My published work examines changing patterns of social isolation, trust, and access to network resources. Building on this work, I study how reciprocity and social context shape the connections people form and the support they can draw on.
Research
Relationships.
Health. Social context.
I study how social relationships shape health and well-being, and how aging and life transitions reshape those relationships.
Drawing on longitudinal studies, multinational surveys, and sociocentric network data.
Research themes Three connected areas of inquiry
01 /
Social connections and inequality
What makes a social connection meaningful?
02 /
Health and aging
How are social relationships and health intertwined?
I examine the connections between social participation, oral health, and mental and cognitive health in later life. Published studies link oral health with social engagement and depressive symptoms; ongoing work extends this research to the ways social connectedness and health change together as people age.
Oral health and social engagement · Social engagement and depressive symptoms
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Family and the life course
How do relationships change as lives unfold?
My research explores how family relationships and caregiving shape well-being across the life course. Published work examines loneliness among caregivers and care recipients and how families share care. Current work broadens this perspective to support across generations and the changing demands of family life.
For published work and full citations
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