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Although researchers have investigated the chronological age-subjective age discrepancy in several ways, they have, for the most part, ignored where and how older persons live. The lifestyles of elderly Los Angeles residents (N=308), i.e., institutionalized, socially active in the community, or socially inactive in the community, were taken into account and examined in terms of individual perception of age. Subjects who identified themselves as feeling younger, older, or the same as their chronological age completed a battery of several psychological and sociodemographic measures. Findings indicated that the elderly who felt younger demonstrated greater affiliation tendencies, had subjectively more meaningful experiences, and felt more in control of their lives than those who perceived themselves as older. When the covariates of health, income, psychological health, and interviewer's effects were removed, analysis of covariance revealed that the relationship between perceived age and locus of control disappeared. A person's sense of involvement and personal meaning emerged as the most influential predictors with respect to how old a person felt inside. The results suggest a direct relationship exists between one's concept of self as young or old. (Author/NRB)

This study was conducted to investigate the sources of meaningful events across the lifespan. Both a quantitative approach and a qualitative approach were used to examine whether or not different measures reflected different domains of meaning and purpose. Subjects were 215 men and women, were classified in five developmental groupings: young adulthood (N=35), adulthood (N=47), middle adulthood (N=38), older middle adulthood (N=43), and older to "old-old" adults (N=50). The youngest subjects were from a community college and several of the oldest subjects were institutionalized in a nursing home, with the effects separated out. Subjects completed an interview schedule consisting of demographic data items and an open-ended questionnaire of reporting the most meaningful events in one's life with the age of occurrence. Subjects also completed a modified version of the Purpose-in-Life Test. The results revealed that the amount of meaning in a person's life did not seem to vary with age or gender. Similarly, what was meaningful to a person did not seem to alter with time. Work and love themes evolved as the most salient sources of meaning followed by births of children, miscellaneous quests, accidents/illness/deaths, separation/divorce, and to a lesser extent, major purchases. (Author/NB)

Research has shown that the majority of Americans believe in the concept of life after death in some form. To investigate the effects of afterlife anxiety on wellness in the elderly, 293 Los Angeles elderly were interviewed. An afterlife anxiety measure and measures of physical and psychologial health were administered. Pearson correlations failed to support the hypothesis that afterlife anxiety would be related to well-being. However, small effects were noted for time perception and setting: elders who perceived time as slow, and those who lived in institutions, tended to feel more anxious about life after death. No demographic data were related to afterlife anxiety. The low correlations may be due to the complex nature of the afterlife anxiety variable, which demonstrates poor results empirically, indicating a need for further research. (JAC)

Reviews literature dealing with the discrepancy between chronological age and a person's perception of age. Found little evidence to support the labeling theory which suggests that older people who feel young are denying their age. Data suggested feeling young represents various dimensions of physical, psychological, and social well-being. (JAC)

Surveyed 308 elderly persons to examine how young they feel and why. Results indicated feeling younger than one's age was associated with psychological health even when the effects of several confounding variables were statistically controlled. Purpose in life was the strongest correlate of identified age. (JAC)

Investigated the relationship between loneliness and patterns of attachment in 47 college students. Results revealed a moderate to strong relationship between feeling lonely and early disrupted attachment, consistent with the notion that underlying attachment disorders may affect psychological development and social behavior. (JAC)

Tested the relationship between psychological depression and feeling old in 308 older adults. Results indicated that regardless of age, people who felt older were more depressed and less healthy than people who felt younger. Depression was predicted by health and purpose in life, rather than where respondents lived. (JAC)