Prof. Dr. Frank Oswald ist Professor für Interdisziplinäre Alternswissenschaft (IAW) am Fachbereich Erziehungswissenschaften und Vorstandssprecher des Frankfurter Forums für interdisziplinäre Alternsforschung der Goethe-Universität (FFIA) sowie Direktor des Center AGING der Goethe Research Academy for Early Career Researchers (GRADE). Er ist Diplompsychologe und Autor / Mitautor zahlreicher Artikel und Buchkapitel im Bereich Gerontologie und Psychologie. Er hat Untersuchungen zu Wohnen und außerhäuslicher Mobilität im Alter in Deutschland und in Europa durchgeführt.

• Curriculum Vitae (deutsch)
• Curriculum Vitae (englisch)

1990 Diplom in Psychologie, Universität Heidelberg

1996 Promotion in Psychologie, Universität Heidelberg 

2005 Habilitation in Psychologie, Universität Heidelberg

2008 Außerplanmäßiger Professor für Psychologie, Universität Heidelberg

2009 Professor für Interdisziplinäre Alternswissenschaft, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt / Main

• Kontexte für Entwicklung im mittleren und höheren Alter
• Person-Umwelt Austausch und Übergänge im Alter
• Wohnen, Quartiersbezüge, Umzug und Technik im Alter

Oswald, F., Wanka, A., & Bischoff, L. (accepted). Studying Later Life Transitions: Toward a Relational and Reflexive Approach. In A. Wanka, B. Stauber, A. Walther, R.A. Sattersten Jr. (Eds.). Handbook of Life Course and Transition. Northampton, MA: Edward Elger Publ.

Oswald, F. (2026). Altern und Raum als Thema der ökologischen Alternsforschung – Ein historischer Blick auf drei Generationen von Modellen und was uns das heute in der Praxis bringt. [Ageing and space as a topic of ecological ageing research – a historical look at three generations of models and what this means for us in practice today.] ProAlter 01(26), 4-8.

Freutel-Funke, T., Müller, H., Nägler, D., Wanka, A., & Oswald, F. (2025). Linking Ages. Reflexive transition research in childhood and later life through interpretations with change of sign. In A. Wanka, T. Freutel-Funke, S. Andresen, & F. Oswald (Eds.). Linking Ages – A Dialogue between Childhood and Ageing Research (chapter 6) (pp. 92-103). London, UK: Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group). https://www.routledge.com/9781032551692

Konopik, N., Pfeiffer, K., & Oswald, F. (2025). Protection from violence in home care settings for older adults and lessons learned from child protection. In A. Wanka, T. Freutel-Funke, S. Andresen, & F. Oswald (Eds.). Linking Ages – A Dialogue between Childhood and Ageing Research (chapter 17) (pp. 247-259). London, UK: Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group). https://www.routledge.com/9781032551692

Oswald, F., Wahl, H.-W., & Becker, C. (2025). Alter und Klimawandel. [Ageing and Climate Change.] Editorial. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie [Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics], 58(4), 251–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-025-02461-1

Wanka, A., Freutel-Funke, T., Andresen, S., & Oswald, F. (Eds.). (2025). Linking Ages – A Dialogue between Childhood and Ageing Research. London, UK: Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003429340

Florack, J., Penger, S., Oswald, F., & Haberstroh, J. (2024). Adapting the Meaning of Home questionnaire for people with dementia: Initial empirical testing of practicability and psychometric properties. Journal of Aging and Environment, 1-20, https://doi.org/10.1080/26892618.2024.2400651

Konopik, N., Pfeiffer, K., & Oswald, F. (2024). Schutz vor Gewalt bei häuslicher Pflege. [Protection against violence in home care.] In J. Bauer, M. Denkinger, C. Becker, & R. Wirth (Hrsg.), Geriatrie [Geriatrics] (S. 720-726). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

Leontowitsch, M., Putnina, A., Andersson, M., Niemistö, C., Werny, R., Sjögren, H., Mileiko, I., Lakševics, K., Pokšāns, A., Neikena, M., Orste, L., Malm, C., Oswald, F., Hearn, J., & Krekula, C. (2024). Participatory action research on webs of caring in the digital age across four European countries. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 25(1), 21–32. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-03-2023-0020

