Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of subjective age identification on psychological adjustment in adults and the elderly, an3 the relation between subjective age and life satisfaction. Three hundred sixty-six men and women were given a questionnaire which contained a life satisfaction scale measuring psychological adjustment. Background variables and subjective age identification were also examined for their effects on psychological adjustment as well as their relationships with each other. The results indicated that individuals of age 40 and over tended to show younger subjective age identities and the discrepancy between subjective age and chronological age increased with chronological age. Individuals with younger age identities reported higher life satisfaction than individuals with accurate or older age identity, suggesting that subjective age identity is an important predictor for psychological well-being in middle and old age. It was also found that gender, chronological age, educational level, socioeconomic and status, degree of social participation, and status of physical health were correlated with life satisfaction and subjective age identities.