Scientific Study: Predicting How We Age
Anti-aging is not just about taking action steps after your 30th birthday.
A scientific study released findings showing that the stereotypes teenagers and young adults have of older people—positive or negative—can actually predict their own aging. This is just one more research study that proves how powerful our thoughts and words are.
Most of us have had subjective experiences to support the fact that what we think will happen—what we strongly EXPECT to happen—will happen. So, now another scientific study is backing up what our instincts tell us. The truth of just how powerful our thoughts are in determining our future is illustrated in the results of a major study by the Yale School of Public Health. Researchers found that age stereotypes acquired in childhood and young adulthood were carried over into old age and had far-reaching effects.
The 40-year study, published in “Psychological Science,” found that younger people with strong negative stereotypes about the elderly are more likely to experience strokes, heart attacks, and other heart problems than those who had positive images of the elderly.
“Someday you’re going to be old,” we’ve admonished teenagers and youngsters who have ridiculed elderly people and expressed a lack of compassion for their seeming helplessness. And it warmed our hearts when we watched other young people share love with elders and delight in their company.
Little did we know that their stereotypes about old people would have an effect on young people’s own lives when they got older! Yet that’s what this major study has found.
Becca R. Levy, PhD, is the study’s lead author and associate professor of epidemiology and psychology at the Yale School of Public Health. “The findings suggest that efforts to reduce the negative age stereotypes of younger individuals could provide them with better health when they reach the age of those they had been previously targeting with these stereotypes,” Levy said in a news article written by Michael Greenwood.
This study is a good reminder that we can serve not only ourselves but our kids, grandkids and great-grandkids by engendering in them a compassionate understanding of the limitations of others—young or old.
When grandpa visits and is grouchy, encourage those youngsters in the family to override that grouchiness with kindness and humor. You know, emotions are catching. Instead of allowing grandpa’s grumpiness to spread to everyone in the family, create a stronger emotion—one of love, joy, and understanding. Let grandpa catch this better-feeling emotion. Demonstrate for those who are younger how they can bring the emotional energy up instead of allowing grandpa’s emotional state to bring them down. Realizing they can make grandpa smile will make them feel good about themselves as well as empowered.
Scientific studies continue to prove that thoughts, beliefs, and expectations are extremely powerful influences on what takes shape in our lives. This is just one more reason to replace negative thought habits with thoughts that inspire, encourage, and bring joy.
Ellen Wood of Questa is an artist using the name Maruska as well as the award-winning author of the series of books, “The Secret Method for Growing Younger,” available on Amazon. Contact her at ellen@howtogrowyounger.com. Her website is www.howtogrowyounger.com.
