clipped from: www.abc.net.au   

A global study on happiness shows middle age is truly miserable, although an Australian researcher says this is not necessarily so.

depressed

A study using data from around 80 countries has found happiness is greatest in youth and old age with depression being most common among men and women in their forties

"In a remarkably regular way throughout the world people slide down a U-shaped level of happiness and mental health throughout their lives," says researcher Professor Andrew Oswald at Warwick University in the UK.

The study is published in the journal Social Science & Medicine.

Oswald and Professor David Blanchflower of Dartmouth College in the US analysed data on depression, anxiety levels and general mental health and well-being taken from some 2 million people in countries ranging from Albania to Zimbabwe.

"It happens to men and women, to single and married people, to rich and poor, and to those with and without children,
Nobody knows why we see this consistency."