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Ruth E. Dunkle

Wilbur J. Cohen Collegiate Professor Emerita of Social Work

Ruth E. Dunkle

Professor Ruth Dunkle's research, teaching, and clinical practice focus on gerontology. Recent research projects include "Mothers of Adult Daughters with a Serious Mental Illness: The Experience of African Americans and Whites" and "An Historical Perspective of Social Service Delivery in Detroit in the Twentieth Century." Since 1988, Professor Dunkle has served as a project co-director of the National Institute on Aging training program, "Social Research Training on Applied Issues of Aging," with Professor Berit Ingersoll-Dayton. She also serves as co-director of the Geriatric Fellowship Program with Letha Chadiha. Professor Dunkle recently wrote a book on the oldest old, which examines their future time perspectives and their coping strategies in dealing with the changes in their physical and psychological functioning, and which identifies relevant service delivery strategies for improving the quality of their lives.

Research Interests/Focus

Clinical gerontology, service delivery to the elderly, the oldest old, coping and service deliver strategies for the elderly, racial and ethnic variations in caregiving to the elderly.

Education

Year Degree   School
1978 PhD Social Science Syracuse University, NY
1973 MSW Direct Service/ Aging Syracuse University, NY
1969 BS Social Science Syracuse University, NY
Year Description
2007 Dunkle, R., Dennis, M. K., Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Chadiha, L., & Li, L. (2007, November) Mental illness in the family: The long term care plans of aging mothers, GSA Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
2007 Shen, H. W., Feld, S., Dunkle, R. E. & Schroepfer, T. (2007, November). Do they get help? Effect of characteristics on help receipt among elderly couples who both have ADL limitations, GSA meeting, San Francisco, CA.
2006 Dunkle, R., Shen, H. W., Feld, S., & Schroepfer, T. (2006). The receipt of help among elderly couples who both have ADL limitations.
2006 Dunkle, R., & Ingersoll-Dayton, B. (2006, November). Mental illness and social networks across the lifespan. Symposium presentation at GSA Meeting, Dallas, TX.
2006 Dunkle, R., Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Lawrence-Jacobson, A., Li, L., & Chadiha, L. (2006, November). Building a "life on life's terms" in three generation families. Symposium presentation at GSA Meeting, Dallas, TX.
2006 Dunkle, R. E. (2006). Innovation strategies for sustaining funding for demonstration projects. Presented at CSWE, Chicago, IL.
2006 Dunkle, R. E. (2006). What do students think about aging enriched field education? Presented at CSWE, Chicago, Il.
2006 Dunkle, R. E. (2006). Innovation strategies for sustaining funding for demonstration projects. Presented at CSWE, Chicago, IL.
2005 Dunkle, R. E., & Rhee, N. (2005, November). The influence of marital quality on depression and grief after widowhood. Presented at GSA, Orlando, FL.
2005 Dunkle, R. E., Shen, H. W., Feld, S., & Schroepfer, T. (2005, November). Couples at risk: Characteristics, problems. Presented at GSA, Orlando, FL.
2005 Dunkle, R. E., & Wintermute, T. (2005, November). Social Security Reform: What we know from history. Presented at GSA, Orlando, FL.
2005 Dunkle, R. E., & Rhee, N. (2005, November). The influence of marital quality on depression and grief after widowhood. Presented at GSA, Orlando, FL.
2004 Hadden, B. R., Damron-Rodriguez, J., Dunkle, R., Ivry, J., & Mellor, J. (2004). Competency-driven geriatric social work field education: The practicum partnership program. Presented at SSWR.
2003 Dunkle, R. E., & Kahng, S. K. (2003, January). The effects of obesity on health for people 65 years of age and older. Presented at SSWR, Washington, D.C.
2003 Dunkle, R. E., & Kahng, S. (2003, November). Latent growth curve analyses on the trajectory of self-esteem and its age variations. Presented at GSA, San Diego, CA.
