Subjective Aging: Toward a Dual-Process Framework of Social and Temporal Comparisons

• Applicant: Dr. David Weiss
• Subject Area: Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 577830885

Aging is a universal process, yet the rate and extent of cognitive and physical changes vary significantly across individuals. Chronological age (i.e., time since birth) fails to fully capture the complexity of the aging process. In contrast, subjective age (i.e., how young or old a person feels) has emerged as a more robust predictor of biological aging. Research highlights that subjective age is closely linked to critical developmental outcomes, including biological indicators of aging, physical and cognitive functioning, self-perception, well-being, and performance. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of subjective aging is therefore essential to uncovering how individuals experience and adapt to aging. Despite its importance, the psychological processes enabling individuals to assess their own aging remain poorly understood. Subjective aging is shaped by cognitive and motivational processes embedded in social experiences, rather than developing in isolation. We propose that subjective aging is largely influenced by both social and temporal comparisons, with individuals assessing their aging relative to peers, past selves, and future expectations. Against this background, this project aims to develop and test a dual-process model of subjective aging, focusing on two key pathways: (1) attributing personal experiences to aging and (2) countering negative age-related information to maintain a positive self-view. Additionally, we will investigate the role of personal and situational factors, such as cognitive resources and age stereotypes, in moderating these processes. We will also examine whether these mechanisms act independently, interact, or compensate for one another in shaping subjective aging and its bidirectional links to biological aging. To achieve these objectives, the project employs a multi-method approach, integrating daily-diary studies, lab-based and online experiments, as well as the analysis of longitudinal biomarker data. By combining short-term (daily) and long-term (decades) perspectives, this research will utilize diverse measures, including self-reports, implicit assessments, and biological indicators. This comprehensive approach seeks to clarify the psychological and social factors influencing subjective aging and their bidirectional relationships with biological aging. By doing so, we aim at advancing our understanding of subjective aging with implications for health, well-being, and functioning, as well as avenues to promote healthy aging.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants