{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T09:11:59Z","timestamp":1788772319881,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788739200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100002347","name":"Federal Ministry of Education and Research","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["01GY2301"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["01GY2301"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100002347","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"award":["01GY2301"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["01GY2301"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/04pz7b180","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Geriatrics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Loneliness is a clinically relevant psychosocial factor in later life and has been associated with adverse mental, cognitive, and physical health outcomes. Views on ageing may shape social engagement, coping, and perceived belonging, but evidence from geriatric patient populations remains limited. This study examined whether views on ageing are associated with loneliness in geriatric patients. Secondary analyses explored subjective age, including felt age and the perceived onset of old age. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used baseline data from two prospective observational studies in geriatric patients (N = 459). Loneliness was assessed with the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Views on ageing were measured using five items from the German Ageing Survey. Associations were examined using Spearman correlations, non-parametric group comparisons, and multiple linear regression. Results: Participants had a mean age of 83.1 years and 65.6% were female. The mean UCLA loneliness score was 1.54 \u00b1 2.07, and the mean views on ageing sum score was 13.21 \u00b1 2.72. More negative views on ageing were associated with higher loneliness (\u03c1 = 0.122, p = 0.009). In the fully adjusted regression model, views on ageing remained independently associated with loneliness after adjustment for chronological age, sex, and depressive symptoms (\u03b2 = 0.117, p = 0.014; adjusted R2 = 0.051). Depressive symptoms were also independently associated with loneliness (\u03b2 = 0.182, p &lt; 0.001), whereas chronological age and sex were not. At the item level, associations with loneliness were mainly driven by reduced positive ageing-related beliefs. Higher felt age was associated with higher loneliness (\u03c1 = 0.151, p = 0.003), while a later perceived onset of old age was associated with lower loneliness (\u03c1 = \u22120.136, p = 0.017). Conclusions: In geriatric patients, more negative views on ageing were weakly associated with higher loneliness independent of depressive symptoms. The small effect size suggests that views on ageing should be interpreted as one modest component within a broader biopsychosocial understanding of loneliness in geriatric care.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/geriatrics11050125","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T08:07:06Z","timestamp":1788768426000},"page":"125","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Views on Ageing and Loneliness in Older Patients Undergoing Geriatric Treatment"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Luise","family":"Umfermann","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics, University Hospital Halle, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2913-9535","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aline","family":"Sch\u00f6nenberg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics, Jena University Hospital, 07743 Jena, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6423-3108","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tino","family":"Prell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics, Jena University Hospital, 07743 Jena, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"560","DOI":"10.1037\/hea0001433","article-title":"Social connection or loneliness? How we frame the issue may significantly impact public policy","volume":"44","year":"2025","journal-title":"Health Psychol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhe.2017.07.035","article-title":"An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness","volume":"152","author":"Bagguley","year":"2017","journal-title":"Public Health"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12871","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-63528-4","article-title":"The impact of social isolation and loneliness on cardiovascular disease risk factors: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and bibliometric investigation","volume":"14","author":"Albasheer","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1093\/abm\/kaaa044","article-title":"Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Chronic Disease Outcomes","volume":"55","author":"Christiansen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann. Behav. Med."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1177\/1745691614568352","article-title":"Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review","volume":"10","author":"Smith","year":"2015","journal-title":"Perspect. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30495334251346941","DOI":"10.1177\/30495334251346941","article-title":"Predictors of Functional Improvement During Comprehensive Geriatric Care in Germany: A 10-Year Monocentric Retrospective Analysis","volume":"11","author":"Heimrich","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sage Open Aging"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"794","DOI":"10.1038\/s41597-026-07405-x","article-title":"Self-Management of Geriatric Syndromes-longitudinal data on medical and psychosocial factors in older patients","volume":"13","author":"Heimrich","year":"2026","journal-title":"Sci. Data"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dr.2017.08.002","article-title":"How do views on aging affect health outcomes in adulthood and late life? Explanations for an established connection","volume":"46","author":"Wurm","year":"2017","journal-title":"Dev. Rev."