College Directory

Areas of Expertise

• Aging
• Environmental gerontology
• Social and contextual determinants of health
• Health-promoting behaviors
• Age/dementia-friendly communities
• Caregiving
• Quantitative research

Publications

• Choi, Y. J., & Ailshire, J. A. (2024). Perceived neighborhood disorder, social cohesion, and depressive symptoms in spousal caregivers. Aging & Mental Health, 28(1), 54-61. doi:10.1080/13607863.2023.2212250
• Park, J., Aranda, M. P., Choi, Y. J., & Jang, Y. (2023). The impact of acculturation on psychological distress among older Korean Americans: Does ethnic community social capital matter? Journal of Immigrants and Minority Health, 23(25), 608-615. doi:10.1007/s10903-022-01426-5
• Choi, Y. J., Crimmins, E. M., & Ailshire, J. A. (2022). Food insecurity, food environments, and disparities in diet quality and obesity in a nationally representative sample of older Americans. Preventive Medicine Reports, 29, 101912. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101912
• Choi, Y. J. (2022). Understanding aging-in-place: Home and community features, perceived age-friendliness of community, and intention towards aging-in-place. The Gerontologist, 62(1), 46-55. doi:10.1093/geront/gnab070
• Choi, Y. J., Ailshire, J. A., & Crimmins, E. M. (2020). Living alone, social networks in neighborhoods, and daily fruit and vegetable consumption among middle-aged and older adults in the USA. Public Health Nutrition, 23(18), 3315-3323. doi:10.1017/S1368980020002475. PMCID 7736134.
• Choi, Y. J. & Matz-Costa, C. (2018). Perceived neighborhood safety, social cohesion, and psychological health of older adults. The Gerontologist, 58(1), 196-206. doi:10.1093/geront/gnw187

Current Projects

The impact of neighborhood adversity on cognitive function and biopsychosocial mechanisms; The importance of the neighborhood environment in determining health and well-being among persons with dementia and their caregivers; The impact of climate change (e.g., extreme heat, air pollution) on health behaviors (e.g., substance use, physical activity, sleep) and health; Racial, ethnic, and regional disparities in access to neighborhood amenities and services

Alma Mater

• Boston College – PhD in Social Work; Washington University in St. Louis – Master of Social Work