Hans-Werner Wahl

Hans-Werner Wahl (born January 2, 1954 in Birkenfeld ) is a German psychologist and aging researcher. From 1997 to 2005 he headed the Department of Social and Ecological Gerontology at the German Center for Aging Research . Since 2006 he has headed the Department for Psychological Aging Research at the Psychological Institute of Heidelberg University. He is also a director of the Network Aging Research of the University of Heidelberg .

education

Hans-Werner Wahl graduated in psychology at the University of Heidelberg in 1981 with a diploma and a doctorate in 1989 at the Free University of Berlin Dr. phil. Six years later he qualified as a professor in Heidelberg in the field of psychology.

Research priorities

His research focuses on : • Aging in terms of the transaction of older people with their spatial-physical-technical environments; here it goes z. B. on questions of housing, mobility outside the home and the role of technologies in improving life in old age • Importance of subjective aging processes; The focus here is on the question of how important evaluation processes are with regard to one's own aging (in contrast to chronological age) • Dealing with health and functional losses in old age and adapting to the challenges of aging; to this end, he focuses on impairments in sight and hearing in old age • questions of applied gerontology or intervention gerontology ; The aspect of plasticity is central here, for example in the form of learning processes that are still possible in old age • Theoretical questions of life span research; This is about the question of how lifelong development processes can be better understood or how early life experiences are related to late "exits" • History and systematics of gerontology So far, he has around 250 articles and chapters as well as 27 books or edited works on psychological issues Aging research and gerontology published. He is co-editor of the European Journal of Aging and received the 2009 M. Powell Lawton Award from the Gerontological Society of America for contributions to applied aging research. In 2013/14 he was a Fellow of the Marsilius Kolleg at Heidelberg University.

Articles and chapters (selection since 2010)

