Faculty & Research

Education:

• Re.D at Indiana University, 1979
• M.S. at University of Montana, 1975
• B.S. at University of New Hampshire, 1972

Contact Information:

(812) 856-7031

[send e-mail]

HPER Building, Room 147B

Background:

• Recipient, HPER Outstanding Researcher Award, Indiana University, 2005
• Grant Reviewer, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Department of Education
• Director, Indiana University Center on Aging and Aged, 2000-2005
• Society of Park and Recreation Educators, President, 1993-1994, and Board of Directors, 1988-1991
• Over $2.1 million in funded research, curriculum development, and outreach grants; agencies include U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Recreation and Park Association, ARC Research Grants Program, and State of Indiana
• International Federation on Ageing, Board of Directors, 2004-2006

Research:

Print-Quality Photo

My research and teaching focus on health, daily life activities, and the well-being of older adults.

In 1985 I initiated a specialized research and training program on aging and developmental disabilities at Indiana University and began collaborative research with Dr. Susan Eklund. In 1998, we completed a 10-year longitudinal investigation on aging-related change in adults with mental retardation, as well as working collaboratively on other projects involving the general population of older persons.

Since 1993, I broadened my inquiry to include health, daily life activities, social support, mental well-being, and material security as these areas impact aging well. My current work involves a multidisciplinary team of scholars from more than 15 countries world-wide in a Global Ageing Initiative, recently renamed the Global Ageing Research Network.

Current studies include the development of an index of individual aging well, and the development of a comprehensive evaluation tool for assessing environments that promote active living for older adults.

Publications:

Hawkins, B.A., May, M.E., & Rogers, N.B. (1996). Therapeutic activity intervention with the elderly: Foundations and practices. State College, PA: Venture Publishers.

Hawkins, B. A. (2005). Aging well: Toward a way of life for all people. CDC Preventing Chronic Disease, Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy. Online, refereed journal, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Public Health Service.

Hawkins, B. A., Foose, A. K., & Binkley, A. L. (2004). Contribution of leisure to the life satisfaction of older adults in Australia and the United States. World Leisure Journal.

Hawkins, B. A., Eklund, S. J., James, D. R., & Foose, A. K. (2003). Adaptive behavior and cognitive function of adults with Down syndrome: Modeling change with age. Mental Retardation, 41(1), 7-28.

Hawkins, B. A. (1999). Population aging: Perspectives from the United States. World Leisure & Recreation Journal, 41(3), 11-15.

Hawkins, B. A., Peng, J., Hsieh, C., & Eklund, S. J. (1999). Leisure constraints: A replication and extension of construct development. Leisure Sciences, 21(3), 81-94.

Hawkins, B. A., Binkley, A. L., Eklund, S. J., & Yang, J. (1998). Cross-cultural comparisons of the daily activity patterns and life satisfaction of older adults in China, Australia, and the United States. World Leisure & Recreation Journal, 40(4), 4-10.

Courses Recently Taught:

HPER R365/565 Leisure and Aging

HPER R703 Inquiry Methodology in Leisure Behavior

HPER T590 Introduction to Research in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation