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Robert Joseph Taylor
Harold R Johnson Endowed Professor of Social Work, Sheila Feld Collegiate Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work and Faculty Associate, Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research
Robert Joseph Taylor is the Harold R. Johnson Endowed Professor of Social Work and the Sheila Feld Collegiate Professor of Social Work. He is also the Director of the Program for Research on Black Americans at the Institute for Social Research. Professor Taylor has published extensively on the informal social support networks (i.e., family, friends, and church members) of adult and elderly Black Americans. An article by Thyer in Journal of Social Service Research finds that Robert Joseph Taylor is the #15 most influential social work faculty (out of 2204 faculty) based on H-index. An article by Kimberly Y. Huggins-Hoyt in the journal, Research on Social Work Practice, found that he was the #1 cited African American faculty member in the field of Social Work. Robert Joseph Taylor has been principal investigator of several grants from the National Institute on Aging that examine the role of religion in the lives of Black and White elderly adults. He has been co-principal investigator with James Jackson on several grants from the National Institute of Mental Health on the correlates of mental health and mental illness among Black Americans, including the only major national study of the prevalence of mental illness among Black Americans (The National Survey of American Life). He has edited two books, Family Life in Black America (1997) and Aging in Black America (1993) with James S. Jackson and Linda M. Chatters. He is also the lead author of the book, Religion in the Lives of African Americans: Social, Psychological, and Health Perspectives (2004) with Linda Chatters and Jeff Levin. He is the founding editor of African American Research Perspectives and has reviewed manuscripts for over 60 different journals. To date he has published over 175 peer review journal articles.
Research Interests/Focus
Informal social support networks of adult/elderly African Americans.
Contact Information
| Phone | Room | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (734) 615-9601 | [email protected] | 4712 SSWB | University of Michigan School of Social Work 1080 S. University Ann Arbor, MI 48109 |
Education
| Year | Degree | School | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | PhD | Social Work and Sociology | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor |
| 1976 | MSW | Social Work | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor |
| 1974 | BA | Sociology | Northwestern University, Evanston, IL |
Websites
| http://www.isr.umich.edu/rcgd/prba/ |
News
- Moody, M. D., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2025). Subjective Well-Being among African Americans: Findings from the National Survey of American Life. Sociological Focus, 58(1), 138-151.
- George, J. R., Taylor, R. J., Rouleau,T. M., Turner, E. D., & Williams, M. T. (2025). Seeking Care for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Among African Americans: Findings From the National Survey of American Life. Behavior Therapy, 56(1), 1-15.
- Taylor, R. J., Kim, E., Chatters, L. M. & Nguyen, A. W. (2025). Research on Religion and Aging among Black Americans and Mexican Americans: The Impact of the National Institute on Aging. The Gerontologist, 65(2).
- Perry, T. E., Horn, A. J., Rorai, V., Smith, J., Bridgforth, J., Mitchell, J., Key, K., Howell., Taylor, R. J., Lichtenberg, P., & Woodward, A. T. (2024). Community engaged research for older, minoritized Americans. Public Policy and Aging Report. Public Policy & Aging Report, 34(4), 129-137.
- Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, H. O., Tsuchiya, K., & Ochoa, A. (2024). Friendship Social Support Networks of African Americans. Sociological Focus, 57(4), 493-503.
- Hong, J. S., Kim, D. H. Espelage, D. L., Taylor, R. J., Voisin, D. R., & Boone, C. (2024). Subtypes of bullying and friends' delinquency: Is religiosity a moderator? Review of Religious Research, 66(2), 101-126.
- Taylor, H. O., Tsuchiya, K., Nguyen, A. W., & Taylor, R. J. (2024). The impact of subjective, interpersonal, and structural social isolation on the mental health of African Americans and Black Caribbeans. Social Work in Mental Health, 22(4), 527-547.
- Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, Harry O., Taylor, Robert J., Ambroise, A. Z., Hamler, T., Qin, W., & Chatters,L. M. (2024). The role of subjective, interpersonal, and structural social isolation in 12-month and lifetime anxiety disorders. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 1-10.
