Division of Behavioral and Social Research (DBSR)

The Division of Behavioral and Social Research supports basic social and behavioral research and research training on the processes of aging at both the individual and societal level. It focuses on the following: 

• How people change during the adult lifespan
• Interrelationships between older people and social institutions
• The societal impact of the changing age composition of the population

Emphasis is placed on: (1) the dynamic interplay between individuals' aging; (2) their changing biomedical, social, and physical environments; and (3) multilevel interactions among psychological, physiological, social, and cultural levels.

BSR supports research, training, and the development of research resources and methodologies to produce a scientific knowledge base for maximizing active life and health expectancy. This knowledge base is required for informed and effective public policy, professional practice, and everyday life. BSR also encourages the translation of behavioral and social research into practical applications.

Director: Richard Suzman, Ph.D.
Deputy Director: John Haaga, Ph.D.

Economist Position at BSR

The Division of Behavioral and Social Research is recruiting for a Health Scientist Administrator (HSA) or a Supervisory Health Scientist Administrator in Economics to develop and manage a large, policy relevant portfolio of research grants, training grants, career awards, fellowships, cooperative agreements, and contracts. Job openings have been posted. For more information about currently funded research in economics, please see our list of currently funded funded research (Word, 230K) and a summary of the research portfolio (MS Word, 90K).

Current Funding Opportunities

Funding mechanisms including Requests for Applications and Program Announcements such as R21-Exploratory/Development Grants. Healthy Aging Through Behavioral Economic Analyses of Situations (R01), RFA-AG-10-008 Effects of Gene-Social Environment Interplay on Health in Later Life (R01), RFA-AG-10-006 Network Infrastructure Support for Emerging Behavioral and Social Research Areas in Aging (R24), PAR-09-233 Mechanisms Underlying the Links Between Psychosocial Stress, Aging, the Brain and the Body (R01), PAR-09-216 Secondary Analyses of Existing Data Sets and Stored Biospecimens to Address Clinincal Aging Research Questions (R01), PA-09-265

Responses to Frequently asked Questions regarding PAR-09-233 Network Infrastructure Support for Emerging Behavioral and Social Research Areas in Aging

2008 Review of the Division of Behavioral and Social Research by National Advisory Council on Aging

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) has completed its quadrennial review of the Division of Behavioral and Social Research. The purpose of the review was to assess whether the overall performance and more importantly, the future trajectory of research being promoted and supported by the Division are appropriate.

An Aging World

"An Aging World: 2008” examines nine international population trends identified in 2007 by the NIA and the U.S. Department of State (“Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective”). “An Aging World: 2008” contains detailed information on life expectancy, health, disability, gender balance, marital status, living arrangements, education and literacy, labor force participation and retirement, and pensions among older people around the world.

Global Aging

A grouping of publications that highlight a wide range of trends, issues and research needs related to population aging.

Growing Older in America: The Health & Retirement Study

June 12, 2007 -- A new NIA data book about the Health and Retirement Study offers a snapshot of research findings on the combined health and economic circumstances of Americans over age 50.

Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective

March 13, 2007 -- Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective provides a succinct description of population trends that are transforming the world in fundamental ways. The report, using data from the United Nations, US Census Bureau, and the Statistical Office of the European Communities as well as regional surveys, identifies nine emerging trends in global aging. These trends present a snapshot of challenges and opportunities that will stimulate a cross-national scientific and policy dialogue. The booklet was prepared for the March 15, 2007, Summit on Global Aging, hosted by the U.S. State Department in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging.

Areas of Emphasis

Research initiatives focusing on: (1) Health Disparities; (2) Aging Minds; (3) Increasing Health Expectancy; (4) Health, Work, and Retirement; (5) Interventions and Behavior Change; (6) Genetics, Behavior, and the Social Environment; and (7) The Burden of Illness and the Efficiency of Health Systems.

Priority Areas for Research Training (T32, F and K)

Applicants are encouraged to contact BSR Program Staff before submitting T32, F and K grant applications.  BSR’s priority for research training is to increase the number of highly trained investigators in the following interdisciplinary research areas as they relate to aging: biodemography; the integration of biology and genetics with behavioral and social sciences, including implications for data collection and models of analysis; genetics, behavior and aging; economics and psychology; neuroeconomics; social neuroscience; and economics and medicine.

Programs

The Division of Behavioral and Social Research (DBSR) supports basic social and behavioral research and research training on the processes of aging at both the individual and societal level.

Resources

Databases, datasets, books, reports, and Web sites providing additional information on the social, economic and behavioral aspects of aging.

Conference and Meeting Materials

Materials including agendas, handouts, and meeting summaries from workshops and meetings related to aging research.

DBSR Press Releases

Recent Press Releases in Behavioral and Social Research.

Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR)

Edward R. Roybal Centers for Translation Research in the Behavioral and Social Sciences of Aging

Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging

For more information about BSR, contact: BSRquery@MAIL.NIH.GOV.