In the latter half of the 20th century, individuals aged 70 were commonly regarded as ‘elderly’. However, in recent times, middle-aged and older adults have come to view the age of 70 as not being as significant as it once was. For them, old age now commences later than before.
A study published in the journal ‘Psychology and Aging’, by researchers from Stanford, Luxembourg, and Greifswald universities sheds light on this shift in perception. The study examined data from 14,056 participants in the German Survey on Aging, which includes individuals born between 1911 and 1974. Over a period of 25 years, participants answered survey questions up to eight times. They were asked: “At what age would you describe someone as old?”
The findings of the study reveal that people born later perceived old age to start later in life compared to those born earlier. Furthermore, as participants aged, their perception of the onset of old age receded. On average, participants said that old age begins approximately one year later for every four or five years of actual aging. Women stated that old age began two years later than men on average. Additionally, individuals who reported feeling lonelier or less healthy felt that old age began earlier than those who reported feeling more content with their lives or better health status.
The researchers concluded that while there is a trend towards postponing old age, this trend may not be linear or continue into the future. These results may have implications for how individuals prepare for their own aging process and how they view older adults in general.
