Feeling Younger Protects Older Adults Against Stress and Health Decline

Health News: According to the study published in American Psychological Association, people who feel younger enjoy greater wellbeing, better cognitive functioning, less inflammation, lower risk of hospitalization, and longer life span than those who feel older.

Researchers from the German Centre of Gerontology analyzed three years of data from 5,039 participants in the German Ageing Survey, a longitudinal survey of residents of Germany age 40 and older. The survey included questions like how old they feel? What are the limitations on daily activities such as walking, bathing?

Results showed that people who reported more stress experienced functional health decline and this association was stronger for chronologically older participants. The study decoded the link between subjective age and health. People who feel younger than their chronological age showed a weak link between stress and declines in functional health.

Subjective age seems to provide a protective buffer against the damaging effects of stress in middle-aged and older adults. The protective effect was strongest among the oldest participants and improved their health.

To Know More, You May Refer To:

Markus Wettstein, Svenja M. Spuling, Anja Cengia, Sonja Nowossadeck. Feeling younger as a stress buffer: Subjective age moderates the effect of perceived stress on change in functional health. Psychology and Aging, 2021; 36 (3): 322 DOI: 10.1037/pag0000608