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

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 ۳۴۷ ۸۹۲ participants, aged between ۳۹ and ۷۳ years, of which ۱۸۴ ۷۶۵ were women, accounting for ۵۳.۱% 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 ۳۴۷ ۸۹۲ 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 ۱.۴۴ (۹۵% CI: ۱.۳۵-۱.۵۴) and ۱.۱۱ (۹۵% CI: ۱.۰۹-۱.۱۴).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:

Negative Emotions , Aging , Self-Perceived Age , Multinomial Logistic Regression , UK Biobank