Happiness is… to be found at 50

• Among those turning 50 this year are, from left, BBC Newsnight presenter Anne MacKenzie, author Ian Rankin and Carol Vorderman

But far from being the harrowing landmark some fear, a new study claims that turning 50 heralds the start of the happiest time of our lives.

The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found overall feelings of well-being improve as people pass middle age.

Stress, anger and worry fade after 50, with those interviewed saying they began experiencing greater daily joy than younger adults.

The researchers found positive and negative emotions varied with age similarly in both sexes – although women reported greater stress, worry and sadness at all ages.

Stress and anger reduced after people reached their early 20s with worry declining after the age of 50.

Variables such as having young children, being unemployed, or being single did not affect age-related patterns of well being.

Professor Arthur Stone, a psychologist at Stony Brook University, in New York, who led the research, posed the question: "Why are older people, on average, happier and less stressed than younger people?"

The findings were consistent with earlier research suggesting increased "wisdom" and emotional intelligence with age – at least through middle age.

Older people also have an increased ability to self-regulate their emotions and view their situations positively and recall fewer negative memories than younger adults.

The researchers said: "They are also in accord with a 'positivity effect' wherein older people recall fewer negative memories than younger adults and with the possibility older adults are more effective at regulating their emotions than younger adults."

Over 340,000 participants who took part in a telephone survey answered yes-or-no questions regarding whether they had experienced enjoyment, happiness, stress, worry, anger and sadness during a large portion of the day prior to the phone call.

Previous studies have shown increased life expectancy and widespread early retirement has created a much greater emphasis on "quality of life" among men and women in their fifties.

The consequence is that instead of settling down to a stereotyped "jumpers and slippers" existence by the fireside, many now pursue a varied social life in search of personal fulfilment.

Dr Mary Brown, a lecturer in psychology at Robert Gordon University, in Aberdeen, said: "When you are more mature you've so much more life experience and know the difference between what you can and can't change.

"Life is less turbulent than when you were younger. You'll have made mistakes and seen the results of that so are less likely to sacrifice what's important to you on a passing whim. You are hopefully making more sensible decisions and this 'taking your foot off the pedal' can be highly positive."

Calm, confident, grown-up – all the advantages of being old enough, but not feeling old at all

CHRISTINE Gupta said when she reached 50 she felt she was as "grown up as she was ever going to get".

"People have to accept you as you are. It's down to you how you do your hair, what music you listen to and how you want to lead your life. Before that you might have conformed a bit with what was expected.

"I felt a sort of calmness about things. I was a bit more confident. My attitude was 'this is me, take it or leave it'."

However Mrs Gupta, who is in her early 50s, and runs the Edinburgh-based Gupta Partnership, a marketing and PR company, with her husband Ash, said like many others in her age range she still had to deal with the realities of life.

"A lot of how you feel is to do with how things are going in other areas of your life. We work for ourselves so a lot of how I feel is to do with the highs and lows of how the business is going.

"On one hand being that bit older you feel in a personal sense you don't have to prove yourself but in the sort of business we're in you have to keep up with things.

Mrs Gupta turned down her husband's offer of a birthday party to celebrate her 50th birthday and told him "I'd like you to take me shopping in Milan. When you turn 50 you suddenly get the Saga package through the letter box and I wanted something that would definitely make me feel young."

FOOTBALLING legend Jackie McNamara, 57, said he had calmed down after reaching his 50th birthday.

"I wouldn't say turning 50 was a big deal for me – If I'm being 100 per cent honest I can say I never even thought about it.

"I just went along as normal. In my head I still think of myself as 18 years old."

But Mr McNamara, who played for Celtic and captained Hibs, said he now took a more measured approach to life.

"When I was younger, in my 30s, my nickname was 'Crabbit'. Some things would really get on my nerves – people's behaviour, bad manners, fighting and scuffles in the pub.

"As I got older, over 50, I changed. I'm more laid back. You get more reflective having seen it all before.

"But what's made me more relaxed is feeling I've achieved my ambitions.

"Also, I don't have to worry about my three sons who are grown up and doing well and I have seven grandchildren who give me a lot of happiness."