People start to relax and become content with life aged 44-years-old, study claims

Financial security, good health and settled home life contribute to satisfaction and enjoyment of middle age

The survey of people over the age of 55 found 82 per cent now felt content with life (SWNS)

People started to relax and enjoy the finer things in life from their mid-40s onwards, according to a new survey.

After struggling to get on the property ladder and establish careers in their 20s and 30s, the poll found that from 44 through to their 50s, early to mid-60s and beyond, people became more contented.

Catalysts included being financially secure, being fit and healthy and being safe in the knowledge the children were doing well in their chosen careers.

Other key elements included having a settled home life, being in stable, happy relationships and being “comfortable in their own skin”.

“This generation of 40, 50 and 60 plus year olds are different to those from previous generations," a spokesperson for Viking Cruises, which commissioned the research of 2,000 adults aged 55 plus, said. “They are essentially a younger, more curious, active version of the previous incarnation.

“They are not willing to spend their days sitting on the sofa with a pipe and slippers, they have vim and vigour and want to get the most they can from life in their 50s and 60s.”

The study also identified typical challenges faced during their 20s – including finding work, saving money, dating and dealing with breakups.

It did not get any easier once they turned 30 with work stress caused by attempts to get a foothold in a career and the financial and emotional pressure from starting a family.

However, from the mid-40s things started to settle down as respondents climbed the corporate ladder, saw their salaries rise and moved to a second, or even third, larger property.

Financial freedom, being debt free and having enough self-confidence not to worry about what other people think also added to the feeling of contentment.

Other positive aspects included spending time with the grandchildren (40 per cent) and having the mortgage fully paid off (43 per cent).

Research has revealed people started to relax and enjoy the finer things in life from their mid-40s onwards (SWNS)

It also emerged 28 per cent had been on a cruise and of those who had not, more than a quarter said they would like to go on one in the future.

Almost seven in 10 said they wished they had seen more of the world than they currently had.

A separate study carried out by Viking among 1,324 of their own customers which explored "happiness triggers" found 89 per cent go on holiday, seven in 10 enjoy spending time with friends and family and 67 per cent enjoy reading.

It also emerged one in five of those aged 65 and over found time to enjoy five holidays every year, while just over half of the 56 to 64 age group enjoyed between three and four.

A spokesperson for Viking Cruises added: “Over two thirds of those polled said they wished they had seen more of the world – but they are not sitting around lamenting – they are making it happen. Travelling the world is no longer the domain of the gap year student or the young – this generation is just as footloose and fancy free – if not even more so.”

SWNS