A quiz about the realities of the second half of life
A new Second Half of Life study run jointly by National Geographic and AARP (the American Association of Retired Persons) has revealed some interesting insights into the realities, expectations and experiences of us second-halfers.
The study was conducted between January and March this year, and 2,580 adults aged 18 - 80+ were questioned, with a broad mix of gender, race/ethnicity, education backgrounds, income, overall health and overall financial health.
Some of what the research shows I don’t think is all that surprising - not in a bad way - and some is quite unexpected. Very much in a good way.
Have a go at this quiz to see to what extent you anticipate and agree with the findings, and what about them surprises you. The answers are at the end.
1. Which age is most optimistic about their future?
Under 40s
40-50
50-60
60-70
70-80
80+
2. Which age is happiest?
40-50
50-60
60-70
70-80
80+
3. Which are the top three concerns for people in the second half of their life?
Health
Independence
Purpose
Finances
Brain health
Where to live
Relationships
4. Which age of people, suffering from at least one serious health condition, are most likely to rate their health as excellent or very good?
40-5-
50-60
60-70
70-80
80+
5. Which of these conditions is the most consistent health concern at every age?
Strength loss
Chronic pain
Cancer
Memory loss
Heart disease
Mobility loss
Diminished eyesight
Cognitive decline
6. What age most highly rates their relationships with family and friends as excellent or very good?
40-50
50-60
60-70
70-80
80+
7. Which age would be most likely to take a pill that slows down ageing (if it existed!)
40-50
50-60
60-70
70-80-
80+
8. Which age would be most likely to take a pill that extends life by 10 years (if it existed!)
40-50
50-60
60-70
70-80
80+
9. Which age is most and least afraid of death?
40-50
50-60
60-70
70-80
80+
10. Which age feels best and least prepared for death?
40-50
50-60
60-70
70-80
80+
Answers
1. 57% of under 40s are optimistic about their future but in close second place, with 50% are 70-80 year olds. The least optimistic are 60-70 year olds with 44%.
2. 80+ year olds are the happiest with 34% reporting they feel very happy and only 10% saying they feel not too happy. Second, at 27% are 70-80 year olds, with the lowest being 50-60 year olds at just 18%
3. The respondents ranked Brain health, independence and relationships as their top tier concerns. With the others in the second tier of considerations
4. 83% of 70-80 year olds rated their health as excellent or very good in spite of suffering from at least one serious health condition. Close behind were 80+ year olds at 81% and then 60-70 year olds at 75%
5. Memory loss is the top concern at pretty much every age although that’s overtaken by mobility loss in people in their mid 70s and into their 80s. Worries about cancer go from being a close second concern in people in their 40s and 50s to second-to-last on the list for people aged 70 and over. Worries about health peak in people in their 60s then fall from 70 onwards.
6. 85% of 80+ year olds say their relationships with family and friends are excellent of very good. 81% of people in their 70s say the same and 69% of those in their 60s agree. Although 34% of 40-50 year olds say their relationships have improved in the last five years as opposed to just 19% of 80+. Joy and purpose from family increases with age, whilst friends become more about joy than purpose.
7. 60-70 year olds would be the very or extremely likely to swallow a slow-down-ageing pill - 72% of the respondents said they’d try it if it existed - followed by 68% of 70-80 year olds and 64% of the 50-60s. The under 40s would be least likely to give it a go.
8. Leading the pack on being very or extremely likely to take a pill that extends life by 10 years are 70-80 year olds with 55% putting their hands up for that one. Not far behind were 60-70 year olds and 80+ with 52% each, and 50-60 year olds with 51%.
9. Unsurprisingly the age who are least afraid of death are 80+ year olds, with just 4% saying it bothered them. That rises slightly to 10% in 70-80 year olds, although it drops to 7% amongst 60-70 year olds which is interesting. Again no surprises though, that the most afraid of death are 40-50 year olds.
10. Similarly over 80s feel best prepared for death (47%), and 40-50s least prepared (8%). Not being a burden is the most consistent worry about death across all ages, although it’s slightly overtaken by being in comfort or no having no pain for 40-50s and 70-80s.
65% of the respondents agreed with medical aid in dying. And of those who disagreed 18% cited religious reasons.
Overall, whilst people recognised some of the challenges that come with ageing many had an optimistic outlook and expected their lives to improve as they grew older, with wealth and retirement concerns secondary to health considerations and relationships becoming more of a central feature and source of purpose and joy.
How did you do on the quiz? What surprised you? Or confirmed what you already thought/knew?
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