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1159\/000542507","article-title":"Views of Aging and Subjective Cognition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review","volume":"71","author":"Hill","year":"2025","journal-title":"Gerontology"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"387","DOI":"10.1007\/s10433-019-00535-9","article-title":"Views on ageing: A lifespan perspective","volume":"17","author":"Kornadt","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur. J. Ageing"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"543","DOI":"10.1177\/0091415020917681","article-title":"Positive, but Not Negative, Self-Perceptions of Aging Predict Cognitive Function Among Older Adults","volume":"93","author":"Brown","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Aging Hum. Dev."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"836","article-title":"The Role of Attitude Toward Own Aging for Fluid and Crystallized Functioning: 12-Year Evidence From the ILSE Study","volume":"73","author":"Siebert","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Gerontol. Ser. B"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1037\/pag0000062","article-title":"A culture-brain link: Negative age stereotypes predict Alzheimer\u2019s disease biomarkers","volume":"31","author":"Levy","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psychol. Aging"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Levy, B.R., Slade, M.D., Pietrzak, R.H., and Ferrucci, L. (2018). Positive age beliefs protect against dementia even among elders with high-risk gene. PLoS ONE, 13.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0191004"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"910","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gbaa106","article-title":"Subjective Aging and Incident Cardiovascular Disease","volume":"76","author":"Stephan","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Gerontol. Ser. B"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gu, D., and Dupre, M.E. (2021). Stereotype Embodiment Theory. Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging, Springer International Publishing.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-22009-9"},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Baltes, P.B., and Baltes, M.M. (1989). Optimierung Durch Selektion und Kompensation. ein psychologisches Modell Erfolgreichen Alterns, Max-Planck-Institut f\u00fcr Bildungsforschung."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1877","DOI":"10.1080\/13607863.2020.1856776","article-title":"Selective optimization with compensation strategies utilized by older adults newly-transitioned to assisted living","volume":"25","author":"Regier","year":"2021","journal-title":"Aging Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"651","DOI":"10.1017\/S1041610219001790","article-title":"Close social relationships and loneliness: The role of subjective age","volume":"34","author":"Spitzer","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. Psychogeriatr."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2016.01.074","article-title":"Loneliness and depressive symptoms among older adults: The moderating role of subjective life expectancy","volume":"237","author":"Bodner","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kornadt, A.E., Wettstein, M., Lepinteur, A., V\u00f6gele, C., and D\u2019Ambrosio, C. (2025). Associations of subjective age trajectories with loneliness and stress across adulthood. PLoS ONE, 20.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0320673"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Xie, J., Zhang, B., Yao, Z., Zhang, W., Wang, J., Zhao, C.-N., and Huang, X. (2022). The effect of subjective age on loneliness in the old adults: The chain mediating role of resilience and self-esteem. Front. Public Health, 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2022.907934"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1619","DOI":"10.1080\/13607863.2022.2163376","article-title":"\u2018I feel old and have aging stereotypes\u2019. Internalized aging stereotypes and older adults\u2019 mental health: The mediational role of loneliness","volume":"27","author":"Cabrera","year":"2023","journal-title":"Aging Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1681","DOI":"10.1177\/07334648251314283","article-title":"Ageism and Loneliness in People Over 50: Understanding the Role of Self-Perception of Aging and Social Isolation in a Chilean Sample","volume":"44","author":"Cancino","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Appl. Gerontol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1016\/S2215-0366(20)30383-7","article-title":"The association between loneliness and depressive symptoms among adults aged 50 years and older: A 12-year population-based cohort study","volume":"8","author":"Lee","year":"2021","journal-title":"Lancet Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1111\/ppc.12572","article-title":"The relationship between perceived loneliness and depression in the elderly and influencing factors","volume":"57","author":"Isik","year":"2021","journal-title":"Perspect. Psychiatr. Care"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kvalbein-Olsen, L.C., Aakhus, E., Haavet, O.R., and Werner, E.L. (2023). Unrecognised depression among older people: A cross-sectional study from Norwegian general practice. BJGP Open, 7.","DOI":"10.3399\/BJGPO.2022.0135"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1186\/s12991-021-00375-x","article-title":"Prevalence and determinants of depression among old age: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"20","author":"Zenebe","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann. Gen. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Prell, T., Wientzek, R., and Sch\u00f6nenberg, A. (2023). Self-management of geriatric syndromes\u2014An observational study. BMC Geriatr., 23.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-023-04442-8"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1177\/0164027504268574","article-title":"A Short Scale for Measuring Loneliness in Large Surveys: Results From Two Population-Based Studies","volume":"26","author":"Hughes","year":"2004","journal-title":"Res. Aging"},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"224","article-title":"Psychometrische Einsamkeitsforschung: Deutsche Neukonstruktion der UCLA Loneliness Scale","volume":"39","author":"Bortz","year":"1993","journal-title":"Diagnostica"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327752jpa6601_2","article-title":"UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3): Reliability, validity, and factor structure","volume":"66","author":"Russell","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Pers. Assess."