Getting older may not be so depressing, according to the findings of a new study. Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that people tend to be happier and less stressed after the age of 50.

Researchers from Stony Brook, Columbia and Princeton universities reviewed the findings from a Gallup telephone poll of more than 340,000 people.

They found that overall feelings of well-being improve after middle age.
WebMD reports that about 35 percent of respondents reported a lot of worry through age 50. However, people tend to worry less and have fewer negative emotions as they age.

Scientists say the finding may have to do with increased wisdom and emotional intelligence that comes with age.

"Perhaps you’re making decisions about your life to maximize your pleasure in the now," said the study’s author Arthur Stone.

Stone and his colleagues say that individuals in their 70s and 80s were the most likely to report fewer negative emotions.

Managing stress is believed to be necessary to maintaining health into old age. Acupuncture, massage, hypnotherapy and meditation are among the techniques believed to help reduce stress and depression.