The Historical Trend of Subjective Age Bias Uncovered by Psychologists

Most middle-aged and older adults feel younger than they actually are, and this phenomenon has been labeled subjective age bias. New research provides evidence that this effect is increasing over time. Individuals from more recent birth cohorts tend to exhibit a greater subjective age bias compared to those from earlier cohorts. Feeling younger has been associated with various positive outcomes such as better physical and cognitive health, higher well-being, and lower mortality risks. The findings suggest that promoting a younger subjective age may contribute to healthy aging and a better quality of life.