Physical activity and subjective age across adulthood in four samples

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Subjective age, or how old one feels, is a significant aspect of psychological well-being.
• The relationship between physical activity and subjective age across the adult lifespan requires further investigation.
• Understanding mediating factors can illuminate pathways through which physical activity influences subjective age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prospective association between physical activity and subjective age in adults aged 20–90 years.
• To identify potential mediating factors, including personality, self-rated health, disease burden, depressive symptoms, and cognition.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of over 10,000 participants from four large US cohort studies.
• Physical activity assessed at baseline, with subjective age measured 8–20 years later.
• Statistical models used to assess direct and indirect effects of physical activity on subjective age.

Main Results:

• Higher levels of physical activity at baseline were prospectively associated with younger subjective age at follow-up.
• Physical activity was linked to a 30–50% increased likelihood of feeling younger over 8–20 years.
• Significant indirect effects were observed through openness to experience and self-rated health.

Conclusions:

• Physical activity is a significant predictor of maintaining a younger subjective age throughout adulthood.
• Personality traits (openness) and self-rated health are key mediators in the physical activity-subjective age relationship.
• Promoting physical activity may be a viable strategy to foster a younger subjective age and enhance well-being.