Scholars@Duke
Linda K. George

Linda K. George CV

Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Sociology
linda.george@duke.edu
Box 90088, Durham 27708-0088
253 Soc-Psych, 1511 Duke Clinics, Durham 27708
CV

Overview

My research falls into three broad areas: (1) social factors and the onset, course, and outcome of mental and physical illness, (2) social factors and aging, and (3) the organization and delivery of health services. I am working on funded research projects in all three areas. I have been the principal and co-principal investigator of two major epidemiologic studies. The first examines social factors and mental illness throughout adulthood. The second focuses on social factors related to both physical and mental health among older adults. I also am director of the one core of the Clinical Research Center for the study of depression in later life, funded by NIMH. The focus of my CRC project is the effects of social factors on the course of outcome of geriatric depression. In all of these studies, tje social factors examined include age, gender, race, urban vs rural residence, socioeconomic status, social stress, and social relationships. The major health services project in which I am involved is a randomized trial of outpatient commitment. This study is evaluating the extent to which outpatient commitment can increase the odds that the chronically mentally ill will be able to live in the community rather than being subjected to frequent involuntary commitments to state mental hospitals. The importance of this project is its potential to demonstrate that outpatient commitment is a less coercive and less expensive form of treatment for the chronically mentally that also improves their quality of life.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor Emeritus · 2018 - Present Sociology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor Emerita of Sociology · 2018 - Present Sociology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Associate Director in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development · 1984 - Present Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Institutes and Centers
Faculty Research Scholar of DuPRI's Center for Population Health & Aging · 2011 - Present Center for Population Health & Aging, Duke Population Research Institute

Education, Training & Certifications

Duke University · 1975 Ph.D.
Miami University, Hamilton · 1972 M.A.
Miami University, Hamilton · 1969 B.A.