Niedoba, S., & Oswald, F. (2024). Person-environment exchange processes in transition into dementia: A Scoping Review. The Gerontologist, 64, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad034

Oswald, F. (2024). Theories of place and aging: An Environmental Gerontology perspective. In National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (Eds.), Aging in Place with Dementia: Proceedings of a Workshop, chapter 2 'Frameworks for Aging in Place' (pp. 7-11). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/27420

Oswald, F. (2024). Umzug im Alter. [Moving in later life.] In P. Gellert & H.-W. Wahl (Hrsg.), Interventionsgerontologie. 100 Schlüsselbegriffe für Forschung, Lehre und Praxis [Intervention Gerontology: 100 key terms for research, teaching, and practice] (S. 554-560). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

Oswald, F., Wahl, H.-W., Wanka, A., & Chaudhury, H. (2024). Theorizing place and aging: Enduring and novel issues in Environmental Gerontology. In M. P. Cutchin & G. D. Rowles (Eds.). Handbook of Aging and Place (pp. 37-60). London, UK: Edward Elgar Publ.

 Wahl, H.-W. & Oswald, F. (2024). Bedeutung von Wohninterventionen im Alter. [The importance of home interventions for older adults.] In P. Gellert & H.-W. Wahl (Hrsg.), Interventionsgerontologie. 100 Schlüsselbegriffe für Forschung, Lehre und Praxis [Intervention Gerontology: 100 key terms for research, teaching, and practice] (S. 535-540). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

Werny, R., Reich, M., Leontowitsch, M., & Oswald, F. (2024). Digitalisierung und Sorgebeziehungen von Alleinlebenden im Alter: Eine kritische Analyse politischer Dokumente. [Digitalization and care relationships of people living alone in old age: A critical analysis of policy documents.] Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie [Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics], 57(3), 639-644,  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-024-02309-0

Leontowitsch, M., & Oswald, F. (2023). Partizipative Forschung in der Gerontologie. [Participatory research in gerontology.] Editorial. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie [Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics], 56(5), 355-356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-023-02217-9

Penger, S., Oswald, F., & Wahl, H.-W. (2023). Altern im Raum am Beispiel von Wohnen und Mobilität. [Aging in place using the example of housing and mobility.] In K. Hank, F. Schulz-Nieswandt, M. Wagner & S. Zank (Hrsg.), Alternsforschung - Handbuch für Wissenschaft und Praxis [Ageing research – Handbook for science and practice.], 2. Auflage (S. 411-441). Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlag.

Wanka, A., Freutel-Funke, T., Andresen, S., & Oswald, F. (Eds.) (2023). Feeling lonely. A Linking Ages perspective on the risks for loneliness in early and later life during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel and Germany [White paper]. The MINERVA Center for Intersectionality in Ageing (MCIA). https://doi.org/10.21248/gups.73894

Wanka, A., Schmidt, S. M., Iwarsson, S., Oswald, F., Wazinski, K., Slaug, B., & Kylén, M. (2023). Moving in together in later life: Making spaces into places as a joint endeavor. Journal of Aging Studies, 68, 101191, online ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101191

Wanka, A., Urbaniak, A., Oswald, F., & Kolland, F. (2023). Digital Transformations in Ageing Societies. Editorial. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie [Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics], 56(3), 177-180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-023-02186-z

Adams, A-K., Oswald, F., & Pantel, J. (Hrsg.) (2022). Museumsangebote für Menschen mit Demenz. Ein Praxishandbuch zur Förderung kultureller und sozialer Teilhabe. [Museum programs for people with dementia. A handbook to foster cultural and social participation.] Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

Eriksson, E., Wazinski, K., Wanka, A., Kylén, M., Oswald, F., Slaug, B., Iwarsson, S., & Schmidt, S.M. (2022). Perceived housing in relation to retirement and relocation: A qualitative interview study among older adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, 13314, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013314

Freutel-Funke, T., Müller, H., Nägler, D., Wanka, A., & Oswald, F. (2022). Linking Ages – Reflexive Übergangsforschung in Kindheit und höherem Erwachsenenalter durch Interpretationen unter anderen Vorzeichen. [Linking Ages – Reflexive transitional research in childhood and later life by means of interpretation under different conditions.] Zeitschrift für Pädagogik [Journal of Padagogy], 68(Beiheft), 98-114. https://doi.org/10.3262/ZPB2201098