2003 Dunkle, R. E., Feld, S., & Schroepfer, T. (2003, November). When do couples look beyond the marital dyad for help? Presented at GSA, San Diego, CA.
2003 Dunkle, R. E., & Kahng, S. (2003, November). Factorial structure of successful aging: Associated sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Presented at GSA, San Diego, CA.
2003 Dunkle, R. E., & Jeon, H. S. (2003, November). Coping and psychological well-being among the oldest-old. Presented at GSA, San Diego, CA.
2002 Feld, S., Schroepfer, T., & Dunkle, R. E. (2002, November). Spouses as sole caregivers to functionally impaired partners. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
2002 Dunkle, R. E., Schiller, A., Rhee, N., Buch, E., & Matthews, S. H. (2002, November). Acceptable clients: An historical examination of client-worker characteristics allowing addicted clients to remain as clients. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
2002 Dunkle, R. E., & Matthews, S. H. (2002, November). The social support networks of unmarried men during the Depression. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
2002 Lawrence, A., Jarman-Rodhe, L., Li. L., & Dunkle, R. E. (2002, November). Much more than the money: The value of an innovative geriatric social work fellowship. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
2002 Dunkle, R. E., Jeon, H. S., & Roberts, B. (2002, November). Stress and depression among the oldest old: The role of psychosocial resources. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
2001 Dunkle, R. E., Chapleski, E., Wintermute, T., Barth-Jones, D., & Steinberg, J. (2001, November). A comprehensive collaborative model for assessing and disseminating information to meet the needs of older adults in the inner core of a large urban city. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Chicago, IL.
2001 Dunkle, R. E., Schiller, A., Rhee, N., & Buch, E. (2001, September). The history of social service delivery by a foundation: 1929-1971. Presented at the Hannan Foundation, Past, Present and Future Issues in Gerontological Social Work.
2001 Dunkle, R. E., Schiller, A., & Rhee, N. (2001, November). Acceptable clients: A foundation as social service agency to the elderly in Detroit from 1929-1987. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Chicago, IL.
2001 Dunkle, R. E., Feld, S., & Schroepfer, T. (2001, November). Caregiver networks of couples. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Chicago, IL.
2001 Dunkle, R. E., Jeon, H. S., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (2001, November). Worries over time. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Chicago, IL.
2000 Dunkle, R. E., Feld, S., & Schroepfer, T. (2000, November). Characteristics of spousal pairs: What promotes the choice of spouse as the only caregiver? Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, D.C.
2000 Dunkle, R. E., Luong, V., Jeon, H. S., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (2000, November). Worries of the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, D.C.
1999 Dunkle, R. E., Luong, V., Haug, M., & Roberts, B. (1999, November). Predicating health among the oldest old over time, Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.
1999 Dunkle, R. E., Feld, S., & Schroepfer, T. (1999, November). Is the spouse always the predominant helper for IADL tasks among various racial/ethnic groups? Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.
1998 Dunkle, R. E., & Ai, A. (1998). Gender differences in psychosocial adjustment following coronary artery bypass surgery. Presented at the Women's Health Conference.
1998 Dunkle, R. E., Schiller, A., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1998, November). Self representation among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Philadelphia, PA.
1998 Luong, V., Roberts, B., Haug, M., & Dunkle, R. E. (1998, November). A longitudinal view of social support among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Philadelphia, PA.
1998 Dunkle, R. E., Feld, S., Schroepfer, T., & Parry, C. (1998, November). Who helps with IADLS-Does race/ethnicity matter? Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Philadelphia, PA.
1998 Dunkle, R. E., Ai, A., Peterson, C., & Bolling S. (1998, November). Why more patients of the near elderly group prayed than the elderly following cardiac surgery? Changing social role may matter. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Philadelphia, PA.
1997 Dunkle, R. E. (1997, February). So you want to be an old woman! Women's health issues. Presented at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute, Distinguished Speakers Series.
