Daily Affect Dynamics in Very Old Age Across Time: The Role of Vulnerabilities but Also Strengths
The project at a glance
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Start date:01 Sep 2025
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Duration in months:36
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Funding:Fonds National de la Recherche (INTER/DFG/24/18710673/SAVVO) / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (WE 6117/3-1, SCHI 1024/6-1, GE 1896/12-1, WA 809/14-1)
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Principal Investigator(s):Anna KORNADTDenis Gerstorf (external)Markus Wettstein (external)Oliver Schilling (external)Hans-Werner Wahl (external)
About
This research project focuses on exploring the experiences of individuals in the “fourth age,” which refers to very old age, typically 80 years and older. While this stage of life is often seen as a time of increased vulnerability, the study adopts a life span psychology perspective, which suggests that both strengths and vulnerabilities coexist throughout a person’s entire life, including very old age. The primary objectives of the project are to investigate the interplay between strengths and vulnerabilities in very old age and how they influence emotional experiences, responses to stress, and the ability to cope with stress in the daily lives of older adults. The study involves three groups of very old adults, totaling 360 participants, recruited from Berlin, Heidelberg, and Luxembourg. Over a period of eighteen months, participants will be interviewed at four different time points each six months. These interviews will gather information on various aspects of their lives, including available resources, potential risk factors, overall health, and general well-being. Additionally, during the initial three measurement points, participants will report on their daily experiences as they go about their daily lives several times a day over a period of seven days. This assessment involves participants providing real-time, detailed information about the dynamics of their stress reactions and how they regulate stress in their day-to-day activities. By collecting data from multiple sources and over time, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of how strengths and vulnerabilities influence the daily experiences of very old adults, shedding light on their emotional well-being and stress management strategies.
Project Team
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Anton LACHMANN
