CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ETHNICITY, CULTURE, AND HEALTH AMONG THE ELDERLY
Andrea G. Hunter : The major aims of my research are to explore the linkages between the life course, families, and social structure, and to broaden research on African Americans, especially families. I have sought to meet these aims by (a) asking fundamental questions about the family and the interconnected lives of its members, and (b) reframing old questions and expanding interpretations of aspects of black family life, past and present, that have defined the field of black family studies. Specifically, my research focuses on (a) variations in the context, structure, and social organization of families and social networks, and their impact on the roles, behavior, and well-being of family members across the life span; (b) constructions of gender and the ways in which gender affects family roles and life course trajectories; and (c) f amily history, the intersection of the life course and social change, and the social, economic, and cultural transformations affecting African American families over the last century. My approach is interdisciplinary, I draw primarily on life course theory and feminist perspectives, and I use a variety of methodological approaches (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method) in my research.
Sudha Shreeniwas: My research focuses on family factors underlying persistent health disparities among white vs. ethnic minority elderly persons in the US. These include differences in family ties and in social support received from families. I examine similar issues for older men and women in Asia.