A new study from the University of Vienna suggests that how old you feel, your internal sense of age, may matter as much as your actual age for happiness and well-being. The researchers recommend embracing a youthful mindset as a practical hedge against ageism and to maintain a positive self-identity as people grow older.
In Thailand’s family-centered culture—where respect for elders sits alongside the lively energy of youth—this research offers timely insight. It highlights how subjective age can influence treatment by others and personal self-perception, reinforcing the idea that age is as much a state of mind as a number.
The Vienna study, led by Dr. Fiona Rupprecht and published in 2025, analyzed data from 768 adults aged 30 to 80 as part of a broader aging project. Participants assessed how old they felt in domains such as family, friends, religion, leisure, work, fitness, personality, and appearance. They also identified the age they consider someone to be “old” in each area.
Findings show that subjective age varies by life domain and personal priorities. Younger adults feel younger in areas that matter most to their self-image. Older adults maintain a youthful sense not by aging in every domain but by pushing back the threshold of “old” in those that matter most to them. For example, someone in their 60s might begin to label being “old” as starting at 75 or 80.
This adaptive approach helps protect self-esteem against age stereotypes that persist in many societies, including Thailand. The researchers describe a balance between feeling younger (an assimilative strategy) and extending the age at which one feels old (an accommodative strategy) to preserve dignity and purpose.
However, there are cautions. While a youthful self-concept has psychological benefits, overdoing it can lead to ignoring real health needs or social realities. Thai traditions—rooted in Buddhist balance, family loyalties, and a sense of community—support graceful aging while encouraging joy and playfulness. This study’s perspective aligns with that harmony, suggesting that positivity about aging can coexist with practical health and independence.
International findings echo these ideas. Research from various regions indicates that feeling younger than one’s biological age is linked to better mental and physical health, lower mortality risk, and sharper cognitive function—even into the 70s and 80s. Data from diverse populations show that a flexible self-concept of age can promote resilience.
Thailand’s aging population—already around one-fifth of the population being over 60—stands to gain from nurturing a youthful outlook. Older adults who feel young at heart may participate more fully in communities, pick up new hobbies, and resist negative stereotypes spread by certain media narratives.
Thai gerontology experts emphasize that cultural values can support this approach. A leader at a university center for aging notes that combining Buddhist non-attachment with the country’s friendly “sanuk” spirit and continued community engagement can foster a flexible self-view. Yet he warns that respect for elders must translate into inclusive policy and ongoing support for health and independence.
The findings reinforce the global effort to counter ageism, including in workplaces and media representations in Thailand. Encouraging older adults to maintain a youthful mindset should go hand in hand with real health support, accessible activities, and opportunities for sustained social engagement.
Looking ahead, researchers suggest examining how these ideas translate within Asian and Buddhist contexts. Could maintaining a young-at-heart self-concept help reduce loneliness and isolation among Thai elders? How might digital tools influence self-perception in positive or negative ways?
Practical recommendations for Thai readers include:
- Reflect on how you define “old” and how that shape your choices and self-esteem.
- Pursue meaningful activities across generations, such as exercise, volunteering, or lifelong learning.
- Foster positive attitudes toward aging within families and communities to counter stereotypes.
- Balance self-perception with health needs, avoiding both denial and neglect.
- Support policies that promote flexible and empowering views of aging and encourage active participation at all ages.
In short, staying young at heart is more than a saying—it can enhance well-being, self-worth, and social vitality as people age. By weaving this mindset with Thai cultural strengths and spiritual perspectives, families can support longer, richer, more engaged lives.