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Karen S. Rook

Associate Dean of Research, School of Social Ecology and Professor of Psychology & Social Behavior
Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles
Phone: 
(949) 824-4196, 5574
Email: 
ksrook@uci.edu
Office: 
4566 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway
Specializations: 
gerontology, social support systems, subjective well-being and health
Department: 
Psychology and Social Behavior
Curriculum Vitae: 
application/pdf icon
Rook.Curriculum_Vitae_Sept_2008.pdf

 

My research focuses on social psychological factors that affect older adults' psychological and physical health, particularly their friendships and family relationships. I am interested in such issues as: 1) how aspirations and expectations for social network involvement change as people grow older, and how these changes influence their life satisfaction; 2) how older adults seek to compensate for, or adapt to, the loss of important social relationships, 3) how experiences of conflict versus support with social network members affect older adults' emotional health; 4) how interactions with family members and friends influence older adults' self-care practices and health behaviors, and 5) how older adults strive to achieve an optimal balance of solitude and social contact in their lives. Other work is concerned with the antecedents and consequences of loneliness in young adults and older adults.

Selected Publications

  • Newsom, J. T., Mahan, T. L., Rook, K. S., & Krause, N. (2008). Stable negative social exchanges and health. Health Psychology, 27, 78-86.
  • Mavandadi, S, Rook, K. S., & Newsom, J. T. (2007). Positive and negative social exchanges and disability in later life: An investigation of trajectories of change. Journal of Gerontology Social Sciences, 62, S361-S370.
  • Sorkin, D. H., & Rook, K. S. (2006). Dealing with negative social exchanges in later life: Coping responses, goals, and effectiveness. Psychology and Aging, 21, 715-725.
  • Rook, K. S., Charles, S. T., & Heckhausen, J. H. (2006). Aging and health. In H. Friedman & R. C. Silver (Eds.), Foundations of health psychology. New York: NY: Oxford University Press.
  • Newsom, J. T., Rook, K. S., Nishishiba, M., Sorkin, D. H., & Mahan, T.L. (2005). Understanding the relative importance of positive and negative social exchanges: Examining specific domains and subjective appraisals: Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 60, P304-P312.
  • Rook, K. S., & Zettel, L. A. (2005). The purported benefits of marriage viewed through the lens of physical health. Psychological Inquiry, 16, 116-121.
  • Sorkin, D. H., & Rook, K. S. (2004). Interpersonal control strivings and vulnerability to negative social exchanges in later life. Psychology and Aging, 19, 555-564.
  • Zettel, L. A., & Rook. K. A. (2004). Substitution and compensation in the social networks of older widowed women. Psychology and Aging, 19, 433-443.
  • Rook, K. S. (2003). Exposure and reactivity to negative social exchanges: A preliminary investigation using daily diary data. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58, P100-P111.
  • Krause, N., & Rook, K. S. (2003). Negative interaction in late life: Issues in the stability and generalizability of conflict across relationships. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58, P88-P99.
  • Sorkin, D., Rook, K. S., & Lu, J. (2002). Loneliness, lack of emotional support, lack of companionship, and the likelihood of having a heart condition in an elderly sample. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 24, 290-298.
  • Rook, K. S. (2001). Emotional health and positive versus negative social exchanges :A daily diary analysis. Applied Developmental Science, 5, 86-97.
  • Rook, K. S. (2000). The evolution of social relationships in later adulthood. S. Qualls & N. Abeles (Eds.), Psychology and the aging revolution (pp. 173-191). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  • Rook, K.S., & Ituarte, P.H.G. (1999). Social control, social support, and companionship in older adults' family relationships and friendships. Personal Relationships, 6, 199-211.
  • Lewis, M.A., & Rook, K.S. (1999). Social control in personal relationships: Impact on health behaviors and psychological distress. Health Psychology, 18, 63-71
  • Rook, K.S. (1994). Assessing the health-related dimensions of older adults' social relationships. In M.P. Lawton & J. Teresi (Eds.), Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Vol. 1 (pp. 142-181). New York: Springer.
  • Rook, K.S., Thuras, P.D., & Lewis, M.A. (1990). Social control, health risk taking, and psychological distress among the elderly. Psychology and Aging, 5, 327-334.
  • Rook, K.S. (1987). Social support versus companionship: Effects on life stress, loneliness, and evaluations by others. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 1132-1147.
  • Rook, K.S. (1987). Reciprocity of social exchange and social satisfaction among older women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 145-154.
  • Rook, K.S., & Dooley, D. (1985). Applying social support research: Theoretical problems and future directions. Journal of Social Issues, 41, 5-28.
  • Rook, K.S. (1984). The negative side of social interaction: Impact on psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 1097-1108.
  • Rook, K.S. (1984). Promoting social bonding: Strategies for helping the lonely and socially isolated. American Psychologist, 39, 1389-1407.