- Taylor, H. O., Taylor, R. J., Tsuchiya, K., & Chatters, L. (2024). Social Isolation, Self-Rated Health, and Self-Rated Oral, Health among African Americans. The Journal of Healthcare for the Poor and Underserved, 35 (1), 18-36.
- Hope, M. O., Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2024). Correlates of Spirituality among African American and Black Caribbean Emerging Adults. Religions, 15 (3), 341.
- Chatters, L. M., Taylor, R. J., Neighbors, H. W., Bowman, P. J., Williams, D. R., Mezuk, B. & Caldwell, C. H. (2023). James S. Jackson and the Program for Research on Black Americans: Contributions to Psychology and the Social Sciences. American Psychologist, 78 (4), 413-427.
- Anderson, R., Anyiwo, N., Gumudavelly, D., Reddy, S., Galan, C., Nguyen, A. & Taylor, R. J. (2023). Racial socialization prevalence between African American and Caribbean American parents and adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 32 (1), 1-16.
- Oh, H., Martz, C., Lincoln, K. D., Taylor, R. J., Neblett, E., & Chae, D. H. (2023). Depression impairment among young adult college students: Exploring the racial paradox. Ethnicity & Health, 28 (6), 932-941.
- Taylor, R. J., Skipper, A. D., Ellis, J., & Chatters, L. M. (2022). Older African American, Black Caribbean, and Non-Latino White Fictive Kin Relationships. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 41(1), 1-32.
- Taylor, R. J., Skipper, A. D., Cross, C. J., Taylor, H. O., & Chatters, L. M. (2022). Racial/ethnic variation in family support: African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and non‐Latino Whites. Journal of Marriage and Family.
- Sylvers, D., Taylor, R. J., Barnes, L., Ifatunji, M. A., & Chatters, L. M. (2022). Racial and ethnic differences in major and everyday discrimination among older adults: African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Non-Latino Whites. Journal of Aging and Health, 34(3), 460-471.
- Brooks, J. R., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2022). The impact of traumatic events on mental health among older African American and Black Caribbean adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 34(3), 390-400.
- Chatters, L. M., Taylor, R. J., & Schulz, A. (2022). The return of race science and why it matters for family science. Journal of Family Theory & Research, 14(3), 442-462.
- Taylor, R. J., Skipper, A. D., Ellis, J. M., & Chatters, L. M. (2022). Church-based emotional support and negative interactions among older African American and Black Caribbeans. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.
- Taylor, R. J., Skipper, A. D., Ellis, J. M., & Chatters, L. D. (2022). Older African American, Black Caribbean, and Non-Latino White Fictive Kin Relationships. In L. D. Chatters & R. J. Taylor (Eds.), Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 41(1), 1-32.
- Goodwill, J. R., Taylor, R. J., & Watkins, D. C. (2021). Everyday discrimination, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation among African American men. Archives of Suicide Research, 25(1), 74-93.
- Taylor, R., Chatters, L., Cross, C. J., & Mouzon, D. (2021). Fictive kin networks among African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Non-Latino Whites. Journal of Family Issues.
- Williams, M. T., Taylor, R. J., George, J. R., Schlaudt, V. A., Ifatunji, M. A., & Chatters, L. (2021). Correlates of obsessive-compulsive symptoms among Black Caribbean Americans. International Journal of Mental Health, 50(1), 53-77.
- Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L., Woodward, A. T., Boddie, S., & Peterson, G. L. (2021). African Americans’ and Black Caribbeans’ religious coping for psychiatric disorders. Social Work in Public Health, 36(1), 68-83.
- Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., & Cross, C. J. (2021). Taking diversity seriously: Within‐group heterogeneity in African American extended family support networks. Journal of Marriage and Family, 83(5), 1349-1372.
- Baker, T., Taylor, R. J., Taylor, H. O., Chatters, L. M., & Engel, I. J. (2021). The intersection of pain outcomes and social isolation among African Americans. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
- Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., & Cross, C. J. (2021). Taking diversity seriously: Within‐group heterogeneity in African American extended family support networks. Journal of Marriage and Family, 83(5), 1349-1372.
