Old age is perceived to begin later: cross-European differences and the role of macro-level factors for the historical change in the perceived onset of old age.

objectivesThe age at which people consider old age to begin (i.e., the perceived onset of old age) might have changed over the past decades due to changes in macro-level factors, such as statutory retirement age, older adults' employment rate, and healthy life expectancy.

methodsWe applied multilevel models to data from the European Social Survey (n = 55,721) to examine how change in perceived onset of old age-"At what age do men/women reach old age?"-over 12 years, measured in independent samples in 2006 and 2018 across 17 European countries, was related to macro-level changes in employment rate among those aged 55-64 years, gender-specific statutory retirement ages, and healthy life expectancy at age 65.

resultsResults suggest that, on average, the perceived onset of old age was 3.7 years later in 2018 than in 2006. The perceived onset of old age in 2006 was later in countries with a higher healthy life expectancy in 2006. Increases in the perceived onset of old age between 2006 and 2018 were larger in countries with higher rises in men's retirement age; increases were smaller in countries with greater gains in healthy life expectancy and with higher rises in older adults' employment rates and in women's retirement age between 2006 and 2018. Men perceived women to enter old age earlier than men. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that theoretical frameworks of perceptions on old age need to consider the role of macro-level policies with regard to societal health, retirement, and age-related employment structure.