Irish people no longer feel young by the time they reach 42 and officially start to feel old by 52, according to a new global research report published by The Worldwide Independent Network of MR (WIN), the world’s leading independent association in market research and polling.
The research found that Irish adults start feeling old at an age of 52. This compares with 55 years in 2018.
A total of 33,866 people in 39 countries across the globe were surveyed in an attempt to understand people’s perception of age and youth.
According to the Irish leg of the research a gap exists between when people stop feeling young and start beginning to feeling old.
The research found that the older you get, the later the age that you start to feel old. Those aged 55+ for instance, the research found, don’t start to feel old until they reach 64.
Younger people (under the age of 35) however feel that once you turn 40, they are old.
Overall, the Irish perception of youth and old age tends to align with global averages.
According to Ciara Reilly, group director with RED C Research: “I am fascinated by this research as it shines a light on how we perceive aging in Irish society today. While it is great to see that we are in line with global averages, it is worrisome that the age at which we stop feeling young is getting younger rather than older.
“This trend underscores the increasing societal pressures and sometimes, unrealistic standards that are placed on individuals to maintain a youthful appearance and lifestyle. While so much has been done in our society to address these issues, we as a nation need to foster a healthier, more accepting attitude towards aging, celebrating all stages of life.”
Richard Colwell, CEO of RED C and President of WIN International Association, adds: “This is an extremely fascinating subject which zooms in on a topic not often discussed. Age is a perception shaped by culture, geography, and time. The findings from the WIN World Survey remind us that while the years may pass uniformly, our feelings about youth and age are as diverse as the continents we inhabit.”
