U型的「幸福曲線」
The midlife crisis is alive and well, according to new research which pinpoints that the torment of the middle age years reaches its peak at 47.2 years old in advanced countries.
一項新研究指出中年危機依然盛行不衰，且發達國家幸福感最低的年齡落在 47.2歲。
midlife crisis中年危機alive and well= alive and kicking活蹦亂跳、生龍活虎、盛行不衰pinpoint(v.)準確指出、確定(位置或時間)torment(n.)(心理或心理)折磨=great mental sufferingreach its peak達到巔峰= reach the highest pointadvanced countries先進國家;發達國家
Dartmouth College economics professor David Blanchflower, a former Bank of England policymaker, analyzed data from roughly 500,000 individuals in 132 nations.
美國達特茅斯學院經濟學教授、前英國央行政策制定者布蘭奇弗勞分析了來自132個國家，大約50萬人的數據。
He found that in every country there is a U-shaped “happiness curve” over the span of people’s lives, with happiness for people in the developed world hitting the lowest point at 47.2 years old, while those in developing countries reach their least happy state at 48.2 years old.
他發現，在每個國家，人的一生中都有一條U型的「幸福曲線」，已開發國家的人生最低潮落在47.2歲，開發中國家則是48.2歲。
a gray-haired society高齡化社會with O OC附帶狀況說明developed(adj.)已開發的developing(adj.)開發中國家
Blanchflower’s study further bolsters the “happiness curve” theory, which states that people’s happiness levels fall in the first decades of adulthood, and then hit bottom in our late 40s or 50s before rebounding upward.
布蘭奇弗勞的研究進一步支持了「幸福曲線」理論，該理論指出，人們的幸福程度在成年後的前幾十年下降，接著在40歲末、50幾歲時達到最低點，之後反彈回升。
bolster(v.)支持;強化=support=reinforceadulthood(n.)成年期rebound(v.)彈回、反彈、跳回
“The curve’s trajectory holds true in countries where the median wage is high and where it is not, and where people tend to live longer as well as where they don’t,” Blanchflower wrote in the study.
布蘭奇弗勞在研究中寫道：「曲線的軌跡在薪資中位數高或薪資中位數不高的國家，甚至在預期壽命長或預期壽命短的國家都呈現U型。」
trajectory(n.)(子彈、飛彈的)彈道、軌跡hold true也適用;也是真的;保持有效median wage薪資中位數life span預期壽命
The study is mute on why 47 is such a miserable year, but Blanchflower posits that it’s the time when pressure and anxiety from work and family reach their apex.
該研究對47歲為何是人生中慘澹的一年並未多著墨，但布蘭奇弗勞推測47歲是工作與家庭帶來的壓力和焦慮達到頂點的時候，
mute(adj.)沉默的;(活動)無聲的reach their apex=reach their peak
Most people in their late 40s are part of the so-called “sandwich generation”— those who bear the burden of looking after aging parents and their own family simultaneously.
大多數快50歲的人都屬於所謂的「三明治世代」，同時肩負照顧年邁父母和自己家人的責任，
ag(e)ing(adj.)年邁的;年老的simultaneously=at the same time
What’s more, workers in their late 40s are more likely to be in middle management positions. Taking on more responsibilities at work can have a negative effect on one’s well-being.
此外，年近50的工作者更有可能擔任中階管理職，在工作上承擔更多責任可能會對幸福感產生負面影響。
middle management positions中階管理職senior managerial positions資深管理職junior colleagues年輕同事have a negative impact on~為…帶來負面影響
Blanchflower added that the rise of globalization and financial crises also play a part in the dreaded “midlife crisis.”
布蘭奇弗勞更指出，令人害怕的「中年危機」部分可歸咎於全球化興起和金融危機。
financial crisis金融危機crises(複數)危機play a part or role in 參與、涉及某事
“The resilience of communities left behind by globalization was diminished by the Great Recession; this made it especially hard for vulnerable people undergoing a midlife crisis with few resources to withstand the shock,” wrote the professor.
布蘭奇弗勞寫道：「經濟大衰退削弱全球化留下的社群彈性，這使資源匱乏的弱勢群體尤其難以承受中年危機。」
resilience(n.)韌性、彈性、恢復力、復原diminish(v.)削弱;減弱the Great Recession=the Great Depression 經濟大恐慌;經濟大蕭條(1929~二戰前)vulnerable people弱勢族群=the underprivileged=the disadvantagedwithstand(v.)耐受;承受;頂住a bridge designed to withstand earthquakes具有抗震設計的橋樑
For those who find themselves at life’s rock bottom of satisfaction, seeing it as a transition period to the golden years to come may offer some solace.
對於那些自覺處於人生谷底的人來說，不妨將中年危機當作是退休前的過渡時期，或可帶來一些安慰，
rock bottom最低點;最低水平a transition period轉型期the golden years 退休後，65-80歲solace(n.)安慰;撫慰;慰藉
Blanchflower’s research indicates that at age 70, people’s happiness levels eventually go back up as they learn to readjust their own expectations of themselves and become more realistic.
布蘭奇弗勞的研究指出，70歲後人們學習重新調整對自己的期許，並變得更實際時，幸福感最終會回升。
readjust(v.)重新調整=adjust again