ASSOCIATIONS OF SUBJECTIVE AGE TRAJECTORIES WITH LONELINESS AND STRESS ACROSS ADULTHOOD

Sep 29, 2026

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Subjective age—how old a person feels relative to chronological age—serves as an indicator of diverse aging processes. This study examines loneliness as a determinant of subjective age levels and changes, and tests whether self-reported stress mediates this association. Data come from 5,594 adults aged 18–93 across up to three measurement occasions over 2.5 years. Latent growth modeling shows loneliness linked to older subjective age and faster increases over time, mediated by stress, with effects moderated by chronological age.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study focus and rationale

Methods and sample

Results and mediation

Moderation by chronological age

Implications

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 67 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.223 ASSOCIATIONS OF SUBJECTIVE AGE TRAJECTORIES WITH LONELINESS AND STRESS ACROSS ADULTHOOD Anna Kornadt1, Markus Wettstein2, Anthony Lepinteur, Claus Vögele1, and Conchita D’Ambrosio1, 1. University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-alzette, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, 2. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Berlin, Germany Subjective age, that is the age a person feels compared to their chronological age, is indicative of a variety of aging processes. Studies that investigate multi-variate, dynamic, longitudinal relations of subjective age with potential determinants and mechanisms of these relations have rarely been employed. In the current study, we focus on loneliness as a potential subjective age determinant, as loneliness affects a variety of psychosocial and health 68 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 outcomes across life and is stereotypically perceived as a feature of old age. We investigate whether loneliness is related with levels and changes in subjective age and test whether this association is mediated via self-reported stress. N = 5,594 adults aged 18 – 93 years (Mage = 50.41, SD = 15.99) who participated in a longitudinal survey comprising up to three measurement occasions over a time span of 2.5 years reported their loneliness, subjective age, and stress as well as sociodemographic and health-related covariates. We employed latent growth modeling and found that, when controlling for sociodemographic and health-related covariates, higher loneliness was related to an older subjective age cross-sectionally and a to steeper increase in subjective age overtime. These relations were mediated via stress; however, the relation between stress and subjective age was no longer statistically significant when including the covariates. All associations were qualified by significant interactions with chronological age, albeit in different directions. Our findings attest to the associations between loneliness, stress and subjective aging experiences and highlight the need for an age-informed approach when planning further studies and interventions.

FAQs

How is subjective age defined in the study?

Subjective age is defined as the age a person feels compared to their chronological age.

What does the study test regarding loneliness and subjective age?

It tests whether loneliness relates to both levels and changes in subjective age across adulthood, and whether stress mediates this association.

What statistical approach is used to analyze the data?

The study uses latent growth modeling to examine trajectories of subjective age and how they relate to loneliness and stress.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Patrick