Older People Less Tactful, Research Shows

Ever been embarrassed by questions in public about your leaky bladder, haemorrhoids or erectile dysfunction? If the questions came from an elderly person, then age-related changes in brain function may explain the lack of tact, according to a new Australian study published in the journal of Psychology and Ageing.

Tests carried out by researchers at the University of NSW found people aged 65 to 93 were more likely to ask each other personal questions in public than people aged 18 to 25.

But older people agreed with younger generations that making such public inquiries like asking someone about their haemorrhoids was inappropriate, the study found.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 14 Sep 2005
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