• Diehl, M., & Wahl, H.-W. (2010). Awareness of age-related change: Examination of a (mostly) unexplored concept. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 65B, 340-350.
• Wahl, H.-W., Schmitt, M., Danner, D. & Coppin, A. (2010). Is the emergence of functional ability decline in early old age related with change in speed of cognitive processing, but also with change in personality? Journal of Aging and Health, 22, 691-712.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Oswald, F. (2010). Environments for the elderly. In V. Linneweber & E. Lantermann (eds.). Encyclopedia of Psychology. Environmental Psychology (Volume 2: Specific Environments and Environmentally Related Action) pp. 235–264. Göttingen: Hogrefe.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Schmitt, M. (2010). Psychogerontological concepts of “aging”. In K. Aner & U. Karl (eds.), Handbook of social work and age (pp. 427–437). Wiesbaden: West German publishing house.
• Wahl, H.-W., Claßen, K. & Oswald, F. (2010). Technology as an increasingly important environment for the elderly: An overview of concepts, findings and challenges. In U. Fachinger & K, .D. Henke (ed.). Economic dimensions of assistive technologies in health and nursing care (pp. 15–32). Nomos publishing house.
• Oswald, F., Jopp, D., Rott, C. & Wahl, H.-W. (2011). Is aging in place a resource for or a risk to life satisfaction? The Gerontologist, 51 (2), 238-250. Doi: 10193 / geront / gnq096
• Shoval, N., Wahl, H.-W., Auslander, G., Isaacson, M., Oswald, F., Edry, T., Landau R. & Heinik, J. (2011). Use of the global positioning system to measure the out-of-home mobility of older adults with different cognitive functioning: Aging & Society, 31, 849-869. doi: 10.1017 / S0144686X10001455
• Mollenkopf, H., Hieber, A., Wahl, H.-W. (2011). Continuity and change in older adults' out-of-home mobility over ten years: A qualitative-quantitative approach. Aging & Society, 31, 782-802. doi: 10.1017 / S0144686X10000644
• Schilling, OK, Wahl, H.-W., Horowitz, A., Reinhardt, JP, & Boerner, K. (2011). The adaptation dynamics of chronic functional impairment: What we can learn from older adults with vision loss. Psychology and Aging, 26, 203-213.
• Heyl, V. & Wahl, H.-W. (2012). Managing daily life with age-related sensory loss: Cognitive resources gain in importance. Psychology and Aging, 27, 510-521. doi: 10.1037 / a0025471
• Fozard, JL, & Wahl, H.-W. (2012). Age and cohort effects in gerontechnology: A reconsideration. Gerontechnology, 11, 10-21. Doi: 10.4017 / gt.2012.11.01.003.00
• Wahl, H.-W., Iwarsson, S., & Oswald, F. (2012). Aging well and the environment: Toward an integrative model and research agenda for the future. The Gerontologist, 52, 306-316. doi: 10.1093 / geront / gnr154 .
• Kessler, E.-M., Bowen, C., Bär, M., Frölich, L. & Wahl, H.-W. (2012). Dementia worries: Examination of an unexplored phenomenon. European Journal of Aging, 9 (4), 275-284. doi: 10.1007 / s10433-012-0242-8 .
• Schilling, O., Wahl, H.-W. & Wiegering, S. (2012). Affective development in advanced old age: Analysis of terminal change in positive and negative affect. Developmental Psychology. Online published. Doi: 10.1037 / a0028775
• Wahl, H.-W., Heyl, V. & Schilling, O. (2012). Robustness of personality and affect relations: The case of age-related sensory impairment. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. Online published. doi: 10.1093 / geronb / gbs002 .
• Neubauer, AB, Wahl, H.-W. & Bickel, H. (2012). Depressivity as predictor of dementia versus continuous cognitive decline: Findings of a 3-year study. European Journal of Aging. Online published.
• Schilling, OK, Wahl, H.-W., Boerner, K., Reinhardt, J., Brennan-Ing, M. & Horowitz, A. (2012). Change in psychological control in visually impaired older adults over two years: Role of functional ability and depressed mood. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. Online published. doi: 10.1093 / geronb / gbs118 .
• Wettstein, M., Wahl. H.-W., Shoval, N., Oswald, F., Voss, E., Seidl, U., Frölich, L., Auslander, G., Heinik, J. & Landau, R. (2012). Out-of-home behavior and cognitive impairment in older adults. Findings of the SenTra project. Journal of Applied Gerontology. Online published. doi: 10.1177 / 0733464812459373
• Wahl, H.-W., Wettstein, M., Shoval, N., Oswald, F., Kaspar, R., Issacson, M., et al. (2012). Interplay of cognitive and motivational resources for out-of-home behavior in a sample of cognitively heterogeneous older adults: Findings of the SenTra project. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. Online published. doi: 10.1093 / geronb / gbs106 .
• Kaspar, R., Oswald, F., Wahl, H.-W., Voss, E., & Wettstein, M. (2012). Daily mood and out-of-home mobility in older adults: Does cognitive impairment matter? Journal of Applied Gerontology. Online published. doi: 10.1177 / 0733464812466290 .
• Wahl, H.-W & Schilling, O. (2012). The old age. In W. Schneider & U. Lindenberger (Oerter / Montada), Developmental Psychology (7th edition, pp. 307-330). Weinheim: Beltz Verlag.
