According to the Australian Dialogue, January 31, people's fear of aging is actually a fear of the unknown, and modern society has made the situation worse.
For the first time in human history, we have entered an era in which it is natural to live to old age, the report said. In a bygone era, longevity was primarily a luxury enjoyed by the privileged. Now, about 79% of women and 70% of men are expected to live beyond 65.
Despite longer life expectancy, getting old is unwelcome and even scary for many people in the contemporary West. However, research suggests that anxiety about aging can actually be a fear of the unknown.
Society's focus on youth and ability can lead to anxiety about becoming debilitating and undesirable. Advertisements for anti-aging products are everywhere, which reinforces the notion that getting older is inherently unattractive.
Some people are so afraid of aging that they fall into a pathological state called age-phobia, which leads to irrational thoughts and behaviors, such as obsessive concerns about health, illness, and death, as well as going to great lengths to hide the signs of aging.
We often hear stories of attempts to reverse aging, and most of them are seen by the super-rich. For example, 45-year-old American entrepreneur Brian Johnson spends millions of dollars a year trying to maintain his physical age at 18.
While the desire to reverse aging is not a new phenomenon, advances in biomedicine have brought humanity closer to that goal.
For example, research published in 2019 by David Sinclair, a professor of genetics at Harvard University, said that it is possible to challenge the limits of cell reproduction to extend our lifespan. His aging information theory suggests that DNA reprogramming can improve damaged and aging tissues, delaying or even reversing aging. However, these new possibilities can also exacerbate our fears of aging.
Generational separation leads to conflict.
People aren't always afraid of getting old. In many societies, older people were once widely considered to be wise and important – and still are in some societies.
In ancient China, there was a culture of respecting and soliciting the opinions of elders. Nowadays, filial piety (showing respect and care for elders and ancestors) still exists, although it is not as obvious as it used to be. The same was true in medieval Europe, where the experience and wisdom of the elderly were highly valued.
However, the Industrial Revolution in the West in the 18th century led to a cultural shift in which the elderly were excluded from society and considered worthless. People who are over working age and those with incurable diseases are regarded by society as "persona non grata" who need help.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, the treatment of older persons has taken different forms. The introduction of the universal pension system has made aging a core issue in the welfare system. But as social and healthcare needs increase, aging is increasingly being portrayed as a burden on society.
Therefore, increasing age is often associated with controlling the risk of disease and reducing the caring responsibilities of younger relatives. This can lead to older people being placed in nursing homes to hide and be isolated from younger generations.
The study, which analyzed the responses of 1,200 U.S. adults in the "Impressions of Aging" survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons, showed that fear of aging is largely tied to fear of the unknown rather than the aging process itself. This fear is exacerbated by the separation of the lives of the older and younger generations to a large extent.
The prevalence of small families and the decline of traditional mixed-generation communities have deprived young people of the opportunity to better understand the experiences of older people. In addition, the rapid pace of house prices** means that many young people are unable to live near older relatives.
The separation of older people from children and young people has sparked intergenerational conflicts, and this conflict seems to be more widespread than ever. Older people are often portrayed as conservative and privileged people in **, which makes it difficult for younger generations to understand why older people act and think the way they do.
More interactions eliminate barriers.
Scholars believe that it is essential to create a system that allows older and younger generations to interact in their everyday environment.
In 2016, three studies conducted in the UK analysed the effects of direct contact, broad exposure and interaction between young people (aged 17 to 30) and older people (aged 65 and over). The findings suggest that high-quality direct intergenerational contact can improve attitudes of young people towards older people (especially after a period of time).
A variety of intergenerational programs are taking place around the world, including mixed and intergenerational housing, community choirs, and elderly volunteers reading to young children in nurseries.
Research shows that these activities not only enhance the well-being of older adults, but also help young people recognize that aging is a rewarding and fulfilling stage of life.
It's normal to worry about getting older, just like we experience anxiety at other stages of life, such as adolescence and marriage. Here's the thing, though – don't think of aging as an imminent number, it's important to recognize that it's just a part of life.
Once we recognize that aging is a normal journey, we can let go of these worries and move through the different stages of life with a positive attitude and a strong will, allowing our own lives to be fulfilled and enriched as well as those of those around us. (Compiled by Wang Diqing).