"The More You Feel Your 'Subjective Age' Is Older Than Your Actual Age, the Lower Your Sleep Quality"

Bundang Seoul National University Hospital Professor Yoon Chang-ho's Team
"Positive Thinking and Exercise
Efforts to Stay Young Improve Sleep Quality"

Professor Yoon Chang-ho, Department of Neurology, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital (left), Professor Yoon Ji-eun, Department of Neurology, Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A study has found that the more individuals feel their 'subjective age' is older than their actual age, the lower their sleep quality tends to be. This implies that efforts to live younger, such as positive thinking and regular exercise, can improve sleep quality.

Professor Yoon Chang-ho of the Department of Neurology at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital and Professor Yoon Ji-eun of the Department of Neurology at Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital announced on the 4th that their research paper on this topic was published in the world-renowned academic journal Behavioral Sleep Medicine.

Sleep is one of the essential bodily activities that plays a crucial role in physical recovery, memory, and immune regulation. Poor sleep quality not only causes daytime sleepiness and increases fatigue, reducing concentration, but also affects hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive decline. Sleep quality is a complex concept determined by multiple interacting components, including individual sleep characteristics and subjective perceptions of sleep.

The research team surveyed 2,349 Koreans, asking the subjective age question, "How old do you feel?" Along with this, they investigated sleep schedules on workdays and free days, sleep patterns, sleep-related issues such as snoring, and personal demographic information including age, gender, and occupation at four-week intervals.

As a result, 404 respondents (17%) reported feeling that their subjective age was older than their actual age. Among these, those aged 50 and above or female respondents showed decreased sleep quality. Furthermore, for every 9% increase in subjective age compared to actual age, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index?a measure used to evaluate sleep quality?increased by 1.7 points. A higher score on this index indicates poorer sleep quality.

The research team interpreted subjective age as a prediction based on self-perception of aging. They suggested that groups who feel younger than their actual age are more likely to have positive attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions, resulting in better sleep quality. Conversely, those who feel older than their actual age tend to have more negative attitudes and behaviors, leading to adverse outcomes.

Professor Yoon stated, "This study is significant in that it revealed a correlation between subjective age and sleep quality in a large Korean population," adding, "Positive thinking about subjective age and efforts to live younger, such as exercise, can improve sleep quality."

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