The majority of my work to date focuses on racial and economic variation in health among older adults. My research on older adults focuses on outcomes with broad demographic and population health relevance, including functional health, chronic conditions and mortality. My interest generally lies in how early disadvantage translates into better or worse health as individuals age. I am also interested in how these processes may be changing historically as the Baby Boomers enter later life.
Representative Publications (“*”student coauthor):
(Forthcoming) Taylor, Miles G., Stella Min*, and Keshia M. Reid*. “Cumulative Inequality at the End of Life?: Racial Disparities in Impairment in the Time before Death”, Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences. doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gby129
(2017) Taylor, Miles G. Lynch, Scott M., and Stephanie Ureña*. “Race Differences in ADL Disability Decline 1984-2004: Evidence from the National Long Term Care Survey.” Journal of Aging and Health
(2014) Kail, Ben L. and Miles G. Taylor. "Cumulative Inequality and Racial Disparities in Health: Private Insurance Coverage and Black/White Differences in Functional Limitations." Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 69(5):798-808. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbu005.
(2011) Taylor, Miles G. “The Causal Pathway From Socioeconomic Status to Disability Trajectories in Later Life: The Importance of Mediating Mechanisms for Onset and Accumulation.” Research on Aging 33: 84-108.
(2008) Taylor, Miles G. “Timing, Accumulation, and the Black/White Disability Gap in Later Life: A Test of Weathering.” Research on Aging: Special Issue on Race, SES, and Health 30: 226-250.
A secondary but consistent theme in my research has focused on both supportive and challenging family relationships and how these impact health. This body of work specifically focuses on understanding the circumstances under which supportive and challenging familial roles have the greatest impacts for health and wellbeing.
Representative Publications (“*”student coauthor):
(2018) King, Brittany M.* Dawn C. Carr, and Miles Taylor. “Depressive Symptoms and the Buffering Effect of Psychological Resilience on Mental Health Following Widowhood” The Gerontologist. doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny115
(2016) Taylor, Miles G. and Amélie Quesnel-Vallée. "The Structural Burden of Caregiving: Shared Challenges in the US and Canada," The Gerontologist doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw102
(2015) Reid, Keshia M.* and Miles G. Taylor. “Social Support, Stress, and Maternal Postpartum Depression: A Comparison of Supportive Relationships.” Social Science Research, 54: 246–262. doi: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2015.08.009
(2013) Valle, Giuseppina*, Janet Weeks*, Miles G. Taylor, and Isaac Eberstein. “Mental and Physical Health Consequences of Spousal Health Shocks Among Older Adults” Journal of Aging and Health 25: 1121-1142
(2008) Kamp Dush, Claire, Miles G. Taylor and Rhiannon Kroeger*. “Marital Happiness and Well-Being over the Life Course” Family Relations, Special Issue 57: 211-226.
Throughout my training, research, and teaching I have been intrigued by the application of latent variable based longitudinal and trajectory models including latent growth curve (LGC) analysis, longitudinal latent class analysis (LCA), and growth mixture models (GMM). My interest in these techniques lies in how they capture human experience over time and may answer (or fail to answer) important life course questions. My expertise in this area has garnered numerous national and international speaking and teaching invitations, as well as multiple teaching awards.
Representative Publications (“*”student coauthor):
(2016) Lynch, Scott M. and Miles G. Taylor. “Trajectory Models in Aging Research”. Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences, 8th Edition (Academic Press).
(2011) Taylor, Miles G. and Scott M. Lynch. “Cohort Differences and Chronic Disease Profiles of Differential Disability Trajectories”. Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences. 66B: 729-738.
(2010) Taylor, Miles G. “Capturing Transitions and Trajectories: The Role of Socioeconomic Status in Later Life Disability.” Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences 65B: 733-743.
(2004) Taylor, Miles G. and Scott M. Lynch. “Trajectories of Impairment, Social Support, and Depressive Symptoms in Later Life.” Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences 59B: S238-S246.
This is an emerging area of research, but one that is both fascinating and policy relevant for today’s older adults. More than half of older men in the US are veterans, and military service can convey both risk and resources throughout life. With student collaborator Stephanie Ureña, this body of work focuses on the potential benefits (GI Bill, resilience) and harmful exposures (trauma, environmental toxins) associated with military service in relation to the wellbeing of older populations
Representative Publications (“*”student coauthor):
(2019) Taylor, Miles G., Dawn C. Carr, and Stephanie Ureña*, “Early-Life Military Exposures and Functional Impairment Trajectories Among Older Male Veterans: The Buffering Effect of Psychological Resilience". Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 74(5):832-841. doi:10.1093/geronb/gby029
(2017) Ureña*, Stephanie, Miles G. Taylor, and Ben L. Kail. "The Impacts of Wartime Service Related Exposures on Trajectories of Mental Health among Aging Male Veterans" Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences. 73: e131-e142.
(2016) Taylor, Miles G., Stephanie Ureña*, and Ben L. Kail. "Service Related Exposures and Physical Health Trajectories among Aging Veteran Men" The Gerontologist, 56: 92-103.
Address
Pepper Institute for Aging and Public Policy
Florida State University
633 W. Call St
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2270
Contacts
Email: mtaylor3@fsu.edu
Phone: (850) 644-5418
Fax: (850) 644-6208