1997 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., Haug, M., & Schroepfer, T. (1997, November). Predicting survival among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Cincinnati, OH.
1997 Dunkle, R. E., Ai, A., Peterson, C., Saunders, D., & Bolling, S. (1997, November). The positive role of self-care on psychological distress and depression on older adults following cardiac surgery. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Cincinnati, OH.
1997 Dunkle, R. E., Feld, S., & Schroepfer, T. (1997, November). Racial/ethnic variations in the use of formal and informal caregivers. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Cincinnati, OH.
1996 Dunkle, R. E., Schroepfer, T., Haug, M., & Roberts, B. (1996, November). Quality of life among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, D.C.
1996 Dunkle, R. E., & Ai, A. (1996, November). Effects of prayer on psychosocial adjustment following coronary artery bypass surgery. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, D.C.
1996 Dunkle, R. E., Feld, S., Wray, L., Gallant, M., Gibson, G., & Lindgren, C. (1996, November). Racial/ethnic variation in caregiving. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, D.C.
1996 Dunkl, R. E., & Ai, A. (1996, August). Psychosocial adjustment and health care practices following CABG. Presented at the American Psychological Association.
1996 Dunkle, R. E. (1996, October). Mobility and older adults: Promoting independence while maintaining safety. Presented at the Medical School, University of Michigan.
1995 Dunkle, R. E., & Lynch, S. (1995, November). Quantity and quality of support in networks. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Los Angeles, CA.
1995 Dunkle, R. E. (1995, November). Medical self care in old age, a discussant for a symposium for the Gerontological Society of America, Los Angeles, CA.
1995 Dunkle, R. E., Norgard, T., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1995, November). The role of goal consistency in well-being and depression among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Los Angeles, CA.
1994 Dunkle, R. E. (1994, May). The future and us: A look at geriatric social work. Presented at the Geriatric Social Workers of Southeast Michigan, Madonna College.
1994 Dunkle, R. E., Parker, M., & Aikayama, H. (1994, April). Eldercare: An issue that has come of age for military families. Presented at The United States Army of Europe Medical Department Symposium.
1994 Dunkle, R. E., Norgard, T., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1994, November). Factors influencing future goals among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Atlanta, GA.
1993 Dunkle, R. E., Montcalm, D., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1993, November). The effect of self efficacy on the relationship between stress and changes in depression over 18 months for elders 85+ years of age. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.
1993 Dunkle, R. E., & Kart, C. (1993, November). A review and evaluation of existing and emerging long term care services in the United States. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.
1992 Dunkle, R. E., & Montcalm, D. (1992, November). Predicting service use among caregivers. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC.
1992 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1992, November). Correlates of depression and mental health among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC.
1992 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1992, November). Sex differences in coping resources among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC.
1991 Dunkle, R. E., & Norgard, T. (1991, November). Elders, family support and post hospital care planning. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.
1991 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1991, November). Relative risk of functional decline among community dwelling elders over the age of 85. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.
1991 Dunkle, R. E., & Yamada, H. (1991, November). Determinants of positive feelings toward caregiving: Spouse vs. younger relative caregivers. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.
1991 Dunkle, R. E., & Greene, R. (1991, November). Is denial of future long term care likelihood aversive to later adjustment of the elderly to long term care placement. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.
1990 Dunkle, R. E., Adamek, M., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1990, November). The relationship between self-efficacy and depression among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
1990 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1990, November). Transitions in depression over time for the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
1990 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1990, November). Functional decline as a predictor of mentality among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
1990 Dunkle, R. E., Matthews, S., & Adamek, M. (1990, November). Research on older families when more than one member responds: Producing and interpreting findings. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
1990 Dunkle, R. E., Lockery, S., Kart, C., & Coulton, C. (1990, November). Factors contributing to the early rehospitalization of the elderly. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
1989 Dunkle, R. E. (1989, May). Long term care needs of the very old. Presented at the Office Network of Educational Consultants in the Field of Aging, Miami University, Oxford, OH.
