Our research foci
Social Functioning
Social relationships are a fundamental aspect of human life, providing emotional support, a sense of belonging, and a key foundation for mental and physical well-being. They help regulate emotions, reduce stress, and contribute to long-term health. Our research focuses on understanding the complex nature of social connections across adulthood. We explore particularly two aspects that shape social well-being: solitude and social goals.
Solitude and Loneliness
As older adults' social networks tend to shrink with age, one might assume that they inevitably feel lonely. However, research shows that this is not the case. Obviously, solitude and loneliness (the distressing feeling that arises when the need for social relationships is perceived as unmet) are not the same. We examine critical questions such as:
· What makes solitude a source of freedom and creativity for some, while for others it leads to loneliness and distress?
· What role does autonomy play in shaping the experience of solitude for older adults?
· Does loneliness can be contagious within romantic partners and how does loneliness influence social experience?
We conduct experience sampling studies and experiments and use big panel data to answer these questions. For example, we found that older adults can deal better with solitude even if it is not self-chosen. We also found that framing solitude as a possibility for creativity and freedom leads to low levels of loneliness.
Contact persons: Jana Nikitin, Christina Ristl, Or Aharonov
Social Goals
Social goals - that is, what we desire and what we avoid in social relationships - energize and guide our behavior in the social realm and enable us to adapt to our circumstances and opportunities. People can actively shape their development through social goals. In this research area, we explore questions such as:
· Why and how do social goals change across adulthood?
· Do social goals have age-differential consequences for well-being?
We conduct studies (longitudinal studies, experimental studies, experience sampling studies) that seek answers to these questions. For example, we found that young adults particularly benefit from pursuing positive social relationships, whereas older adults benefit from avoiding negative peripheral relationships. In another study, we found that spouses affect each other in their goals over time.
Contact persons: Jana Nikitin, Christina Ristl
Views of Aging and Social Identity Across Adulthood
Another aspect of our work explores the convergence of social identities in aging, seeking to understand how societal expectations across adulthood shape self-concept and psychological functioning. Different life stages impose distinct roles and norms, which, over time, influence how individuals internalize and compose their identities. These norms and beliefs are shaped by socialization, cultural narratives, and personal experiences, impacting everyday life. We investigate how subjective views of aging, age stereotyping, embodiment of those stereotypes, and the salience of age in self-concept shape individuals’ well-being, cognitive functioning, social engagement and daily life. We examine questions such as:
· How older adults perceive and experience their aging and whether they self-stereotype themselves?
· How their views of aging affect their functioning and what factors affect their views of aging?
Using experience sampling, correlational studies, and large longitudinal national surveys, we investigate how subjective views of aging, internalized age stereotypes, and the salience of age in self-concept influence psychological adaptation, motivation, and everyday life. Research in this area contributes to a deeper understanding of the psychological factors that shape perceptions of aging, providing a foundation for interventions that foster more positive aging perceptions and experiences while enhancing agency, engagement, and well-being in later life.
Contact persons: Jana Nikitin, Christina Ristl, Selma Korlat
Aging, Nature, and Climate Action
Our research explores the intersections between aging, natural environments, and climate action, focusing on the psychological and social mechanisms that shape older adults' engagement with nature and climate action. Natural environments play a crucial role in aging, enhancing quality of life, promoting longevity, and reducing mortality risks. As people grow older, their connection to nature can become increasingly meaningful, offering comfort, a sense of belonging, and a deeper appreciation of life. Additionally, nature fosters generative motivation, encouraging older adults to contribute to future generations and leave a lasting legacy. Given these benefits, natural environments should be recognized not only as vital for healthy aging but also as a powerful motivator for climate action among older adults. Older adults, as the largest and fastest-growing demographic, have significant potential to contribute to climate mitigation efforts, yet they are often overlooked in research and policy on climate action. Our research uses qualitative and quantitative (experience sampling, correlational, and experimental) approaches to examine:
· The role of natural environments in aging and in the context of climate change
· Age differences in pro-environmental behavior and collective action
By identifying the psychological predictors of climate engagement in older adults, we aim to support interventions that empower them as active agents in environmental sustainability.
Contact persons: Selma Korlat, Jana Nikitin
Significant Life Events
Our research on life events explores the experience of life events across adulthood, with a focus on the role of age. Life events, such as career change, retirement, illness, or the loss of a loved one, can disrupt daily life and require adaptation. The same relationship transition may have different predictors and effects on well-being depending on whether it occurs earlier or later in life.
Currently, we predominantly focus on events in the domain of couple relationships, examining both predictors of events, such as relationship formation, moving in with a partner, or relationship dissolution, and the effect of these events on well-being. Age plays a role in shaping how people experience social relationships. While younger adults often focus on personal achievement and future planning, older adults tend to prioritize emotional connections and meaning, which can influence how they navigate relationships. For example, older adults may be more sensitive to frequent conflict, while younger adults may be more affected by restrictions on their autonomy. In addition, being in a relationship is especially common in midlife, so changes in relationships may have a stronger impact on well-being for middle-aged adults.
Some of the questions we investigate include:
· Which individual and relationship factors predict a breakup?
· Is perceived autonomy in a relationship more strongly associated with breakups among younger than middle-aged adults?
· Is entering a new relationship preceded and followed by increases in well-being?
· Are changes in well-being around relationship formation stronger in middle-aged than younger adults?
The results of these studies may help researchers develop interventions for individuals during challenging periods.
Contact persons: Iris Wahring, Selma Korlat, Jana Nikitin
Interventions for Successful Aging
The ultimate goal of our research is to improve the lives of older people. To this end, our future research projects design intervention studies that aim to empower older people (increase resilience), increase physical and cognitive activity, but also provide a more positive view of aging and foster social integration and generational contact
Datenschutzinformation
Here you will find the data protection declaration of the University of Vienna as well as the data protection information of the Psychology of Aging department.