Older Subjective Age Research Articles

Feeling older, feeling pain? Reciprocal between-person and within-person associations of pain and subjective age in the second half of life.

Experiencing pain in middle adulthood and old age might be interpreted as a sign of aging and make people feel older, whereas feeling older has behavioral, motivational, and physiological consequences that might increase the risk of pain. We investigated between-person and within-person associations between pain, subjective age, and chronological age in middle-aged and older adults. Data from the German Ageing Survey were used (n = 13,874 who provided more than 32,000 observations, baseline mean age = 62.3 years). The observation period comprised up to 13 years (M = 4 years) and five (M = 2.4) measurement occasions. Based on the longitudinal multilevel regression models, we found significant between-person and within-person effects in both directions, which were small but robust when controlling for sociodemographic variables, depressive symptoms, and number of chronic diseases. At the between-person level, participants reporting overall more severe pain also felt older than others. Likewise, those who felt overall older than others reported more pain. At the within-person level, when participants experienced more pain than they usually do, they also reported feeling older than usual. Likewise, on measurement occasions when participants reported feeling older than usual, they reported more pain than usual. Additionally, those with overall stronger pain exhibited steeper age-related increases in their subjective age than those with less severe pain. Our findings suggest that an older subjective age may operate as both antecedent and consequence of pain, and pain might prompt a steeper increase in subjective age over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Examining Mediators of the Relationship Between Subjective Age and Cognition

Abstract: Research has demonstrated associations between subjective age (i.e., the age that one feels) and cognitive performance, although the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain understudied. The current study examined the predictive validity of subjective age on objective and subjective cognition as well as depressive symptoms and self-rated health (SRH) as statistical mediators. We used secondary data analysis comprising the cross-sectional data of 247 adults (ages 50+) to conduct a series of hierarchical linear regressions and mediation analyses. Older subjective age was significantly associated with lower ratings of measures of subjective cognition, and depressive symptoms and SRH partially mediated these relationships. The malleability of depressive symptoms and SRH provide promising directions for future research aimed at enhancing or maintaining cognition in older adults.

Subjective Age Moderates the Relationship Between Global Cognition and Susceptibility to Scams.

This study examined the interactive effect of subjective age on the relationship between global cognition and susceptibility to scams. Sixty-five participants underwent an assessment of global cognition (Mini Mental State Examination; MMSE), reported their perceived age (i.e., subjective age), and responded to a self-report questionnaire assessing scam susceptibility. A main effect of global cognition on scam susceptibility was found (p = .028); there was no main effect of subjective age (p = .819). An interaction between global cognition and subjective age was found (p = .016). Examination of conditional effects demonstrated that the relationship between cognition and scam susceptibility was not significant amongst those with subjective ages below one standard deviation of the mean, but was significant for those whose subjective ages fell around or above the mean. Findings suggest that individuals with older subjective ages may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of lower cognition on scam susceptibility.

Could 70 Be the New 60? Investigating the Association Between Internet Use and Subjective Age Among Chinese Older Adults.

The widespread use of the Internet brings both opportunities and challenges for older adults. To understand its potential benefits and drawbacks, we focus on the association between Internet use and multiple indicators of subjective age (threshold age, felt age, and look age) and the underlying mechanisms. A nationally representative sample of older adults aged 60 and over from 3 waves (collected in 2016, 2018, and 2020) of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey was used in the analysis. A 3-step random-effect model and mediation analysis were used to examine the relationship between Internet use and subjective age and the mediating roles of volunteering and feeling valued by society. Structural equation modeling with a serial multiple mediation model was conducted for robustness checks. The participants generally considered 70 as the threshold for "old age." Although the mediation analysis did not show a significant indirect effect of Internet use on older adults' subjective age through volunteering, Internet use was linked with older adults' subjective age directly and indirectly through feeling valued by society. Compared to moderate Internet users, nonusers felt less valued by society and, therefore, had a younger threshold age and older subjective ages. Heavy Internet users showed a lower level of participation in volunteer activities. The results support previous theories about the mental and social health benefits of Internet use among older adults. However, Internet use intensity should receive more attention; excessive use may reduce the duration of older adults' offline social interactions.

