Mary B. Ofstedal
Staff, SRC-HRS
Research Scientist Emeritus, SRC-HRS
- mbo@umich.edu
- 734-647-9070
- 3464 ISR-Thompson 426 Thompson St
- CV (PDF)

BIO
Dr. Ofstedal's research interests include transitions in physical and cognitive functioning in old-age, issues relating to access and utilization of health and long-term care services, intergenerational relations and support, methodological issues in survey research, longitudinal survey design and analysis, and comparative research.
- Enhancing Retrospective Life History Data in the Health and Retirement Study. (Jacqui Smith, Brooke Helppie-McFall, Amanda J. Sonnega, Mary B. Ofstedal, David R. Weir) 2019-2024. NIA.
- HRS Yrs 29-34. (David R. Weir, Kenneth M. Langa, Mary B. Ofstedal, Joelle Hillary Abramowitz, Charles C. Brown, Helen G. Levy, Mick P. Couper, Chichun Fang, Jessica D. Faul, Steven G. Heeringa, Sharon R. Kardia, Sunghee Lee, Lindsay H. Ryan, Jacqui Smith, Jennifer A. Smith, Amanda J. Sonnega, Erin B. Ware, Robert J. Willis, Gabor Kezdi) 2018-2023.
- Linking 1940 U.S. Census Data for Five Modern Surveys on Health and Aging . (Fabian T. Pfeffer, Mary B. Ofstedal, Robert F. Schoeni, Vicki A. Freedman, David R. Weir) 2016-2018. NIA.
- Health and Retirement Study Yrs 23-28. (David R. Weir, Kenneth M. Langa, Mary B. Ofstedal, Charles C. Brown, Sharon R. Kardia, Helen G. Levy, Jacqui Smith, Robert J. Willis, Jessica D. Faul, Steven G. Heeringa, John Bound, Mick P. Couper, Sunghee Lee, Richard L. Valliant, Amanda J. Sonnega, Chichun Fang, Lindsay H. Ryan, Brooke Helppie-McFall, Bruno J. Giordani, Lauren L. Schmitz, Jennifer A. Smith, Joelle Hillary Abramowitz, Colter M. Mitchell) 2012-2017. NIA.
- Zimmer, Zachary, Chi-Tsun Chiu, Yasuhiko Saito, Yu-Hsuan Lin, Mary B. Ofstedal, and Carol Jagger. 2020. "Does Religious Activity Distinguish the Mortality Experiences of Older Taiwanese? An Analysis Using Eighteen Years of Follow-Up Data." Journal of Religion and Health 59: 289-308.
- Ofstedal, Mary B. 2020. "Data Sources for Health Expectancy Research." Pp. 69-86 in International Handbook of Health Expectancies, edited by Jagger, Carol, Crimmins, Eileen M., Saito, Yasuhiko, De Carvalho Yokota, Renata Tiene, Van Oyen, Herman, Robine, Jean-Marie. Cham: Springer International Publishing.
- Ofstedal, Mary B., Chi-Tsun Chiu, Carol Jagger, Yasuhiko Saito, and Zachary Zimmer. Forthcoming. "Religion, Life Expectancy and Disability-Free Life Expectancy Among Older Women and Men in the United States." The Journals of Gerontology: Series B
- Zimmer, Zachary, Florencia Rojo, Mary B. Ofstedal, Chi-Tsun Chiu, Yasuhiko Saito, and Carol Jagger. 2019. "Religiosity and health: A global comparative study." SSM - Population Health 7: 100322.
- Zimmer, Zachary, Carol Jagger, Chi-Tsun Chiu, Mary B. Ofstedal, Florencia Rojo, and Yasuhiko Saito. 2016. "Spirituality, religiosity, aging and health in global perspective: A review." Social Science and Medicine: Population Health 2: 373-381.
- Cernat, Alexandru, Mick P. Couper, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2016. "Estimation of Mode Effects in the Health and Retirement Study Using Measurement Models." Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology 4(4): 501-524.
