Feeling old today? Daily health, stressors, and affect explain day-to-day variability in subjective age

Dana Kotter‐Grühn · Shevaun D. Neupert · Yannick Stéphan

143 citations0/0 files storedPsychology and Health

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Aging and Gerontology Research Retirement, Disability, and Employment Aging, Health, and Disability

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Subjective age is an important correlate of health, well-being, and longevity. So far, little is known about short-term variability in subjective age and the circumstances under which individuals feel younger/older in daily life. This study examined whether (a) older adults' felt age fluctuates on a day-to-day basis, (b) daily changes in health, stressors, and affect explain fluctuations in felt age, and (c) the daily associations between felt age and health, stressors, or affect are time-ordered. METHOD: Using an eight-day daily diary approach, N = 43 adults (60-96 years, M = 74.65, SD = 8.19) filled out daily questionnaires assessing subjective age, health, daily stressors, and affect. Data were analysed using multilevel modelling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjective age, health, daily stressors, affect. RESULTS: Intra-individual variability in felt age was not explained by time but by short-term variability in other variables. Specifically, on days when participants experienced more than average health problems, stress, or negative affect they felt older than on days with average health, stress, or negative affect. No time-ordered effects were found. CONCLUSION: Bad health, many stressors, and negative affective experiences constitute circumstances under which older adults feel older than they typically do. Thus, daily measures of subjective age could be markers of health and well-being.

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References

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2014Changing Negative Views of Aging: Implications for Intervention and Translational Research 2017Context influences on the relationship between views of aging and subjective age: The moderating role of culture and domain of functioning.2018Understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of negative age stereotypes and perceived age discrimination on older adults’ well-being 2017“How Old Do You Feel?” The Difficulties and Ethics of Operationalizing Subjective Age

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