ASI

Jennifer Karas Montez, Gerald B. Cramer Faculty Scholar of Aging Studies, explores the importance of state policy contexts in understanding macro-level mortality trends in her editorial “Deregulation, Devolution, and State Preemption Laws’ Impact on US Mortality Trends,” published in the American Journal of Public Health. 

Congratulations to Jennifer Karas Montez who received an NIH award. This 5-year $1.3 million dollar grant is on “Educational Attainment, Geography, and U.S. Adult Mortality Risk.”

“The Influence of Men’s Military Service on Smoking Across the Life Course,” co-authored by Andrew London and Janet Wilmoth, was published in the October 2017 issue of the Journal of Drug Issues. The study examines whether or not participation in the military in early adulthood exerts a causal influence on smoking across the life course.

Merril Silverstein, professor of sociology and Marjorie Cantor Endowed Professor in Aging, was elected to the Sociological Research Association (SRA), an honors society of sociology scholars dedicated to excellence in research. The SRA was founded in 1936 and membership invitations are extended to a limited number of sociologists each year, based on their long-term careers of distinguished research. As the officers of SRA noted: “SRA elections signifies the esteem of your colleagues in the profession and their enthusiasm for your scholarship.”

Silvertein’s research interests focus on aging in the context of family life, with an emphasis of life course and international perspectives. He is currently principal investigator of the Longitudinal Study of Generations, a project that has tracked multigenerational families over four decades. Silverstein received a PhD in sociology from Columbia University. He was inducted into the SRA on August 13 at the America Sociological Association annual meeting.

The 112th ASA Annual meeting took place, August 12-15 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Aging Studies Institute faculty and students presented on the following topics.

Adults ADHD and Health: A Conceptual Model and Analysis – Scott Landes, Andrew London Link

Unlike studies of childhood ADHD, scant attention has been devoted to understanding adult ADHD, including adult health outcomes. Recognizing ADHD as a life course disorder and informed by research on the effect of social determinants on health across the life course, we provide a conceptual model for understanding ADHD health, and initial empirical analysis of adult ADHD health outcomes. Using 2007 National Health Interview Survey data, we find that controlling for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, psychiatric comorbidities, and health behavior reduces the disparities in health outcomes between adults with and without ADHD. However, even when controlling for these exogenous measures, ADHD continues to exert a large and statistically significant influence on adult health. Results affirm the necessity of expanding ADHD health research beyond a solely biomedical model to include consideration of the effect of socioeconomic status and stigmatization across the life course on health outcomes for adults with ADHD.

The Influence of Religion on Intergenerational Solidarity in Eastern and Western Germany – Anja Steinbach and Merril Silverstein  Link

This paper investigated the relationship between religiosity and intergenerational solidarity in Germany, with a focus on differences between eastern and western regions that have maintained unique religious profiles that trace back to before unification. Based on data from Wave 6 (2013/14) of the German Family Panel (pairfam), 8,637 reports from 4,622 adult children about their relationships with mothers and fathers were analyzed. Using an index comprising four dimensions of the intergenerational solidarity model (distance, contact, closeness, and support), hierarchical linear regression demonstrated general support for the hypothesis that religion has a positive impact on the strength of intergenerational relations in Germany. However, in the highly secularized eastern part of Germany the influence of religion on solidarity is not as strong as in the more religious western part. These results reiterate the importance of taking social context and political history into account when studying core institutions of religion and families.

Mismatch and Academic Performance at Americas’s Selective Colleges and Universitities – Amy Lutz, Pamela Bennett, Rebecca Wang Link

In an effort to promote greater diversity among selective American colleges and universities, institutions use affirmative action policies. This creates a situation where blacks and Latinos have somewhat lower SAT scores than their Asian and white peers. Critics of affirmative action argue that lower average SAT scores result in lower grades and greater dropout among underrepresented minority groups. Using the Educational Longitudinal Study, nationally representative longitudinal data, this article examines the effect of SAT mismatch on graduation and grade point average for students at selective institutions. We find that SAT mismatch does not significantly affect graduation from a selective institution. Mismatch is associated with significantly lower grades at selective institutions, but the effect does not vary by race. However, high school GPA plays a larger role in college GPA than does mismatch. While critics argue that lower grade point averages harm minority students, proponents of affirmative action argue that graduation from a selective college is more important than grade point average.

Section on Aging and the Life Course. Matilda White Riley Session and Business Meeting – Madonna Harrington Meyer (Panelist) 

Madonna Harrington Meyer discussed her work on how disability shapes carework performed by working grandmothers.

To learn more about the ASA Annual meeting, click here.

Aging Studies Institute faculty and students attended the 2017 IAGG conference in July located in San Francisco and presented on the following topics.

Cultural and Gendered Expectations of Latin American and Caribbean Grandmothers in the U.S.- Ynesse Abdul-Malak

Nativity Differences in Recovery and Deterioration in Late-Life Disablement – Rebecca Wang

Constructing Transnational Families: Generational Ties. Filial Piety, and Caregiving Across Borders – Joonsik Yoon

Prevalence and Profile of Grandparents Providing Occasional Grandchild Care in the U.S. – Yooumi Lee

Entering or Exiting Grandchild Care During the Economic Crisis in the U.S. – Yooumi Lee

Comparative Study of Caregiving in China and Australia – Hal Kendig, Cathy Hong Gong, Merril Silverstein

Building Connections Between Elder Law and Gerontology – Nina Kohn, Israel Doron, Maria Brown

Spiritual Development in Later Life: Perspectives from a 45-year Longitudinal Study – Vern Bengtson, Merril Silverstein

Stepparent-Child Intergenerational Solidarity in 11 years: Moderating Role of Religious Discordance – Woosang Hwang, Merril Silverstein, and Maria Brown

Occupational Stress and Health Among Home Health Care Workers – Jeanette Zoeckler

Grandchildren as Support and Care Providers to Older Adults in China – Merril Silverstein, Ling Xu

Childhood Disadvantage, Military Service, and Men’s Self-Rated Health – Janet Wilmoth, Andrew London, and Wendy Palmer

To learn more about IAGG 2017, click here.

Jennifer Karas Montez was quoted in the Scientific American article “U.S. Life Expectancy Varies Significantly Based on Location.” To read the article click here.