How family structures and relationships shape older adults’ health and care needs, using nationally representative longitudinal datasets.
Profile
Yan Zhang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Department of Sociology, Texas State University
[email protected] Google Scholar
I study how family structure and family relationships influence older adults’ health and well-being, with a focus on risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. My work blends family demography, medical sociology, and gerontology from a life course perspective. Before joining Texas State, I served as an Assistant Professor at East Carolina University and a postdoctoral research scientist at the Center for Demography of Health and Aging at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I earned a Ph.D. in sociology at Michigan State University, an M.A. in sociology at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a B.A. in sociology at China Agricultural University.
Focus Areas
Parenthood experience and fertility history linked to later-life dementia risk through a gendered life course perspective.
Exploring computational approaches to study caregiving burden, especially among dementia caregivers.
Publications
Family Structure and Transitions Into and Out of Homeboundness: Evidence from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, 2011–2024
Preinjury functional status is associated with functional status after hip fracture in older adults without preinjury perceived social support
Parenthood and Health
Research Note: The Association between Parity and Odds of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias Status
Parent-Child Relationship Quality and Older Parents' Cognitive Trajectories
A Visualization Tool to Study Dyadic Caregiving Health Profiles
Gender Difference in the Association between Parity and Cognitive Function: Evidence from the UK Biobank
Sexual and Marital Satisfaction in Older Adulthood: Effects of Childhood and Adulthood Violence Exposure
Fertility History and Risk of Cognitive Impairment Among Older Parents in The United States
Marital Loss and Cognitive Function: Does Timing Matter?
Parental Status in Later Life and Parents’ Risk of Cognitive Impairment
A National Longitudinal Study of Marital Quality and Cognitive Decline among Older Men and Women
Individual’s Gender Ideology and Happiness in China
Same-sex Couples and Cognitive Impairment: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study
A National Longitudinal Study of Partnered Sex, Relationship Quality, and Mental Health among Older Adults
Marital Status and Cognitive Impairment in the United States: Evidence From the National Health and Aging Trends Study
Sexual Orientation and Diabetes During the Transition to Adulthood
Funded Grants
Emerging Scholar Pilot Project
Center on Aging and Population Sciences, University of Texas–Austin
PI: Yan Zhang
Rapid Pilot Grant
Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin–Madison
PI: Yan Zhang