A study has revealed a common reason in everyday life that makes young people feel older than their actual age.
The research published in the journal Mental Health Science, led by Shevaun Neupert, a psychology professor at the University of North Carolina, collected data from 107 participants aged 18-36.
Young people today face many stressors daily, which sometimes makes them feel “older”. (Image: Orlando Thrive Therapy).
Participants were monitored over 8 days to assess their levels of stress in daily life. They reported how old they felt each day and their sense of control over their lives, as reported by Newsweek on March 6.
“The bottom line is that on days when participants experienced higher than normal stress levels, they also felt older. This condition was observed particularly when they felt less in control of their life situations compared to usual,” said Neupert.
Chronic stress can lead to many consequences for both mental and physical health, including anxiety, depression, heart disease, asthma, and diabetes.
Stress can also result in chronic fatigue, obesity, digestive issues, and immune system disorders. These conditions often lead individuals to feel older than their actual age.
“There have been studies indicating that stress makes adults feel older, and literature suggests that when older adults feel this way, it may be linked to various health repercussions,” Professor Shevaun Neupert explained.
The professor noted that there is a lack of extensive research on this condition in individuals under 30. Therefore, gaining a deeper understanding of stress across all age groups could help develop methods to protect physical and mental health.
Although the findings of this study are subjective, previous research has suggested that the perception of “soul age”—the feeling of being younger or older than one’s actual age—can significantly impact health, cognitive performance, and symptoms of depression.
The results also indicate that a strong sense of self-efficacy and the belief in one’s ability to control their life contribute to counteracting some negative impacts from daily stressors.
“This research may be timely, as researchers observe higher stress levels in young people today compared to previous generations,” said Neupert.
