HAPPINESS, LONELINESS, LIFECYCLES

ABSTRACT

The author reviews the literature in portions of the following topics. The important feature is the robust quality of age on other variables that are sociological, psychological, and biological. In an earlier article, a Life Cycle Loneliness Curve was introduced based on theory and literature reviews. The Loneliness Curve was wrong. Happiness is a full U curve, Loneliness is a flattened U curve, and depression will be discussed tangentially. The author’s curve is an inverted  N curve and reflects much of untested observations about loneliness.  Finally, age as a variable in the creation of life cycle curves may make a major contribution to demography and numerous other fields.

REVIEW

Snell  Curve

Borrowing from numerous sources, but drawing heavily on studies of elderly, as well as summations of panel studies of other  age groups the author constructed a theoretical curve. The Snell Curve is a an inverted N describing stages of many or most individuals in industrial and post industrial societies. Stage 1 many feel connected to those around them. Stage2. During teens to early 20’s feel isolated and judged and thus are the most lonely.  Stage 3 individuals mainstream and feel more semi-bonded with other workers.  Stage 4 Individuals slow down with age and illness and withdraw as friends die as well as mates. One is lonely again. The inverted N is  if the very young are left out. Thus,  the inverted N becomes a rightward tilting A with the horizontal bar deleted.The peaks of contacts (in the inverted N) are the very young to those moving into their 60’s. The nadir is adoloscence and old age.

Snell Revised Curve/ Pinquart & Sorenson is a flattened curve. Early youth is left out and begins in adolescence. Individuals are most lonely at this stage, then loneliness fades as the individual mainstreams with the general population. Loneliness emerges again in what social gerontologist call old-old. This is usually from around 63 to 75 until death. Age becomes an illness unto itself. Thus the curve is much simpler and easier to understand. Further it is backed by research using the UCLA Loneliness Scale. It has been  supported by panel, longitudinal, cross sectional and other research stratigies. The Loneliness discussion and measures began in 1959.

The Happiness Curve is a robust U. The happy are very young and old. The rest are at some level of unhappiness. However, it does not mean severe, deep, or suicidal depressionl. As will be discussed later, loneliness is not necessarily depression and numerous scales, indexes and measures   that survey this dimension. However, we are also confronted with  common terms like unhappiness. Does that mean situationally un- happy or semi- to severe depression? Therefore, we must say that the Happiness Curve is probably the most used term.The literature is immense. To clarify with brevity, we will define a number of private terms to clear the air of the numerous common and professional terminology.

PRIMITIVE TERMS

Age. The number of days past one’s birth.

Snell Curve. An inverted capital N. Peaks of least lonliness is in childhood and in one’s 60’s.

Snell Curve/Pinquart&Sorenson. A flattened curve of which adolosence  and old-old are the most lonely.

Happiness Curve. A Robust U indicates that the happiness is most likely time to be experience from adolosence to early to mid 70’s. It is generally a sense of well being with self and others.

Sociological. A  sense of satisfaction  with interaction or relationships with others.

Psychological. A sense of satisfaction within one’s self and with others.

Biological . A sense of well being in the autonomic system.

Unhappy. A common term referring to brief or long standing sense of despair and can vary over time.