VOA常速英语2008年-Researchers Say Depression in Middle Years Poss

By Carol Pearson
Washington, DC
05 February 2008
 
A new study shows that mid-life depression is not just a Western phenomenon. In fact, it is almost universal. But the good news is, it does not last forever. VOA's Carol Pearson has more on what researchers in the U.S. and Britain found about levels of happiness throughout life.

Researchers at Dartmouth College in the United States and the University of Warwick in Britain, scoured¹ 35 years of data on more than two million people around the world and found a consistent² pattern of happiness.

They say no matter what the culture, whether we live in rich countries or poor ones, most of us are the happiest in our 20s and 30s, and then, again, after age 50. People in their 40s, especially their mid-40s, are the least happy.

One of the researchers, economist³ Andrew Oswald says he can only guess why. He says, "The most plausible⁴ theory is that at the start of life, we have very high aspirations⁵, very high expectations, and it's painful through our 30s and until the mid-40s to let those go."

Gail Harris had so much difficulty in her mid-40s that she established a Web venture about aging, health and spirituality. "You start assessing where you are and wondering if that's all there is?" she wondered. "Could you be happier? Something almost magical and mysterious happens as you round the bend to 50."

The researchers say our lives generally look like a U-curve with age 44 right at the bottom before we start experiencing happiness again. Professor Oswald explains, "People cut themselves a little slack⁶. They accept that they're not going end up the general manager of their company. They're not going to win the Nobel Prize."

But that does not mean people settle for less, says therapist Susan Bluestone. "It's different. It's really understanding who you are and what you really can accomplish in life."

Professor Oswald says the unhappiness stems⁷ from something inside us, and there is not much we can do to avoid it. But he adds, if we make it past our 40s, we can expect to once again enjoy life to the fullest.

1 scoured   

走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮

参考例句：

• We scoured the area for somewhere to pitch our tent. 我们四处查看，想找一个搭帐篷的地方。
• The torrents scoured out a channel down the hill side. 急流沿着山腰冲刷出一条水沟。

2 consistent   

adj.坚持的，一贯的，一致的，符合的

参考例句：

• He has been a consistent friend to the Chinese people.他是中国人民始终如一的朋友。
• His action is always consistent with his words.他始终言行一致。

3 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

4 plausible   

adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的

参考例句：

• His story sounded plausible.他说的那番话似乎是真实的。
• Her story sounded perfectly plausible.她的说辞听起来言之有理。

5 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

6 slack   

adj.松弛的，萧条的，懈怠的；vt.使松弛

参考例句：

• Slack off those ropes there,there's a storm coming!把那里的绳索放松，暴风雨就要来了！
• Some are hard at work and some are slack in work.有的勤奋工作，有的则消极怠工。

7 stems   

n.（花草的）茎( stem的名词复数 )；词干；（高脚酒杯的）脚；烟斗柄v.遏制[阻止]（液体的流动等）( stem的第三人称单数 )；封堵；遏止

参考例句：

• The present wave of strikes stems from discontent among the lower-paid. 当前的罢工浪潮起因于低工资雇员们的不满情绪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her interest in flowers stems from her childhood in the country. 她对花卉的兴趣产生于她在乡下度过的童年时代。 来自《简明英汉词典》