Karen Roberto, PhD

ACTIVE MEMBER • Executive Director

Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment, Virginia Tech

Google Scholar • Dept Page

kroberto@vt.edu

I have devoted my career to answering questions about beliefs, behaviors, and relationships that provide new insight into vulnerability and resiliency in the daily lives of older adults. Under my leadership, my research teams have made new discoveries about how older adults manage the challenges of major health problems, dementia caregiving responsibilities, and abuse. Consistently evident throughout my research is strong theoretical grounding and conceptual understanding of the research literature as well as sensitivity to diversity among older individuals and their families. Much of my research relies on the construction of surveys for use with community-based samples, combines quantitative and qualitative methodologies, occurs in rural areas, and includes interviews with older adults, family members, and service providers.