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Klaus, D., Engstler, H., Mahne, K., Wolff, J.K., Simonson, J., Wurm, S., and Tesch-R\u00f6mer, C. (2017). Cohort Profile: The German Ageing Survey (DEAS). Int. J. Epidemiol., 46.","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/dyw326"},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Engstler, H., Stuth, S., Alcantara Lozano, A., Luitjens, M., Klaus, D., Schwichtenberg-Hilmert, B., Behagel, F., Kortmann, L., Martin, J., and Drewitz, M. (2022). German Ageing Survey-Deutscher Alterssurvey: Documentation of Instruments and Variables-Instrumenten-und Variablendokumentation 1996-2020\/21, Deutsches Zentrum f\u00fcr Altersfragen."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1093\/geronj\/30.1.85","article-title":"The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale: A revision","volume":"30","author":"Lawton","year":"1975","journal-title":"J. Gerontol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.1007\/s10433-020-00556-9","article-title":"The assessment of views on ageing: A review of self-report measures and innovative extensions","volume":"17","author":"Klusmann","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur. J. Ageing"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gauggel, S., and Birkner, B. (1999). Validit\u00e4t und Reliabilit\u00e4t einer Deutschen Version der Geriatrischen Depressionsskala (GDS), Hogrefe Verlag.","DOI":"10.1026\/\/0084-5345.28.1.18"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-3956(82)90033-4","article-title":"Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report","volume":"17","author":"Yesavage","year":"1982","journal-title":"J. Psychiatr. Res."},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"Mahoney, F.I., and Barthel, D.W. (2026, August 30). Barthel Index. APA PsycTests. Available online: https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Ft02366-000."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1373","DOI":"10.1007\/s00127-016-1279-3","article-title":"\u201cWhere are all the lonely people?\u201d A population-based study of high-risk groups across the life span","volume":"51","author":"Lasgaard","year":"2016","journal-title":"Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"335","DOI":"10.1177\/0265407513494951","article-title":"Predicting stability and change in loneliness in later life","volume":"31","author":"Newall","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Soc. Pers. Relatsh."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"985","DOI":"10.1057\/s41599-025-05304-x","article-title":"The global prevalence and associated factors of loneliness in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"Salari","year":"2025","journal-title":"Humanit. Soc. Sci. Commun."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Puyan\u00e9, M., Chabrera, C., Cam\u00f3n, E., and Cabrera, E. (2025). Uncovering the impact of loneliness in ageing populations: A comprehensive scoping review. BMC Geriatr., 25.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-025-05846-4"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dobkowitz, E., Sch\u00f6nenberg, A., Prell, T., and Weiss, D. (2026). Essentialist Beliefs About Aging Moderate the Link between Physical Functioning and Subjective Well-Being in a Geriatric Sample of Older Adults. Gerontology.","DOI":"10.1159\/000552827"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1093\/workar\/waz016","article-title":"Why People Feel Younger: Motivational and Social-Cognitive Mechanisms of the Subjective Age Bias and Its Implications for Work and Organizations","volume":"5","author":"Weiss","year":"2019","journal-title":"Work. Aging Retire."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"909","DOI":"10.1007\/s00127-025-03029-5","article-title":"Loneliness, depression, and generalized anxiety across eight countries","volume":"61","author":"Abdalla","year":"2026","journal-title":"Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.1108\/QAOA-07-2022-0044","article-title":"The relationship between older adults\u2019 perceptions of ageing and depression: A systematic review","volume":"25","author":"Hartley","year":"2023","journal-title":"Qual. Ageing Older Adults"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"268","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igad104.0892","article-title":"\u201cOLDER ADULTS SHOULD\u2026\u201d: CROSS-NATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN ENDORSEMENT OF PRESCRIPTIVE AGE STEREOTYPES","volume":"7","author":"Fung","year":"2023","journal-title":"Innov. Aging"},{"key":"ref_49","first-page":"303","article-title":"Domain-Specific Views on Aging and Preparation for Age-Related Changes-Development and Validation of Three Brief Scales","volume":"75","author":"Kornadt","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Gerontol. Ser. B"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2817","DOI":"10.1007\/s11357-025-01625-6","article-title":"The role of purpose in life in healthy aging: Implications for the Semmelweis Study and the Semmelweis-EUniWell Workplace Health Promotion Model Program","volume":"47","author":"Lehoczki","year":"2025","journal-title":"GeroScience"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2736","DOI":"10.1002\/jclp.23576","article-title":"The relationship between purpose in life and depression and anxiety: A meta-analysis","volume":"79","author":"Boreham","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Clin. Psychol."}],"container-title":["Geriatrics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2308-3417\/11\/5\/125\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T08:52:46Z","timestamp":1788771166000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2308-3417\/11\/5\/125"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]]},"references-count":51,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"alternative-id":["geriatrics11050125"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/geriatrics11050125","relation":{},"ISSN":["2308-3417"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2308-3417","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]]}}}