Young adults are Australia’s happiest citizens, but older citizens are getting less happy

YOUNG adults are on a 16-year happiness high, posting the highest satisfaction of any age group — but our oldest citizens are getting less happy, a new study has found.

YOUNG adults are on a 16-year happiness high, posting the highest satisfaction of any age group, a new study has found.

The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index measured the annual life satisfaction of more than 60,000 Australian adults between 2002 and 2017, and found the youngest are getting happier and the oldest are getting less happy.

MILLENNIAL’S SAVING BUDGET SLAMMED

IS THE GEN Y SMASHED AVO STEREOTYPE TRUE?

In fact, young adults — whether they live with their parents or not — are happier now than they were at the turn of the century.

Their life satisfaction score is now 77.8 out of 100 compared to 73.4 in 2002.

The results also show females are more satisfied than males, and those with higher incomes are happier generally, except for those in the $500,000-plus category.

Bronte Modica (centre) enjoys catching up with friends Bonnie Harwood and Adrian Mifsud. Picture: Josie Hayden

Happiness is also linked to living with a partner, having children and being married. Single parents who are ­divorced or separated tend to be less happy. The retired are the most satisfied occupational group and the unemployed the least satisfied.

Lead author Dr Delyse Hutchinson, a Deakin University senior research fellow, said the findings “appear to run counter to the prevailing view that young Australians are increasingly burdened by issues such as being locked out of the housing market, education debt, and suggestions digital technology and social media is creating a generation of isolated young ­people”.

“Rates of alcohol use and smoking among young Australians have also been steadily declining in recent years,” she said.

Although those aged over 76 had consistently high wellbeing levels, there has been a decline in their satisfaction in recent years.

In 2002, the average wellbeing score of people in this category was 79.5 but it was down to 77.2 in 2017.

Older people reported ­declining scores in the wellbeing domains of future sec­urity, personal relationships, achieve­ment in life and standard of living.

WHAT IS A MILLENNIAL?

One happy young person is Bronte Modica, 24, from Mont Albert. Ms Modica, a social media manager at REA, said her wellbeing was due to having good health and a work-life balance.

“I’m not online 24/7 — I’ve got time to hang with friends and family,” she said.

Ms Modica said she also relished “opportunities available to my age group such as travelling overseas”.

“I am happy to stay home if it means I get there sooner,” she said.

[e-mail]