Yeonjung Lee

Dr. Yeonjung Lee

PhD, MSW
Pronouns: she/her

Positions

Associate Professor

Faculty of Social Work, Calgary Campus

Full Member

Hotchkiss Brain Institute

Member

O'Brien Institute for Public Health

Contact information

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-2031

Location

Office : MT412

For media enquiries, contact

Don McSwiney

Office: +1.403.220.7083
Email: dmcswine@ucalgary.ca
Twitter: @UCalgary_FSW

I'm looking for...

Study participants

  • Age 65 years or older
  • Have lived in the selected community for more than 6 months
  • Comfortable walking in your community with or without assistive devices
  • Interested and willing to use a camera

Background

Educational Background

B.A. Social Work, Chung-Ang University, 2003

M.S.W. Social Policy, Chung-Ang University, 2005

Doctor of Philosophy Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, 2012

Research

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
SOWK 745 S01 Research Methods I: Quantitative Winter 2021
SOWK 355 S02 Research in Context Fall 2021
SOWK 553 S03 Gerontology Winter 2022

Projects

The Complexity of the Caregiving Outcomes: Understanding the Role of Social Statuses and Social Resources

Utilizing baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), this study examines how different aspects of caregiving experiences are associated with a diverse range of well-being; whether the outcomes of caregiving vary by gender and socioeconomic status; whether social resources help caregivers cope with the experience of caregiving; and whether the modifying effects of social resources on outcomes of caregiving vary by gender and socioeconomic status. 

Research Video, "Caregiving: Location, Demands and Mental Health"

(https://youtu.be/DICxZFwyBYk)

Webinar, "Opportunities and Challenges of Caring for Older Adults", April 28, 2022

(https://vimeo.com/706214767?mkt_tok=MTYxLU9MTi05OTAAAAGENAL79pUD5ypvQs0ex-eAudfIzmbyIudRaow9Fso17UHmicnEZEDdC38c3fy9Td9WRn-aNpF9fRJDwt5VQrqeK3kh_ifWKhaC2yqJLFRrKhtRB7Y)

Article, “Studies highlight the rewards and the challenges of caring for aging family and friends”

(https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/studies-highlight-rewards-and-challenges-caring-aging-family-and-friends)


Communities of Concern for Older Adults (CoCOA) in Calgary

This study explores the accessibility to social and physical environments, and resiliency among older adults living in Calgary by identifying, mapping, and analyzing the communities of concerns for older adults in Calgary.

Pilot 1 - Aging in Community: A Perspective from Older Adults on Accessibility to Necessary Resources

This project employs a photovoice method to explore the lived experiences and perceptions of older adults living in 10 selected communities in relation to aging in community and accessibility to health, social and daily services.

 

Article, “Civic infrastructure ill-equipped to serve an aging population” 

(https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/civic-infrastructure-ill-equipped-serve-aging-population)


Creating Pathways to Experience Positive Aging for Undergraduate Social Work Students: Lessons from Engaging with Older Adults and Reflecting on Students’ Own Later Life

This project examines changes in students’ perception of aging, older adults, and gerontological social work as a result of experiential learning through engaging with older adults and critical reflection, and thus, helps students as a younger generation understand and plan for their own later life.  A mixed-methods of pre and post surveys, thematic analysis, and focus group is applied. 


Caregiving, Aging, and Financial Experiences (CAFE) Study

The CAFE study is a national survey of 4,000 Canadian older adults.  The study examines how caregiving and financial conditions are influencing the mental health of Canadian older adults.  This study also looks at a number of social psychological outcomes, such as older adults’ self-esteem, loneliness, and sense of control over life.  Furthermore, in this survey, we examine a number of religious beliefs in more detail than is common in studies of Canadian older adults, and also examine the possible ramifications of these religious beliefs for mental health in later-life.

Article, “One-third of Canadian seniors who rent or pay a mortgage are struggling to pay their bills"

(https://theconversation.com/one-third-of-canadian-seniors-who-rent-or-pay-a-mortgage-are-struggling-to-pay-their-bills-176122)

Awards

  • Research Innovation Award, University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work. 2022
  • Fellow, Parex Resource Innovation Fellowship. 2021
  • RAND Summer Institute on Aging Scholarship, National Institute on Aging (NIA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). 2015
  • Conference Scholarship, Work and Family Researchers' Network. 2012
  • Poster Award, Gerontological Society of America. 2009

In the News