Research Scientist Emerita, Population Studies-Administration and Research Scientist Emerita, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
Biography
Dr. Ofstedal is a demographer whose work focuses on population aging. She is a Research Scientist at the Institute for Social Research, where she serves as a Co-Investigator and Associate Director on the Health and Retirement Study. Her research interests include intergenerational relations and support, the connections between socioeconomic status and health, transitions in health and functioning in old-age, utilization of health and long-term care services, methodological issues relating to panel surveys, and comparative research.
Projects
Health and Retirement Study (HRS)Funded Research
Publications
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Kezdi, Gabor, Mick P Couper. 2022. Data quality and response distributions in a mixed-mode survey. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies 13(4):621-646.
- Xu, Xiao, Liang, Jersey, Raymo, James M., Kim, BoRin, Mary Beth Ofstedal. 2022. Defining Childlessness Among Middle-Aged and Older Americans: A Research Note. Demography
- Lee, Haena, Lindsay H Ryan, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Jacqui Smith. 2021. Multigenerational Households During Childhood and Trajectories of Cognitive Functioning Among U.S. Older Adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B 76(6):1161-1172.
- Libby, Gillian, Zimmer, Zachary, Kingston, Andrew, Haviva, Clove, Chiu, Chi-Tsun, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Saito, Yasuhiko, Jagger, Carol. 2021. Are Religiosity and Spirituality Related to Self-Reported Health Expectancy? An Analysis of the European Values Survey. Journal of Religion and Health
- Raymo, James M, Xu, Xiao, Kim, BoRin, Liang, Jersey, Mary Beth Ofstedal. 2021. Later-Life Living Arrangements of Americans with and without Children: A Lifetable Approach. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B 77(1):181-190.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, McClain,Colleen, Mick P Couper. 2021. Measuring Cognition in a Multi-Mode Context. Advances in Longitudinal Survey Methodology :250-271.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal. 2020. Data Sources for Health Expectancy Research. International Handbook of Health Expectancies :69-86.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Zimmer, Zachary , Chiu, Chi-Tsun , Saito, Yasuhiko , Lin, Yu-Hsuan , Jagger, Carol . 2020. Does Religious Activity Distinguish the Mortality Experiences of Older Taiwanese? An Analysis Using Eighteen Years of Follow-Up Data. Journal of Religion and Health 59:289-308.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Chiu, Chi-Tsun , Jagger, Carol , Saito, Yasuhiko , Zimmer, Zachary . 2019. Religion, Life Expectancy and Disability-Free Life Expectancy Among Older Women and Men in the United States. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Zimmer, Zachary , Rojo, Florencia , Chiu, Chi-Tsun , Saito, Yasuhiko , Jagger, Carol . 2019. Religiosity and health: A global comparative study. SSM - Population Health 7:100322.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Zimmer, Zachary , Jagger, Carol , Chiu, Chi-Tsun , Rojo, Florencia , Saito, Yasuhiko . 2016. Spirituality, religiosity, aging and health in global perspective: A review. Social Science and Medicine: Population Health 2:373-381.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Cernat, Alexandru . 2016. Estimation of Mode Effects in the Health and Retirement Study Using Measurement Models. Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology 4(4):501-524.
- James Robert Wagner, Jennifer Arrieta, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Guyer, Heidi Marie. 2014. Does Sequence Matter in Multimode Surveys: Results from an Experiment. Field Methods 26(2):141-155.
- 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.
- Joseph Walter Sakshaug, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Guyer, Heidi Marie, Beeb, T . 2014. The collection of biomarkers in health surveys. Handbook of Health Survey Methods :383-420.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Jenkins, Kristi R.. 2014. The Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Middle-Aged and Older Men and Women. Women & health 54(1):15-34.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Sunghee Lee. 2013. Encouraging record use for financial asset questions in a web survey. Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology 1(2):171-182.