- Lincoln, K. D., Ailshire J., Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., Govia, I., & Ifatunji, M. A. (2021). Profiles of sleep and depression risk among Caribbean Blacks. Ethnicity and Health, 16(7), 981-999.
- Chatters, L. M., Taylor, H. O., & Taylor, R. J. (2021). Racism and the life course: Social and health equity for Black American older adults. Public Policy and Aging Report, 31(4), 113-118.
- Rorai, V. O., Perry, T. E., Whitney, S. E., Gianfermi, H. C., Mitchell, J. A., Key, K. D., Lichtenberg, P. A., Taylor, R. J., Ilardo, J. L., Knurek, S. M. & Conyers, C. S. (2021). “It takes some empathy, sympathy, and listening”:telephone outreach to older Detroiters in a pandemic as a modality to gain an understanding of challenges and resiliency. Journal of Urban Health, 98, 91-102.
- Taylor, R. J., Taylor, H. O., Nguyen, A. W., & Chatters, L. M. (2020). Social isolation from family and friends and mental health among African Americans and Black Caribbeans. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 90(4), 468.
- Mouzon, D. M., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2020). Gender differences in marriage, romantic involvement, and desire for romantic involvement among older African Americans. PLOS ONE, 15(5), e0233836.
- Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., Taylor, H. O., & Woodward, A. T. (2020). Professional service use among older African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Non-Hispanic Whites for serious health and emotional problems. Social Work in Health Care, 59(3), 199-217.
- Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., Taylor, H. O., & Chatters, L. M. (2020). Objective and subjective social isolation and psychiatric disorders among African Americans. Clinical Social Work Journal, 48(1), 87-98.
- Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2020). Psychiatric disorders among older Black Americans: within-and between-group differences. Innovation in Aging, 4(3), igaa007.
- Chatters, L. M., Taylor, H. O., & Taylor, R. J. (2020). Older Black Americans during COVID-19: Race and age double jeopardy. Health Education and Behavior, 47(6), 855-860.
- Mouzon, D. M., Taylor, R. J., Nguyen, A. W., Ifatunji, M. A., & Chatters, L. M. (2020). Everyday discrimination typologies among older African Americans: gender and socioeconomic status. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75(9), 1951-1960.
- Taylor, R., & Chatters, L. (2020). Church and family informal social support networks of African Americans. Innovation in Aging, 4(Suppl 1), 658.
- Taylor, R. J., Forsythe-Brown, I., Mouzon, D. M., Keith, V. M., Chae, D. H., & Chatters, L. M. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of everyday discrimination among Black Caribbeans in the United States: the impact of nativity and country of origin. Ethnicity and Health, 24(5), 463-483.
- Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., & Hope, M. O. (2019). Church support networks of African Americans: The impact of gender and religious involvement. Journal of Community Psychology.
- Valera, P., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2019). Inequality, crime, and health among African American males. Research in Race and Ethnic Relations, 20, 35-52.
- Valera, P., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2018). The relationship between health, cigarette smoking and criminal justice contact among African Americans. In M. A. Bruce, & D. F. Hawkins (Eds.), Inequality, crime, and health among African American males (Research in Race and Ethnic Relations, Volume 20), (pp. 35-52). Bingley UK: Emerald Publishing Limited.
- Weaver, A., Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., & Himle, J. A. (2018). Depressive symptoms and psychological distress among rural African Americans: The role of material hardship and perceived health status. Journal of Affective Disorders, 236, 207-210.
- Taylor, R. J., Miller, R., Mouzon, D. M., Keith, V. M., & Chatters, L. M. (2018). Everyday discrimination among African American men: The impact of criminal justice contact. Race and Justice, 8, 154-177.
- Taylor, H. O., Taylor, R. J., Nguyen, A. W., & Chatters, L. (2018). Social isolation, depression, and psychological distress among older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(2), 229-246.
