As we get older in life, we’re likely to get a little jittery before a milestone birthday. You ask anyone about to turn 30 — or 60. But new research has suggested that our thoughts about entering a new decade could translate into major life-altering choices for us. Read more on Huff’ Post:
Researchers from New York University’s Stern School of Business and the University of California, Los Angeles’ Anderson School of Management, analyzed results from various health-related surveys and databases to determine a correlation between ages ending in “nine” and certain behaviors.
“People are more apt to evaluate their lives as a chronological decade ends and, as a result, more likely to make life-altering decisions,” the authors Adam Alter and Hal Hershfield said in a statement. “As we age, it’s good to understand this propensity so we’re more likely to make constructive rather than destructive choices. Our research suggests that people who are nearing the end of a decade may be more likely to make large purchases (e.g., buy life insurance, invest in retirement savings, pursue cosmetic surgery, etc.). Being aware of the tendency to do so can help consumers decide if they are making such decisions for the right reasons.”
The analysis revealed that men at ages 29, 39, 49 and 59 were nearly one-fifth more likely to be registered on an online dating service for people seeking extramarital affairs. Suicide rates among people with an age ending in nine were also two-and-a-half percent higher than others. On a more positive note, an analysis of first-time marathoners found those with an age ending in the number nine were a quarter more likely to participate than any other ages.
Does this mean a crisis is looming for everyone about to reach a milestone birthday? The analysis revealed that people at these certain ages are more likely to wonder if their lives are truly meaningful. It’s hard not to, with messages like “50 is the new 30” or “30 is the new 20.”
