82 Percent of U.S. Adults 50 and Older Are Happier With Their Life Now Than When They Were Younger

LOS ANGELES, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Our culture may be obsessed with youth, but research indicates that Americans are actually happier after 50. Commissioned by OurTime.com, the largest online dating community catering to singles over 50, a survey released today indicates that 82 percent of people 50-plus say they are happier with their lives now than they were when they were younger. 72 percent are more optimistic about their future happiness. Conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf on OurTime.com in June 2011, the nationwide survey of 1,064 U.S. adults aged 50 and older also revealed that 85 percent of these adults consider companionship more important than it used to be when they were younger.

To look deeper into factors driving this group's brighter outlook, in a separate study, OurTime.com surveyed a segment of the one million singles that comprise its membership and found that 93 percent agree that having a romantic relationship is an important component of their overall happiness.

"The main reason people 50-plus are happier now is that they are more confident in themselves and about what they want from life," said Dr. Gail Saltz, OurTime.com's Relationship Expert. "Priorities shift in this stage of life and relationships become more and more important to one's happiness."

Today, there is someone turning 50 every seven seconds. In fact, the 50-plus demographic is the fastest growing demographic in the country. The 78 million Baby Boomers now represent 28 percent of the U.S. population. According to 2010 U.S. Census data, almost 30 percent of Boomers are single.

This large group of singles is actively seeking companionship online. Over the last year, the number of dating-site users 50 years of age or older has grown twice as rapidly as any other age group, according to comScore. The OurTime.com community has experienced astonishing membership growth of more than 400% in just two years.  

"As these surveys illustrate, most people in this stage of life are no longer so stressed about getting ahead in their careers, and their kids are already out of the house," said Dr. Saltz. "This allows them to focus on companionship and sharing this fulfilling time with someone they love."

The survey of those 50 and older also found that, compared to when they were younger, these adults have changed their views in the following ways:

• 85 percent agree that companionship is more important now.
• 79 percent are more confident in what they want out of life.
• 87 percent are more confident in their intelligence.
• 82 percent are more confident when meeting new people.
• 91 percent are more confident as a judge of character.
• 52 percent are less focused on "getting ahead" in their career; another 29 percent said the career question was not applicable to them.

OurTime.com members also weighed in as follows:

• 89 percent are at a point in their lives where they feel fulfilled and are looking for someone to share their lives with.
• 95 percent are more focused on compatibility, and finding someone who makes them happy, than they were when they were younger.
• 89 percent say they have a better idea of the type of person who will make them happy.
• 80 percent have children over the age of 25; 81 percent do not have children who live at home.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of OurTime.com from June 23-27, 2011 among 1,064 adults aged 50 and over. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Rachel Mock at [email protected] or (323) 648-5428.

About OurTime.com

OurTime.com is an online dating community uniting more than one million singles ages 50-plus, among the fastest growing demographics in the market. The site provides a premier experience tailored to the unique needs of those over 50, helping them to easily connect with likeminded singles. Each day, almost 10,000 new members sign up, more than 500,000 communications are exchanged, and hundreds of singles credit the site with introducing them to someone special. For more information, visit http://www.ourtime.com.

About People Media

People Media (www.PeopleMedia.com), a business unit of IAC, is the number-one provider of targeted online dating communities for singles seeking meaningful relationships. These specialty sites provide a customized experience for those who wish to date within a specific demographic. A rapidly growing innovator in the online dating space, the company operates 28 individual web properties including BlackPeopleMeet.com and SingleParentMeet.com. The flagship site, OurTime.com, was created by combining the membership of People Media's SeniorPeopleMeet.com and SeniorsMeet.com. With more than one million active members, OurTime.com is now the largest online community catering to singles over 50. The company is based in West Hollywood, CA.

SOURCE OurTime.com