- Assari, S., Miller, R. J., Taylor, R. J., Mouzon, D., Keith, V., & Chatters, L. M. (2018). Discrimination fully mediates the effects of incarceration history on psychological distress and depressive symptoms among African American men. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 5(2), 243-252.
- Schrock, J. M., Adler, N. E., Epel, E. S., Nuru-Jeter, A. M., Lin, J., Blackburn, E. H., Taylor, R. J. & Chae, D. H. (2018). Socioeconomic status, financial strain, and leukocyte telomere length in a sample of African American midlife men. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 5(3), 459-467.
- Nguyen, A. W., Chatters, L. M., Taylor, R. J., Aranda, M. P., Lincoln, K. D., & Thomas, C. S. (2018). Discrimination, serious psychological distress, and church-based emotional support among African American men across the life span. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B Psychological Sciences, 73(2), 198-207.
- Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., & Taylor, H. O. (2018). Race and objective social isolation: Older African Americans, black Caribbeans, and non-Hispanic whites. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 74(8), 1429-1440.
- Taylor, H. O., & Taylor, R. J. (2018). Social isolation, loneliness, and health among older men. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 39(1), 107-124.
- Cross, C. J., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2018). Family social support networks of African American and Black Caribbean adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 2757-2771.
- Cross, C. J., Nguyen, A. W., Chatters, L. M., & Taylor, R. J. (2018). Instrumental social support exchanges in African American extended families. Journal of Family Issues, 39, 3535-3563.
- Mays, V. M., Jones, A. L., Cochran, S. D., Taylor, R. J., Rafferty, J., & Jackson, J. S. (2018). Chronicity and mental health service utilization for anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders among black men in the United States; Ethnicity and nativity differences. Healthcare, 6, 53.
- Chatters, L. M., Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., & Hope, M. O. (2018). Church and family support networks and depressive symptoms among African Americans: Findings from the National Survey of American Life. Journal of Community Psychology, 46, 403-417.
- Woodward, A. T., & Taylor, R. J. (2018). Factors associated with the use of social workers for assistance with lifetime and 12-month behavioral health disorders. Social Work in Health Care, 57, 267-283.
- Cross, C. J., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2018). Ethnic and gender differences in family social support among black adolescents. Healthcare, 6(1), 20.
- Chatters, L. M., Taylor, H. O., Nicklett, E. J., & Taylor, R. J. (2018). Correlates of objective social isolation from family and friends among older adults. Healthcare, 6(1), 24.
- Taylor, R. J., Forsythe-Brown, I., Lincoln, K. D. & Chatters, L. M. (2017). Extended family support networks of Caribbean black adults in the United States. Journal of Family Issues, 38(4), 522-546.
- Nicklett, E. J., Taylor, R. J., Rostant, O., Johnson, K. E., & Evans, L. (2017). Biopsychosocial predictors of fall events among older African Americans. Research on Aging, 39(4), 501-525.
- Himle, J. A., Taylor, R. J., Nguyen, A. W., Williams, M. T., Lincoln, K. D., Taylor, H. O., & Chatters, L. M. (2017). Family and friendship networks and obsessive-compulsive disorder among African Americans and Black Caribbeans. The Behavior Therapist, 40(30), 99.
- Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., Lincoln, K. D., & Woodward, A. T. (2017). Church-based exchanges of informal social support among African Americans. Race and Social Problems, 9(1), 53-62.
- Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., Taylor, H. O., Lincoln, K. D., & Mitchell, U. A. (2017). Extended family and friendship support and suicidality among African Americans. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52, 299-309.
- Mouzon, D. M., Taylor, R. J., Keith, V. M., Nicklett, E. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2017). Discrimination and psychiatric disorders among older African Americans. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32, 175-182.
- Mouzon, D. M., Taylor, R. J., Woodward, A. T., & Chatters, L. M. (2017). Everyday racial discrimination, everyday non-racial discrimination, and physical health among African Americans. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 26(1-2), 68-80.
- Keith, V. M., Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., Mouzon, D. M., & Chatters, L. M. (2017). Microaggressions, discrimination, and phenotype among African Americans: A latent class analysis of the impact of skin tone and BMI. Sociological Inquiry, 87, 233-255.
