Research Seminar Series: Life Stress, Caregiving Stress, and Health (Dec 2024)
Across the globe, individuals are living longer, but not necessarily healthier. Top identified burdens of disease and early mortality include a wide variety of health conditions, with mental health disorders ranking near the top of the list. While genetics and biological factors no doubt impact mental health, so do stressful life experiences and health behaviours. Dr. Puterman will present information about the wide scope of stressful experiences that impact our health and wellbeing, the pathways through which these occur, and what we can do about it. Specifically, he will present findings from a set of studies showing how movement-based activities can promote health and wellbeing, even deep into our cells, in adults undergoing adversity across the life course. Speaker: Dr. Eli Puterman, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Health since 2015 and was recently elected as a Member to the Royal Society of Canada College of Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Dr. Puterman’s research program has focused on non-biological processes, including psychosocial and behavioural factors, that impact mental, physical, and cellular health, with the goal of revealing new insights into our understanding and treatments of disease and mortality.