Exploring the moral acceptability of older adults’ lies about their physical health, mental health, and medication adherence

Adults have been found to tell lies about their physical and mental health concerns, but no research has assessed how health lies are perceived by others. The present study explored the moral acceptability of older adults’ health lies. A sample of 73 younger and 61 older adults assessed how good or bad it is for older adults to tell health lies (about physical health, mental health, medication use) to their doctor, spouse, and adult child. All health lies were rated quite negatively but lies about medication adherence and lies to doctors were rated the most negatively. Compared with younger adults, older adults were more approving of lying to a doctor about physical health but less approving of lying to one’s adult child about mental health. Across participants, those with greater depressive symptoms viewed mental health lies less negatively. Given that health lies were rated quite negatively, telling health lies may hold negative social implications for older adults.