Sonnega,Amanda J | Survey Research Center

Associate Research Scientist, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research

Photo of Sonnega,Amanda J

Biography

Amanda Sonnega, PhD, is an Associate Research Scientist in the Survey Research Center of the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan (UM), where she is responsible for integrating communication, outreach, and education efforts for the Health and Retirement Study. She received her doctorate through the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society at the Johns Hopkins University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship within the ISR program in Social Environment and Health. Dr. Sonnega has lectured in the UM School of Public Health on psychosocial factors in health-related behavior. Her research focuses on life course trajectories of physical and mental health; institutional and personal factors associated with vulnerability and resilience in aging individuals; and work transitions and their broad effects on health and well-being.

Projects

Coordinating Center for the NIA Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Related Dementias

Coordinating Center for the NIA Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Related Dementias

Enhancing Retrospective Life History Data in the Health and Retirement Study Renewal

Enhancing Retrospective Life History Data in the Health and Retirement Study Renewal

Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP)

Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP)

Funded Research

Publications

Amanda J Sonnega, Al-Hinai, Maymona, Chen, Qize, Helppie-McFall, Brooke, Jacqui Smith. 2024. Can Retrospective Reports Provide Accurate Job History Information? A Comparison with Concurrent Reports in a National Prospective Study of Older Adults. Innovation in Aging
Rahmani, Arash, Najand, Babak, Amanda J Sonnega, Akhlaghipour, Golnoush, Mendez, Mario F., Assari, Shervin. 2024. Intersectional Effects of Race and Educational Attainment on Memory Function of Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 11(1):81-91.
Amanda J Sonnega, John Sonnega. 2023. Epidemiology for occupational health psychology research: Understanding the approach. Handbook of occupational health psychology
Megan Zuelsdorff, Amanda J Sonnega, Lisa L. Barnes, DeAnnah R. Byrd, Deborah K. Rose, Robynn Cox, Derek Norton, Robert W. Turner. 2023. Childhood and adulthood trauma associate with cognitive aging among Black and White older adults. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Assari, Shervin, Cobb, Sharon, Najand, Babak, Zare, Hossein, Amanda J Sonnega. 2023. Race, Educational Attainment, and Sustained High Body Mass Index over 24 Years of Follow-up in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Assari, Shervin, Cobb, Sharon, Najand, Babak, Zare, Hossein, Amanda J Sonnega. 2023. Race, Educational Attainment, and Sustained High Body Mass Index over 24 Years of Follow-up in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 11(2):1097-1105.
Rahmani, Arash, Najand, Babak, Amanda J Sonnega, Akhlaghipour, Golnoush, Mendez, Mario F., Assari, Shervin. 2022. Intersectional Effects of Race and Educational Attainment on Memory Function of Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Cupery, Tim, Bush, Evelyn, Turner, Robert W., Amanda J Sonnega, Rosales, Teri, Vissa, Kalpana, Whitfield, Keith E., Jackson, James Sidney, David R Weir. 2021. Positive Effects of Religion and Social Ties on the Health of Former NFL Athletes. Journal of Religion and Health
Amanda J Sonnega, Nicklett, Emily J, Chen, Jieling , Xiang, Xiaoling , Abrams, Leah R, Johnson, Kimson E, Cheng, Jianjia , Assari, Shervin . 2020. Associations Between Diagnosis with Type 2 Diabetes and Changes in Physical Activity among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States. Innovation in Aging 4(1)
Evelyn Bush, Tim Cupery, Robert W. Turner, II, Amanda J Sonnega, David R Weir, Keith E. Whitfield, James S. Jackson. 2020. The Price of Playing Through Pain: The Link Between Physical and Behavioral Health in Former NFL Athletes. American Journal of Men's Health
Kenneth M Langa, Lindsay H Ryan, Ryan Jay McCammon, Amanda J Sonnega, David R Weir, Jones, Richard N, Manly, Jennifer J, Levine, Deborah A, Farron, Madeline . 2020. The Health and Retirement Study Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol Project: Study Design and Methods. Neuroepidemiology 54:64-74.
