The Psychological Challenges of Aging

Since the turn of the 20th century, life expectancy has steadily increased in most countries. Yet aging continues to pose many psychological challenges: some individuals experience a decline in mental health as they age physically; loneliness and depression also often arise as symptoms. All these challenges impact negatively upon quality of life.

Age can pose a variety of difficulties for older adults, including feelings of burden to others and losing social status and purpose with retirement. Furthermore, negative stereotypes associated with aging can alter one’s perceptions as they grow older; many elderly people believe they are being mistreated or neglected by family and communities around them.

Additional factors associated with aging may include memory loss, bladder control issues, hair loss and becoming less physically active – studies show that being more active can actually make people feel younger and healthier!

Attitude, lifestyle, medical care, longevity expectations, social support and emotional well-being as well as education about biomedicine can all influence psychological age. To experience younger feelings at any age it’s possible to make behavioral changes as well as therapeutic interventions which influence these factors such as regular check-ups, exercising regularly and adopting healthy eating practices to feel younger than you really are.