• Wahl, H.-W., Heyl, V., Drapaniotis, PM, Hörmann, K., Jonas, JB, Plinkert, PK, & Rohrschneider, K. (2013). Severe vision and hearing impairment and successful aging: A multidimensional view. The Gerontologist, 53 (6), 950-962. doi: 10.1093 / geront / gnt013 .
• Schilling, OK, Wahl, H.-W., & Reidick, O. (2013). Trajectories of depressive symptoms in advanced old age: A functional approach concerning the role of physical functioning. GeroPsych: The Journal of Gerontopsychology and Geriatric Psychiatry, 26 (1), 29-38. doi: 10.1024 / 1662-9647 / a000079 .
• Spuling, SM, Miche, M., Wurm, S., & Wahl, H.-W. (2013). Exploring the causal interplay of subjective age and health dimensions in the second half of life. Journal of Health Psychology, 21 (1), 5-15. doi: 10.1026 / 0943-8149 / a000084 .
• Schilling, OK, Wahl, H.-W., Boerner, K., Reinhardt, JP, Brennan-Ing, M., & Horowitz, A. (2013). Change in psychological control in visually impaired older adults over 2 years: Role of functional ability and depressed mood. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 68 (5), 750-761. doi: 10.1093 / geronb / gbs118 .
• Schilling, O., Wahl, H.-W., & Oswald, F. (2013). Change in life satisfaction under chronic physical multi-morbidity in advanced old age: Potential and limits of adaptation. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14 (1), 19-36. doi: 10.1007 / s10902-011-9313-3 .
• Vogel, N., Schilling, K., Wahl, H.-W., Beekman, ATF & Penninx, BWJZH (2013). Time-to-death-related change in positive and negative affect among older adults approaching the end of life. Psychology and Aging, 28, 128-141. doi: 10.1037 / a0030471
• Wahl, H.-W., Deeg, DJH & Litwin, H. (2013). European aging research in the social, behavioral and health areas: a multidimensional account. European Journal of Aging, 10 (4), 261-270. doi: 10.1007 / s10433-013-0301-9 .
• Wahl, H.-W., Heyl, V., Drapaniotis, PM, Hörmann, K., Jonas, JB, Plinkert, PK, & Rohrschneider, K. (2013). Severe vision and hearing impairment and successful aging: A multidimensional view. The Gerontologist, 53 (6), 950-962. doi: 10.1093 / geront / gnt013 .
• Schilling, OK, Wahl, H.-W., Boerner, K., Reinhardt, JP, Brennan-Ing, M., & Horowitz, A. (2013). Change in psychological control in visually impaired older adults over 2 years: Role of functional ability and depressed mood. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 68 (5), 750-761. doi: 10.1093 / geronb / gbs118 .
• Schilling, OK, Wahl, H.-W., & Wiegering, S. (2013). Affective development in advanced old age: Analyzes of terminal change in positive and negative affect. Developmental Psychology, 49, 1011-1020. doi: 10.1037 / a0028775
• Diehl, M., Wahl, H.-W., Barrett, AE, Brothers, AF, Miche, M., Montepare, JM, Westerhof, GJ, & Wurm, S. (2014). Awareness of aging: Theoretical considerations on an emerging concept. Developmental Review, 34 (2), 93-113. doi: 10.1016 / j.dr.2014.01.001
• Miche, M., Wahl, H.-W., Diehl, M., Oswald, F., Kaspar, R. & Kolb, M. (2014). Natural occurrence of subjective aging experiences in community-dwelling older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 69B (2), 174-187. doi: 10.1093 / geronb / gbs164
• Wahl, H.-W., Drapaniotis, PM, & Heyl, V. (2014). Functional ability loss in sensory impaired and sensory unimpaired very old adults: analyzing causal relations with positive affect across four years. Experimental Gerontology (Online published). doi: 10.1016 / j.exger.2014.06.008
• Diehl, M. & Wahl, H.-W. (Eds.). (In press). Research on subjective aging: New developments and future directions. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics 2015. New York: Springer Pub. (will appear beginning of 2015).
• Miche, M., Elsässer, VC, Schilling, OK & Wahl, H.-W. (in press). Attitude toward own aging in midlife and early old age over a 12-year period: Examination of measurement equivalence and developmental trajectories. Psychology and Aging.
• Westerhof, G., Miche, M., Bothers, A., Barrett, A., Diehl, M., Montepare, J., Wahl, H.-W. & Wurm, S., (in press). The influence of subjective aging on health and longevity: A meta-analysis of longitudinal data. Psychology and Aging.
• Schulz, R., Wahl, H.-W., Matthews, JT, de Vito Dabbs, A., Beach, SR & Czaja, SJ (in press). Advancing the Aging and Technology Agenda in Gerontology. The gerontologist.
• Elsässer, V., Miche, M. & Wahl, H.-W. (under pressure). Psychological Aspects of Aging. In the drze series “Aging Assessment Report”.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Steiner, B. (in press). Innovative forms of living. In J.Pantel, J. Schröder, C. Sieber, C. Bollheimer, A. Kruse (eds.), Praxishandbuch der Altersmedizin. Geriatrics - Gerontopsychiatry - Gerontology. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer Verlag.
• Kessler, E.-M., Kruse, A. & Wahl, H.-W. (under pressure). Clinical gero-psychology: A lifespan perspective. In NA Pachana & K. Laidlaw (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Geropsychology: International Perspectives. London: Oxford University Press.

