You are cordially invited to the Seminar organized by the Psychology Department.
Date & Time: December 5, 2024; Thursday at 17:30
Place: C Blok Amphi
The presentation language will be English.
Presenter: Asst. Prof. Barış Sevi, Ph.D., Psychology Department, MEF University
Title:
Exploring the Predictors of Health in Middle Aged and Older Adults in Non-WEIRD Samples:
Findings on Physical, Cognitive and Mental Health
Abstract:
The world is aging, and the population of older adults is increasing, bringing with it a rise in health challenges. As the aging population grows, the importance of studying diverse aging samples becomes even clearer. Although all people age, they do not do so in the same way, and incorporating diversity into study populations is essential for accurate and generalizable findings. This talk will present research from two distinct non-WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) samples. First, I will present results from two studies focusing on Hispanic participants in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), collected in the United States. The first study examines psychosocial factors, while the second explores personality as a predictor of allostatic load. Next, I will share findings from three short studies conducted with a representative sample of middle-aged to older adults in Istanbul, Turkey. Two of these studies investigate personality and psychosocial variables as predictors of cognitive health, while the third focuses on the relationship between personality and mental health outcomes. The talk will also highlight two studies co-authored by undergraduate students, showcasing the potential for research involvement at the undergraduate level and insights for teaching. This session is designed to provide valuable insights for health psychology enthusiasts, as well as students interested in pursuing health psychology in their future studies.
Bio:
As a proud alumnus of Bilkent, Barış Sevi received his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2015. He continued his education with a master’s degree on Social/Organizational Psychology from Koç University and a master’s degree on Behavioral Neuroscience from West Virginia University. Finally, he received his PhD degree in Social Psychology from the University of Connecticut, where his studies focused on individual differences and disease avoidance. In 2022 he joined MEF University as an assistant professor, yet he went back to US for another year. He was a visiting scholar at the University of Texas at Austin, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and he worked as postdoctoral researcher at the Ohio University, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. In the beginning of 2024, he got back to MEF University and started the Personality and Health Laboratory where he and his students study predictors of maintaining good health, with a focus on older adults.