For a long time, life span development was conceptualized as “life stairs”. This idea of development, buildup and good health in the first half of life and, in contrast, decline, illness and transience in the second half of life has become entrenched in many people. However, in recent research, the whole life span is considered to be a single process of development and change – from birth until the end of life. In old age, people still perceive developmental gains (e.g. by learning something new) and even children perceive losses (e.g. by losing a close person). In the population at large, however, negative age stereotypes that portray aging solely as associated with losses persists.

Many studies to date have focused on views on aging of older people. We know much less about the views of younger people.

This is why our current study focusses on the question: How do younger people view age and aging and how is this associated with their health behavior? In a large online survey in cooperation with the AOK Research Institute (WIdO) we asked 3000 younger adults aged 18-39 about their views on aging, age and older people and their health behavior. The findings to date: younger and older persons do indeed differ in their views on aging. Younger adults have a more positive view on aging. However, they assume a person to be old at age 63. Older adults have more negative views on aging yet consider a person to be old at age 70.

Project Information

Principal Investigator: Helmut Schröder, Deputy Director, AOK Research Institute (WIdO), Prof. Dr. Susanne Wurm
Contact person in Greifswald: Prof. Dr. Susanne Wurm
Project Funding: AOK Research Institute (WIdO)
Project Duration: since 04/2019