2/1/13
Eight in 10 women ages 60-95 (81%) say their happiest decade came after age 40, according to More magazine. However, women say each lifestage has particular resonance: they typically have experienced freedom in their 20s, marriage and career in their 30s, confidence and self-awareness in their 40s, freedom from kids in their 50s, freedom from their jobs in their 60s, and a sense of what really matters in their 70s. Half say they have found their true life path at age 40 or later.
The older women are, the more likely they are to feel good about themselves. Success in certain lifestages also boosts their feelings about other stages. For example, women who have pursued activities outside of their work and family are 12% more likely to rate their romantic relationships highly, are 25% more likely to be happy with their lives past age 60, and are 25% more likely to say they have found their true path in life. Working women are 12% more likely to rate their lives as successful after age 60. However, having children does not affect women’s likelihood of feeling successful in life. Moms and non-moms give themselves nearly identical grades.
Two in three (66%) consider themselves spiritual or religious, with this belief increasing as they age. More than seven in 10 women over age 80 (71%) consider themselves religious or spiritual.
Meanwhile, 63% say they have acquired new fears after age 60, which does not include their appearance. Their most pressing worries are about health, money, mortality, losing their independence, and time running out.
Nine in 10 women who have children (90%) say if they could redo their lives, they would choose to become parents again. Women who have worked outside of the home consider themselves 16% less successful at child rearing than those who have been stay-at-home moms. Women define successful parenting as having adult children who are happy, productive, and caring.
The top three things moms would change if they could do so would be to have more children, to have them later in life, and to have them with a better partner. At the same time, 75% of older women without children say they would choose to remain childless. Two in three women ages 60-95 grade themselves A or B on their romantic relationships.
Source: More magazine, Beatrice Hogan, Research Chief, 125 Park Ave., 20th Fl., New York, NY 10017; 212-557-5600; beatrice.hogan@meredith.com; www.more.com.
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