You Really Are Only as Old as You Feel
Excerpt By Pat Hagan, Reuters Health

LONDON (Reuters Health) - Expressions like "You're only as old as you feel" may be cliches, but according to a new study they can have a positive effect on a person's mental and physical wellbeing.

Researchers from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston found that so-called "memorable messages" about aging can persuade people to change their lifestyle as they grow older.

Dr. Sherry J. Holladay and colleagues wanted to test if pearls of wisdom about the benefits and drawbacks of growing old actually have any impact on the way younger people live their lives as they get older.

To find out, they asked 104 people ages 18 to 77 to fill out a questionnaire detailing one specific memorable message they recalled and how it had influenced them. The results were published recently in the Journal of Communication.

The responses were split into different groups, according to how each message interpreted the aging process. Messages to do with enjoying life included "You're only young once, enjoy it while you can," and those to do with age being a state of mind included "Getting old and being old are two different things."

Most messages the volunteers remembered put a positive spin on the aging process. Thirty-four percent said they had either changed their lives or changed their relationships with others as a result. About 11% had resolved to enjoy life more, and 7% had taken up exercise and were eating healthily.

Describing the impact of memorable messages, one volunteer wrote: "The message had a tremendous effect on my thoughts of old age. I now see it as an award for leading a decent life."

Another wrote: "It has shown me that aging is not a bad thing. It will be a time where I can relax and watch my family grow."

Holladay said it is most likely that people remember phrases or messages that are important to them, either because of the timing or their own beliefs.

SOURCE: Journal of Communication 2002;52:681-69.

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