Main Research Areas:
Aging and health disparities, Intersectionality of sexuality, gender, race and ethnicity, Social isolation and social relations, Support networks, Cognitive impairment and dementia
Biography:
Hyun-Jun Kim’s primary research interests focus on health and social inequities faced by disadvantaged older adults, including examining disparities in physical, mental, and cognitive health and quality of life, the intersectionality of sexuality, gender, race and ethnicity, and the roles of social exclusion, social isolation, and support networks as risk and protective factors. He also aims to translate findings to develop and implement interventions designed to improve health and well-being of the historically and socially marginalized populations.
He has served as project director and co-Investigator of multiple landmark studies Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study (NHAS) and Innovations in Dementia, Empowerment and Action (IDEA), funded by National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Aging. He has served as Multiple PI on Care Network-IDEA, pilot-testing an intervention to improve quality of life for LGBTQ older adults experiencing memory loss without a caregiver. Currently he is also researching variation in social isolation and social and kin relations among older adults by sexuality, gender, and race and ethnicity and how they are associated with cognitive health interplaying with social exclusion, stress, and other health-promoting and adverse factors.
Dr. Kim is the director of the Health, Sexuality & Gender Research Center at the School’s Goldsen Institute. He is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, where he was recognized for his contributions on aging and health research. He received his BA in social work from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea; an MSW from Arizona State University; and a PhD from the University of Washington School of Social Work.
Selected Works:
Kim, H.-J., Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I., Bryan, A. E. B., & Muraco, A. (2017). Social network types and mental health among LGBT older adults. The Gerontologist, 57(S1), S84-S94. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw169
Kim, H.-J., Jen, S., & Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I. (2017). Race/ethnicity and health-related quality of life among LGBT older adults. The Gerontologist, 57(S1), S30-S39. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw172
Kim, H.-J. & Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I. (2016). Living arrangement and loneliness among lesbian, gay, and bisexual older adults. The Gerontologist, 56(3), 548-558. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnu083
