MING WEN portrait
  • Professor, Sociology Department
  • Faculty Affiliate, Asian Studies Program
  • Faculty Affiliate, Center on Aging
  • Faculty Affiliate, Huntsman Cancer Institute
801-581-8041

Publications

  • Curtis, David S., Fuller, Thomas E., Carlson, Daniel L., Wen, Ming & Kramer, Michael R. (2022). Does a rising median income lift all birth weights? County median income changes and low birth weight rates among births to black and white mothers. The Milbank Quarterly. Vol. 100, 38-77. Published, 03/01/2022.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34609027/#:~:text=...
  • Wen, Ming & Gu, Danan (2021). Living arrangements and disability among older adults in China. China: An International Journal. Vol. 19, 132-147. Published, 08/09/2021.
    https://muse.jhu.edu/article/805761
  • Wen, Ming & Ren, Qiang (2021). Cognitive and psychological health implications of living alone among middle-aged and older adults in China. Asian Population Studies. Vol. 17, 181-200. Published, 02/11/2021.
    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/174417...
  • Wen, Ming, Wang, Weidong, Wan, Neng & Su, Dejun (2020). Family income and student educational and cognitive outcomes in China: Exploring the material and psychosocial mechanisms. Social Sciences. Vol. 9, 225. Published, 11/18/2020.
    https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/9/12/225
  • Wen, Ming, Ren, Qiang, Korinek, Kim & Trinh, Ha N. (2019). Living in skipped generation households and happiness among middle-aged and older grandparents in China. Social Science Research. Vol. 80, 145-155. Published, 01/11/2019.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30955552
  • Wen, Ming, Fan, Jessie X., Kowaleski-Jones, Lori & Wan, Neng (2018). Rural-urban disparities in obesity in the United States: The role of individual and neighborhood factors. American Journal of Health Promotion. Vol. 32, 400-408. Published, 02/08/2018.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29214811
  • Wen, Ming (2017). Social capital and adolescent substance use: The role of family, school and neighborhood contexts. Journal of Research on Adolescence. Vol. 27, 362-378. Published, 01/17/2017.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28876530/
  • Wen, Ming & Kowaleski-Jones, Lori (2012). Sex and ethnic differences in validity of self-reported adult height, weight and body mass index. Ethnicity and Disease. Vol. 22, 72-78. Published, 01/2012.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22774312/
  • Wen, Ming & Gu, Danan (2011). The effects of childhood, adulthood, and community socioeconomic status on healthy longevity among older people in China. Demography. Vol. 48, 153-181. Published, 02/2011.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC36901...
  • Wen, Ming & Maloney, Thomas (2011). Latino residential isolation and the risk of obesity in Utah: The role of neighborhood socioeconomic, built-environmental, and subcultural context. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. Vol. 13, 1134-1141. Published, 02/2011.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC31322...
  • Wen, Ming, Browning, Christopher r. & Cagney, Kathleen A. (2003). Poverty, affluence, and income inequality: Neighborhood economic structure and its implications for health. Social Science & Medicine. Vol. 57, 843-860. Published, 09/15/2003.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12850110/

Research Statement

My research centers on social determinants of health and human development throughout the life course and across settings. I have examined how family- and place-based factors are associated with a wide range of health outcomes, including but not limited to self-rated health, mental health, chronic conditions and disability, health and risk behaviors, and mortality. I also study health disparities by race, ethnicity, immigrant, and legal status and explore the mediating factors underlying these disparities. My research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and private foundations.

Research Keywords

  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Health and Hging
  • Place and Health
  • Children Development

Presentations

  • "Family and neighborhood contexts of healthy aging research in the United States" Department of Sociology at the National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 12/20/2021.
  • "Living arrangements and health among older Chinese" Department of Sociology at the National Taiwan Chengchi University . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 10/20/2021.
  • "Living arrangements and disability in China" International Conference on The Economic and Social Impacts of Population Aging: China in a Global Perspective, organized by East Asian Institute at National University of Singapore . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 12/01/2020.
  • “Positive youth development in China: The role of rural-to-urban migration” Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 12/02/2016.
  • “Living in skipped generation households and health and well-being among middle-aged and older adults in China: A nationwide study” Healthy and Resilient Aging Conference, University of Hawaii . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 09/14/2016.
  • “Disparities in physical activity and obesity: The role of individual and neighborhood factors” keynote speech at a research retreat on minority health and health disparities jointly sponsored by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska Medical Center. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 02/28/2014.

Grants, Contracts & Research Gifts

  • Integration of the undocumented and documented in a new destination: Utah. PI: Officialy there is no PI but only co-PIs; but Ken Jameson is our leader. Russell Sage Foundation , 07/15/2008 - 09/15/2010. Total project budget to date: $238,401.00

Languages

  • English, fluent.
  • Mandarin Chinese, fluent.

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • China
  • Eastern Asia
  • United States of America