Leggett,Amanda Noel, Amanda J Sonnega, Matthew C. Lohman. 2020. Till Death Do Us Part: Intersecting Health and Spousal Dementia Caregiving on Caregiver Mortality. Journal of Aging and Health 32(7-8):871-879.
Amanda J Sonnega, Leggett,Amanda Noel, Lohman, Matthew C, Resciniti, Nicholas V. 2019. Frailty Phenotype and Cause-Specific Mortality in the US. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A :glaa025.
Lauren Lucia Schmitz, Courtney L. McCluney, Amanda J Sonnega, Margaret Takako Hicken. 2019. Policy Levers May Improve Older Workersâ Perceptions of Their Psychosocial Work Environment: Research findings show that workplace policies can play a crucial role in the quality of older workerâs health and job longevity. Generations 43(3):78-85.
Lauren Lucia Schmitz, Courtney L. McCluney, Amanda J Sonnega, Margaret Takako Hicken. 2019. Interpreting Subjective and Objective Measures of Job Resources: The Importance of Sociodemographic Context. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16(17):3058.
Leggett,Amanda Noel, Amanda J Sonnega, Lohman, Matthew C. 2019. The association of insomnia and depressive symptoms with all-cause mortality among middle-aged and old adults. International journal of geriatric psychiatry
Lauren Lucia Schmitz, Amanda J Sonnega, Margaret Takako Hicken, McCluney, Courtney L. 2019. Policy Levers May Improve Older Workers' Perceptions of Their Psychosocial Work Environment: Research findings show that workplace policies can play a crucial role in the quality of older worker's health and job longevity. Generations 43(3):78-85.
Amanda J Sonnega, Leggett,Amanda Noel, Lohman, Matthew C, Nicklett, Emily J, Estenson, Lillian . 2019. Comparing Estimates of Fall-related Mortality Incidence among Older Adults in the United States. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A 74(9):1468-1474.
Leggett,Amanda Noel, Amanda J Sonnega, Lohman, Matthew C. 2019. Till Death Do Us Part: Intersecting Health and Spousal Dementia Caregiving on Caregiver Mortality. Journal of Aging and Health
Amanda J Sonnega, David R Weir, Jackson, James Sidney, Turner, Robert W, Cupery, Tim , Chodosh, Joshua , Whitfield, Keith E. 2019. Functional Limitations Mediate the Relationship Between Pain and Depressive Symptoms in Former NFL Athletes. American Journal of Men's Health 13(5):1557988319876825.
Amanda J Sonnega, Leggett,Amanda Noel, Pepin, Renee , Assari, Shervin . 2019. Physical Activity and Insomnia Symptoms Over 10 Years in a U.S. National Sample of Late-Middle-Age and Older Adults: Age Matters. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
Leggett,Amanda Noel, Amanda J Sonnega, Matthew C. Lohman. 2018. The association of insomnia and depressive symptoms with all-cause mortality among middle-aged and old adults. International journal of geriatric psychiatry
Leggett,Amanda Noel, Amanda J Sonnega, Lohman, Matthew . 2018. Till Death Do Us Part: The Impact of Caring for A Spouse with Dementia on Caregiver Mortality. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 26(3):S79-S80.
Courtney L. McCluney, Lauren Lucia Schmitz, Margaret Takako Hicken, Amanda J Sonnega. 2018. Structural racism in the workplace: Does perception matter for health inequalities?. Social science & medicine 199:106-114.
Amanda J Sonnega, Assari, Shervin . 2017. Racial Differences in the Predictive Role of High Depressive Symptoms on Incident Heart Disease Over 18 Years: Results From the Health and Retirement Study. Research in Cardiovascular Medicine 6(1):6.
Amanda J Sonnega, Kristen Robinson, Helen G Levy. 2017. Home and Community-Based Service and Other Senior Service Use: Prevalence and Characteristics in a National Sample. Home health care services quarterly 36(1):16-28.
Amanda J Sonnega, Robert J Willis, Gwenith Gwyn Fisher, Hudomiet, Peter . 2017. A Comparison of Subjective and Objective Job Demands and Fit With Personal Resources as Predictors of Retirement Timing in a National U.S. Sample. Work, Aging and Retirement 4(1):37-51.
Amanda J Sonnega, Pepin, Renee , Assari, Shervin . 2017. Depressive Symptoms in Recipients of Home- and Community-Based Services in the United States: Are Older Adults Receiving the Care They Need?. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 25(12):1351-1360.
