Research Overview

Much of my research examines the relationship between social networks and chronic illness management, particularly in the contexts of aging, disability, and mental health. My research is highly interdisciplinary, often involving collaborations with health care providers, care facilities for older adults, and colleagues in Nursing, Health Administration, Psychiatry, and other fields. I also work extensively with community organizations, including through research partnerships and through community-based dissemination of research results.

Caregiver Networks: One research track examines the caregiver networks that support older adults with chronic illnesses. In 2023, I was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to identify who participates in dementia caregiver networks, including family, non-kin, and professionals outside the primary caregiving dyad; and to analyze the effects of caregiver networks on caregiving outcomes including quality and costs of care, formal services use, and mental health (NIH R21AG083184). The most important contribution of my work in this area is applying social network theory to examine complex caregiver support systems that are often overlooked in caregiver research and health policy; a more complete understanding of caregiving is essential in an aging nation that relies on informal caregivers for the majority of care for older adults. 

Social Connectedness & Cognitive Health: A second research track focuses on the link between social interaction and cognitive health. The main contribution of this research is applying social network theory to identify the biopsychosocial mechanisms linking social interaction to neuropathology. Several recent papers have appeared in Alzheimer's & Dementia and The Gerontologist. I also presented a portion of my work in this area at the 2018 Duke Social Networks and Health Workshop - the video of that presentation is available on YouTube.

Social Networks & Cultural Capital: I have published research integrating social network theory with cultural capital theory to explore how relationships affect health (and vice versa) in various cultural contexts. For example, my paper in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior argues that entering mental health treatment can provoke relationship instability and conflict for patients, particularly when patients’ needs place a burden on their relations or when they have disagreements about treatment. 

Contemporary Health Care: I have published on contemporary issues in the medical profession. In particular, I have published work on inter-professional relationships within medicine including the evolving role of Advanced Practice Nurses in health care delivery. Other studies have examined how contextual factors influence physicians' behaviors, including their prescription of controlled substances like opioids and psychotropics. 

Awards & Grants

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