Middle-aged and older adults' psychosocial functioning trajectories before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence for multidirectional trends.

So far little is known with regard to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on changes in psychosocial functioning of middle-aged and older adults across multiple indicators, interindividual differences in these changes, as well as the extent to which pandemic-related changes are temporary or not. We investigate different domains of psychosocial functioning (views on aging: attitude toward own aging [ATOA] and subjective age; subjective well-being: life satisfaction and depressive symptoms; health: self-rated health) across up to 7 years (prepandemic measurement occasions: 2014 and 2017; peri-pandemic measurement occasions: Summer 2020 and Winter 2020/2021) among middle-aged and older adults (n = 10,856; Mage in 2014 = 64.3 years, SD = 11.58), based on data of the German Ageing Survey. Longitudinal multilevel regression models revealed that mean-level change toward more negative ATOA over time was aggravated by an additional shift toward more pessimistic ATOA in Summer 2020. In contrast, the mean-level change toward older subjective ages over time was interrupted by a shift toward younger subjective ages in Summer 2020. This shift was more pronounced among chronologically younger individuals. Depressive symptoms remained on average stable over time, but there was a temporary increase in Summer 2020. No pandemic-related change was observed for life satisfaction and self-rated health. Our findings suggest that different psychosocial functioning indicators reveal a different susceptibility to "COVID-19 effects," but all changes were temporary, potentially reflecting processes of adaptation. We discuss our results in the context of established theories, such as socioemotional selectivity theory or set-point theory of well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Subjective Age and Financial Exploitation Vulnerability: The Mediating Role of Financial Self-Efficacy

ABSTRACT An older subjective age, or feeling older than one’s chronological age, has been associated with increased financial exploitation vulnerability (FEV) among older adults. However, the mechanisms behind this relationship have not been examined. This study examined whether financial self-efficacy mediates the relationship between subjective age and FEV. Participants were 156 Israeli older adults (M age= 66.97, SD = 6.46) who responded to questionnaires of subjective age, FEV, and financial self-efficacy. Correlations indicated that an older subjective age was associated with reduced financial self-efficacy (r= −.36, p < .001) and increased FEV (r = .51, p < .001). Testing the mediation model revealed an indirect effect of subjective age on FEV via financial self-efficacy (b = 1.57; bootstrapped 95% Cis [.80, 2.39]). Findings suggest that an older subjective age may reduce financial self-efficacy, thereby increasing FEV. Findings are discussed with regard to Stereotype Embodiment Theory and clinical implications are suggested.

Subjective Age and Health Care Avoidance Among Aging Men Living With or Without HIV

Introduction Negative aging perceptions have been shown to influence one’s health care–seeking behaviors; this relationship has not been studied among middle-aged and aging adults living with HIV. The current study uses data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) to investigate the association between subjective age and health care avoidance. Objective To examine the hypothesis that adults living with HIV who perceive themselves as older, after adjustment for covariates, would be more likely to avoid care than their HIV-negative counterparts who perceive themselves as older. Methods The MACS is a prospective study of more than 7000 sexual minority men living with and without HIV from 4 metropolitan US areas. The Understanding Patterns of Healthy Aging in Men Who Have Sex With Men sub-study of the MACS was conducted from April 2016 to March 2019. Current analyses use cross-sectional data on 1118 participants from this sub-study from October 2016 to March 2017. Logistic regression was used to produce odds ratios and 95% CIs examining the association between subjective age and health care avoidance. Covariates included age, HIV status, race and ethnicity, education, and comorbid conditions. Further analyses were conducted among persons living with HIV, which included CD4 counts and viral load detection as covariates. Results In the full sample and sample of people living with HIV, after adjustment for covariates, there was a positive association between older subjective age and health care avoidance and a negative association between younger subjective age and health care avoidance, albeit both not statistically significant. Living with HIV was positively associated with health care avoidance, but not statistically significant. Conclusions Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to elucidate the significance of subjective age and health care avoidance. Aside from the pivotal role of health care avoidance, the field of HIV and aging may benefit from identifying other psychological, physiological, and behavioral mechanisms by which perceptions of aging influence health.