Leontowitsch, M., Wolf. F., & Oswald, F. (2022). Digital (in)equalities and user emancipation: Examining the potential of Adorno's maxim of Mündigkeit for critical intergenerational learning. Frontiers in Sociology, 7, 983034, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2022.983034

Oswald, F. (2022). Leben mit Demenz aus ökogerontologischer Perspektive. [Life with dementia from an environmental gerontology perspective.] In A-K. Adams, F. Oswald, & J. Pantel (Hrsg.). Museumsangebote für Menschen mit Demenz. Ein Praxishandbuch zur Förderung kultureller und sozialer Teilhabe. [Museum programs for people with dementia. A handbook to foster cultural and social participation.]  (S. 31-38). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

Konopik, N., Kaspar, R., Penger, S., Oswald, F., & Himmelsbach, I. (2021). Advancing Health Literacy measurement in old age. Health Promotion International, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaa137

Oswald, F. (2021). Alter und Altern - Anmerkungen zur Unterscheidung krankhafter und normaler Alternsverläufe. [Age and Ageing – Coments to differ between pathological and normal ageing.] In J. Pantel, C. Bollheimer, A. Kruse, J. Schröder, C. Sieber & V. A. Tesky (Hrsg.). Praxishandbuch Altersmedizin [Practice handbook Geriatric Medicine.] (2. erweiterte und überarbeitete Auflage). (S. 81-91). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

Oswald, F., Klinger, T., Conrad, K., Penger, S., & Siedentop, S. (2021). Das Recht auf Teilhabe am kulturellen und gesellschaftlichen Leben im Alter am Beispiel urbaner Mobilität - Eine interdisziplinäre Positionsbestimmung. [The right to participate in cultural and social life in old age through the example of urban mobility - An interdisciplinary exploration.] Psychotherapie im Alter „Menschenrechte“ [Psychotherapy in Later Life „Human Rights“], 18(1), 43-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.30820/1613-2637-2021-1-43

Urbaniak, A., Wanka, A., Walsh, K., & Oswald, F. (2021). The relationship between place and life-course transitions in old-age social exclusion: A cross-country analysis. In K. Walsh, T. Scharf. S. Van Regenmortel, & A. Wanka (eds.) Social Exclusion in Later Life: Interdisciplinary and Policy Perspectives. International Perspective on Ageing,28 (pp. 209-222). New York, London: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51406-8_16

Wolf, F., Nauman, J., & Oswald, F. (2021). Digital social interactions in later life: Effects of instant messaging on situational mood of older smartphone users. Conference Proceedings of the International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCII). Springer Publ.

Andersson, N., Nilsson, M. H., Slaug, B., Oswald, F. & Iwarsson, S. (2020). The Meaning of Home Questionnaire revisited: Psychometric analyses among people with Parkinson´s Disease reveals new dimensions. PLoS ONE 15(12): e0242792. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242792

Andersson, N., Nilsson, M. H., Slaug, B., Oswald, F. & Iwarsson, S. (2020). Psychometric properties of the external housing‑Related Control Belief Questionnaire among people with Parkinson's disease. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01477-4

Herbolsheimer, F., Mahmood, A., Ungar, N., Michael, Y. L., Oswald, F., & Chaudhury, H. (2020). Perceptions of the neighborhood built environment for walking behavior in older adults living in close proximity. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 1-9 https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464820979258

Naumann, D., & Oswald, F. (2020). Wohnen im Alter. [Housing in old age.] In K. Aner & U. Karl (Hrsg.), Handbuch Soziale Arbeit und Alter [Handbook of social work and old age] (2. Auflage) (S. 369-377). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-26624-0_30

Oswald, F. (2020). Zum Verhältnis von Person und Wohnumwelt in Zeiten von Corona - Anmerkungen aus der Perspektive einer ökologischen Gerontologie. [On the relationship between Person and home environments in times of Corona – Remarks from an environmental gerontology perspective.]  ProAlter 03(20), 15-18.

Oswald, F., & Wanka, A. (2020). Zum Dialog von Psychologie und reflexiver Übergangsforschung – Beiträge aus der Psychologie der Lebensspanne und der Ökologischen Psychologie. [On the dialogue between psychology and reflexive transition research - Contributions from a lifespan and environmental psychology.] In A. Walther, B. Stauber, M. Rieger-Ladich, & A. Wanka (Hrsg.), Reflexive Übergangsforschung: Theoretische Grundlagen und methodologische Herausforderungen [Reflexive transition research: Theoretical foundations and methodological challenges.] (pp. 81-102). Opladen: Barbara Budrich.

