UK Telegraph
Men aged 60 have highest self esteem
Rich married men who are approaching retirement have the highest self esteem, scientists discover.
Researchers found that confidence is lowest amongst young adults, but increases throughout adulthood, peaking at the age of sixty.
However, after this age, retirement and bad health cause a decline in self regard, researchers said.
The study looked at 3,617 American men and women aged 25 to 104 between 1986 and 2002, and rated how their self esteem changed during this period.
Women were found to be less confident than men, only catching up in confidence when they got to their 80s or 90s.
Those with better education, income, health and employment status were also likely to report higher levels of self esteem, especially as they age, the study found.
And those in happy marriages also had higher levels of self esteem.
Study leader Ulrich Orth said: "Specifically, we found that people who have higher incomes and better health in later life tend to maintain their self-esteem as they age.
“We cannot know for certain that more wealth and better health directly lead to higher self-esteem, but it does appear to be linked in some way.
“For example, it is possible that wealth and health are related to feeling more independent and better able to contribute to one's family and society, which in turn bolsters self-esteem.
“Self-esteem is related to better health, less criminal behavior, lower levels of depression and, overall, greater success in life.
“Therefore, it's important to learn more about how the average person's self-esteem changes over time."
The study, published by the American Psychological Association, asked participants to rate their agreement with statements such as “I take a positive attitude towards myself”, or “At times I think I am no good at all” to measure their level of confidence.
They were also asked about their ethnic background, education, income, work status, and relationship satisfaction, as well as whether they had experienced stressful events, such as losing a parent or child.
Black people and white people were found to have similar self esteem until they reached old age, when black people were more likely to lose confidence.
People in happy relationships had higher levels of self esteem, but also experienced the same drop in confidence when they passed sixty as those who were in unhappy relationships.
Study co-author Kali Trzesniewski said: “Although they enter old age with higher self-esteem and continue to have higher self-esteem as they age, they decline in self-esteem to the same extent as people in unhappy relationships.
"Thus, being in a happy relationship does not protect a person against the decline in self-esteem that typically occurs in old age."
The researchers claim that that the peak in confidence around the age of sixty was due to feelings of security and stability.
Researcher Richard Robins said: “Midlife is a time of highly stable work, family and romantic relationships. People increasingly occupy positions of power and status, which might promote feelings of self-esteem.
“In contrast, older adults may be experiencing a change in roles such as an empty nest, retirement and obsolete work skills in addition to declining health.”
But he added that thanks to medical advances, people may remain healthier longer, and be able to work for longer as a result.
He said: “It is possible that the decline in self-esteem might occur later in life for baby boomers.”
Access Content Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7547748/Men-aged-60-have-highest-self-esteem.htmlUK Telegraph
Men aged 60 have highest self esteem
Rich married men who are approaching retirement have the highest self esteem, scientists discover.
Researchers found that confidence is lowest amongst young adults, but increases throughout adulthood, peaking at the age of sixty.
However, after this age, retirement and bad health cause a decline in self regard, researchers said.
The study looked at 3,617 American men and women aged 25 to 104 between 1986 and 2002, and rated how their self esteem changed during this period.
Women were found to be less confident than men, only catching up in confidence when they got to their 80s or 90s.
Those with better education, income, health and employment status were also likely to report higher levels of self esteem, especially as they age, the study found.
And those in happy marriages also had higher levels of self esteem.
Study leader Ulrich Orth said: "Specifically, we found that people who have higher incomes and better health in later life tend to maintain their self-esteem as they age.
“We cannot know for certain that more wealth and better health directly lead to higher self-esteem, but it does appear to be linked in some way.
“For example, it is possible that wealth and health are related to feeling more independent and better able to contribute to one's family and society, which in turn bolsters self-esteem.
“Self-esteem is related to better health, less criminal behavior, lower levels of depression and, overall, greater success in life.
“Therefore, it's important to learn more about how the average person's self-esteem changes over time."
The study, published by the American Psychological Association, asked participants to rate their agreement with statements such as “I take a positive attitude towards myself”, or “At times I think I am no good at all” to measure their level of confidence.
They were also asked about their ethnic background, education, income, work status, and relationship satisfaction, as well as whether they had experienced stressful events, such as losing a parent or child.
Black people and white people were found to have similar self esteem until they reached old age, when black people were more likely to lose confidence.
People in happy relationships had higher levels of self esteem, but also experienced the same drop in confidence when they passed sixty as those who were in unhappy relationships.
Study co-author Kali Trzesniewski said: “Although they enter old age with higher self-esteem and continue to have higher self-esteem as they age, they decline in self-esteem to the same extent as people in unhappy relationships.
"Thus, being in a happy relationship does not protect a person against the decline in self-esteem that typically occurs in old age."
The researchers claim that that the peak in confidence around the age of sixty was due to feelings of security and stability.
Researcher Richard Robins said: “Midlife is a time of highly stable work, family and romantic relationships. People increasingly occupy positions of power and status, which might promote feelings of self-esteem.
“In contrast, older adults may be experiencing a change in roles such as an empty nest, retirement and obsolete work skills in addition to declining health.”
But he added that thanks to medical advances, people may remain healthier longer, and be able to work for longer as a result.
He said: “It is possible that the decline in self-esteem might occur later in life for baby boomers.”
***********************************************************************
http://dreamlearndobecome.blogspot.com This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
No comments:
Post a Comment