Is Stress the Enemy of Youth? Why Do Young People Feel Older?
A study conducted by the University of North Carolina State revealed that young people often feel and appear older during periods of stress.
The study involved 107 participants aged 18 to 36 years old. Researchers collected information on how stress levels affected the well-being and perception of the participants through surveys.
The results of the study showed that during times of heightened stress, young people more frequently reported feeling and looking older. This was especially observed on days when participants faced life situations that were beyond their control.
This phenomenon is significant because the feeling of aging can lead to negative health consequences. Although the healthcare system has data on the impact of stress on the elderly, until recently there has been a lack of information on its effects on youth and adolescents.
A deep understanding of this phenomenon across different age groups could help develop effective measures to protect the mental and physical health of all individuals.
Currently, young people are increasingly experiencing chronic stress. This differs from the usual perception of stress, which is typically associated with ages 40-50. However, the current generation is already experiencing high levels of stress from an early age, impacting their perception of their own age.
Researchers advise that the healthcare system should pay attention to this phenomenon and reconsider standard methods for assessing the health of youth, as well as develop new stress management strategies that are more suitable for this age group.