Wanka, A., & Oswald, F. (2020). „Mapping age“ - das Verhältnis von Altern und Raum neu denken. Editorial. ["Mapping age" - rethinking the relationship between aging and space. Editorial.] Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie [Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics], 53(5), 379-381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-020-01769-4

Wanka, A., Urbaniak, A., Walsh, K., & Oswald, F. (2020). The relationship between housing, life-course transitions, and old age social exclusion: A cross-country analysis. Innovation in Aging, 4(Suppl 1), 596. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2002

Chaudhury, H., & Oswald, F. (2019). Advancing understanding of person-environment interaction in later life: One step further. Journal of Aging Studies, 51,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2019.100821

Leontowitsch, M., Fooken, I., & Oswald, F. (2019). Learning to Live Alone – The role of empowerment and agency in the lives of older men living alone. European Journal for Research on the Education and Learning of Adults, 3, 231-246. https://doi.org/10.3384/rela.2000-7426.rela20194

Oswald, F., & Wahl, H-W. (2019). Physical contexts and behavioral aging. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.399

Tesky, V. A., Schall, A., Schulze, U., Stangier, U., Oswald, F., Knopf, M., König, J., Blettner, M., Arens, E., & Pantel, J. (2019). Depression in the nursing home: A cluster-randomized stepped-wedge study to probe the effectiveness of a novel case management approach to improve treatment (the DAVOS project). BMC / Trials, 20(424), p. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3534-x

Baisch, S., Kolling, T., Klein, B., Pantel, J., Oswald, F., & Knopf, M. (2018). Dynamic interplay between general experience and robot-specific expertise at older adults' first encounter with a robot: Role for robot acceptance and implications for robot design. Gerontechnology, 17(4), 215-231 https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2018.17.4.003.00

Chaudhury, H., & Oswald, F. (2018). Environments in an Aging Society: Autobiographical Perspectives in Environmental Gerontology. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Volume 38. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

Penger, S., & Oswald, F. (2017). A new measure of mobility-related behavioral flexibility and routines in old age. GeroPsych - The Journal of Gerontopsychology and Geriatric Psychiatry, 30(4), 153-163. https://doi.org/10.1024/1662-9647/a000176

Slaug, B., Chiatti, C., Oswald, F., Kaspar, R., & Schmidt, S. M. (2017). Improved housing accessibility for older people in Sweden and Germany: Short term costs and long-term gains. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(964), https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14090964

Granbom, M., Slaug, B., Löfqvist, C., Oswald, F., & Iwarsson, S. (2016). Community relocation in very old age: Changes in housing accessibility. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70(2), p1-p9. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2016.016147

Iwarsson, S., Löfqvist, C., Oswald, F., Slaug, B., Schmidt, S., Wahl, H.-W., Tomsone, S., Himmelsbach, I., & Haak, M. (2016). Synthesizing ENABLE-AGE research findings to suggest evidence-based home and health interventions. Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 30(3), 330-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763893.2016.1198742

Schlicht, W., Oswald, F., & Reyer, M. (2016). Die altersfreundliche Stadt. [The age-friendly city.] Public Health Forum, 24(4), 301-3.

Wahl, H.-W., & Oswald, F. (2016). Theories of Environmental Gerontology: Old and new avenues for person-environmental views of aging. In V. L. Bengtson & R. A. Settersten (Eds.), Handbook of Theories of Aging (pp. 621-641). New York: Springer.

Kaspar, R., Oswald, F., Wahl, H.-W., Voss, E., & Wettstein, M. (2015). Daily mood and out-of-home mobility in older adults: Does cognitive impairment matter? Journal of Applied Gerontology, 34(1), 26-47. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464812466290

Kaspar, R., Oswald, F., & Hebsaker, J. (2015). Perceived Social Capital in self-defined urban neighborhoods as a resource for healthy aging. In F. Nyqvist & A. K. Forsman (Eds.), Social capital and health resource in later life: the relevance of context. Springer Series International Perspectives on Aging, Vol. 11 (pp. 109-125). New York: Springer.

