Erica O’Brien
Postdoctoral Scholar
Contact Information
Research Interests
My research generally focuses on how we can facilitate improvements in health-related outcomes, such as well-being as well as cognitive and physical functioning in older adults. I specifically study the psychological, social cognitive, and emotional factors that keep older adults active and engaged in daily activities associated with these health benefits. These include internal factors, such as motivation, aging attitudes, goals and motives, as well as external factors, such as social support, environmental constraints, and task-related characteristics. As a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Pathways Program, I plan to investigate (a) the pathways by which psychological and ability variables affect or are affected by training and intervention, (b) the health and ability outcomes most affected, (c) the temporal context surrounding these associations (e.g., immediate or delayed, fleeting or enduring), and (d) the characteristics of individuals likely to benefit—or not—from applied programs.