Healthy Aging

Another line of research examines the relationship between social disadvantage, depression, and healthcare utilization among older adults.

These papers examine the predictive role of social disadvantage on the development and treatment of late-life depression, and disentangle the roles of individual-level socioeconomic factors, such as education, income, and wealth, and societal-level factors, such as country-level income and country-level income inequality. These publications document the high prevalence of late-life depression across many European countries, examine utilization patterns, and present evidence that vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, experience disproportionately high rates of depression compared to native-born peers in spite of many protective factors (including social networks, superior physical health, and socioeconomic status).

By using a comparative approach and simultaneously examining needs, utilization, and the role of socioeconomic disadvantage, this work sheds light on a previously understudied area of health care for older adults and provides a starting point for better addressing emotional distress among older adults, especially in the context of primary care.

Our current research examines the role of social support and social networks in facilitating resilience in aging, specifically in mental health and cognition.