Loneliness, bereavement, and well-being in ageing

SBI contributors 

Prof. Dr. David Richter, Dr. Stefan Gruber

Project description

Loneliness has been identified as a significant risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Longitudinal research across Europe, including ongoing studies using SHARE data, examines how persistent feelings of loneliness are associated with trajectories of cognitive ageing. Understanding these patterns is crucial for identifying interventions that could support mental health and cognitive function in later life. 

Spousal bereavement is another major life event with well-documented effects on well-being. Recent research indicates that the negative impact of losing a spouse has decreased over recent decades, largely due to milder anticipatory declines in life satisfaction and quicker recovery afterward. However, individual differences in bereavement outcomes, such as resilience or vulnerability, have remained relatively stable over time. 

Status

Active

Selected publications 

Bristle, J., Wagner, M., Hannemann, TV. et al. Loneliness and cognitive decline in ageing Europe: Does country context matter for memory performance?. Journal of Public Health (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-025-02491-4 

Ghose, U., Krämer, M. D., Richter, D., Wagner, G. G., Infurna, F., Ram, N., & Gerstorf, D. (2025). How spousal bereavement shapes life satisfaction: Stability and change across historical time. European Journal of Personality. https://doi.org/10.1177/08902070251336534 

Atzendorf, J. & Gruber, S. (2022). Depression and loneliness of older adults in Europe and Israel after the first wave of covid-19. European Journal of Ageing1 9, 849–861. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-021-00640-8 

Atzendorf, J. & Gruber, S. (2021) The Mental Well-Being of Older Adults after the First Wave of Covid-19. MEA Discussion Paper No. 04-2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3808100