Believing You Look Younger Tied to Aging Patterns
Aging is an unavoidable process, yet at the cellular level, it can also be influenced—it’s been observed to speed up during pregnancy and periods of stress, but reversibly so.
However, the perception of our age based on appearance may not align with how our bodies actually age or function.
Possibly judgmental, yet somewhat accurate: Studies indicate that gauging someone’s age solely based on appearance can reasonably predict their overall health, as can a simple handshake.
However, expressing such assessments may carry significant psychological implications for individuals subjected to age-related remarks, whether positive or negative, potentially impacting their physical well-being. Furthermore, our own perceptions of aging might influence the aging process itself.
Insights from a National Survey on Healthy Aging led by University of Oklahoma Health Scientist Julie Ober Allen
This insight stems from a recent study led by University of Oklahoma health scientist Julie Ober Allen and her team, who analyzed data from a 2019 national survey on healthy aging, encompassing 2,006 adults aged 50 to 80 years old.
Participants were surveyed about their perceptions of their relative youthfulness or aging compared to their peers, as well as their experiences of age-related discrimination or positive feedback, such as compliments or requests for wisdom or advice.
Interestingly, while 59 percent of respondents believed they appeared younger than their peers, only 6 percent acknowledged looking older than others their age.
Thus, the majority of individuals tend to perceive themselves as more youthful than they truly are, irrespective of their ethnicity. However, the study did not include external measures of aging or assess whether others agreed with participants’ self-assessments.
In comparison to men, a higher proportion of women believed they appeared younger than their peers. However, they also tended to allocate more time and resources, if financially feasible, toward maintaining a youthful appearance.
Efforts to Preserve Youthfulness Fail to Protect Against Ageism
Despite investing significant time and money in their pursuit of youthfulness, as observed in one-third of the participants, this effort didn’t consistently shield individuals from negative comments or age-related stereotypes.
Both men and women reported encountering ageism, including negative assumptions about their sensory abilities or technological proficiency, alongside receiving positive affirmations about their age. Such endeavors might have incurred personal costs.
According to Allen, those who successfully managed to appear younger might have experienced reduced discrimination. Nevertheless, they might have also grappled with heightened anxiety and discomfort regarding their aging appearance.
As expected, individuals who received more positive age-related feedback were more likely to report better physical and mental health. Conversely, those subjected to discrimination or negative remarks tended to perceive poorer overall health, both mentally and physically.
This finding is troubling, as society’s widespread bias against older adults, still unfortunately socially acceptable in many contexts, could perpetuate a detrimental cycle, exacerbating the aging process and leading to declining health among older individuals.
“Feelings and encounters with ageism, which stem from societal ideals favoring youthfulness and harboring biases against aging, appear to indirectly correlate with both mental and physical health,” Allen explains.
U.S.-Centric Focus and Cultural Variations in Aging Perceptions
It’s important to recognize that the study solely examined adults from the United States. While participants represented diverse ethnic backgrounds, perceptions and values regarding aging may vary across different cultures and countries.
Psychologists advocate for individuals to reframe their attitudes toward aging, as research indicates that older adults with positive self-perceptions of aging tend to live longer.
Rather than fixating on age, it’s beneficial for people to concentrate on improving their health through activities such as exercising more, adopting healthier eating habits, and reducing smoking and alcohol consumption.
“We should prioritize healthy behaviors, many of which have implications for both aging and appearance,” Allen advises. “Engaging in regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and refraining from smoking can contribute to a youthful appearance as you age.”
Read the original article on: Science Alert