Sarah Andrea Burgard, Amanda J Sonnega. 2017. Occupational Differences in BMI, BMI Trajectories, and Implications for Employment Status among Older U.S. Workers. Work, Aging and Retirement 4(1):21-36.
Lauren Lucia Schmitz, Margaret Takako Hicken, Amanda J Sonnega, McCluney, Courtney L. 2017. Structural racism in the workplace: Does perception matter for health inequalities?. Social Science & Medicine 199:106-114.
Amanda J Sonnega, Assari, Shervin , Pepin, Renee . 2017. Residual Effects of Restless Sleep over Depressive Symptoms on Chronic Medical Conditions: Race by Gender Differences. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 4:59-69.
Gwenith Gwyn Fisher, Amanda J Sonnega, Chaffee, Dorey S. 2016. Retirement Timing: A Review and Recommendations for Future Research. Work, Aging and Retirement 2(2):230-261.
Amanda J Sonnega, Helen G Levy, Robinson, Kristen . 2016. Home and Community-Based Service and Other Senior Service Use: Prevalence and Characteristics in a National Sample. Home health care services quarterly :16-28.
Gwenith Gwyn Fisher, Lindsay H Ryan, Amanda J Sonnega, Naudé, Megan N. 2016. Job Lock, Work, and Psychological Well-being in the United States. Work, Aging and Retirement 2(3):345-358.
Amanda J Sonnega, Pepin, Renee , Assari, Shervin . 2016. Predictors of New Onset Sleep Medication and Treatment Utilization Among Older Adults in the United States. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biomedical Sciences and Medical Sciences 71(7):954-960.
Gwenith Gwyn Fisher, Lindsay H Ryan, Amanda J Sonnega. 2015. Prolonged Working Years: Consequences and Directions for Interventions. Sustainable Working Lives :269-288.
Gwenith Gwyn Fisher, Amanda J Sonnega, Chaffee, D . 2015. Early and unplanned retirement. Encyclopedia of Geropsychology
Amanda J Sonnega, Jacqui Smith. 2015. Health and Retirement Study: A Longitudinal Data Resource for Psychologists. Encyclopedia of Geropsychology :1-13.
Amanda J Sonnega, David R Weir. 2014. The Health and Retirement Study: A Public Data Resource for Research on Aging. Open Health Data 2:e7.
Amanda J Sonnega, Jessica Danielle Faul, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Kenneth M Langa, David R Weir, Phillips, J W. 2014. Cohort Profile: the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). International journal of epidemiology 43(2):576-585.
John P Laitner, Amanda J Sonnega. 2013. Economic Theories of Retirement. The Oxford Handbook of Retirement :136-151.
Amanda J Sonnega, Jackson, James Sidney, Williams, David R., Haile, R , Mohammed, S , Herman, A , Stein, D . 2012. Perceived discrimination and psychological well-being in the USA and South Africa. Ethnicity and Health 17(1-2):111-133. PMCID: PMC3468317.
Amanda J Sonnega, Mouch, Charles Adam. 2012. Spirituality and Recovery from Cardiac Surgery: A Review. Journal of Religion and Health 51(4):1042-1060.
John P Laitner, Amanda J Sonnega, Burkhauser, R , Gustman, A , Mitchell, O . 2009. Social Security Research at the Michigan Retirement Research Center. Social security bulletin 69(4):51-64.
Kessler,Ronald C, Amanda J Sonnega, Bromet, E , Hughes, M , Nelson, C , Breslau, N . 1999. Epidemiologic risk factors for trauma and PTSD. Psychological Trauma
Amanda J Sonnega, Kessler,Ronald C, Bromet, Evelyn . 1998. Risk Factors for DSM-III-R Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Findings from the National Comorbidity Survey. American Journal of Epidemiology 147(4):353-361.
Kessler,Ronald C, Amanda J Sonnega, Bromet, E , Nelson, C B, Hughes, M , Breslau, N . 1997. Epidemiologic risk factors for trauma and PTSD. Risk factors for post traumatic stress disorder
Kessler,Ronald C, Amanda J Sonnega, Bromet, Evelyn , Hughes, Michael , Nelson, Christopher B. 1995. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of General Psychiatry 52(12):1048-1060.
Amanda J Sonnega, Celentano, D D. 1992. Coping processes and strategies and personal resources among persons with HIV-spectrum Disease. Living and dying with AIDS
Amanda J Sonnega, Kachur, S P, Cintron, R , Farup, C , Silbersiepe, K , Celentano, D D, Kwait, J . 1992. An analysis of the Greater Baltimore HIV Services Planning Council. AIDS & Public Policy Journal 7(4)