Cynthia de las Fuentes, PhD President at American Psychological Association | Official website
A recent study published by the American Psychological Association reveals that middle-aged and older adults perceive old age to begin later in life compared to previous generations. The lead author of the study, Markus Wettstein, PhD, from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, explained, “Life expectancy has increased, which might contribute to a later perceived onset of old age. Also, some aspects of health have improved over time, so that people of a certain age who were regarded as old in the past may no longer be considered old nowadays.”
The research, conducted in collaboration with Stanford University, the University of Luxembourg, and the University of Greifswald, Germany, analyzed data from over 14,000 participants in the German Ageing Survey spanning from 1996 to 2021. Participants were asked at what age they would describe someone as old. The findings indicated a shift towards a later perceived onset of old age among later-born participants compared to earlier generations.
While the trend of delaying the start of old age has been observed, the study also noted a slowdown in this shift over the past two decades. Wettstein highlighted, “The trend toward postponing old age is not linear and might not necessarily continue in the future.”
Furthermore, the researchers discovered that individual perceptions of old age changed as participants aged. On average, the perceived onset of old age increased by about one year for every four to five years of actual aging. Factors such as gender and health status also influenced when individuals believed old age began, with women generally setting the start of old age two years later than men.
Wettstein emphasized the importance of these findings in shaping how individuals prepare for their own aging and how society views older adults. He raised questions about whether the shift towards a later perceived onset of old age reflects a more positive view on aging or simply a desire to delay the undesirable state of being old.
Looking ahead, the researchers suggest exploring diverse populations in various countries to understand how perceptions of aging differ across cultures. Future research will focus on determining if the trend of postponing old age will persist and its implications on individuals and society.
The study, titled “Postponing Old Age: Evidence for Historical Change Toward a Later Perceived Onset of Old Age,” was authored by Markus Wettstein, PhD, and other researchers from different institutions. It was published in the journal Psychology and Aging on April 22, 2024.