Younger Than Ever? Subjective Age Is Becoming Younger and Remains More Stable in Middle-Age and Older Adults Today

Little is known about historical shifts in subjective age (i.e., how old individuals feel). Moving beyond the very few time-lagged cross-sectional cohort comparisons, we examined historical shifts in within-person trajectories of subjective age from midlife to advanced old age. We used cohort-comparative longitudinal data from middle-age and older adults in the German Ageing Survey (N = 14,928; ~50% female) who lived in Germany and were between 40 and 85 years old when entering the study. They provided up to seven observations over 24 years. Results revealed that being born later in historical time is associated with feeling younger by 2% every birth-year decade and with less intraindividual change toward an older subjective age. Women reported feeling younger than men; this gender gap widened across cohorts. The association of higher education with younger subjective age became weaker across cohorts. Potential reasons for the subjective-rejuvenation effect across cohorts are discussed.

Does Smartphone Use Make Older Adults Feel Younger? A Cross-Sectional Online Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Subjective age (i.e., how old one feels) has been found to be a biopsychosocial marker of aging. This study examined the associations between subjective age and the frequency of information and communication technology (ICT) usage by older adults. Data were collected via an online survey conducted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study analyzed responses from participants aged 65 to 89 (M = 71.9, SD = 3.9) who resided in Japan (N = 1631, 52.8% female). Subjective age was indexed by asking participants to specify in years how old they felt. Proportional discrepancy scores (PDS) were calculated to indicate younger or older subjective age and were used as an independent variable. Participants were asked about the frequency of computer, smartphone, flip phone, tablet, and social networking service (SNS) use. Two-thirds of the participants (63.6%) reported feeling younger than their actual age. Nearly 90% reported using computers for more than 2-3 days a week, while 64.3% reported smartphone use, 22.9% reported flip phone use, and 36.6% reported SNS use. Logistic regression analyses revealed that a lower PDS (i.e., feeling younger) was associated with a significantly higher frequency of smartphone use (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.98) after adjusting for potential confounders. No such association was found for computer, flip phone, tablet, or SNS use. Our study found that feeling younger was associated with a higher frequency of smartphone use. The daily use of smartphones may have helped older adults stay in touch with family and friends and obtain the information that they needed, which may have contributed to better psychological well-being outcomes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

THE ASSOCIATION OF SUBJECTIVE AGE AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION RISK: SOCIAL SUPPORT AS A MODERATOR

Abstract Financial exploitation of older adults bears detrimental physical and psychological consequences. However, little is known regarding factors which may contribute to financial exploitation vulnerability (FEV) among this age-group. In line with the growing awareness of the importance of subjective perceptions of the aging process for older adults’ functioning and well-being, the current work examined the connection between subjective age (i.e., feeling younger/older than one’s chronological age) and FEV, and the possible moderating role of social support on this connection. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 137 Israeli older adults (age range 60-89, M=69.90, SD=6.85, 40.1% male), who completed scales assessing FEV, subjective age, and social support, as well as relevant socio-demographic information. Associations were examined using a hierarchical linear regression model which adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, and self-rated economic and health status. The main effect of subjective age was not significant (B=1.24, p=0.14), while the main effect of social support was found (B=-1.30, p=.03) indicating that low levels of support were associated with increased FEV, a finding consistent with the literature. The interaction of social support × subjective age was significant (B= -1.17, p= .025), accounting for an additional 4.0% of variance. Older subjective age was associated with increased financial exploitation vulnerability when social support was low, but not when social support was high. Results are interpreted with regard to Socio-Emotional Selectivity Theory and provide initial information pertaining to the relevance of subjective age perceptions to FEV in older adults.

THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF SUBJECTIVE AGE ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN

Abstract A large body of research has confirmed that from childhood to old age most individuals feel significantly younger or older than their chronological age. Up to now, however, there is no clear theoretical understanding as to why younger adults tend to feel on average older and older adults tend to feel on average younger. We adopt a motivated social-cognition perspective on subjective age and examine age-differential antecedents and correlates of subjective age across the adult life span. Results from a cross-sectional study (N = 1652, 18-84 years) and a 9-month longitudinal study (N = 814; 18-84 years) highlight the dynamic link between subjective age bias and individual (motivation and emotion) as well as social factors (social comparison, meta stereotypes). We discuss the role of reciprocal dynamics between individuals and social contexts in explaining why individuals adopt a younger or older subjective age.

Momentary subjective age is associated with perceived and physiological stress in the daily lives of old and very old adults.

Subjective age, that is the age people feel in relation to their chronological age, can vary on a day-to-day and even momentary basis. Previous long-term and daily-diary studies have shown that elevated stress covaries with older subjective age. However, it is an open question whether such links can also be observed at the momentary level within a given day and go beyond self-reports of stress. Moving ahead, we investigated how two indicators of stress (self-reported: perceived stress; physiological: salivary cortisol) are associated with the age people feel on a momentary basis. We examined data from 118 older (Mage = 66.67 years) and 36 very old adults (Mage = 85.92 years) who reported their momentary subjective age and perceived stress and also provided saliva samples up to seven times a day over seven consecutive days. Dynamic structural equation models showed that both higher momentary perceived stress and higher cortisol levels preceding the measurement predicted an older momentary subjective age. In contrast, subjective age at the previous measurement did not predict subsequent stress. These effects were moderated by participant age group and grip strength, albeit not consistently. Our results corroborate and extend earlier findings that both self-reported and physiological stress are important explanatory variables for people's subjective age variation even on relatively short time scales and shed light on differential time-ordered dynamics between stress and subjective age in daily life. Findings also inform theoretical models of subjective age that highlight the importance of contextual, momentary influences on how old people feel and help better understand how biological and psychological processes are intertwined in later life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Association between older subjective age and poor sleep quality: a population-based study

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the association of subjective age (SA) with sleep quality in an adult population. Methods In the Korean Sleep and Headache Study, 2,349 participants (49.2% men; 48.1 ± 16.4 years old) were interviewed face-to-face using structured questionnaires between September and December 2018. SA was assessed by asking participants their perceived age in years and then compared with their chronological age (CA). Participants were assigned to three groups: feeling younger, feeling their age, and feeling older. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Association between SA and sleep quality was analyzed with multiple linear regression controlling for demographics, psychosocial, and sleep characteristics. Results The group feeling older (n = 404, 17.2%; men, 58.2%; age, 46.5 ± 16.2 years) had worse sleep quality than the groups feeling younger and feeling their age (PSQI score, 4.3 ± 2.7, 3.8 ± 2.4, 3.4 ± 2.1, respectively, p <.001; prevalence of poor sleep quality, 29.0%, 18.4%, 13.5% respectively, p <.001). The association between SA and the PSQI score remained significant after adjusting for confounders (β = 1.05, 95% confidence interval 0.26, 1.83; p <.001). Stratified analyses by sex and CA showed that the association between SA and the PSQI score was significant only in women and in middle-aged and older group (aged 50–79), suggesting that sex and CA modified the association. Conclusion Age perception was associated with self-reported sleep quality, independent of CA. SA may be a useful marker that complements the conventional assessment of subjective sleep quality.

The Association between Ageist Attitudes, Subjective Age, and Financial Exploitation Vulnerability Among Older Adults.

