New research from North Carolina State University suggests that stress can make younger adults feel and even perceive themselves as looking older—but only when they feel a lack of control over their lives. The findings, published in Psychology and Aging, highlight how stress-related aging isn’t limited to older adults and could have long-term implications for younger generations.
Stress and Perceived Aging in Young Adults
Previous studies have shown that it accelerates feelings of aging in older adults, but little research has explored this effect in people in their teens, 20s, and 30s. Given the rising its levels among younger adults, researchers set out to examine how daily stress and a sense of control influence self-perception of aging.
“This work may be particularly timely, as researchers are seeing an increase in the amount of it younger adults experience, compared to previous generations,” said Shevaun Neupert, corresponding author of the study and a professor of psychology at NC State.
The study tracked 107 adults between the ages of 18 and 36. Participants completed an initial baseline survey followed by eight consecutive days of daily assessments, in which they recorded:
- Their stress levels
- Their sense of control over their lives
- How old do they felt and look on that particular day
A Lack of Control Magnifies the Aging Effect
The key finding? On days when participants reported higher-than-usual, they also reported feeling and looking older. However, this only occurred when they thought they had less control over their lives than usual.
Significantly, these effects were based on relative changes rather than absolute levels of it or control. Even participants who generally experienced it or a high sense of control still felt older if it spiked or their control declined on a given day.
“This tells us that the phenomenon of it making people feel older is not limited to older adults—it happens to young people too,” Neupert explained.
Long-Term Implications for a Stressed Generation
The findings raise concerns about how chronic stress could impact younger generations as they age into midlife and beyond.
“We know that it has long-term negative effects and that levels tend to increase from young adulthood into midlife,” Neupert said. “If young people today are already experiencing historically high levels, and that it is affecting how old they feel, it will be important to monitor stress-related health outcomes for this generation.”
As stress continues to rise among young adults, researchers emphasize the importance of developing strategies to improve stress management and reinforce a sense of control—not just for mental well-being but potentially to reduce premature aging and improve long-term health outcomes.
Reference: Sofia E. Lee, Shevaun D. Neupert. The effect of control beliefs on the relationship between daily stressors and subjective age in younger adults. Mental Health Science, 2024.
