You know by now what BTW means, but how about SWL? That's the abbreviation for "Satisfaction With Life," according to psychology researchers at the University of Utah and Columbia University in New York City. The team published a paper in the Journal of Happiness called "What Mediates the Links Between Age and Well-Being?" based on a study of men and women ages 30 to 70. (ThirdAge aside: We love the fact that there actually is an academic publication called the Journal of Happiness! In this era of information overload, we are so often bombarded with grim news. How nice that some academicians are actually devoting themselves to finding the positive aspects of life in general and aging in particular.)
But we digress. Back to the topic at hand: The team found that "age was associated with lower SWL in the young to middle-aged sample, but higher SWL in the middle-age to older adult sample." They further concluded that these data "suggest that negative interpersonal exchanges may be important contributors to well-being at midlife." That's academic language for "The sandwich generation years are really tough but the empty nest years – if the nest ever empties – are actually easier and happier."
And so, younger Boomers, hang in there! From the vantage point of older "Boomers and Beyond," things really will get better as the time goes by. P.S. Stay healthy so you can live long enough to enjoy the SWL years!
