Individuals who feel younger have a higher sense of well-being better cognitive function, less inflammation, lower risk of hospitalization and even live longer than their older-feeling peers. A study published by the American Psychological Association suggests one possible reason for the connection between subjective age and health: Feeling younger can help buffer middle-aged and older adults against the harmful effects of stress.
In the study, published in Psychology and Aging, Researchers in the Centre of Gerontology examined three years of data from 5,039 participants in the German Ageing Survey, a longitudinal survey of inhabitants of Germany age 40 and older. The poll included questions about the sum of perceived stress in peoples’ lives and their operational health – how much they have been limited in daily activities such as walking, bathing and dressing. Participants also indicated their subjective age by answering the question, “How old do you feel?”
The researchers discovered, Typically, participants who reported more stress in their lives experienced a steeper reduction in operational health over three decades, which connection between stress and functional health decline was more powerful for chronologically older participants.
But, subjective age appeared to offer a protective buffer. Among Individuals who felt younger than their chronological age, the connection between stress and declines in practical health was weaker. That protective influence was strongest among the earliest participants.
“Generally, we know that functional health declines with advancing age, but we also know that these age-related functional health trajectories are remarkably varied. As a result, some individuals enter old age and very old age with quite good and intact health resources, whereas others experience a pronounced decline in functional health, which might even result in need for long-term care,” said study lead author Markus Wettstein, PhD, who is now at University of Heidelberg. “Our findings support the role of stress as a risk factor for functional health decline, particularly among older individuals, as well as the health-supporting and stress-buffering role of a younger subjective age.”
The results suggest that interventions which aim to help people feel younger may reduce the harm brought on by stress and improve health among older adults, according to the investigators – yet further research is required to help determine what type of interventions could work best. By way of example, Wettstein stated, messaging attempts to counteract ageism and negative age stereotypes and to encourage positive perspectives on aging can help individuals feel younger. In addition, more overall stress-reduction interventions and stress management instruction could prevent operational health reduction among older adults, based on Wettstein.
Finally, more research is needed to figure out the Perfect gap between Subjective and chronological era, according to Wettstein, as preceding Research has suggested that it’s helpful to sense younger upward to a stage But that rewards decrease as the difference between subjective and Chronological age increases. “Feeling younger to some extent might be adaptive for functional health outcomes, whereas ‘feeling too young’ might be less adaptive or even maladaptive,” he said.
Related Journal Article: https://doi.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpag0000608