Change in Perceived Age in Middle and Later Life

Abstract

Analyses examine change in the age people "feel" (felt age) and "would like to be" (ideal age) (relative to current age) in middle and later life. Data are from 1,815 respondents in two waves (1995-96, 2004-06) of the Midlife in the United States Survey (MIDUS) who were age 40+ at Wave 1. In aggregate, people feel about the same amount younger but become increasingly distant from preferred age. Favorable health trends between waves and better expected future health are related to younger felt age, cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Health is not related to ideal age, but education and (for respondents younger than 60) better financial expectations are associated with less youthful ideal age. Patterns for felt age appear to reflect images of later life as a time of physical decline, whereas ideal age appears to be shaped more by socioeconomic considerations.