Weidi Qin

Weidi Qin is an interdisciplinary scholar trained in social work, gerontology, and social epidemiology. Her program of research is focused on contextual factors of cardiometabolic diseases (especially diabetes) and independent living among community-dwelling older adults. In particular, she is interested in understanding how environmental and psychosocial factors interact with physiological indicators in influencing cardiometabolic outcomes and functional disability among older adults. A related thread of her research is to examine modifiable psychosocial factors underlying racial and ethnic disparities in late-life health. Specifically, she adopts a within-group approach to investigate social stressors that are distinct to racial and ethnic minority older adults and how these stressors impact health across the life course. Her research primarily utilizes quantitative analyses of population-based national survey data (e.g., Health and Retirement Study [HRS], National Health and Aging Trends Study [NHATS], and National Survey of American Life [NSAL]). The goals of her research are to inform the prevention and management of cardiometabolic risks among older adults, to promote successful aging in place, and to reduce racial disparities in late-life health.