Lydia W. Li

Professor of Social Work

Professor Lydia Li is a gerontologist. Her research aims to understand and advance healthy aging among older adults in disadvantaged socio-economic positions. Her current research focuses on social isolation, depression and ageism. She is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and a Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar. She served as the co-chair of the 2016 GSA program committee. She is associate editor of the International Journal of Social Welfare. She also serves on the editorial board of Research on Aging and Journal of Gerontological Social Work. She teaches courses related to social welfare policy, research methods, program evaluation, aging policy and social gerontology.

Research Interests

social isolation, depression, and suicide in older adults; ageism; cross-cultural gerontology; community-based interventions

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

  • [email protected]

  • (734) 936-4850

  • 3839 SSWB
    University of Michigan
    School of Social Work
    1080 S. University
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Education

  • 2000 PhD Social Welfare
    University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • 1989 MSW Social Work
    University of Hong Kong, China
  • 1984 Honor's Diploma Social Work
    Hong Kong Baptist College, China

News

Activities

Publications

Lou, M. & Li, L. W. (in press). Trajectories of social isolation and depressive symptoms in mid- and later life: A parallel process latent growth curve analysis. Aging and Mental Health.
Liu, J., Lou, Y., Li, L. W., Zhang, Z., & Xu, H. (in press). Dyadic effects on depressive symptoms of spouse caregivers and their care recipients: Evidence from China. Aging and Mental Health.
Luo, M. , Li, L., Liu, Z., & Li, A. (2023). Sociodemographic dynamics and age trajectories of depressive symptoms among adults in mid-and later life: A cohort perspective. Aging and Mental Health, 27(1), 18-28.
Kayser J., Hu R., Rosencruggs D., Li, L., & Xiang X. (2023). A systematic review of the impact of select mindfulness interventions on psychological outcomes in older adults with chronic health conditions. Clinical Gerontologist, 46(3), 302-314.
Luo, M. & Li, L. W. (2023). Within-person dynamics of objective and subjective social isolation in midlife and later life. Journal of Aging and Health, 35(3-4), 182-190.
Li, L. W., Hu, R. X., Luo, M., & McLaughlin, S. (2023). Prepandemic social integration: Protection or risk for older adults in the time of COVID-19? Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 78(2), 330-340.
Hu, R. & Li, L. W. (2022). Social disconnectedness and loneliness: Do self-perceptions of aging play a role? Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 77(5), 936-945.
Luo, M. & Li, L. W. (2022). Social isolation trajectories in mid-life and later-life: Patterns of associations with health. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 37(5), 10.1002.
Li, L. W., Cheng, G. J., Xu, H., Zhang, Z., Liu, J., & Conwell, Y. (2022). Depression is associated with myocardial infarction within a two-year period among adults in China. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 34(5), 516-523.
Chen, S., Conwell, Y., Xue, J., Li, L. W., Zhao, T., Tang, W., Bogner, H., & Dong, H. (2022). Effectiveness of integrated care for older adults with depression and hypertension in rural China: A cluster randomized controlled trial. PLOS Medicine, 19(10), e1004019.

Honors and Awards

Year Description
2016 Program Co-Chair, Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Meeting
2013 Fellow, Gerontological Society of America (GSA).
2005-2006 Selected participant of the "Summer Research Institute in Suicide Prevention," with scholarship awarded, University of Rochester Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, NIMH
2002 Trainee, African American Aging Research Training Network, NIMH, Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research, University of Michigan
2002 Invited participant of the "Retreat on Health Dynamics in Old Age," Older Americans Independence Center, University of Michigan, NIA,
2002 Selected participant of the "Workshop on Aging" and the "Mini-Medical School for Social Scientists," with scholarship awarded, RAND, NIA,
2002 Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar, John A. Hartford Foundation and Gerontological Society of America
2001 Selected participant of the "Minority Aging and Health Workshop," with scholarship awarded, ICPSR, University of Michigan, NIA
2000 New Investigator Award, Institute on Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
1996 Eugene Lehrmann AARP Scholarship, Institute on Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
1988-1989 Postgraduate Studentship, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong
1988-1989 Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Scholarship, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong
1982-1983 Dean's List, Hong Kong Baptist College

Presentations

Year Description
2023 Li, L. W., Luo, M., & Hu, R. X. (2023). Effects of widowhood transition on social connectedness among older adults in the United States: Gender differences [Paper presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research, Phoenix, AZ.
2023 Hu, R. X., & Li, L. W. (2023). Psychological pathways between social isolation and memory decline [Poster presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research, Phoenix, AZ.
2022 Li, L. W. (2022). Reducing social isolation for homebound older adults. Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
2022 Li, L. W. (2022). Improving social connections of older adults with chronic illness and disability [Forum presentation]. "Strengthening social connections in older adults." Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Mānoa, HI.
2021 Li, L.W., McLaughlin, S., Hu, R. & Luo, M. (2021). Reducing social isolation in homebound elders: A phone-based meditation intervention [Forum presentation]. Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.

Courses

Current & Future Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Fall 2026 804 08:00 pm 10:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Fall 2026 004 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course

Past Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Winter 2026 802 03:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Winter 2026 003 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Fall 2025 803 03:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Fall 2025 802 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Winter 2025 001 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Fall 2024 801 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Fall 2024 004 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Winter 2024 002 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Fall 2023 003 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease Li, Lydia W. Fall 2023 002 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course