According to a new survey by Road Scholar — a nonprofit that provides travel and education services to seniors — 94% of older adults who “age adventurously” report higher levels of happiness, with some even saying they feel just as happy now as they did in their 20s or 30s.
When it came to defining what it means to “age adventurously,” the pool of 300 respondents (aged 50 to 98) categorized the term as traveling, staying physically active, and continuing to learn and grow as they got older.
And the good news is that people are traveling more than they used to.
About 50% of respondents said they traveled more than their parents’ generation, with a majority of women saying they had more “independence” than their mothers had been afforded.
When asked, “What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done since you turned 50?” the respondents had a wide range of answers.
“Traveled independently after my husband passed away,” wrote one woman.
“Became a Master Gardener,” one person stated.
“Got my first tattoo!” said another.
When it came to setting travel goals, answers were equally diverse. Although one respondent said that they wanted to visit more than 50 countries, others had more accessible goals in mind.
“I don’t have to run a marathon, but I want to run around the yard with my grandkids,” Kim Francis, 67, stated in the report. “I don’t need to stand on my head, but I want to stand in line at Disneyland.”
The Road Scholar study is backed by data from researchers at University College London’s Centre for Transport Studies, which found that people who regularly travelled more than 15 miles away from home reported better health.
It also found that links between travel and wellbeing were more significant in respondents aged 55 years and over.
Dr. Paulo Anciaes, the lead author of the study, theorized that travel and exploration are inherently linked to socialization.
“Travel constraints are significantly related to social participation, and social participation is then significantly related to self-reported health,” Anciaes told Medical News Today.
Anciaes’ findings were in line with research from the National Institute on Aging, which found that social isolation in older people poses greater health risks.
“Loneliness acts as a fertilizer for other diseases,” Steve Cole, director of the Social Genomics Core Laboratory at the University of California, told the NIA.
“The biology of loneliness can accelerate the buildup of plaque in arteries, help cancer cells grow and spread, and promote inflammation in the brain, leading to Alzheimer’s disease. Loneliness promotes several different types of wear and tear on the body.”
In the spirit of promoting adventure and social health, the Road Scholar report signed off by encouraging people to travel — and travel together.
“Since 1975, Road Scholar has defied aging stereotypes every day, proving that adventure does not have an expiration date,” James Moses, CEO of Road Scholar, said in a press release.
“We want to inspire an Age Adventurously movement and encourage people around the world to take part in Age Adventurously Day, sharing their stories and empowering others to join the lifelong adventure.”
You may also like: This national park just expanded its adaptive excursions, allowing disabled visitors to bike, camp & kayak
Header image via Xu Duo / Unsplash
