Middle age begins at 55, according to a new survey of 1,000 UK adults aged 50 and over. The research, conducted for the Love to Learn online learning website, suggests that Britons do not consider themselves elderly until they reach 69.
Previous studies had placed the start of middle age as early as 36, but the new findings indicate that as the population ages, perceptions are shifting. The average age at which middle age was perceived to start was 54 years and 347 days, with nearly one in five respondents saying it did not begin until after 60.
The survey also found that middle age now spans an average of 14 years, ending at 69 years and 277 days. This extends well beyond the government's planned state pension age of 66. However, 19% of respondents said being middle-aged is a state of mind rather than a specific age.
Adults in their 50s were upbeat about the benefits of their age group. Gill Jackson, director of 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, supporting the website's launch, added: '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.'
Despite the positive outlook, the research revealed that some older people still harbour negative feelings about past educational setbacks, such as failing the 11-plus exam. 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.
