than the boys—females will be less able to achieve their goals, with 48 being the magic age when depression really kicks in. And as for the biggest goal, both sexes desire essentially the same thing in terms of love and family, though by age 34, more men are married than women and the divide is ever growing as the years move on.

“Of course, one doesn't have to be married to be happy, but if that's something you really want--and it is for most people--then the failure to attain it can have an impact on your overall happiness,” stated the University of Cambridge’s Professor Anke Plagnol, who worked on the study. Also, as men age, their earning power increases, and thus does their ability to buy all the expensive goodies that make them happy, things most women have no interest in. While it all may be a bit grim (thanks science!), there is one certain way to avoid unhappiness: stay away from studies like this.
 

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