Seniors young at heart

Results of a study concerned with age perception suggest that seniors really are young at heart, with most feeling approximately 13 years younger than their chronological age.

Researchers studying data collected from 516 men and women aged 70 and above found that participants felt approximately 13 years younger than they actually were, however poor health was found to reduce the gap between perceived age and chronological age.

Participants were also asked how old they felt when they looked in the mirror, and this time the results weren't quite as optimistic. At the start of the study, people said that they looked roughly 10 years younger; however six years later, they said that they looked just 7 years younger. Women tended to be more realistic about their appearance than men, seeing themselves as four years older than the male participants.

The study also questioned people about their satisfaction with aging. Participants were asked to what extent they agreed with the statements: "Things keep getting worse as I get older;" "I have as much pep as I had last year;" "As I get older, I am less useful;" "As I get older, things are better than I thought they would be;" and "I am as happy now as I was when I was younger." At the start of the study men were more satisfied than women; however men's satisfaction dropped more than women's over the study period.

According to study co-author Jacqui Smith, unpublished work by the authors suggests that people who feel younger are less likely to die than those who don't. "Feeling positive about getting older may well be associated with remaining active and experiencing better health in old age," said Smith in a news release. "Thus, studies on self-perceptions of aging can contribute to our understanding of potential indicators of resilience in older adults and the aging self."

News release: Old as you want to be: Study finds most seniors feel younger. University of Michigan. December 2nd 2008.