- Joseph Walter Sakshaug, Mary Beth Ofstedal, David R Weir. 2012. Linking Survey and Administrative Records: Mechanisms of Consent. Sociological Methods & Research 41(4):535-569.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Cheshire, Hayley , Scholes, Shaun , Schroder, Mathis . 2011. A comparison of response rates in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and the Health and Retirement Study. Longitudinal and Life Course studies 2(2):127-144.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Wray, Linda, Chiu, C J. 2011. Diabetes-related change in physical disability from midlife to older adulthood: evidence from 1996-2003 Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan. Diabetes research and clinical practice 91(3):413-423.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, David R Weir. 2011. Recruitment and Retention of Minority Participants in the Health and Retirement Study. The Gerontologist 51(suppl_1):S8-20.
- Arland Thornton, Barber, Jennifer S, Barber, Jennifer S, Julie Ann Josefosky de Jong, Colter Mitchell, Dirgha Jibi Ghimire, Norbert Schwarz, Linda C Young-Demarco, Jiang, Yang , Julie Ann Josefosky de Jong, King, Katherine E, Lesthaeghe, Ron J., Mehanna, Sohair , Colter Mitchell, Moaddel, Mansoor, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Norbert Schwarz, Wang, Guangzhou , Xie, Yu, Yang, Li-Shou, Linda C Young-Demarco, Yount, Kathryn . 2010. Creating Questions and Protocols for an International Study of Ideas About Development and Family Life. Survey Methods in Multinational, Multiregional and Multicultural Conexts
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Liang, Jersey, Quinones, Ana R, Bennett, Joan M, Ye, Wen , Xu, Xiao , Shaw, Benjamin A. 2010. Evolving Self-Rated Health in Middle and Old Age: How Does it Differ Across Black, Hispanic, and White Americans?. Journal of aging and health 22(1):3-26.
- Schoeni, Bob, Mary Beth Ofstedal. 2010. Key themes in research on the demography of aging. Demography 47(1):S5-S15.
- Joseph Walter Sakshaug, Mary Beth Ofstedal. 2010. Characteristics of Physical Measurement Consent in a Population-Based Survey of Older Adults. Medical care 48(1):64-71.
- Arland Thornton, ..., Barber, Jennifer S, Dirgha Jibi Ghimire, Julie Ann Josefosky de Jong, Colter Mitchell, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Linda C Young-Demarco, et al.. 2010. Process and Method for Creating Questions and Protocols for an International Study of Developmental Idealism, Developmental Thinking, and Family Life. Pp. 59-74 in Survey Methods in Multinational, Multiregional and Multicultural Contexts, edited by M. Braun, B. Edwards, J. Harkness, T. Johnson, L. Lyberg, P. Mohler, B. E. Pennell, and T. W. Smith. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Cigolle, Christine, Tian, Zhiyi , Blaum, Caroline S. 2009. Comparing Models of Frailty: The Health and Retirement Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 57(5):830-839.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal. 2009. Keeping in contact with mobile sample members. Methodology of longitudinal surveys :183.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal. 2009. Data sources, later life: Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Encyclopedia of the life course and human development
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Sun, Chang-Cherng, Liu, I W. 2009. Nativity differentials in older age mortality in Taiwan: Do they exist and why?. Taiwan Journal of Population Studies 39:1-58.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Wong, Rebeca , Yount, Kathryn , Agree, Emily . 2008. Unhealthy lifestyles among older adults: exploring transitions in Mexico and the US. European Journal of Ageing 5(4):311-326.
- Kenneth M Langa, Gwenith Gwyn Fisher, Steven G Heeringa, David R Weir, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Robert J Willis, Burke, James F., Rodgers, Willard L., Plassman, B , Hurd, M , Potter, G , Steffens, D , McArdle, J , Wallace, R . 2008. Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment without Dementia in the United States. Annals of Internal Medicine 148(6):427-434.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Liang, Jersey, Bennett, J , Shaw, B , Quiñones, A , Ye, Wen , Xu, Xiao . 2008. Gender Differences in Functional Status in Middle and Older Age: Are There Any Age Variations?. The Journals of Gerontology 63B(5):S282-S292.