- Jenkins, Kristi R., and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2014. "The Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Middle-Aged and Older Men and Women." Women & health 54(1): 15-34.
- Sakshaug, Joseph W., Mary B. Ofstedal, Heidi Marie Guyer, and T. Beeb. 2014. "The collection of biomarkers in health surveys." Pp. 383-420 in Handbook of Health Survey Methods, edited by Johnson, Timothy. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
- Sonnega, Amanda J., Jessica D. Faul, Mary B. Ofstedal, Kenneth M. Langa, J. W. Phillips, and David R. Weir. 2014. "Cohort Profile: the Health and Retirement Study (HRS)." International journal of epidemiology 43(2): 576-585.
- Wagner, James R., Jennifer Arrieta, Heidi Marie Guyer, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2014. "Does Sequence Matter in Multimode Surveys: Results from an Experiment." Field Methods 26(2): 141-155.
- Couper, Mick P., Mary B. Ofstedal, and Sunghee Lee. 2013. "Encouraging record use for financial asset questions in a web survey." Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology 1(2): 171-182.
- Sakshaug, Joseph W., Mick P. Couper, Mary B. Ofstedal, and David R. Weir. 2012. "Linking Survey and Administrative Records: Mechanisms of Consent." Sociological Methods & Research 41(4): 535-569.
- Cheshire, Hayley, Mary B. Ofstedal, Shaun Scholes, and Mathis Schroder. 2011. "A comparison of response rates in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and the Health and Retirement Study." Longitudinal and Life Course studies 2(2): 127-144.
- Chiu, C. J., Linda Wray, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2011. "Diabetes-related change in physical disability from midlife to older adulthood: evidence from 1996-2003 Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan." Diabetes research and clinical practice 91(3): 413-423.
- Ofstedal, Mary B., and David R. Weir. 2011. "Recruitment and Retention of Minority Participants in the Health and Retirement Study." The Gerontologist 51(suppl_1): S8-20.
- Liang, Jersey, Ana R. Quinones, Joan M. Bennett, Wen Ye, Xiao Xu, Benjamin A. Shaw, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2010. "Evolving Self-Rated Health in Middle and Old Age: How Does it Differ Across Black, Hispanic, and White Americans?" Journal of aging and health 22(1): 3-26.
- Sakshaug, Joseph W., Mick P. Couper, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2010. "Characteristics of Physical Measurement Consent in a Population-Based Survey of Older Adults." Medical care 48(1): 64-71.
- Schoeni, Robert F., and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2010. "Key themes in research on the demography of aging." Demography 47(1): S5-S15.
- Thornton, Arland D., Ron J. Lesthaeghe, Li-Shou Yang, Mansoor Moaddel, Yu Xie, Linda Young-Demarco, Julie de Jong, Mary B. Ofstedal, et al. 2010. "Creating Questions and Protocols for an International Study of Ideas About Development and Family Life." in Survey Methods in Multinational, Multiregional and Multicultural Conexts, edited by Janet A. Harkness, Michael Braun, Brad Edwards, Timothy P. Johnson, Lars Lyberg, Peter Ph. Mohler, Beth-Ellen Pennell, Tom W. Smith. John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
- Cigolle, Christine, Mary B. Ofstedal, Zhiyi Tian, and Caroline S. Blaum. 2009. "Comparing Models of Frailty: The Health and Retirement Study." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 57(5): 830-839.
- Couper, Mick P., and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2009. "Keeping in contact with mobile sample members." 183 pages in Methodology of longitudinal surveys, edited by Lynn, Peter. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons.
- Hermalin, Albert, Mary B. Ofstedal, Chang-Cherng Sun, and I. W. Liu. 2009. "Nativity differentials in older age mortality in Taiwan: Do they exist and why?" Taiwan Journal of Population Studies 39: 1-58.
- Ofstedal, Mary B. 2009. "Data sources, later life: Health and Retirement Study (HRS)." in Encyclopedia of the life course and human development, edited by Carr, Deborah S. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA.
