Successful aging: a theme for international psychology

Results of a 13-nation international survey on human values and well-being over the adult life span were reported. Four age groups (under 25, 25-34, 35-49, and over 50 years of age) were compared on four indices: satisfaction with job relations, satisfaction with human relations, satisfaction with material needs, and religiosity. The research involved Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, and West Germany. Persons over 50 years of age obtained high scores on satisfaction with human relations, satisfaction with material needs, and religiosity, whereas those under 25 scored low on these scales. Thirty-five to 49-year-olds scored highest on satisfaction with job relations. With some exceptions, these trends are relatively consistent across nations. We conclude that the oldest group shows most contentment, satisfaction, and stability in response to the questions.