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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/Focus
social isolation, depression, and suicide in older adults; ageism; cross-cultural gerontology; community-based interventions
Contact Information
| Phone | Room | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (734) 936-4850 | lydiali@umich.edu | 3839 SSWB | University of Michigan School of Social Work 1080 S. University Ann Arbor, MI 48109 |
Education
| Year | Degree | School | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- Luo, M. , Li, L., Liu, Z., & Li, A. (in press). Sociodemographic dynamics and age trajectories of depressive symptoms among adults in mid-and later life: A cohort perspective. Aging and Mental Health.
- Xu, H., Liu, J., Zhang, Z., & Li, L. (in press). Sandwiched grandparents and biological health risks. Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
- Kayser J., Hu R., Rosencruggs D., Li, L., & Xiang X. (in press). A systematic review of the impact of select mindfulness interventions on psychological outcomes in older adults with chronic health conditions. Clinical Gerontologist.
- Li, L. W., Hu, R. X., Luo, M., & McLaughlin, S. (in press). Pre-pandemic social integration: Protection or risk for older adults in the time of COVID-19? Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.
- Luo, M. & Li, L. W. (in press). Within-person dynamics of objective and subjective social isolation in midlife and later life. Journal of Aging and 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. W., Liu, Z., & Li, A. (in press). Sociodemographic dynamics and age trajectories of depressive symptoms among adults in mid- and later life: A cohort perspective. Aging and Mental Health.
- Zhang, J., Li. L. W., & McLaughlin, S. (2022). Psychological well-being and cognitive function among older adults in China: A population-based longitudinal study. Journal of Aging and Health.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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., & Chui, E. W. T. (2021). Self-perceptions of aging and control in late adulthood: Between-person and within-person associations. Journal of Aging and Health, 33(1-2), 155-166.
- Hu, R. X., Luo, M. S., Zhang, A., & Li, L. (2021). Associations of ageism and health: A systematic review of quantitative observational studies. Research on Aging, 43(7-8), 311-322.
- Luo, M. S. & Li, L. (2021). Changes in depressive symptoms from pre- to postretirement over a 20-year span: The role of self-perceptions of aging. Journal of Affective Disorders, 292, 1-8.
- Zhang, Z., Xu, H., Li, L. W., Liu, J., & Choi, S. (2021). Social relationships in early life and episodic memory in mid- and late-life. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.
- Luo, M., Li, L. W., & Hu, R. (2021). Self-perceptions of aging and domain-specific outcomes among midlife and later-life couples. Journal of Aging and Health, 33(1-2), 155-166.
- Mondro, A., Connell, C., Li, L., & Reed, E. (2020). Retaining identity: Creativity and caregiving. Dementia (London), 19(5), 1641-1656.
- Li, L. W., McLaughlin, S., & Zhang, J. (2020). Healthy aging in older Chinese Americans: Associations with immigrant experiences. Journal of Aging and Health, 32(9), 1098-1108.
- Luo, M. & Li. L. W. (2020). Are self-perceptions of aging associated with health trajectories among middle-aged and older adults? The Gerontologist, 60(5), 841-850.
- McLaughlin, S., Kim, S., Li, L. W., & Zhang, J. (2020). Educational differences in trajectories and determinants of healthy ageing in midlife and older Americans. Maturitas, 134, 21-28.
- Zheng, Z., Li, L., Xu, H. & Liu, J. (2019). Does widowhood affect cognitive function among Chinese older adults? SSM- Population Health, 7, 100329.
- Liu, J., Li, L. W., Zhang, Z., & Xu, H. (2019). Intergenerational coresidence and depressive symptoms of rural and urban older adults in China. Journal of Family Issues, 41(8), 1282-1306.
- McLaughlin, S., Tham, S., Chen, Y, Zhang, J., & Li, L. W. (2019). Healthy aging in China: Benchmarks and socio-structural correlates. Research on Aging, 42(1), 23-33.
- Luo, M., Chui, E. W. T., & Li, L. W. (2019). The longitudinal association between physical health and mental health among older adults. Aging and Mental Health, 24(2), 1990-1998.
- Li, L. W., Xue, J., Conwell, Y., Qing, Y., & Chen, S. (2019). Implementing collaborative care for older people with comorbid hypertension and depression in rural China. International Psychogeriatrics, 32(12), 1457-1465.
- Li, L. W., Harris, R., Tsodikov, A., Struble, L., & Murphy, S. (2018). Self-acupressure for older adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Care and Research, 70(2), 221-229.
- Xu, H., Zhang, Z., Li, L. W., & Liu, J. (2018). Early-life exposure to China’s 1959-61 famine and midlife cognition. International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(1), 109-120.
- Li, L. W., Gee, G., & Dong, X. (2018). Association of self-reported discrimination and suicide ideation in older Chinese Americans. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(1), 42-51.