1989 Dunkle, R. E. (1989, May). Helping the families of demented elders. Presented at the Breckenridge Retirement Community, Willoughby, OH.
1989 Dunkle, R. E. (1989, February). Memory deficits & aging. Presented at the Breckenridge Retirement Community, Willoughby, OH.
1989 Dunkle, R. E. (1989, November). Using survey techniques to assess the well-being of the elderly - An example of the effects of stress on the "old-old". Presented at the International Gerontology Symposium, Yeungnam University, Korea.
1989 Dunkle, R. E., & Kart, C. (1989, November). Assessing self-care capacity among the elderly. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN.
1989 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1989, November). Correlates of depression and general mental health among the oldest old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN.
1989 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1989, November). Transitions in function over time for the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN.
1988 Dunkle, R. E. (1988, May). Training gerontological social workers, Nordic Gerontological Society, Vjela, Denmark.
1988 Dunkle, R. E. (1988, September). Issues of depression and dementia in the old. Presented at the Breckenridge Retirement Community, Willoughby, OH.
1988 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1988, November). Sex differences in coping styles among the very old. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.
1987 Dunkle, R. E., & Kola, L. (1987, February). Caregivers in the workplace. Presented Council on Social Work Education, St. Louis, MO.
1987 Dunkle, R. E. (1987, April). Helping older people make decisions for long term care. Presented at the Annual Hospital Association of Ohio.
1987 Dunkle, R. E. (1987, May). Helping hospital social workers facilitate the elder's adjustment to long term care. Presented at the Social Service Deptartment, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI.
1987 Dunkle, R. E., & Raphelson, M. (1987, June). Social assessment of the elderly. Presented at the Multidisciplinary Assessment of the Elderly, Gothenberg, Sweden.
1987 Dunkle, R. E., Roberts, B., & Haug, M. (1987, November). The effect of stress on the physical functioning of persons over the age of 85. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC.
1987 Dunkle, R. E. (1987, April). Factors affecting decision making for long-term care, Society for Behavioral Medicine, Boston, MA.
1986 Dunkle, R. E., Coulton, C., & Vielhaber, D. (1986, November). The professional caregiver's influence on the elderly and their family. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, Chicago, IL.
1986 Dunkle, R. E. (1986). Family life of old people. Presented at the Twelfth Annual Ohio Foundation Conference, Ohio Network of Grantmakers.
1985 Dunkle, R. E. (1985). Elderly and alcoholism. Presented at the Ohio Regional Council on Alcoholism, Canton, OH.
1985 Dunkle, R. E., & Coulton, C. (1985, July). The relationship of factors of decision making to adjusting to a long term care setting. Presented at the International Gerontological Society, New York, NY.
1985 Dunkle, R. E., & Coulton, C. (1985, November). The relationship of discharge planning to the mental health of elders in need of long term care. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.
1984 Dunkle, R. E., Nevin, M., & Coulton, C. (1984, November). Effective management of dementia patients in hospital and community settings. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, San Antonio, TX.
1983 Dunkle, R. E. (1983, January). Isolation and the elderly. Presented at The Cancer Project.
1983 Dunkle, R. E. (1983, April). Sexuality of aging. Presented at the Veterans Administration Workshop "Graying of America," Cleveland, OH.
1983 Dunkle, R. E. (1983, May). Issues in discharge planning for the elderly. Presented at the Social Service Department, Trumball Memorial Hospital, Warren, OH.
1983 Dunkle, R. E., & Coulton, C. J. (1983, July). The role of the elderly patient and their family in the discharge planning process. Presented at the Systems Science in Health Social Services for the Elderly and the Disabled, Montreal, Canada.
1983 Dunkle, R. E., Powell, I., Goode, R. & Joyce, K. (1983, November). Service implications for a community based geriatric assessment unit. Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.
