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In the journals: More happiness, less worry after age 50, study finds

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

In the report, titled "A Snapshot of the Age Distribution of Psychological Well-being in the United States," researchers at Stony Brook University and Princeton University analyzed data from a 2008 Gallup telephone survey of 340,847 Americans, ages 18 to 85. The survey gathered information about age, sex, marital status, personal finances, health, and other topics. To assess global well-being, it asked respondents where they would place themselves on an imaginary 10-step ladder with "best possible life" at the top and "worst possible life" at the bottom. For hedonic well-being, they were asked whether they had experienced any of the following emotions during a large part of the previous day: stress, worry, anger, sadness, enjoyment, and happiness.

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