- Zhang, J., McLaughlin, S. J., & Li, L. W. (2018). Cumulative exposure to air pollution and subsequent mortality among older adults in China. Journal of Public Health, 41(3), 518-526.
- Chen, S., Conwell, Y., Xue, J., Li, L., Tang, W., Bogner, H., & Dong, H. (2018). Protocol of an ongoing randomized controlled trial of care management for comorbid depression and hypertension: The Chinese Older Adult Collaborations in Health (COACH) study. BMC Geriatrics, 18(1), 124.
- Xu, L., Tang, F., Li, L. W., & Dong, X. (2017). Grandparent caregiving and psychological well-being among Chinese American older adults –The roles of caregiving burden and pressure. Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 72(suppl_1), S56-62.
- Li, L. W., Ding, D., Wu, B., & Dong, X. (2017). Change of cognitive function in U.S. Chinese older adults: A population-based study. Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 72(suppl_1), S5-10.
- Xue, J., Chen, X., Bogner, H., Tang, W., Li, L. W., & Conwell, Y. (2017). The prevalence of depressive symptoms among older patients with hypertension in rural China. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 12, 1411-1417.
- Li, L. W. & Dong, X. (2017). Self-reported discrimination and depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults in Chicago. Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 72(suppl_1), S119-124.
- Zhang, Z., Liu, J., Li, L. W., & Xu, H. (2017). The long arm of childhood in China: Early life conditions and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(8), 1319-1344.
- Davitt, J., Li, L. W., & Rastigue, K. (2016). Policies to protect the rights of older adults and support family caregivers. Handbook for Social Work in Health and Aging (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Li, L. W., Liu, J., Xu, H. & Zhang, Z. (2016). Understanding rural-urban differences in depressive symptoms among older adults in China. Journal of Aging and Health, 28(2), 341-362.
- Li, L. W., & Long, Y. (2016). Health care experience of older persons with chronic illness in rural and urban China: A qualitative study in Shandong, China. University of Michigan Deep Blue.
- Li, L. W., Xu, H., Zhang, Z., & Liu, L. (2016). An ecological study of social fragmentation, socioeconomic deprivation, and suicide in rural China: 2008-2010. SSM- Population Health, 2, 365-372.
- Liu, J., Li, L. W., Zhang, Z & Xu, H. (2016). Associations between physical health and depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults: Do neighborhood resources matter? SSM- Population Health, 2, 531-535.
- Pan, X., Liu, J., Li, L. W., & Kwok, J. (2016). Posttraumatic growth in aging individuals who have lost their only child in China. Death Studies, 40(7), 395-404.
- Xu, H., Li, L. W., Zhang, Z., & Liu, J. (2016). Is natural experiment a cure? Re-examining the long-term health effects of China’s 1959-1961 famine. Social Science and Medicine, 148, 110-122.
- Li, L. W., Harris, R., Murphy, S., Tsodikov, A., & Struble, L. (2016). Feasibility of a randomized controlled trial of self-administered acupressure for symptom management in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 22(5), 396-403.
- Li, L. W., Liu, J., Zhang, Z., & Xu, H. (2015). Late-life depression in rural China: Do village infrastructure and availability of community resources matter? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 30(7), 729-736.
- Cheng, S-T, Fung, H., Li, L. W., Li, T., Woo, J., & Chi, I. (2015). Successful aging: Concepts, reflections, and its relevance to Asia. In Cheung, S.-T., Chi, I., Fung, H., Li, L. W., & Woo J. (Eds.). Successful Aging: Asian Perspectives 1-18. NY: Springer.
- Long, Y. & Li, L. W. (2015). "How would we deserve better?" Rural-urban dichotomy in health-seeking for the chronically ill elderly in China. Qualitative Health Research. Sage Journals.
- Zhang, J., & Li, L. W. (2015). Provincial variation in marketization and successful aging in China: A multilevel analysis. Journal of Population Aging.
- Cheung, S.-T., Chi, I., Fung, H., Li, L. W., & Woo J. (Eds.). (2015). Successful Aging: Asian Perspectives. New York: Springer.
- Li, L. W. & Zhang, J. (2015). Challenges to successful aging in transitional China. In Cheung, S.-T., Chi, I., Fung, H., Li, L. W., & Woo J. (Eds.), Successful Aging: Asian Perspectives 33-50. New York: Springer.
- Cheung S.-T., Li, L. W., Woo, J., Fung, H., & Chi, I. (2015). Successful aging in East Asia: a concerted effort of the State, the family, and the individual. In Cheung, S.-T., Chi, I., Fung, H., Li, L. W., & Woo J. (Eds.). Successful Aging: Asian Perspectives 339-346. New York: Springer.
- Li, L. W., Essex, E. & Long, Y. (2014). Quality of life as perceived by older persons with chronic illness in rural and urban Shangdong, China. Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology, 29(4), 417-428.