Middle aged yet?

[Gob]

Middle age starts much later than previously thought - at the age of 55, research suggests.

And Britons do not see themselves as elderly until they are nudging 70, the survey of 1,000 UK adults aged 50-plus for the Love to Learn online learning website says.

Previous studies have pinpointed the start of middle age as early as 36.

The research suggests that as the population ages, new cut-off points are being drawn.

According to official national data, there are now more adults over 65 than there are under-16s.

Although seven out of 10 early 50-somethings quizzed for the survey defined themselves as middle-aged, the average age at which the period of life was perceived to start was 54 years and 347 days old.

However, a sizeable minority, nearly one in five, thought middle age did not begin until after the age of 60.

But almost one in five (19%) said that being middle age is a state of mind, rather than something that begins at a certain age.

The research also asked the panel at what age they thought middle age ends. The average came in at 69 years and 277 days.

This suggests middle age itself now spans 14 years and goes well beyond the government's planned state pension age of 66.

Recent research from charity Age UK, looking at how Europeans categorise themselves, found the average age at which old age is perceived to start is 62. But there was less consensus on when youth ended, ranging from 34 in Sweden to 52 in Greece, with an average of 40.

However the Love to Learn research also found that adults in their 50s were upbeat about the benfits of their age group.

Gill Jackson, director of new online course provider, Love to Learn, said: "More than half said they have more confidence and experience than younger people and are less afraid of making mistakes."

John Craven, who is supporting the website's launch, said the concept of ageing had changed: "Only a generation ago, many people were pretty old at 60.

"These days most of us in our middle and later years are much younger in our attitudes and it's all about having an active state of mind."

But some older people still appear to be haunted about by obstacles from their past, such as failing the 11-plus school entrance exams.

Decades after the event, nearly half of those who did not pass the grammar school entry test said it brought back negative emotions. And one in five said it had put them off learning permanently.

[Guinevere]

Exactly as I said several months ago, when I was taunted for allegedly being "middle-aged" - and I am not!

[The Hen]

We need to face facts that we are speeding up our formative years and slowing down our aging process.

I put a lot of it down to diet and exercise.

Some of my peers who have paid little regard to either aspect of their lives look (and act) so much older than me.

It is scary to contemplate that I could have chosen the same path.

[Crackpot]

Does this mean I'm still a teenager?

[Guinevere]

Does this mean I'm still a teenager?

I thought you were

[dales]

I like being old.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Wooo Hooo I'm only 54yo.

[rubato]

I thought that 40 was the start of 'middle age'.

yrs,
rubato

[dgs49]

I agree with rubato. "Middle Age" starts at 40.

To me, the "prime of life" (which ends at Middle Age) is the period of adulthood when you can still pursue your optimum physical performance levels. After 40, your performance levels are limited by aches, pains, and being prone to physical injury when you exert yourself to the maximum. If you reach your maximum performance level at anything after 40, it's because you weren't very good when you could/should have been.

Career wise, of course, this is not the case, as one's peak earning years are only starting at age 40. Mentally, I think most people start to decline in their 50's.

Anyone who is 60 and thinks he is in Middle Age is delusional.

I guess the question is what "age" follows Middle Age. I can't think of any. Does Middle Age last until you reach "retirement age"?

[dales]

Anyone who is 60 and thinks he is in Middle Age is delusional.

I LIKE BEING OLD.

[rubato]

Anyone who is 60 and thinks he is in Middle Age is delusional.

I LIKE BEING OLD.

Senility is good for some things.

yrs,
rubato

[Joe Guy]

I guess the question is what "age" follows Middle Age.

Upper Middle Age.

[dales]

Anyone who is 60 and thinks he is in Middle Age is delusional.

I LIKE BEING OLD.

Senility is good for some things.

yrs,
rubato

Yes, not remembering the offal you toss about here at Plan B.

[Lord Jim]

Middle age starts much later than previously thought - at the age of 55, research suggests

Huzzah!

Who am I to argue with researchers suggesting things...

I'm always inclined to defer to experts in these matters...

[MajGenl.Meade]

I guess the question is what "age" follows Middle Age.

Upper Middle Age.

I thought it was the Renaissance?

Yrs
Carol Ingian

[Lord Jim]

Discovering that at 52, (almost 53) I haven't even reached middle age, is the second best news I can imagine...

The first best news of course, would be to be told that pepperoni and sausage pizza has been discovered to be a miracle weight loss drug....

[Beer Sponge]

I thought middle age happens when you get more middle as you age.

[Gob]

I was of the opinion that middle age only happens to other people.

[loCAtek]

I'll defer to being middle-aged, when I stop being carded.

[Lord Jim]

I was of the opinion that middle age only happens to other people.

That's an excellent point Strop...

"Middle aged" is not a particularly meaningful concept to people like you and I who have decided to opt out of the whole "dying" thing...