Many people feel a discrepancy between their perceived age and that recorded on official documents. A phenomenon, deciphered by Denis Guiot, lecturer in management at the University of Angers.
Subjective age, a social phenomenon
According to the Cairn.info platform, a digital library dedicated to the humanities and social sciences, perceiving oneself as “younger” is a well-established trend in our current society, encouraged by the culture of “aging young” which turns away from extreme old age.
On the other hand, “The older we get, the faster time seems to pass, giving the impression of having only lived a year or two when five or ten years have just passed.r”, reveals the site in an article.
In France, it is Denis Guiot (2001) who imports this notion of subjective age and highlights the consumption behaviors of seniors who purchase products intended for much younger buyers.
This phenomenon, far from being detrimental, is “one of the essential components of self-image“, affirms the research director at the DRM – ERMES center. Subjective age indeed allows us to distance ourselves psychologically from old age.
Instant rejuvenation, which women put into practice, who often feel younger than their age, “sometimes up to 10 years younger”according to a study conducted by the University of Virginia and cited by our colleagues in Psychology.
Feeling younger than your age slows cognitive aging
Another advantage of this “youthful look”: it would have a direct (and positive) impact on the physique.
In a study carried out on 1,352 people aged 50 to 75, Yannick Stephan, researcher at the University of Montpellier on behalf of the Epsylon laboratory, noticed that participants who felt younger had better cognitive performance 10 years later.
“Conversely, those who tend to age have a greater risk of cognitive decline than the average.replies the researcher.
In a study of 10,000 adults, Yannick Stephan also showed that the feeling of being older than one’s age is linked to a sharp increase (+25%) in the risk of being hospitalized in the coming years, whatever the causes.
“Subjective age is a good marker of physical, mental and biological health.concludes the scientist.