Rate of Aging for Older People May Depend On How Old They Feel Like They Are
If you feel old beyond your chronological years you
are probably going to experience a lot of the downsides associated
with aging
March 2, 2010 - The saying "You're only as old as
you feel" really seems to resonate with older adults, according to
research from Purdue University. "How old you are matters, but beyond
that it's your interpretation that has far-reaching implications for the
process of aging," said Markus H. Schafer, a doctoral student in
sociology and gerontology who led the study.
"So, if you feel old beyond your own chronological
years you are probably going to experience a lot of the downsides that
we associate with aging.
"But if you are older and maintain a sense of being
younger, then that gives you an edge in maintaining a lot of the
abilities you prize."
Schafer and co-author Tetyana P. Shippee, a Purdue
graduate who is a research associate at Purdue's
Center on Aging and the Life Course, compared people's chronological
age and their subjective age to determine which one has a greater
influence on cognitive abilities during older adulthood.
Nearly 500 people ages 55-74 were surveyed about
aging in 1995 and 2005 as part of the National Survey of Midlife
Development in the United States.
In 1995, when people were asked what age do you
feel most of the time, the majority identified with being 12 years
younger than they actually were.
"We found that these people who felt young for
their age were more likely to have greater confidence about their
cognitive abilities a decade later," Schafer said. "Yes, chronological
age was important, but the subjective age had a stronger effect.
"What we are not sure about is what comes first.
Does a person's wellness and happiness affect their cognitive abilities
or does a person's cognitive ability contribute to their sense of
wellness. We are planning to address this in a future study."
Schafer also said that the current study's findings
have both positive and negative implications.
"There is a tremendous emphasis on being youthful
in our society and that can have a negative effect for people," Schafer
said. "People want to feel younger, and so when they do inevitably age
they can lose a lot of confidence in their cognitive abilities.
"But on the other hand, because there is such a
desire in America to stay young, there may be benefits of trying to
maintain a sense of youthfulness by keeping up with new trends and
activities that feel invigorating. Learning new technologies is one way
people can continue to improve their cognitive abilities. It will be
interesting to see how, or if, these cultural norms shift as the Baby
Boomer generation ages."
Other studies have shown that women are prone to
aging stereotypes, so Schafer expected to see that women who felt older
about themselves would have less confidence in their cognitive
abilities.
"There is a slight difference between men and
women, but it's not as pronounced as we expected," Schafer said.
"This was surprising because of the emphasis on
physical attractiveness and youth that is often disproportionately
placed on women."
Schafer also is studying how stressful events, such
as family members' health issues, affect aging, as well as how happiness
and aging relate.
These finding were published in January's
Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, and the study was funded by
the National Institutes of Health.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
March 2, 2010 - The saying "You're only as old as
you feel" really seems to resonate with older adults, according to
research from Purdue University. "How old you are matters, but beyond
that it's your interpretation that has far-reaching implications for the
process of aging," said Markus H. Schafer, a doctoral student in
sociology and gerontology who led the study. 