- Nguyen, A. W., Chatters, L. M., Taylor, R. J., Levine, D. S., & Himle, J. A., Vogel, P. A., & Himle, J. A. (2017). Family, friends, and 12-Month PTSD among African Americans. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 51, 1149-1157.
- Taylor, R. J. (2017). Race and religious participation: Introduction to special issue. Race and Social Problems, 9(1), 1-3.
- Forsythe-Brown, I., Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., Govia, I. O., Matusko, N., & Jackson, J. S. (2017). Kinship support in Jamaican families in the United States and Jamaica. Journal of African American Studies, 21, 187-202.
- Thornton, M. C., Taylor, R, J., Chatters, L. M. & Forsythe-Brown, I. (2017). African American and Black Caribbean feelings of closeness to Africans: Findings from the National Survey of American Life. Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, 23, 493-512.
- Taylor, R. J. (2017). Religious perspectives on the impact of race on health and social behaviors across the life course: An introduction to a special issue. Race and Social Problems, 9, 91-94.
- Taylor, R. J., Forsythe-Brown, I., Mouzon, D. M., Keith, V. M., Chae, D. H., & Chatters, L. M. (2017). Prevalence and correlates of everyday discrimination among Black Caribbeans in the United States: The impact of nativity and country of origin. Ethnicity and Health 1-21.
- Perron, B. E., Victor, B. G., Hodge, D. R., Salas-Wright, C. P., Vaughn, M. G. & Taylor, R. J. (2017). Laying the foundations for scientometric research: A data science approach. Research on Social Work Practice, 27, 802-812.
- Williams, M., Taylor, R. J., Himle, J. A., & Chatters, L. M. (2017). Demographic and health-related correlates of obsessive-compulsive symptoms among African Americans. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 14, 119-116.
- Groden, S. R., Woodward, A. T., Chatters, L. M., & Taylor, R. J. (2017). Use of complementary and alternative medicine among older adults: differences between baby boomers and pre-boomers. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(12), 1393-1401.
- Chatters, L. M., Forsythe-Brown, I., & Taylor, R. J. (2017). Informal social support networks and black Americans. In V. Copeland (Ed.), Contemporary Issues of People of Color: Living, Working, and Learning in the U.S.
- Perron, B. E., Victor, B. G., Hodge, D. R., Salas-Wright, C. P., Vaughn, M. G. & Taylor, R. J. (2016). Laying the foundations for scientometric research: A data science approach. Research on Social Work Practice. Sage Journals.
- Chae, D. H., Epel, E. S., Nuru-Jetter, A. M., Lincoln, K. D., Taylor, R. J., Lin, J., Blackburn, E. H., & Thomas, S. B. (2016). Discrimination, mental health, and leukocyte telomere length among African American men. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 63, 10-16.
- Nguyen, A. W., Chatters, L. M., Taylor, R. J., & Mouzon, D. M. (2016). Social support from family and friends and subjective well-being of older African Americans. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(3), 959-979.
- Mouzon, D. M., Taylor, R. J., Nguyen, A. W., & Chatters, L. M. (2016). Serious psychological distress among African Americans: Findings from the National Survey of American Life. Journal of Community Psychology, 44(6), 765-780.
- Nguyen, A. W., Chatters, L. M., & Taylor, R. J. (2016). African American extended family and church‐based social network typologies. Family Relations, 65(5), 701-715.
- Nguyen, A. W., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2016). Church-based social support among Caribbean Blacks in the United States. Review of Religious Research, 58(3), 385-406.
- Taylor, R. J., Taylor, H. O., & Chatters, L. M. (2016). Social isolation from extended family members and friends among African-Americans: Findings from a national survey. Journal of Family Social Work, 19, 443-461.
- Taylor, R. J., Mouzon, D. M., Nguyen, A. W., & Chatters, L. M. (2016). Reciprocal family, friendship and church support networks of African Americans: Findings from the National Survey of American Life. Race and Social Problems, 8(4), 326-339.