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NEW RESEARCH SHOWS WE ARE MORE PRONED TO CHEATING AT CERTAIN AGES

Forget mid life crisis. Apparently, we’re in crisis throughout our lives according to a recent research published by the National Academy of Sciences .
cheating at certain ages

 

Forget mid life crisis. Apparently, we’re in crisis throughout our lives according to a recent research published by the National Academy of Sciences. This new study looked at self reflection and behavior through time and showed that when people are approaching a new decade in age at ages 29, 39, 49 etc., they tend to behave “in ways that suggest an ongoing or failed search for meaning”. This search for meaning usually translates to seeking extramarital affairs, choosing to end their lives or exercising more vigorously. Whatever happened to buying a Ferrari?

There were 6 studies within the research that looked at exercise, extramarital affairs and suicide rates among adults who ranged between 25-64 years old in age. The results revealed that certain numerical ages prompted more self reflection than others and  cross cultural analysis showed that people tended to make significant life decisions as they approach a new decade. Here’s the breakdown:

Studies 1 & 2: The authors examined data from 42,063 adults from more than 100 countries, who completed the World Values Survey and reported how often they questioned the meaning of life. They found that people who were entering a new decade in their lives are more likely to question whether their lives were meaningful.      

Study 3: Professors Alter and Hershfield categorized more than 8 million male users registered on a dating website that caters to people who are seeking extramarital affairs. They found that men aged 29, 39, 49 and 59 were nearly 18% more likely than men at other ages to register on the site.      

Cheating at certain ages

Study 4: The researchers examined the number of suicides per 100,000 individuals across the US from 2000 to 2011. Suicide rates were 2.4% higher among individuals whose age ended in a 9 than among people whose ages ended in any other digit.     

Study 5: The professors collected data from Athlinks, a website that compiles running race times, and found that runners ran about 2% faster at ages 29 and 39 than during the two years before and after those ages.      

Study 6: The authors examined the ages of 500 first-time marathon runners randomly drawn from the Athlinks website, and found 25% more "9-enders" than runners whose ages ended in any other digit.

 

The turn of a new decade can mean new beginning for many out there but it can also be a point where we all know we’re transitioning out of an arbitrary point in our lives defined by your chronological age. There’s nothing wrong with starting something new at any age. Truth is you still look the same when you’re 29 and the day you turn 30. The only thing that’s changed is how you view yourself.  

Amy Yew is a registered clinical counselor and relationship therapist. She is also the author of a fashion and lifestyle blog Style Du Jour. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to amyvancouvercourier@gmail.com.

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