1983 Dunkle, R. E., & Bookin, D. (1983, November). Elder abuse: Issues for the practitioner. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.
1982 Dunkle, R. E. (1982, May). Working with the cognitively impaired older person [keynote address]. Presented at the Anniversary Symposium of the All-University Gerontological Center, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.
1982 Dunkle, R. E., & Eckert, J. K. (1982, November). Need for services in the elderly experiencing urban change. Presented at the Gerontological Society, Boston, MA.
1981 Dunkle, R. E., & Coulton, C. J. (1981). The decision making process among the hospitalized elderly in need of long term care. Presented at the Ohio Network of Educational Consultants in Field of Aging.
1981 Dunkle, R. E. (1981, June). Sensory changes associated with aging. National Endowment for the Humanities, Summer Institute, Old age in history and literature, Cleveland, OH.
1981 Dunkle, R. E. (1981, June). Psychology of aging. Presented at the National Endowment for the Humanities, Summer Institute, Old age in history and literature, Cleveland, OH.
1981 Dunkle, R. E., & Coulton, C. J. (1981, November). Long term care decisions among the elderly in acute care setting. Presented at the Gerontological Society, Toronto, Canada.
1981 Dunkle, R. E., & Morgenstern, A. M. (1981, November). The effect of increasing the elder's resources on the exchange relationship. Presented at the Gerontological Society, Toronto, Canada.
1981 Dunkle, R. E., & Hooper, C. R. (1981, November). A team approach to the treatment of the depressed elderly aphasic. Presented at the Gerontological Society, Toronto, Canada.
1980 Dunkle, R. E., & Kosberg, J. (1980, Febrary). Inculcating minority group aged content and issues into a professional school of social work. Presented at the Council of Social Work Education, Los Angeles, CA.
1980 Dunkle, R. E. (1980). The effect of history on the future of the social work profession: An examination of service delivery to the elderly. Presented at the Ohio Network of Educational Consultants in the Field of Aging.
1980 Dunkle, R. E. (1980, April). Sex roles across the life span. Presented at the Center on Aging, Akron University, Akron, OH.
1980 Dunkle, R. E. (1980, November). Economic and social factors in service utilization. Presented at the Gerontological Society, San Diego, CA.
1979 Dunkle, R. E. (1979, May). Informal support systems in diverse settings. Presented at the Western Gerontological Society, San Francisco, CA.
1979 Dunkle, R. E. (1979, November). Natural support systems: The feasibility of foster care for the elderly among various social strata. Presented at the Western Gerontological Society, San Francisco, CA.
1979 Dunkle, R. E., & Kosberg, J. (1979, April). Inculcating minority group aged content and issues into a professional school of social work. Presented at the Ohio Network of Educational Consultants in the Field of Aging.
1979 Dunkle, R. E., & Eckert, J. K. (1979, November). Differential use of health services among two groups of older hotel dwellers. Presented at the Gerontological Society, Washington, DC.
1978 Dunkle, R. E. (1978, November). A theoretical examination of the cultural value of sex role identification. Presented at the Gerontological Society.
1977 Dunkle, R. E. (1977, March). Sex differences in perception of health as affected by life change and change in environment. Presented at the Western Gerontological Society, San Francisco, CA.
1976 Dunkle, R. E. (1976, November). The relationship between stress and illness: An analysis of the possible contributory factors. Presented at the Gerontological Society, New York, NY.
1975 Dunkle, R. E. (1975, November). Racial differences in the confidant relationship. Presented at the Gerontological Society, Louisville, KY.
1974 Dunkle, R. E. (1974, November). The edge of womanhood. Presented at the Gerontological Society, Portland, OR.
1973 Dunkle, R. E. (1973, November). Role discontinuity as it affects change in adjustment of women to aging. Presented at the Gerontological Society, Miami, FL.
1972 Dunkle, R. E. (1972, November). Life experiences and adjustment of women to aging. Presented at the Gerontological Society, San Juan, PR.

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