Most people assume getting older means declining in health and abilities, but a study by Becca Levy and her colleagues found the opposite. The research, published in 2002, followed 660 adults in Ohio over 23 years and discovered that those with more positive self-perceptions of ageing lived significantly longer than those with negative views. In fact, people who held more positive attitudes towards ageing had an average of 7.5 years added to their life span. This finding has been replicated in various studies since then.
The study measured participants’ perceptions of ageing using a questionnaire that asked about their expectations and experiences as they grew older. The results showed that the self-perception variable had predictive power over functional health, suggesting that attitudes play an independent role in shaping outcomes. While exercise, not smoking, and managing cardiovascular risk factors are still crucial for overall health, this study highlights the importance of considering one’s attitude towards ageing.
However, the finding is complex, as it suggests that our attitudes towards ageing are often shaped by societal norms rather than personal choice. This means that interventions aimed at changing ageing attitudes face challenges in reaching older adults who have internalised negative stereotypes about ageing. The research also cautions against oversimplifying the relationship between attitude and health outcomes, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of how self-perceptions shape our experiences as we age.
Ultimately, this study reveals that having a positive view of ageing is not just a matter of being happy or optimistic, but rather having a sense of purpose and possibility in one’s imagined future. This perspective matters, as it has been linked to better health outcomes over 23 years.
Source: https://spacedaily.com/n-a-yale-study-found-that-how-you-think-about-getting-older-adds-7-5-years-to-your-life-more-than-exercise-and-more-than-not-smoking