Study Looks Into Why You Might Feel Older Than You Actually Are
Ever feel older than your years? Whether it’s preferring an early night over partying through the morning, or groaning when standing up, feeling like an old soul is surprisingly common. A poll of 2,000 people aged 28 and older, commissioned by Motive Health, Inc. and conducted by Talker Research, looked into why people probably feel older than they actually are.
What They Found
The new study found that, on average, people over 45 feel 12 years older than their actual age. They pointed out that 55% of people who feel older than their actual age blame joint pain, and 45% have scaled back their daily lives because of it.
People who feel older than their actual age said it manifests through body pain (55%), getting tired easily (48%) and feeling overall less active (31%).
The study also revealed that 47% reported that they didn’t feel their age. And 50% of Gen Xers and above felt particularly out of alignment with their actual age.
Half of baby boomers, 54% of the silent generation, and 45% of Gen Xers said they all felt different than their actual age.
Baby Boomers felt an average of 14 years older while the Silent Generation respondents reported feeling 12 years older than their actual age and Gen Xers reported feeling 10 years older on average.
Interestingly, some people ignore feeling older than their age completely. About 71% will ignore joint pain so they can continue with their usual activities. The study found nearly half (47%) of Americans won’t tell others when they’re in pain, fearing they will either think they’re too old or frail (19%), are making everything about themselves (18%) or that they’re overreacting (18%).
Forty-five percent have had to stop doing the things they love because of joint pain, and 23% have felt like they’ve let others down by missing personal or professional commitments due to joint pain.
Check out the complete study here.
Does anyone else feel much older than they actually are?
While the study points to physical aspects like joint pain, Redditors dived into more emotional factors. Someone asked “Does anyone else feel much older than they actually are?” One person replied saying, “I’m 16, but I usually forget I’m not 18. I’ve caught myself calling other 16 year olds ‘kids’ or some other term that shows they’re younger than me.”
Another person said, “Yes I feel like I’m in my 40’s I’m 23.” They continued, “My friends are also older ,and I often make friends with people in their 40+ hahaa It feels natural to me.”
“I’ve always been an old soul, from the way that I dress to how I talk. I’m only 20 but my friends and family say I’m 50.”
