Karen Hooker

Academic interests

Research interests are on self and personality processes in understanding relationships between mental and physical health, coping, social support and health behaviors. Past work has examined spouse caregivers for people with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Examination of change and stability in psychological processes using an intraindividual variability approach is also a recurrent research theme.

Spotlight

Awarded the 2022 Distinguished Career Mentorship in Gerontology Award by the Gerontological Society of America Behavioral and Social Sciences section. This award is given to individuals who have fostered excellence in, and had a major impact on, the field by virtue of their mentoring and whose inspiration is sought by students and colleagues.


The caregiving conundrum: Complex challenges and an uncertain future

Caregiving affects both older adults and younger adults, who may be caring for children as well as aging parents. And the number of those in advanced age is growing. By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans is projected to be 65 or older, and this generation desires a more holistic approach to aging and caregiving, especially in underserved populations/communities.

Keys to Understanding Depression in Later Life

Five CPHHS professors present on topics related to optimizing mental health across the adult lifespan. Each presenter has conducted research in the area they are speaking about and integrate results from their studies into the general theme of mental health across the lifespan.

 


Karen is co-editor of the "Handbook of Intraindividual Variability Across the Life Span," where she explores human development and behavior across the entire life span. In the handbook, leading researchers summarize recent findings on the extent, role and function of IIV in human development with a focus on how, when and why individuals change over time. The latest theoretical, methodological and technological advances are reviewed. The book explores the historical and theoretical background and challenges of IIV research along with its role and function in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Edited to maximize consistency and accessibility, each chapter includes an introduction and a review of the research and most explore future directions, new theoretical developments, and conclusions and implications.

Handbook of Intraindividual Variability Across the Life Span