- Liang, Jersey, J. Bennett, B. Shaw, A. Quiñones, Wen Ye, Xiao Xu, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2008. "Gender Differences in Functional Status in Middle and Older Age: Are There Any Age Variations?" The Journals of Gerontology 63B(5): S282-S292.
- Plassman, B., Willard L. Rodgers, James F. Burke, Steven G. Heeringa, Mary B. Ofstedal, Kenneth M. Langa, David R. Weir, Robert J. Willis, et al. 2008. "Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment without Dementia in the United States." Annals of Internal Medicine 148(6): 427-434.
- Wong, Rebeca, Mary B. Ofstedal, Kathryn Yount, and Emily Agree. 2008. "Unhealthy lifestyles among older adults: exploring transitions in Mexico and the US." European Journal of Ageing 5(4): 311-326.
- Hermalin, Albert, Mary B. Ofstedal, and Rebecca Tesfai. 2007. "Future Characteristics of the Elderly in Developing Countries and Their Implications for Policy." Asian Population Studies 3(1): 5-36.
- Jenkins, Kristi R., Nan Johnson, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2007. "Patterns and Associations of Body Weight Among Older Adults in Two Asian Societies." Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 22(1): 83-99.
- Ofstedal, Mary B., Zachary Zimmer, Albert Hermalin, Angelique Chan, Yi-Li Chuang, Josefina Natividad, and Zhe Tang. 2007. "Short-term Trends in Functional Limitation and Disability Among Older Asians: A Comparison of Five Asian Settings." Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 22(3): 243-261.
- Plassman, B. L., Willard L. Rodgers, James F. Burke, Steven G. Heeringa, Mary B. Ofstedal, Kenneth M. Langa, David R. Weir, Robert J. Willis, et al. 2007. "Prevalence of Dementia in the United States: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study." Neuroepidemiology 29(1/2): 125-132.
- Zimmer, Zachary, Linda G. Martin, Mary B. Ofstedal, and Yi-Li Chuang. 2007. "Education of Adult Children and Mortality of their Elderly Parents in Taiwan*." Demography 44(2): 289-305.
- Langa, Kenneth M., Nancy Fultz, Willard L. Rodgers, Anna R. Herzog, James F. Burke, Steven G. Heeringa, Mary B. Ofstedal, David R. Weir, et al. 2005. "The aging, demographics, and memory study: Study design and methods." Neuroepidemiology 25(4): 181-191.
- Liang, Jersey, Joseph W. Brown, Neal Krause, Mary B. Ofstedal, and Joan M. Bennett. 2005. "Health and living arrangements of older Americans: Does marriage matter?" Journal of Aging and Health 17(3): 305-335.
- Wray, Linda, Mary B. Ofstedal, Kenneth M. Langa, and Caroline S. Blaum. 2005. "Effect of diabetes on disability in middle-aged and older adults." Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological and Medical Sciences 60A (9): 1206-1211.
- Ofstedal, Mary B., Angelique W. Chan, Zachary S. Zimmer, Grace Cruz, and Yi-Li Chuang. 2005. "A comparison of self-assessed health expectancy among older adults in several Asian settings." Pp. 163-178 in Emerging issues of health and mortality in the Asian and Pacific region, New York: United Nations Population Fund.
- Ofstedal, Mary B., Erin Reidy, and John E. Knodel. 2004. "Gender Differences in Economic Support and Well-Being of Older Asians." Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 19(3): 165-201.
- Wray, Linda, Caroline S. Blaum, Mary B. Ofstedal, and Anna R. Herzog. 2004. "Diabetes Diagnosis and Weight Loss in Middle-Aged Adults." Research on Aging 26(1): 62-81.
- Blaum, Caroline S., Mary B. Ofstedal, Kenneth M. Langa, and Linda Wray. 2003. "Functional Status and Health Outcomes in Older Americans with Diabetes: Should Diabetes Management Be Targeted to Health Status?" Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 51(6): 745-753.
