Negative Emotions Are Associated With Older Self-perceived Age: A Cross-section Study From the UK Biobank

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 School of Management, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

2 Department of Neurology, Dongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

3 Dongzhimen Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

4 School of Life and Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

5 School of Humanities, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

Abstract

Background 
Prior research has indicated a potential connection between psychological stress and how individuals perceive their own age. Building on this foundation, the current study explores the relationship between negative emotions and self-perceived age.

Methods 
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the UK Biobank, a comprehensive cohort study representing the UK population. The analysis included 347 892 participants, aged between 39 and 73 years, of which 184 765 were women, accounting for 53.1% of the sample. Participants were categorized into three groups based on their self-perceived age: feeling younger than their chronological age (group Younger), feeling older than their chronological age (group Older), and feeling as old as their actual age (group Same). To investigate the relationship between negative emotions and self-perceived age, we utilized a multinomial logistic regression model with the Younger group serving as the reference category.

Results 
Of 347 892 participants, after adjusted for covariates, the results showed that participants with irritability, nervous feelings, worrier/anxious feelings or fed-up feelings, worry too long and loneliness/isolation are more likely to be rated as “about your age” or “older than you are,” with “younger than you are” as the reference group, indicating that negative emotions may influence one’s self-perceived age. Among those negative emotions, irritability has the most significant impact self-perceived age, with the odds ratios (ORs) being 1.44 (95% CI: 1.35-1.54) and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.09-1.14).

Conclusion 
Negative emotions are associated with older self-perceived age, and irritability has the greatest impact. Further studies analyzing self-perceived age are needed to take psychological factors into consideration.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 02 April 2023
  • Revise Date: 28 April 2024
  • Accept Date: 17 June 2024
  • First Publish Date: 18 June 2024

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