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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.

Selected Publications

2021

O'Brien, E. L., Torres, G. E., & Neupert, S. D.. (2021). Cognitive Interference in the Context of Daily Stressors, Daily Awareness of Age-Related Change, and General Aging Attitudes. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 76(5), 920-929. presented at the 2021 04 23. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbaa155

2020

O'Brien, E. L., & Hess, T. M.. (2020). Differential focus on probability and losses between young and older adults in risky decision-making. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn, 27(4), 532-552. presented at the 2020 07. doi:10.1080/13825585.2019.1642442
O'Brien, E. L., & Hess, T. M.. (2020). Perceived Benefits and Costs Contribute to Young and Older Adults' Selectivity in Social Relationships. GeroPsych (Bern), 33(1), 42-51. presented at the 2020 Mar. doi:10.1024/1662-9647/a000218

2019

Sharifian, N., & O'Brien, E. L.. (2019). Resource or Hindrance? The benefits and costs of social support for functional difficulties and its implications for depressive symptoms. Aging Ment Health, 23(5), 618-624. presented at the 2019 05. doi:10.1080/13607863.2018.1437595

2018

Hess, T. M., O'Brien, E. L., Growney, C. M., & Hafer, J. G.. (2018). Use of descriptive and experiential information in decision making by young and older adults. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn, 25(4), 500-519. presented at the 2018 07. doi:10.1080/13825585.2017.1327014

2017

O'Brien, E. L., Hess, T. M., Kornadt, A. E., Rothermund, K., Fung, H., & Voss, P.. (2017). Context Influences on the Subjective Experience of Aging: The Impact of Culture and Domains of Functioning. Gerontologist, 57(suppl_2), S127-S137. presented at the 2017 08 01. doi:10.1093/geront/gnx015