Want to feel a decade younger? Use technology.
Those who take advantage of technology feel younger, suggesting a growing relationship between technological innovation and well-being.
The research, which surveyed over 15,000 individuals from around the globe, found that people on average feel 11 years younger thanks to technology.
This rings most true in China, where 70 percent of respondents said technology made them feel more youthful, which could be perhaps due to technology’s ability to build connections between generations, especially those who might have once felt disconnected from tech-savvy youngsters.
The research suggests that this sentiment is felt world-over, across genders and ages. “To know how to operate newer technology makes me feel younger” said one US woman. Another woman, from France, also stated, “Compared to the younger generation who are born with all these technologies, my adaptability makes me feel younger.”
On the other side of the globe, one female respondent in India cited that tech made her feel like she “can do anything with it which any youngster can do,” and one Chinese male respondent said, “It helps me catch up with the times—not only gaining more knowledge but also feel that I’m on trend; I feel younger.”
The research generally revealed that many older generations think that using technology helps them connect better with younger people as well as feel livelier and more knowledgeable. This is especially evident when it comes to the role smart devices (from PCs and tablets to smart home assistants and more) play in terms of relationships with family and friends.
For instance, 75 percent said technology was improving their ability to stay in touch with family and friends who live far away.
“Keeping up with advancements in technology can feel like a full-time job, but it can have positive impacts on people’s sense of themselves and their age,” posited Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist and founder of Digital Nutrition.
She continued, “Staying connected to the people we care about is a wonderful feature of technology. And while it is no replacement for face-to-face connection, it is a valuable supplement to communication for those who might be geographically divided.”
The global research also revealed that tech is helping people when it comes to mental health and well-being, offering emotional gains, particularly to parents.
Over three-quarters (78 percent) of working parents stated the ever-connected nature of technology helped them feel more emotionally connected to their children, even when they are away from home.
Meanwhile, over two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents in the survey stated they were optimistic about the future of technology and the role tech can play in our lives and society, especially in well-being, with 67 percent believing devices are currently having a positive impact on the ability to improve their overall health.
“I think that the medical breakthroughs we’ve had are a tremendous statement on how we can have a positive relationship with technology,” said a 51-year-old woman from the US, highlighting how science is using technology to do great things for amputees.
The recognition that tech is helping to improve the quality of life could also be a result of the time it tends to save people. Half of respondents across all markets (50 percent) feel their smart devices save them 30 minutes or more a day by helping them do something faster or more efficiently.
“There is a growing relationship between innovation and well-being as smart technologies are not only helping people globally to stay more connected but aiding well-being in the form of compassion and empathy by building better connections between them,” said Dilip Bhatia, vice president of user and customer experience at Lenovo.