Huijing Wu, Ph.D.

I am a Sociologist and Demographer who studies important family trends among older adults. The research projects investigate various topics in demography and family, including partnership status, family structure, caregiving, health & well-being in later life.

Recent research focuses on how family structure is related to care gaps among older adults across nations. The studies examine whether people without close kin are more disadvantaged in caregiving than those with close family members across countries. The research has examined care gaps among middle-aged and older adults in Europe and the U.S. The next will examine care gaps among older adults in East Asia.

Another research project will investigate how older adults expect or prepare their caregiving plans in later life, particularly for those with small family networks or without close kin. One study analyzes whether older adults’ expectations in caregiving match their needs for care in reality in the U.S.