Books

• Diehl, M. & Wahl, H.-W. (Ed.) (In print; published 2015). Research on subjective aging: New developments and future directions. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics 2015. New York: Springer Pub.
• Hoben, M., Bär, M. & Wahl, H.-W. (in preparation; will appear at the end of 2014). Implementation Science in Nursing and Gerontology. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Heyl, V. (in print; to be published end of 2014). Gerontology: Introduction and History. (2nd, completely revised edition). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Claßen, K., Oswald, F., Doh, M., Kleinemas, U. & Wahl, H.-W. (2014). Environment of Aging: Housing, Mobility, Technology and Media. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Oswald, F., Wahl, H.-W., Antfang, P., Heusel; C., Maurer, A., Schmidt, H. (2014). Quality of life in inpatient care for the elderly with INSEL. Conception, practical recording, findings and socio-political implications. Berlin: Lit.-Verlag.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Kruse, A. (Eds.). (2014). CVs in flux. Development over the life span from the point of view of different disciplines. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Wahl, H.-W., Tesch-Römer, C., & Ziegelmann, JP (Eds.). (2012). Applied Gerontology. Interventions for a good aging in 100 key terms (2nd completely revised and expanded edition). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Kruse, A. & Wahl, H.-W. (2010). Future aging. Individual and social setting of the course. Heidelberg: Spectrum Academic Publishing House.
• Schneekloth, U. & Wahl, H.-W. (Ed.). (2009). Care need and supply situation among older people in homes. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Baas, S., Schmitt, M. & Wahl, H.-W. (2008). Middle and Senior Adult Singles: Sociological and Psychological Findings. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Mollenkopf, H. (Eds.). (2007). Aging Research at the Beginning of the 21st Century. Aging and life course concepts in the German-speaking area. Berlin: Academic Publishing Society.
• Wahl, H.-W., Tesch-Römer, C. & Hoff, A. (Eds.). (2007). New dynamics in old age: Individual, environmental and societal perspectives. Amityville, NY: Baywood Publ. (Society and Aging Series; series editor: J. Hendricks).
• Hieber, A., Mollenkopf, H., Kloé, U. & Wahl, H.-W. (2006). Continuity and change in the everyday mobility of older people. Series of publications by the Eugen Otto Butz Foundation. Cologne: TÜV Media GmbH.
• Schneekloth, U. & Wahl, H.-W. (Ed.) (2006). Independence and need for help among older people in private households. Care arrangements, dementia, care offers. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer (2nd edition 2008).
• Wahl, H.-W., Brenner, H., Mollenkopf, H., Rothenbacher, D. & Rott, C. (Eds.). (2006). The many faces of health, competence and well-being in old age: Integrating epidemiological, psychological and social perspectives. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer Verlag.
• Wahl, H.-W. (Associate Editor). Raem, AM, Fenger, H., Kolb, GF, Nikolaus, T., Pientka, L., Rychlik, R. & Vömel, T. (Eds.). (2005). Geriatrics manual. Textbook for practice and clinic. Düsseldorf: German hospital publishing company.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Heyl, V. (2004). Gerontology: Introduction and History. (Volume 1 of the series “Gerontology Floor Plan”). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Wahl, H.-W., Scheidt, R., & Windley, P. (Eds.). (2004). Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 23, Issue on “Aging in context: Socio-physical environments”. New York: Springer.
• Schaie, K.-W., Wahl, H.-W., Mollenkopf, H. & Oswald, F. (Eds.). (2003). Aging independently: Living arrangements and mobility. New York: Springer.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Schulze, HE (Ed.). (2001). On the special needs of blind and low vision seniors: Research and practice concepts. Amsterdam: IOS Press.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Tesch-Römer, C. (Ed.). (2000). Applied gerontology in key terms. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Wahl, H.-W., Mollenkopf, H. & Oswald, F. (Eds.). (1999). Old people in their environment: contributions to ecological gerontology. Wiesbaden: West German publishing house.
• Wahl, H.-W. & Wetzler, R. (1998). Possibilities and limits of independent living in private households. Integrated overall report on the joint research project of the same name. Volume 111.1 of the series of publications by the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• Wahl, H.-W. (1997). Elderly Visually Impaired People: An Empirical Study of the Person-Environment Transaction. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
• Tesch-Römer, C. & Wahl, H.-W. (Ed.). (1996). Loss of sight and hearing in older people. Challenges in medicine, psychology and rehabilitation. Darmstadt: Steinkopff.
• Kruse, A. & Wahl, H.-W. (Ed.). (1994). Aging and living in the home. Bern: Hans Huber.
• Wahl, H.-W. (1991). “I can do this alone!” Self-employment in old age: opportunities and limits. Bern: Hans Huber.

Web links

• Literature by and about Hans-Werner Wahl in the catalog of the German National Library
• "PsychAuthors" profile (including list of publications) at ZPID