Survey: That Youthful, Carefree Attitude Of Ours Begins To Fade In Mid-30s

LONDON — Having a carefree attitude is a hallmark of our 20s, but how long does that last? A new survey suggests that sensibility doesn’t begin to fully take over our personalities and guide us down a safer path until their mid-30s.

Researchers at OnePoll, a market research firm based in London, surveyed 2,000 mid-aged adults living in the United Kingdom, hoping to learn more about whether they still subscribed to a youthful outlook on life.

Man scuba diving — A new survey finds that people don’t begin to lose their youthful, carefree attitudes until their mid-30s, though many still enjoy the occasional rush of adrenaline. (Photo by Anurag Harishchandrakar on Unsplash)

More than one-third said that taking risks for the sake of it no longer appealed to them by the time they turn 34, whether due to family obligations, career aspirations, or self-preservation.

Two in five respondents said that their thirst for adventure had simply cooled over time, while about half indicated increased awareness of their newfound physical limitations, the researchers found.

Still, substantial number of respondents — about three in 10 — said that they still wore their thrill-seeking tendencies with pride as they aged.

“The survey shows nearly a third of Brits still crave the rush of adrenaline that extreme activities provide, and that there’s no reason to slow down,” says Luke Hales, a general manager at TV network Dave Channel, which commissioned the research.

In terms of activities that intrepid Brits were willing to try, scuba diving topped the list, followed by skiing, go-karting, sky diving, and jet skiing.

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Meanwhile, respondents considered free climbing to be the most dangerous way to get an adrenaline rush, followed by cliff jumping, base jumping, and bungee jumping.

Among the “safer” extreme activities to try were windsurfing, snowboarding, and BMXing, the respondents indicated.

About one-fifth of respondents said that taking part in a thrill-seeking pleasure lent them a happy glow once it had finished.

Perhaps most unsurprisingly, men were more likely to engage their inner daredevil than than women.

Whatever they choose to call it — carpe diem, walking on the wild side, or something else — it would seem evident that many people still don’t let a little fear hold them back.