Oswald, F., & Konopik, N. (2015). Bedeutung von außerhäuslichen Aktivitäten, Nachbarschaft und Stadtteilidentifikation für das Wohlbefinden im Alter. [Impact of out-of-home activities, neighborhood and urban-related identity on well-being in old age] Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie [Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics], 48(5), 401-407, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-015-0912-1

Wettstein, M., Wahl, H.-W., Shoval, N., Oswald, F., Voss, E., Seidl, U., Frölich, L., Auslander, G., Heinik, J., & Landau, R. (2015). Out-of-home behavior and cognitive impairment in older adults: Findings of the SenTra project. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 34(1), 3-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464812459373

Claßen, K., Oswald, F., Doh, M., Kleinemas, U., & Wahl, H.-W. (2014). Umwelten des Alterns: Wohnen, Mobilität, Technik und Medien. [Environments of aging: Housing, mobility, technology and media.] In der Reihe „Grundriss Gerontologie“. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

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. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 69(2), 174-187. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbs164

Kolling, T., Haberstroh, J., Kaspar, R., Pantel, J., Oswald, F., & Knopf, M. (2013). Methodological considerations for research in social and emotional robots: Input, Outcome, and evaluation. GeroPsych - The Journal of Gerontopsychlogy and Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(2), 83-88, https://doi.org/10.1024/1662-9647/a000084

Oswald, F., & Wahl, H.-W. (2013). Creating and sustaining homelike places in own home environments. In G. D. Rowles & M. Bernard (Eds.), Environmental Gerontology (pp. 53-77). New York: Springer.

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, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-011-9313-3

Wahl, H.-W., Wettstein, M., Shoval, N., Oswald, F., Kaspar, R., Issacson, M., Voss, E., Auslander, G. & Heinik, J. (2013). Interplay of cognitive and motivational resources for out-of-home behavior in a sample of cognitively heterogeneous older adults: Findings of the SenTra project. Journal of Gerontology. Series B: Psychological Sciences, 68(5), 691-702, https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbs106

Malmgren Fänge, A., Oswald, F., & Clemson, L. (2012). Editorial. Journal of Aging Research Special Issue “Aging in place in late life: Theory, methodology, and intervention", 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/547562

Oswald, F., & Kaspar, R. (2012). On the quantitative assessment of perceived housing in later life. In R. Scheidt & B. Schwarz (Eds.) Environmental Gerontology: What Now? New York: Routledge / Taylor & Francis.

Oswald, F., Jopp, D., Rott, C. & Wahl, H.-W. (2011). Is aging in place a resource for or risk to life satisfaction? The Gerontologist, 51(2), 238-250, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnq096

Jopp, D., Rott, C., & Oswald, F. (2008). Valuation of life in old and very old age: The role of sociodemographic, social and health resources for positive adaptation. The Gerontologist, 48(5), 646-658, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/48.5.646

Oswald, F., Wahl, H.-W., Schilling, O., Nygren, C., Fänge, A., Sixsmith, A., Sixsmith, J., Széman, S., Tomsone, S., & Iwarsson, S. (2007). Relationships between housing and healthy aging in very old age. The Gerontologist, 47(1), 96-107, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/47.1.96

Oswald, F., Schilling, O., Wahl, H.-W., Fänge, A., Sixsmith, J., & Iwarsson, S. (2006). Homeward bound: Introducing a four domain model of perceived housing in very old age. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 26(3), 187-201, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2006.07.002

Oswald, F., Hieber, A., Wahl, H.-W., & Mollenkopf, H. (2005). Ageing and person-environment fit in different urban neighbourhoods. European Journal of Ageing, 2(2), 88-97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-005-0026-5

Oswald, F., & Wahl, H.-W. (2004). Housing and health in later life. Reviews of Environmental Health, 19(3-4), 223-252.

Rowles, G. D., Oswald, F., & Hunter, E. G. (2004). Interior living environments in old age. In H.-W. Wahl, R. Scheidt & P. G. Windley (Eds.), Aging in context: Socio-physical environments (Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2003) (pp. 167-193). New York: Springer.

Oswald, F., Schilling, O., Wahl, H.-W., & Gäng, K. (2002). Trouble in paradise? Reasons to relocate and objective environmental changes among well-off older adults. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 22(3), 273-288.