Co-Investigator, Health and Retirement Study
Contact Information
3444 ISR
426 Thompson St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734.647.0591
Email: [email protected]
Education
Ph.D., Macquarie University, 1984
B.A. (with Honors), University of Sydney, 1974
Research and Projects
My research deals with the heterogeneity of psychological functioning, well-being, and health in midlife and old age. I use experimental and survey methodologies to investigate age-cohort differences and age-related change in cognitive functioning, self-regulation, and well-being. My current research focuses on time use and experienced wellbeing after age 50, psychological vitality in the oldest-old, life course predictors of subjective well-being and health, self-perceptions of aging, and cognitive aging.
Selected Recent Publications
Campos BM, Cho T-C, Lai W, Smith J, Choi H. Family caregiving job disruptions and later life cognition: Intersections of race/ethnicity and gender. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD. 2026. doi:10.1177/13872877251394339
Mejía ST, Su T-T, Smith J, Gonzalez R. Spouses’ Individual and Shared Cumulative Risk: Implications for Functional Health and Longevity in Older Adulthood. Am J Prev Med. 2025;69(2):107649. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107649
Morris EP, Palms JD, Scambray K, et al. Interpersonal, Community, and Societal Stressors Mediate Black-White Memory Disparities. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2024;79(11). doi:10.1093/geronb/gbae163
Larkina M, Smith J. ARE LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENTS RELATED TO WELL-BEING: FINDINGS FROM THE HEALTH AND RETIREMENT STUDY (HRS)? Innovation in Aging. 2024;8(Supp_1):1089. doi:10.1093/geroni/igae098.3499
Sonnega A, Al-Hinai M, Chen Q, Helppie-McFall B, Smith J. Can Retrospective Reports Provide Accurate Job History Information? A Comparison with Concurrent Reports in a National Prospective Study of Older Adults. Innovation in Aging. 2024. doi:10.1093/geroni/igae021