Ageism, or age-based negative stereotypes, prejudice, and/or discriminatory behaviors toward older adults, has been linked with various detrimental physical and psychological consequences. The current study examined the relevance of ageist attitudes to financial exploitation vulnerability (FEV) among older adults and investigated whether feeling older than one's chronological age (i.e., older subjective age) moderated the ageist attitudes-FEV association. 230 participants (M age = 72.08, SD = 5.74) filled out scales assessing ageist attitudes, subjective age, and provided relevant sociodemographic information. High levels of ageist attitudes and an older subjective age were associated with increased FEV. Moreover, the ageist attitudes-FEV association was significantly stronger among participants reporting an older subjective age. The results highlight the importance of taking into account ageism and subjective age in order to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms which render older adults vulnerable to financial exploitation. Practical and empirical implications are discussed.

The Mediating Role of Biomarkers in the Association Between Subjective Aging and Episodic Memory.

Subjective aging, indexed by subjective age and self-perceptions of aging (SPA), is consistently related to cognition in adulthood. The present study examined whether blood biomarkers mediate the longitudinal associations between subjective aging indices and memory. Data of 5,369 individuals aged 50-94 years (mean = 66.89 years, SD = 9.22; 60% women) were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Subjective age, SPA, and demographic factors were assessed in 2012/2014. Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, albumin, cystatin C, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), fasting glucose, Vitamin D, hemoglobin, red cells distribution width, and epigenetic aging were assessed as part of the HRS Venuous Blood Study in 2016. Memory was measured in 2018. The mediators (except for epigenetic aging, which was assessed in a subsample) were tested simultaneously in models that accounted for demographic covariates. An older subjective age was related to worse memory partially through higher fasting glucose, higher cystatin C, higher NT-proBNP, and accelerated epigenetic aging. Negative SPA was related to worse memory through lower Vitamin D3, higher fasting glucose, higher cystatin C, higher NT-proBNP, and accelerated epigenetic aging. The biomarkers explained between 2% and 10% of subjective age and between 1% and 8% of SPA associations with memory. Additional analysis revealed that biomarkers continued to be significant mediators when physical inactivity and depressive symptoms were included as additional mediators. The present study adds to existing research on the association between subjective aging and memory by providing new evidence on the biological mediators of this association.

The prospective relationship between subjective aging and inflammation: Evidence from the health and retirement study.

This study tested the prospective associations and potential mediators between subjective aging, indexed by subjective age and self-perceptions of aging (SPA), and a range of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive proteins (CRP) and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines among older adults. Participants (N=6099, 59% women, age range=50 to 94, Mean Age=65.32, SD=8.85) were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study. Subjective age, SPA, and demographic factors were assessed in 2008/2010. Assessments of soluble transformation growth factor-beta 1 (sTGF-β1), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR1), and high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) were measured in 2016. Potential mediators (body mass index, disease burden, physical inactivity, and depressive symptoms) were asssessed at baseline and in 2012/2014. Linear regression analyses indicated that an older subjective age and negative SPA were related to higher level of IL-10, IL-1Ra, IL-6, sTNFR1 and hsCRP. These associations were mediated by higher disease burden and physical inactivity. Negative SPA (but not subjective age) was associated with lower sTGF-β1. The link between subjective aging and inflammatory markers was relatively independent from chronological age. The present study provides new evidence that subjective aging is prospectively associated with inflammation, including systemic inflammation and pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Lower extremity joint compensatory effects during the first recovery step following slipping and stumbling perturbations in young and older subjects

