Are people in their 60s considered old? Research has found that there is a change in the definition of elderly people: Only this age is "old"

A new study published in the latest issue of Psychology and Aging shows that the definition of "olderness" is changing, and modern people think they are "older" later than before.

The study was completed by researchers from Germany and the United States, and analyzed data from more than 10,000 people who were born between 1911 and 1974 and participated in the ongoing German aging survey. Participants had to answer a simple question: How many years of age would you call elderly people?

The study found that people in their 60s think that "olderness" starts around 75 years old, however, this view is in different generations or births. There are significant differences in cohorts; people born late are more likely to recommend the age they think is "old", especially those born after 1935.

Sentence: As time goes by, the door that is considered "old" has moved upwards.

Research author, Markus, Humboldt University, Berlin "The expectation of increased life expectancy may lead to people becoming aware of the beginning of old age later, and in addition, certain aspects of health have improved over time, so a certain age that was seen as old may no longer be considered old."

Several factors have led to a change in the view of "olderness", including the fact that the doors that are considered to be old will naturally become later and later as life spans are extended; changes in retirement age may also have an impact. In Germany, retirement age has gradually increased from 65 years old and will reach 67 years old by 2031.

Researchers have noticed that the trend of pushing out the age of older age has accelerated in the past decade, but it may now reach a stable period. Although people born between 1911 and 1936 and 1951 have very different views on when old age begins, there is not much difference between people born between 1936 and 1951 and those born between 1952 and 1974. Researchers have suggested that the reason may be that the expected increase in life is reduced.

Witstin pointed out: "The trend of pushing out the age of older age is not linear and may not necessarily continue in the future." The study also showed some interesting demographic differences, such as on average, women think that old age starts two and a half years later than men think, and this gender difference is even greater in younger generations; the expected life of the people in the former East Germany is lower, and they think that older age begins earlier than their West German counterparts.

In addition, feeling lonely, suffering from more chronic diseases, and poor self-evaluation of health status are also related to thinking that the elderly begin to get earlier.

Responsible editor: Gu Zihuan