Stress and Health Disparities Lab – Info
Publications:
ORCID Link; National Library of Medicine; Google Scholar Link
Advisory Committee Evaluation for Reframing Aging and Disability in Wisconsin
This project interviews the Reframing Aging and Disability in Wisconsin advisory committee to inform and evaluate progress toward project goals and determine how the committee can best support future work.
Partners: University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN)
Men’s Voices on Aging
This project seeks to insert men’s voices into efforts to promote healthy aging by gathering and sharing Black and White men’s insight on how society’s ideas about older adults affect their lives, health, and use of healthcare.
Partners: University of Wisconsin
Experiences of Aging in Society
This project examines racial/ ethnic variations in reported ageism and linkages to health among US adults ages 50+ and investigates how ageism may affect psychological, behavioral, and biological stress responses implicated in poor health.
Partners: University of Oklahoma, University of Wisconsin, Michigan Integrative Well-Being and Inequality (MIWI), Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research
Article: Black-White differences related to ageism and health
Article: Psychometric properties of the Everyday Ageism Scale
July 2023 Report
July 2024 Report
Scoping Reviews: Ageism, Health, and Associated Disparities among Older US Adults
These projects synthesize contemporary research related to ageism and health, exploring topics such as sociodemographic differences, mechanisms linking ageism and health, and recommendations for research and intervention.
Article: Difference and disparities in ageism affecting older adults: A review
Article: Aging stigma and the health of US adults over 65: What do we know?
Article: Ageism as a risk factor for chronic disease
Everyday Ageism and Health
This project sought to document the prevalence of everyday ageism (using the new Everyday Ageism Scale developed by Dr. Allen and colleagues) and investigate its relationships with health and other topics in a nationally representative sample of US adults ages 50-80.
Partner: National Poll for Healthy Aging
Article: How old do I look? Aging appearance and experiences of aging among US adults ages 50-80
Article: Experiences of everyday ageism and the health of older US adults
Article: The Everyday Ageism Scale: Development and evaluation
July 2020 Report
Information for using the Everyday Ageism Scale
Discrimination, Stress-Sensitive Biomarkers, and Long-Term Health
These projects investigate how exposure to chronic stressors (e.g., discrimination and others) influences psychosocial processes, self-regulatory and coping behaviors, stress-sensitive biomarkers, and subsequent physical and mental health outcomes and disparities.
Article: Multiple forms of discrimination and inflammation in Black Americans: Are there differences by sex?
Article: Mechanisms of racial health disparities: Evidence on coping and cortisol from MIDUS II
Article: Cortisol and racial health disparities affecting Black men in later life
Biobehavioral Stress Processes & Cardiometabolic Risk
This project marshals two complementary cohort studies to investigate stress-related psychological, biological, and behavioral pathways of cardiometabolic health and health disparities.
Partners: Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research, Research Center for Group Dynamics, and Population Studies Center
Stress & Coping Mechanisms of Black-White Health Disparities Among Older U.S. Men
(recently completed)
Partners: University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School and Population Studies Center
This study investigated whether cortisol patterns (stress-sensitive biomarker) and related stress and coping processes accounted for Black-White health disparities among midlife and older men.
Article: Mechanisms of racial health disparities: Evidence on coping and cortisol from MIDUS II
Article: Cortisol and racial health disparities affecting Black men in later life
Principal Investigator
Julie Ober Allen, PhD, MPH
Director
I am an Assistant Professor in the Kinesiology Dept. and Director of the Stress and Health Disparities Lab. I investigate mechanisms generating chronic disease burden and disparities within the older U.S. adult population, specifically how exposure to chronic social and structural stressors affects behavior, biology, psychosocial factors, and subsequent health in later life. My research to date emphasizes the health implications of ageism, Black-White health disparities, cardiometabolic and mental health outcomes, and community-engaged research and interventions. I completed my postdoctoral fellowship (Institute for Social Research) and PhD/MPH (School of Public Health) at the University of Michigan. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, new restaurants, vegetables, time with family, and my great pyrenees, Dozer.
Graduate Students
Sophia Morey
Graduate Student
Sophia is a first-year graduate student in Exercise Psychology and earned her undergraduate degree from Lawrence University, where she double majored in Psychology and Gender Studies with a minor in Government. As a former dual-sport collegiate athlete in basketball and lacrosse, Sophia’s research interests focus on the psychological and physiological factors that contribute to injury vulnerability, particularly among female athletes. She is especially interested in studying these factors together to develop a more holistic understanding of injury risk and prevention. Outside of research, she enjoys going to the gym, reading, and spending time with friends.
Undergraduate Students
Anushka Joshi
HPHE Undergraduate Student
Anushka is a senior in the School of Education on the pre-medicine track, studying Health Promotion and Health Equity. She has been a member of the Stress and Health Disparities lab since Spring 2026. Anushka’s research interest stems from working with a diverse group of populations in healthcare settings. She is interested in understanding the biopsychosocial factors of aging and the long-term societal impact on negative attitudes towards older adults. In her free time, Anushka enjoys being outside in nature, spending time with animals and listening to music.
Elena Oien
Kinesiology Undergraduate Student
Elena is a sophomore in the School of Education studying Kinesiology on the pre-dental track. She joined the Stress and Health Disparities Lab in Spring 2026. Her research interests include health disparities across diverse populations, healthy aging, and the psychosocial factors that influence physical and mental health. In her free time, Elena enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, staying active, and hanging out with friends and family.
Chloe Miller
Kinesiology Undergraduate Student
Chloe is a junior studying Kinesiology in the School of Education on the pre-Physican Assistant track. She joined the Stress and Health Disparities Lab in the Summer of 2026. Chloe’s research interests are driven by her passion for healthcare and improving the well-being of individuals across the lifespan. She is particularly interested in understanding how social and psychological factors influence healthy aging and contribute to health disparities among older adults. In her free time, Chloe enjoys exercising, spending time outdoors, golfing and trying new coffee shops with friends.
Aditya Suresh
Global Health Undergraduate Student
Aditya is a junior at the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences on a pre-medicine track studying Global Health with certificates in Data Science and Health Policy. He joined the Stress and Health Disparities to explore his interests in community-scale public health research. He is especially interested in understanding how healthcare systems and overarching federal systems impact the health and wellbeing of various populations across the Midwest. Outside the lab, Aditya enjoys swimming, looking for old vinyl records at thrift stores, and fishing with friends.
Alumni:
- Kaelen Cunnyngham, BS
- Lauren Elias, BS
- Josie Greenwood, BS
- Sammie Hopper, BPH
- Mikala Kiefer, BS
- Sweta Mahato, MScPH
- Valerie Moïse, MS
- Rathika Murali
- Saryu Onishi, MS
- Isaac Rosales, BS
- Pratit Sharma, MS
- Nadine Sikora, MSc
- Krissy Taylor, MS
- CJ White, MS
- Alayna Wilderman, BS
