I study population health. I am interested in health disparities , i.e., identifying modifiable differences in health and well-being across social groups. These group differences are marked by both racial/ethnic boundaries as well as by socioeconomic status (SES-education, income, etc.). I examine disparities utilizing both physical (i.e., chronic disease risk) and psychosocial (well-being, social ties) outcomes.
I am also interested in the association of the social environment with health. Using population-based samples, I am examining a variety of theorized (and not yet theorized) associations between social ties and a broad range of health resources, including health knowledge, health care use, and as part of my sabbatical research (2011-12) I will examine "hard" health endpoints such as mortality.
I also collaborate with colleagues in health risk reduction research (obesity/overweight interventions) and provide statistical consulting for Psychology faculty and students.
Health Links
Health Journals
Health Psychology Journals
Social Psychology Journals
last updated 2/2/2012
Larson, N.C., Barger, S.D., & Sydeman, S.J. (in press). Type D personality is not associated with coronary heart disease risk in a North American sample of retirement-aged adults. To appear in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. [PubMed abstract] *
Barger, S.D. (in press). Perceived emotional support and frequent social contacts are associated with greater knowledge of stroke warning signs: Evidence from two U.S. population surveys. To appear in the Journal of Health Psychology. [PubMed abstract]
Wayment, H.A., Barger, S.D., Tolle, L.W., & O’Mara, E.M. (2010). Who gets blamed for a collective tragedy? The role of distress, identification with victims, and time. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 15, 481-497. *
Barger, S.D., Donoho, C.J., & Wayment, H.A. (2009). The relative contributions of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health, and social relationships to life satisfaction in the United States. Quality of Life Research, 18, 179-189. [PubMed abstract] *
Barger, S.D., & Gallo, L.C. (2008). Ability of ethic self-identification to partition modifiable health risk among US residents of Mexican ancestry. American Journal of Public Health, 98, 1971-1978. [PubMed abstract]
Lutes, L.D. , Winett, R.A., Barger, S.D., Wojcik, J.R., Herbert, W.G., Nickols-Richardson, S.M., & Anderson, E.S. (2008). Small changes in nutrition and physical activity promote weight loss and maintenance: Three-month evidence from the ASPIRE randomized trial. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 35, 351-357. [PubMed abstract]
Barger, S.D., Burke, S.M., & Limbert, M.J. (2007). Do induced moods really influence health perceptions? Health Psychology, 26, 85-95. [PubMed abstract] *
Croyle, R.T., Loftus, E.F., Barger, S.D., Sun, Y-C., Hart, M., & Getting, J. (2006). How well do people recall risk factor test results? Accuracy and bias among cholesterol screening participants. Health Psychology, 25, 425-432. [PubMed abstract]
Barger, S.D., & Muldoon, M.F. (2006). Hypertension labelling was associated with poorer self-rated health in the Third US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Journal of Human Hypertension. 20, 117-123. [PubMed abstract]
Barger, S.D. (2006). Do psychological characteristics explain socioeconomic stratification of self-rated health? Journal of Health Psychology, 11, 21-35. [PubMed abstract]
Barger, S.D. & Sydeman, S.J. (2005). Does generalized anxiety disorder predict coronary heart disease risk factors independently of major depressive disorder? Journal of Affective Disorders, 88, 87-91. [PubMed abstract]
Barger, S.D. (2002b). The Marlowe-Crowne Affair: Short forms, psychometric structure, and social desirability. Journal of Personality Assessment, 79, 286-305. [PubMed abstract]
Barger, S.D. (2002a). Risk factors for violent death in children [Letter to the editor]. Journal of the American Medical Association, 287(8), 983-984.
* student co-authored publications