- Kenneth M Langa, Gwenith Gwyn Fisher, Steven G Heeringa, David R Weir, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Robert J Willis, Burke, James F., Rodgers, Willard L., Plassman, B L, Hurd, M D, Potter, G G, Steffens, D C, Wallace, R B. 2007. Prevalence of Dementia in the United States: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study. Neuroepidemiology 29(1/2):125-132.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Zimmer, Zachary , Martin, Linda G, Chuang, Yi-Li . 2007. Education of Adult Children and Mortality of their Elderly Parents in Taiwan*. Demography 44(2):289-305.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Zimmer, Zachary , Chan, Angelique , Chuang, Yi-Li , Natividad, Josefina , Tang, Zhe . 2007. Short-term Trends in Functional Limitation and Disability Among Older Asians: A Comparison of Five Asian Settings. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 22(3):243-261.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Jenkins, Kristi R., Johnson, Nan . 2007. Patterns and Associations of Body Weight Among Older Adults in Two Asian Societies. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 22(1):83-99.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Tesfai, Rebecca . 2007. Future Characteristics of the Elderly in Developing Countries and Their Implications for Policy. Asian Population Studies 3(1):5-36.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Liang, Jersey, Brown, Joseph W., Krause, Neal, Bennett, Joan M. 2005. Health and living arrangements of older Americans: Does marriage matter?. Journal of Aging and Health 17(3): 305-335
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Chan, Angelique W, Zimmer, Zachary S, Cruz, Grace , Chuang, Yi-Li . 2005. A comparison of self-assessed health expectancy among older adults in several Asian settings. Emerging issues of health and mortality in the Asian and Pacific region :163-178.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Kenneth M Langa, Wray, Linda, Blaum, Caroline S. 2005. Effect of diabetes on disability in middle-aged and older adults. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological and Medical Sciences 60A (9): 1206-1211
- Kenneth M Langa, Steven G Heeringa, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Gwenith Gwyn Fisher, David R Weir, Robert J Willis, Herzog, Anna R., Burke, James F., Fultz, Nancy, Rodgers, Willard L., Plassman, Brenda L, Wallace, Robert B, Hurd, Michael D, Potter, Guy G, Steffens, D . 2005. The aging, demographics, and memory study: Study design and methods. Neuroepidemiology 25(4):181-191.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Wray, Linda, Herzog, Anna R., Blaum, Caroline S. 2004. Diabetes Diagnosis and Weight Loss in Middle-Aged Adults.. Research on Aging 26(1):62-81.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Knodel, John E., Reidy, Erin . 2004. Gender Differences in Economic Support and Well-Being of Older Asians. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 19(3):165-201.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Kenneth M Langa, Wray, Linda, Blaum, Caroline S. 2003. Functional Status and Health Outcomes in Older Americans with Diabetes: Should Diabetes Management Be Targeted to Health Status?. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 51(6):745-753.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Fultz, Nancy, Herzog, Anna R., Wallace, Robert B. 2003. Additive and Interactive Effects of Comorbid Physical and Mental Conditions on Functional Health. Journal of Aging and Health 15(3):465-481.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Fultz, Nancy, Herzog, Anna R., Wallace, R B. 2003. Effects of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment on functional outcomes of diabetes and stroke. Journal of Aging and Health 15(3):465-481.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Rodgers, Willard L.. 2003. Commentary on Trends in Scores on Tests of Cognitive Ability in the Elderly US Population, 1993-2000 and authors reply-Beyond Inconsistent Results: Finding the Truth About Trends in Late-life Cognitive Functioning. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 58(6):S348-S349.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Rodgers, Willard L., Herzog, Anna R.. 2003. Trends in Scores on Tests of Cognitive Ability in the Elderly US Population, 1993-2000. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 58(6):S338-S346.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Zimmer, Zachary S, Cruz, Grace , Chan, Angelique W, Lin, Yu-Hsuan . 2003. Self-Assessed Health Expectancy Among Older Asians: A Comparison of Sullivan and Multistate Life Table Methods. Hallym International Journal of Aging 6(2):95-117.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Knodel, John E.. 2003. Gender and Aging in the Developing World: Where Are the Men?. Population and Development Review 29(4):677-698.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Natividad, J . 2002. Patterns of Health Service Utilization. The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Zimmer, Zachary S, Natividad, J , Lin, Hui-Sheng . 2002. Physical and Mental Health and Well-Being. The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Whyte, M K. 2002. How Unique Are Parent-Child Relations in Urban China? A Comparison with Urban Taiwan. China's Revolution and Parent-Child Relations
