One of the presentations I saw concerned happiness, a focus of this blog. The study raised some interesting questions, so I’ll summarize the presentation and discuss its findings. The student who presented was Alexander Rodgers, from North Carolina State University; the sponsoring faculty member was Shevaun Neupert. The focus was on the relationship between busyness and happiness. College students (aged 18-24) and older adults (aged 60-92) rated their level of busyness and feelings of happiness over 8 consecutive days. For the young adults, there was no relationship between self-reported busyness and happiness. For the older adults, though, higher levels of busyness were associated with greater happiness. The researchers looked at factors that might have explained the relationship. It couldn’t be accounted for by the participant’s tiredness or by the number of physical ailments they had. Older participants gave higher ratings overall on the item, “I spend my time doing what I want,” but there was no relationship between that item and happiness.
All of the adults had been recruited at senior centers or retirement communities; none were working. I suspect that busyness wouldn’t be associated with happiness in a sample of working older adults. I know at least a couple of employed older adults whose employment keeps them quite busy and who are dissatisfied when they compare themselves to age-mates with more opportunities for leisure. I’m not surprised that, once older adults retire, there isn’t a relationship between doing what one wants and happiness. I would imagine that most retirees have the leeway to do as they please, so the correlation with happiness would be attenuated.
What might produce the association between busyness and happiness in retirees, though? Since the finding is correlational, we can’t be certain that it’s the increased activity that causes happiness. The causal relationship could be reversed (happy people get involved in more activities), or some other factor, such as self-efficacy or the size of one’s social network, might influence both busyness and happiness. One possible reason for the association is that a sense of purpose might result both in an increased activity level and more life satisfaction. It’s known that retirees who have planned out what activities they will engage in after leaving the workforce make a more successful adjustment than those who don’t make such plans. I’m always struck by how busy most of the retirees I know are. The ones who are volunteering their time at church or for community organizations seem particularly fulfilled. My parents volunteered quite a bit for about fifteen years after retirement, though they have slowed down as they’ve gotten older and had more health problems. Still, my dad seems quite satisfied when he’s able to play the piano for nursing home residents or speak to elementary school classes about World War II. Research has found a relationship between helping others and happiness. This study didn’t try to parcel out the sorts of activities that the older adults were engaged in; I wonder whether it is particularly those busy contributing to the welfare of others who are happiest. That would be fitting; for altruistic elders, doing good would be its own reward.
April 28, 2011 at 7:54 am
I believe senior adults are happy when they are busy. My grandmother was in a retirement home. My grandmother did not adjust very well, but once she gotten involved with her peers, participating in functions, doing creative arts, going for walks, gossiping, playing games, cooking and sewing, grandmother not only was exhausted at the end of the day, she was also happy.
Some of the senior adults do not have family that comes to visit, whether they are in a retirement home or nursing home. When these seniors are occupied with things to do, many of them have a feeling of self-worth, and feel they have something to contribute, whether it is amongst themselves or the community.
It does my heart good when I see the senior adults occupied, because they love what they do. I agree after they worked for years then retire, they basically could do whatever they want. I have seen senior adults who just sit around, and feel they have nothing to do or offer, majority of the ones I seen in this state are miserable and unhappy, but once you go talk with them, take them out to a restaurant or even play a game with them they have such a glow and they are happy and want to see a lot more of you.
When my grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, I went back to the retirement home, and many of the seniors were there, playing games,telling jokes, sharing their war stories and cooking. There was so much laughter and happiness. What an atmosphere to be in. I enjoyed it!
April 28, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Ann Marie,
Thanks for your comment. It’s interesting to read about your experiences with older adults in retirement homes. You’re never too old to do something meaningful!
May 10, 2011 at 2:04 pm
I have this grandmother that I don’t know all that well, she is my birth mother’s mom. She is the happiest person I’ve ever met. She’s constantly traveling, volunteering, working with people in her church, and visiting family. She’s leads a more active life than I do, and I have a two-year old! She’s just great to talk to, always in a good mood.
Now my grandmother from my adopted family? She was nothing like that later in life. She never left the house. The only social interaction she had was with her immediate family, which I know she loved, but still. I assume the two were close in age, but couldn’t be more different.
I think that’s why we have to find something to do that we love, either that or die young! 🙂
May 10, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Great examples, Sarah. And you’re absolutely right about the importance of finding something you love. I hope you’re not considering the option of dying young! (Get back from the ledge, Sarah. . .slowly. . .) Plenty people who don’t have a passion for anything do die young, even though their bodies are still alive.