Aging and mental health: Impact, stages, and staying well

Reviewed by Robert Bogenberger, PhD

Written by

therapist.com team

Last updated: 05/15/2024

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The aging process affects our physical health, mental health, and self-perception. As we move through different stages of life, we encounter both new opportunities and new challenges. Different factors determine how we respond to those developments.

What impact does aging have on mental health?

Some major factors that influence our mental health include:

• Genetics
• Brain structure and functioning
• Life experiences (including trauma)

We’re each born with our unique genetics in place, but the other factors can change or develop as we age. As time passes, everyone gathers new life experiences, some of which may be traumatic.

The impact of aging on mental health might include:

• Coping with serious illnesses or losing loved ones, which can contribute to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.¹
• Natural body changes associated with aging, which increase the risk of depression in older adults.² Examples include perimenopause or menopause, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Suffering injuries such as falls or motor vehicle accidents, which can lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI).³
• Taking medication or consuming substances, which can have adverse effects on the brain, including cognitive impairment and mood changes.^4,5
• Ageism and discrimination towards older adults, which can negatively affect their mental health.⁶
• Dealing with life transitions like retirement, relocation, or loss of independence, which can be tough. These experiences may lead to feelings of loneliness, purposelessness, or depression.⁷

What are the mental changes during aging?

Certain mental health conditions may be likelier to develop during specific life stages. In addition, common age-related experiences can affect our mental health in positive as well as negative ways. Let’s take a look at what we can expect to encounter with our mental health as we age. 

Childhood

Childhood is full of trial, error, exploration, and discovery. These experiences are necessary to learn about ourselves and grow into healthy, confident adults. However, some childhood experiences can increase our risk for developing mental health conditions:

• Trauma: Abuse, neglect, loss, and grief can affect us at any age, but we’re especially vulnerable when we’re young. Childhood trauma can affect us well into adulthood.
• Instability: As children we depend on our parents and guardians for a safe, stable environment. At this stage of life, we’re at greater risk for the stress associated with instability and poverty. About a third of all Americans living in poverty are kids.⁸
• Bullying: We’re still discovering ourselves in childhood, which can leave our self-esteem in a vulnerable place. We may be particularly susceptible to bullying from our peers, which can lower self-esteem.

Mental health disorders that are more likely to develop during childhood include:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
• Conduct disorder

Adolescence

As teenagers, we face pressure from our parents, guardians, teachers, and peers. Schoolwork, relationships, first jobs, college interviews, and other factors can affect our mental health. During our teenage years, high levels of stress can increase our risk for mental health disorders such as:

• Addiction: Many of us begin experimenting with addictive substances during adolescence. An estimated nine out of 10 adult smokers started before they turned 18, and almost all started before age 26.⁹ As teens we may begin misusing or become addicted to alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, opioids, and other illegal substances. We may also begin developing compulsive or addictive behaviors, whether around playing video games, using social media, or exercising.¹⁰
• Depression and other mood disorders: Mood disorders manifest through feelings of sadness, loneliness, or hopelessness and affect daily life. Health care professionals tend to diagnose certain mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression, during adolescence.
• Anxiety: Like depression, anxiety disorders are common in adolescence. They include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Eating disorders: Adolescence can be a time of heightened concern about body image and eating habits. Depending on the individual, they may have an increased risk of developing anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder.

Some teens may also develop conditions like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or dissociation in reaction to childhood trauma. A mental health professional can help determine if this is the case and recommend appropriate treatment.

Young adulthood

The transition to adulthood is a critical stage of development for our identity and self-concept. It’s a time when most of us have first-time experiences including:

• Work: As young adults, many of us graduate from school and enter the workforce full-time for the first time. If we don’t attend college, we may be taking on greater work responsibilities at this age.
• Domestic life: Many of us move out of our family homes in our late teens or twenties. We may be cooking, cleaning, working, paying rent, and taking care of ourselves for the first time.
• Relationships: At this stage of life, we may move in with someone for the first time, get married, or start a serious committed relationship. We may struggle at first to make friends outside of the school environment.
• Parenthood: If we become parents, we experience the rewards and stresses of caring for an infant or child. Pregnancy and parenthood carry increased risks for various mental health issues.
• Homeownership: Some of us may experience homeownership in our twenties or early thirties. The financial burden and stresses that come with owning a home can be overwhelming for some.

The stresses of these life changes can increase our risk for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Certain disorders, such as schizophrenia, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders, are often first diagnosed in young adulthood.

Middle age

Middle age can be a period of increased emotional and mental stability for many of us. A CDC survey shows that nearly 95% of people aged 50 and older are satisfied with their lives.¹¹ However, nearly 15% of adults aged 60 and up have a mental health disorder, according to the World Health Organization.¹²

Middle age comes with stressful experiences like:

• Taking care of aging parents
• Struggling with romantic relationships or going through a separation or divorce
• Adjusting to the reality of having a middle-aged body
• Having a “midlife crisis”
• Adjusting to physical health challenges or a new chronic conditions
• Trying to save money for retirement
• Struggling with career satisfaction
• Children graduating from school and/or moving out

With the right support systems in place, many middle-aged people can adjust to these new realities. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the stress in this stage of life can be overwhelming. Adults ages 35 to 64 account for nearly 50% of all suicides in the US.¹³

If you’re in crisis, help is available now: Call the 988 Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

Senior and retirement age

Most people notice changes associated with aging by the time they reach retirement age. The onset and severity of these changes, however, may vary from person to person. We may notice decreased capacity in:¹⁴

• Memory and recall
• Speech and communication
• Focus and attention
• Multitasking
• Learning new things

We may have difficulty transitioning out of the workforce, or we may struggle after losing a loved one. For older adults, mental health challenges like grief and depression may accompany these changes.

Suicide rates are highest in the US among men aged 75 and older.¹⁵ Some of the biggest risk factors include social isolation and access to lethal means.

Old age and mental health

Most older adults have the life satisfaction, social and emotional support, and mental health needed for healthy aging.¹⁶ It’s a common misconception that aging leads to cognitive decline. In truth, getting older isn’t inherently detrimental to your mental health. Some conditions may even improve with age.¹⁷

What is the most common mental illness in the elderly?

According to the World Health Organization, the most common mental illnesses among older people are anxiety and depression.¹⁸ Dementia is also quite common, with 55 million people suffering from the disease worldwide.¹⁹

How can older adults improve their mental health?

You can improve your mental health and your overall quality of life by doing the following:

• Engaging your brain regularly with books, puzzles, and other cognitive activities
• Processing your emotional experiences in healthy ways
• Learning stress management skills
• Practicing self-care
• Eating nutritious foods
• Getting regular physical activity
• Getting enough sleep
• Taking time to rest and relax
• Spending time with loved ones
• Getting social support during stressful times
• Learning a new skill or hobby
• Seeing your doctor for regular physical and mental health checkups
• Seeking professional treatment to address any mental health issues

If you’re concerned about your mental health at any stage of life, help is available. Browse our directory to find a therapist near you.