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Chayovan, Napaporn , Chan, Angelique W, Chuang, Yi-Li , Mehta, K , Perez, Anthony . 2002. Policies and Programs Pertaining to the Welfare of the Elderly. The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Knodel, John E., Hermalin, Albert. 2002. The Demographic, Socioeconomic, and Cultural Context of the Four Study Countries. The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Whyte, M K. 2002. Parent-Child Relations in Two Chinese Societies. China's Revolution and Parent Child Relations
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Biddlecom, Ann E., Chayovan, Napaporn . 2002. Intergenerational Support and Transfers. The Well-being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four-Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Liang, Jersey, Blaum, Caroline S. 2002. Low Cognitive Performance, Comorbid Disease, and Task-Specific Disability: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological and Medical Sciences 57(8):M523-M531.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Frankenberg, Elizabeth , Chan, Angelique W. 2002. Stability and Change in Living Arrangements: Evidence from Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan.. Population Studies 56(2):201-213.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Chan, Angelique W. 2002. Changes in Subjective and Objective Measures of Economic Well-Being and Their Interrelationship among the Elderly in Singapore and Taiwan. Social Indicators Research 57(3):263-300.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Knodel, John E., Hermalin, Albert. 2002. Demographic, Socioeconomic and Cultural Context. The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Knodel, John E.. 2002. Patterns and Determinants of Living Arrangements. The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Biddlecom, Ann E., Chayovan, Napaporn . 2002. Intergenerational Exchanges and Support. The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Mehta, K . 2002. The Disadvantaged Elderly. The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four-Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Herzog, Anna R.. 2002. Social Engagements and its Relationship to Health. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Biddlecom, Ann E., Chan, Angelique W. 2002. Work, Retirement, and Leisure. The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four-Country Comparative Study
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Shih, S P. 2002. Patterns of Intergenerational Exchanges in Urban China and Urban Taiwan. China's Revolutions and Parent-Child Relations
- Kenneth M Langa, Mary Beth Ofstedal, Robert J Willis, Herzog, Anna R., Chernew, Michael , Wallace, Robert B, Mucha, L M, Straus, W L. 2001. National Estimates of the Quantity and Cost of Informal Caregiving for the Elderly with Dementia. Journal of General Internal Medicine 16(11):770-778.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Zimmer, Zachary S, Chang, Ming-Cheng . 2001. Impact of Cognitive Status and Decline on Service and Support Utilization Among Older Adults in Taiwan.. Research on Aging 23(3):267-303.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Knodel, John E., Chayovan, Napaporn . 1999. Intergenerational Support and Gender: A Comparison of Four Asian Countries. Southeast Asian Journal of Social Sciences 27(2)
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Zimmer, Zachary S, Lin, Hui-Sheng . 1999. A Comparison of Correlates of Cognitive Functioning in Older Persons in Taiwan and the United States. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 54 (5): S291-S301
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Chang, Ming-Cheng . 1996. Types of Supports for the Aged and Their Providers in Taiwan. Aging and Generational Relations over the Life Course: A Historical and Cross-cultural Perspective :400-437.
- Mary Beth Ofstedal. 1995. Changes in family and household composition in the United States. Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert, Chang, Ming-Cheng . 1995. Types of Supports for the Aged and Their Providers in Taiwan. Aging and Generational Relations over the Life Course: A Historical and Cross-cultural Perspective
- Mary Beth Ofstedal, Hermalin, Albert. 1993. A comparison of alternative approaches to measuring needs and levels of support received by the elderly in Taiwan. Readings in Population Research