Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D.
Director of the Center for Gerontology
Director of the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment
E-Mail kroberto@vt.edu
Mailing Address 237B Wallace Hall (0416)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone 540-231-7657
Fax 540-231-7012
Staff Contact Ms. Carlene Arthur (540-231-7657)
Curriculum Vitae
Primary Academic Interests
- Family Gerontology
- Health and Aging
- Psychosocial Aspects of Aging
- Program Evaluation
Professional Responsibilities
- Advisory Council, Family Relations.
- Chair, Behavioral & Social Sciences (BSS) Section of the Gerontological Society of America.
- Editorial Board Member: Family Relations, Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, International Journal of Aging & Human Development, Journal of Women and Aging.
Current Research
- Family & Friend Relationships in Later Life
- Caring for Persons with Memory Problems
- Health and Social Support of Older Women
- Managing Chronic Illness in Late Life (osteoporosis, pain)
- Elder Abuse and Mistreatment
Selected Publications
Mancini, J.A. & Roberto, K.A., (Eds.) (2009). Pathways of human development: Explorations of change. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Roberto, K.A., Kamo, Y., & Henderson, T.L. (2009). Encounters with Katrina: Dynamics of older adults’ social support networks. In K. Cherry (Ed.), Lifespan perspectives on natural disasters: Coping with Katrina, Rita and other storms. New York: Springer.
Blieszner, R., & Roberto, K. A. Care partner responses to the onset of mild cognitive impairment,The Gerontologist; June 2, 2009, doi: 10.1093/geront/gnp068
Roberto, K.A., Ermann, L.S., & Savla, J. (2009). Older women’s assessment and management of chronic pain in their daily lives. Journal of Pain Management, 1, 345-356.
Husser, E. K., & Roberto, K. A. (2009). Older women with coronary heart disease: Initial experiences and long term influences on daily life. Journal of Women & Aging, 21, 3-18.
Wacker, R. R., & Roberto, K.A. (2008). Community resources for older adults: Programs and services in an era of change (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Roberto, K.A., & Jarrott, S.E. (2008). Caregiving in late life: A life-span human development perspective. Family Relations, 57, 100-111.
Buys, L., Roberto, K.A., Miller, E., & Blieszner, R. (2008). Prevalence and predictors of depression among older rural Australians and Americans. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 16(1), 33–39.
Roberto, K.A., Dolbin-MacNab, M.L., & Finney, J.W. (2008). Promoting health for grandmothers parenting young children. In B. Hayslip & Kaminiski, P.L. (Eds.), Parenting the custodial grandchild: Implications for clinical practice (pp. 75-89) New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Roberto, K. A., & Husser, E. K. (2007). Social relationships: Resources and obstacles to older women's health adaptations and well-being. In T. J. Owens, & J.J. Suitor (Eds.), Advances in life course research, Volume 12: Interpersonal relations across the life course (pp. 383-410). New York: Elsevier Science.
Blieszner, R., Roberto, K.A., Wilcox, K. L., Barham, E.J., & Winston, B.L. (2007). Dimensions of ambiguous loss in couples coping with mild cognitive impairment. Family Relations, 56, 195-208.
Roberto, K. A., Blieszner, R., & Allen, K.R. (2006). Theorizing in Family Gerontology: New opportunities for research and practice. Family Relations, 55, 513-525
Teaster, P.T., Roberto, K.A., & Dugar, T.A. (2006). Intimate partner violence of rural aging women. Family Relations, 5, 636-648
Roberto, K.A., Gigliotti, C. M., & Husser, E.K. (2005). Older women’s experiences with multiple health conditions: Daily challenges and care practices. Health Care for Women International, 26, 672-692.
Roberto, K.A. & Teaster, P.B. (2005). Sexual abuse of vulnerable young and old women: A comparative analysis of circumstances and outcomes. Violence Against Women, 11, 473-504Recent Funded Projects
2008-2010 Intimate Partner Violence in Rural Aging Women: Promoting Community Knowledge, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Office of the Director (OD) (1R03HD059478-01). $135,100.
2008 Caring for a Spouse with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Daily Challenges, Marital Relations, and Physiological Indicators of Health. Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Research Award Fund, Richmond, VA, $40,000.
2008-10 Appalachian Community Cancer Network. National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, $153,500 (PI for Virginia Site).
2008 Financial Elder Abuse. MetLife Mature Market Institute (MMI), $56,178.
2008-11 Perceptions of Elder Mistreatment in Rural Virginia. Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Department of Agriculture, under Project No. VA-135823 of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, $17,500.
2007-10 Understanding Mild Cognitive Impairment: Family Dynamics and Diversity. Alzheimer's Association, $240,000.
2006-07 Public Guardians and Conservators in Virginia: A Statewide Needs Assessment. Virginia Department for the Aging, $18,000.
2005-08 Virginia Aging and Disability Resource Center Evaluation. Administration on Aging and Center for Medicare and Medicaid, $20,670.
2005-06 Aging Families in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. National Science Foundation, $108,860.
2003-06 Caregivers of Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Information and Support Needs. Alzheimer’s Association, $239,975.