College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Ph.D. (Sociology of Health and Aging), Florida State University, 2006

M.S. (Sociology), Florida State University, 2002

M.Div. (Ministerial Studies), Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, 1971

B.A. (Psychology), Florida State University, 1967

• HEA 2302  Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• HEA 4302 Health Policy and Politics
  
• SOC 1303  Introduction to Sociology
• SOC 3309  Health, Illness, and Society
• SOC 3313  Drug Use and Society
• SOC 4318  Aging in a Changing Society
• SOS 2304  Research Methods in the Social Sciences
• SOS 3304  Death and Dying
• SOS 3312  Statistics in the Social Sciences
• SOS 3313  Disparities in Health in America
• SOS 4301  Special Projects in the Social Sciences

Dr. Eliassen's recent publications and presentations focus on power relations and health disparity, biopsychosocial challenges associated with aging, and the relationship of religiosity to gender, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic differences in mental and physical health.  He has also conducted research in the sociology of work and education and in the social distribution of mortality.  His current teaching areas include Medical Sociology, Aging/Social Gerontology, Health Disparities, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Politics, and Death and Dying.  He has also taught Introduction to Sociology, Research Methods, Statistics, Drug Use and Society, Sociology of Religion, and Social Problems.

Teaching Experience:

• University of Houston-Downtown – Associate Professor of Sociology, 2015–
• University of Houston-Downtown – Assistant Professor of Sociology, 2007–15
• Arkansas State University – Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology, 2006–07
• Florida State University – Graduate Teaching Assistant/Instructor in Sociology, 2003–06

Academic Scholarship/Research/Creative Endeavors:

Eliassen, A. Henry. 2014. “Religious Involvement and Readiness to Confirm Reported Physical Disability.” Journal of Religion and Health 53(5):1427–39.

Eliassen, A. Henry. 2013. “The Usefulness of Health Disparity: Stumbling Blocks in the Path to Social Equity.” Journal of Community Positive Practices 13(1):3–25. Published online April 22, 2013 (http://www.jppc.ro/reviste/JCPP%20Nr.%201%202013/articole/art01.pdf).

Eliassen, A. Henry. 2013. “Religious Coping and Depression in Young Adulthood: Effects of Global Stress Exposure and Pre-Teenage Religious Service Attendance.” Review of Religious Research 55(3):413–33.

Gayman, Mathew D., R. Jay Turner, Andrew M. Cislo, and A. Henry Eliassen. 2011. “Early Adolescent Family Experiences and Perceived Social Support in Young Adulthood.” The Journal of Early Adolescence 31(6):880–908.

Publications:

Eliassen, A. Henry.  2016.  "Power Relations and Health Care Communication in Older Adulthood:  Educating Recipients and Providers."  The Gerontologist 56(6):990–96.  doi:10.1093/geront/gnv095.  (Available free from publisher:  https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/56/6/990/2952893/Power-Relations-and-Health-Care-Communication-in).

Eliassen, A. Henry.  2014.  "Religious Involvement and Readiness to Confirm Reported Physical Disability."  Journal of Religion and Health 53(5):1427–39.  doi:10.1007/s10943-013-9763-5.

Eliassen, A. Henry.  2013.  "The Usefulness of Health Disparity:  Stumbling Blocks in the Path to Social Equity."  Journal of Community Positive Practices 13(1):3–25.  Published online April 22 (http://www.jppc.ro/reviste/JCPP%20Nr.%201%202013/articole/art01.pdf).

Eliassen, A. Henry.  2013.  "Religious Coping and Depression in Young Adulthood:  Effects of Global Stress Exposure and Pre-Teenage Religious Service Attendance."  Review of Religious Research 55(3):413–33.  doi:10.1007/s13644-013-0110-9.

Gayman, Mathew D., R. Jay Turner, Andrew M. Cislo, and A. Henry Eliassen.  2011.  "Early Adolescent Family Experiences and Perceived Social Support in Young Adulthood."  The Journal of Early Adolescence 31(6):880–908.  doi:10.1177/0272431610376247.

Eliassen, A. Henry, John Taylor, and Donald A. Lloyd.  2005.  "Subjective Religiosity and Depression in the Transition to Adulthood."  Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 44(2):187–99.  doi:10.1111/j.1468-5906.2005.00275.x.

Presentations:

Eliassen, A. Henry.  2016.  "Market Justice versus Social Justice:  Disease Management or Health Promotion?"  Presented at the 66^th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, August 19, Seattle, WA.

Eliassen, A. Henry.  2015.  "Visual Impairment and Falls in Older Adults – Documenting Environmental Hazards."  Presented at the 4^th Annual Symposium on Gerontology-Geriatrics Awareness and Education, University of Houston-Downtown, February 21, Houston, TX.

Eliassen, A. Henry.  2014.  "Power Relations and Healthcare Communication in Older Adulthood:  Educating Providers and Recipients."  Presented at the 40^th Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, March 1, Denver, CO.

Seeber, Jim, Henry Eliassen, and Beth VanDerveer.  2008.  "Helping Older People Be Their Own Best Doctors."  Participant presentation at the Summer Institute, "Age and EngAGEment in the Classroom," Syracuse University Gerontology Center, May 22, Syracuse, NY.