Exploring romantic relationships between older African American men and women as they age will be the focus of a lecture at UAB on Jan. 4.
The lecture, on gender differences in marriage, romantic involvement, and desire for romantic involvement among older African-Americans, will be given by Dawne Mouzon, Ph.D., an associate professor in the School of Public Health at Rutgers University.
This seminar presentation will explore how relationships change and differ between sexes and races as people age, especially during a time where more people are living longer than ever before.
“As society changes and women have entered fully in the workforce, priorities about marriage and relationship have changed,” said Emma Perez-Costas, Ph.D., program director of the Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “This can have long-term consequences in a variety of societal issues, including governmental policy related to benefits to partners as well as healthcare-related issues.”
Mouzon’s research specializes in minority aging, marriage and romantic relationships, racial discrimination and health, and racial-related coping.
“Older adults in the United States are becoming a larger group every year; currently, 14.9 percent of the population are 65 years old and older,” Perez-Costas said. “Research has shown that African-American older adults are more likely to be alone than other groups, which may have negative consequences on their health and longevity.”
The lecture is free and open to the public. It will be held in Volker Hall, Lecture Room D, 1670 University Boulevard, on Friday, Jan. 4, from 12 to 1 p.m. Attendees may earn 1 CME credit.