Research

For more than a century, life expectancy has been increasing in most countries worldwide. In the European Union, life expectancy amounts to 80.6 years on average (EuroStat, 2024). Although demographic change is much discussed, it is not only about the so-called baby boomers, but first and foremost about the fact that we are living in a society of longevity, which implies that not only early but also late phases in life can be realistically planned. Against this background, we are researching from a social science perspective how individuals can live as long as possible in good health.

Health depends on a complex interplay of various factors throughout life. In our research, we approach the topic of prevention and health promotion based on three questions:

• Which health problems are present in the population? (Identify)
• Which psychosocial factors, such as individual behavioral patterns and the social environment, contribute to these diseases? (Understand)
• How can these factors be specifically addressed and which intervention approaches are effective? (Act)

We apply the principle "identify, understand, act" to all areas of our research.