BackgroundThe lower extremity may play a crucial role in compensating for gait perturbations. The study aimed to explore the mechanism of perturbation compensation by investigating the gait characteristics and lower extremity joint moment effects in young (YS) and older subjects (OS) during the first recovery gait following slipping (slipping_Rec1) and stumbling (stumbling_Rec1).MethodAn automatic perturbation-triggered program was developed using D-Flow software based on the Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab to induce the two aforementioned perturbations. Marker trajectories and ground reaction forces were recorded from 15 healthy YS (age: 26.53 ± 3.04 years; body height: 1.73 ± 0.07 m; body mass: 66.81 ± 11.44 kg) and 15 healthy OS (age: 68.33 ± 3.29 years; body height: 1.76 ± 0.10 m; body mass: 81.13 ± 13.99 kg). The Human Body Model was used to compute the variables of interest. One-way analysis of variance and independent samples t-test statistical analyses were performed.ResultsIn slipping_Rec1 and stumbling_Rec1, the change in gait pattern was mainly reflected in a significant increase in step width, no alterations in step length and stance/swing ratio were revealed. Based on perturbed task specificity, lower extremity joint moments increased or decreased at specific phases of the gait cycle in both YS and OS in slipping_Rec1 and stumbling_Rec1 compared to normal gait. The two perturbed gaits reflected the respective compensatory requirements for the lower extremity joints, with both sagittal and frontal joint moments producing compensatory effects. The aging effect was not reflected in the gait pattern, but rather in the hip extension moment during the initial stance of slipping_Rec1.ConclusionsSlipping appears to be more demanding for gait recovery than stumbling. Gait perturbation compensatory mechanisms for OS should concentrate on ankle strategy in the frontal plane and counter-rotation strategy around the hip.

COVID-19 Vaccinations and Anxiety in Middle-Aged and Older Jews and Arabs in Israel: The Moderating Roles of Ethnicity and Subjective Age.

Subjective age (i.e., feeling younger/older than one’s chronological age) plays a significant role in older minority group members’ psychological well-being. In light of the importance of vaccinations for fighting COVID-19, it is unclear whether ethnicity and subjective age moderate the connection between receiving COVID-19 vaccinations and anxiety in Israel. Jewish (n = 198) and Arab older adults (n = 84) provided information regarding COVID-19 vaccinations, subjective age, and anxiety symptoms, as well as additional socio-demographic and COVID-19-related health factors (age range= 40–100, M = 62.5, SD = 12.34). Results demonstrated that feeling older was associated with increased anxiety (p < .001) and that vaccinations were linked to increased anxiety among Jews (p < .05). Moreover, the association between COVID-19 vaccinations and anxiety was significant only among Jewish participants with an older subjective age (p < .05). We stress the importance of examining cultural diversities regarding the contribution of subjective age in the context of COVID-19 and psychological well-being.

C-Reactive Protein, Subjective Aging, and Incident Cardiovascular Disease: A Mediation Model.

Negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and an older subjective age are associated with a greater likelihood of cardiovascular disease. We predicted that C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of stress-related inflammation, would mediate this relation. Data from up to 6 602 participants ages 50-101 in the Health and Retirement Study (2008-2018) were analyzed using logistic regressions with mediation. Subjective aging was assessed in 2008 or 2010, CRP was assessed 2 years later, and diagnosis of heart disease or stroke was assessed in the years from CRP measurement to 2018. Significant indirect effects occurred in all models, indicating that negative SPA and older subjective age are associated with a greater likelihood of heart disease and stroke through elevated levels of the inflammatory marker CRP. These findings suggest that psychological factors such as subjective aging impact cardiovascular health through physiological mechanisms, specifically markers of inflammation.

The Association Between Views of Aging and Subjective Cognitive Complaints in Older Adults: Findings From Two Samples.

This cross-sectional study examined whether views of aging (VoA) relate to subjective cognitive complaints in two separate cohorts of older adults. Ageist attitudes, attitudes to aging (psychological loss, physical change, and psychological growth), subjective age, and subjective successful aging were examined. A moderating effect of chronological age was also examined. Samples included 572 adults aged 50 or older (Sample 1; mean age = 67.63, SD = 11.39, 49.4% female) and 224 adults aged 65 or older (Sample 2; mean age = 81.50, SD = 6.61, 75.3% female). More negative VoA (higher ageist attitudes, lower psychological growth, lower physical change, older subjective age, and less successful aging) were associated with more subjective cognitive complaints after controlling for covariates. An increase in chronological age strengthened some of these associations. Findings suggest that improving dimensions of VoA may have a complementary positive effect on subjective cognitive complaints in older adults.