- Fultz, Nancy, Mary B. Ofstedal, Anna R. Herzog, and Robert B. Wallace. 2003. "Additive and Interactive Effects of Comorbid Physical and Mental Conditions on Functional Health." Journal of Aging and Health 15(3): 465-481.
- Knodel, John E., and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2003. "Gender and Aging in the Developing World: Where Are the Men?" Population and Development Review 29(4): 677-698.
- Ofstedal, Mary B., Zachary S. Zimmer, Grace Cruz, Angelique W. Chan, and Yu-Hsuan Lin. 2003. "Self-Assessed Health Expectancy Among Older Asians: A Comparison of Sullivan and Multistate Life Table Methods." Hallym International Journal of Aging 6(2): 95-117.
- Rodgers, Willard L., and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2003. "Commentary on Trends in Scores on Tests of Cognitive Ability in the Elderly US Population, 1993-2000 and authors reply-Beyond Inconsistent Results: Finding the Truth About Trends in Late-life Cognitive Functioning." Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 58(6): S348-S349.
- Rodgers, Willard L., Mary B. Ofstedal, and Anna R. Herzog. 2003. "Trends in Scores on Tests of Cognitive Ability in the Elderly US Population, 1993-2000." Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 58(6): S338-S346.
- Fultz, Nancy, Mary B. Ofstedal, Anna R. Herzog, and R. B. Wallace. 2003. "Effects of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment on functional outcomes of diabetes and stroke." Journal of Aging and Health 15(3): 465-481.
- Biddlecom, Ann E., Mary B. Ofstedal, and Napaporn Chayovan. 2002. "Intergenerational Exchanges and Support." in The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study, edited by Hermalin, Albert I. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
- Blaum, Caroline S., Mary B. Ofstedal, and Jersey Liang. 2002. "Low Cognitive Performance, Comorbid Disease, and Task-Specific Disability: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey." Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological and Medical Sciences 57(8): M523-M531.
- Chan, Angelique W., Mary B. Ofstedal, and Albert Hermalin. 2002. "Changes in Subjective and Objective Measures of Economic Well-Being and Their Interrelationship among the Elderly in Singapore and Taiwan." Social Indicators Research 57(3): 263-300.
- Frankenberg, Elizabeth, Angelique W. Chan, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2002. "Stability and Change in Living Arrangements: Evidence from Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan." Population Studies 56(2): 201-213.
- Hermalin, Albert, Angelique W. Chan, Ann E. Biddlecom, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2002. "Work, Retirement, and Leisure." in The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four-Country Comparative Study, edited by Hermalin, Albert I. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.
- Hermalin, Albert, Mary B. Ofstedal, and K. Mehta. 2002. "The Disadvantaged Elderly." in The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four-Country Comparative Study, edited by Hermalin, Albert I. Ann Arbor, MI : University of Michigan Press.
- Hermalin, Albert, Mary B. Ofstedal, and S. P. Shih. 2002. "Patterns of Intergenerational Exchanges in Urban China and Urban Taiwan." in China's Revolutions and Parent-Child Relations, edited by Whyte, M. K. Ann Arbor, MI : China Research Center, University of Michigan.
- Herzog, Anna R., and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2002. "Social Engagements and its Relationship to Health." in Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, edited by Holland, K., Palmer, R. S. Philadephia, PA: W. B. Sanders & Co.
- Knodel, John E., and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2002. "Patterns and Determinants of Living Arrangements." in The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study, edited by Hermalin, Albert I. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
- Knodel, John E., Mary B. Ofstedal, and Albert Hermalin. 2002. "Demographic, Socioeconomic and Cultural Context." in The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study, edited by Hermalin, Albert I. Ann Arbor, MI : University of Michigan Press.
- Ofstedal, Mary B., Napaporn Chayovan, Angelique W. Chan, Yi-Li Chuang, K. Mehta, Anthony Perez, and Albert Hermalin. 2002. "Policies and Programs Pertaining to the Welfare of the Elderly." in The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study, edited by Hermalin, Albert I. Ann Arbor, MI : University of MIchigan Press.
- Ofstedal, Mary B., and J. Natividad. 2002. "Patterns of Health Service Utilization." in The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study, edited by Hermalin, Albert I. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
- Whyte, M. K., Albert Hermalin, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2002. "How Unique Are Parent-Child Relations in Urban China? A Comparison with Urban Taiwan." in China's Revolution and Parent-Child Relations, edited by Whyte, M. K. Ann Arbor, MI : China Research Center, University of Michigan.
- Zimmer, Zachary S., J. Natividad, Mary B. Ofstedal, and Hui-Sheng Lin. 2002. "Physical and Mental Health and Well-Being." in The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study, edited by Hermalin, Albert I. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
- Knodel, John E., Mary B. Ofstedal, and Albert Hermalin. 2002. "The Demographic, Socioeconomic, and Cultural Context of the Four Study Countries." in The Well-Being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four Country Comparative Study, edited by Albert Hermalin. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
- Whyte, M. K., Albert Hermalin, and Mary B. Ofstedal. 2002. "Parent-Child Relations in Two Chinese Societies." in China's Revolution and Parent Child Relations, edited by M. Whyte. Ann Arbor, MI : China Research Center, University of Michigan.
- Biddlecom, Ann E., Mary B. Ofstedal, and Napaporn Chayovan. 2002. "Intergenerational Support and Transfers." in The Well-being of the Elderly in Asia: A Four-Country Comparative Study, edited by Albert I. Hermalin. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
- Langa, Kenneth M., Michael Chernew, Anna R. Herzog, Mary B. Ofstedal, Robert J. Willis, Robert B. Wallace, L. M. Mucha, and W. L. Straus. 2001. "National Estimates of the Quantity and Cost of Informal Caregiving for the Elderly with Dementia." Journal of General Internal Medicine 16(11): 770-778.
- Zimmer, Zachary S., Mary B. Ofstedal, and Ming-Cheng Chang. 2001. "Impact of Cognitive Status and Decline on Service and Support Utilization Among Older Adults in Taiwan." Research on Aging 23(3): 267-303.
- Ofstedal, Mary B., John E. Knodel, and Napaporn Chayovan. 1999. "Intergenerational Support and Gender: A Comparison of Four Asian Countries." Southeast Asian Journal of Social Sciences 27(2).
- Ofstedal, Mary B., Zachary S. Zimmer, and Hui-Sheng Lin. 1999. "A Comparison of Correlates of Cognitive Functioning in Older Persons in Taiwan and the United States." Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 54 (5): S291-S301.
- Hermalin, Albert, Mary B. Ofstedal, and Ming-Cheng Chang. 1996. "Types of Supports for the Aged and Their Providers in Taiwan." Pp. 400-437 in Aging and Generational Relations over the Life Course: A Historical and Cross-cultural Perspective, edited by Hareven, Tamara. Berlin: Walter deGruyter and Co.
- Ofstedal, Mary B. 1995. "Changes in family and household composition in the United States." in Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family, edited by Levinson, D. New York, N.Y.: MacMillan Publishing.
- Hermalin, Albert, Mary B. Ofstedal, and Ming-Cheng Chang. 1995. "Types of Supports for the Aged and Their Providers in Taiwan." in Aging and Generational Relations over the Life Course: A Historical and Cross-cultural Perspective, edited by Tamara Hareven. Berlin: Walter deGruyter and Co..
- Ofstedal et al. show religiosity improves life expectancy in the U.S.
- Ofstedal elected to PAA Board of Directors
- Congratulations to new PAA Board members Ofstedal (Michigan) and James Raymo (Wisconsin)
- Work of Cigolle, Ofstedal et al. cited in Forbes story on frailty risk among the elderly
- Mary Beth Ofstedal wins U-M Research Faculty Achievement Award