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Director

Margie Lachman
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
(781) 736-3300
lachman@brandeis.edu

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Margie E. Lachman, Ph.D. is Minnie and Harold L. Fierman Professor of Psychology and Director of the Lifespan Developmental Psychology Lab at Brandeis University and the Brandeis University Lifespan Initiative on Healthy Aging. She is co-director of the NIH-funded pre and postdoctoral training program, Cognitive Aging in a Social Context. She was editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences (2000-2003), and has edited two volumes on midlife development. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division 20 and the Gerontological Society of America. Lachman's research is in the area of lifespan development with a focus on midlife and later life. With funding from NIA, her current work is aimed at identifying psychosocial (e.g., sense of control) and behavioral (e.g., physical exercise) factors that can protect against, minimize, or compensate for declines in cognition (e.g., memory) and health. She is conducting studies to examine long-term predictors of psychological and physical health, laboratory-based experiments to identify psychological and physiological processes involved in aging-related changes, especially  in memory, and intervention studies to enhance performance and promote adaptive functioning.

Lachman has published numerous chapters and journal articles on these topics. Lachman was a member of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Midlife Development and is currently collaborating on a 10-year longitudinal follow-up of the original MacArthur midlife sample. She has conducted intervention studies designed to enhance the sense of control over memory and physical exercise, and one of the programs designed to increase control over falling won the Archstone Award for Excellence in Program Innovation from the American Public Health Association. Lachman has served as an advisor to organizations such as the AARP and the Boston Museum of Science for the traveling exhibit on the Secrets of Aging. She has presented her research on the CBS evening news and the NBC Today show. In 2003, she received the Distinguished Research Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, Division on Adult Development and Aging.

Recent Publications

Bertrand, R. Graham, E. K., & Lachman, M. E. (in press).  Personality development in adulthood and old age.  In R. M. Lerner, M.A. Easterbrooks, & J. Mistry (Eds.), Handbook of Psychology: 2^nd Edition.  Developmental Psychology, NY: Wiley.

Human, L. J., Biesanz, J. C., Miller, G. E., Chen, E., Lachman, M. E., & Seeman, T. E. (in press). Is change bad? Personality change is associated with poorer psychological health and greater metabolic syndrome in midlife. Journal of Personality.

Chen, E., Miller, G. E., Lachman, M. E., Gruenewald, T. L., & Seeman, T. E. (2012). Protective factors for adults from low-childhood socioeconomic circumstances: The benefits of shift-and-persist for allostatic load. Psychosomatic Medicine, 74, 178-186. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e31824206fd

Graham, E. K., & Lachman, M. E. (2012).  Personality and aging: Cognitive perspectives and processes. In S. Whitbourne & M. Sliwinski (Eds.), Handbook of developmental psychology: Adult development and aging. (pp. 254-272). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

Graham, E. K., & Lachman, M. E. (2012). Personality stability is associated with better cognitive performance in adulthood: Are the stable are more able? The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbr149

Kremen, W. S., Lachman, M. E., Pruessner, J. C., Sliwinski, M., & Wilson, R. S. (2012). Mechanisms of age-related cognitive change and targets for intervention: Social interactions and stress. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 67, 760-765. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gls125

Lachman, M. E., & Agrigoroaei, S. (2012).  Low perceived control as a risk factor for episodic memory: The mediational role of anxiety and task interference. Memory and Cognition, 40, 287–296. doi 10.3758/s13421-011-0140-x

Zimprich, D., Allemand, M., &  Lachman, M. E. (2012).  Factorial structure and age-related psychometrics of the MIDUS personality adjective items across the life span. Psychological Assessment, 24, 173-186. doi: 10.1037/a0025265

Agrigoroaei, S., & Lachman, M. E. (2011). Cognitive functioning in midlife and old age: Combined effects of psychosocial and behavioral factors. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 66B(S1), i130-i140. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbr017

Gerstorf, D., Röcke, C., & Lachman, M. E. (2011). Antecedent-consequent relations of perceived control to health and social support: Longitudinal evidence for between-domain associations across adulthood. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 66, 67-71. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbq077

Lachman, M. E., Neupert, S., & Agrigoroaei, S. (2011). The relevance of control beliefs for health and aging. In K. W. Schaie & S. L. Willis (Eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Aging (7th ed., pp. 175-190). New York: Elsevier.

Miller, G. E., Lachman, M. E., Chen, E., Gruenewald, T. L., Karlamanga, A.R., & Seeman, T. E. (2011). Pathways to resilience: Maternal nurturance as a buffer against childhood poverty’s effects on metabolic syndrome at midlife. Psychological Science, 22, 1591–1599. doi:10.1177/0956797611419170

Seeman, T., Miller-Martinez, D., Stein-Merkin, S., Lachman, M. E., Tun, P., & Karlamangla, A. (2011). Histories of social engagement and adult cognition: Midlife in the US Study. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 66B(S1), i141-i152. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbq091

Stawski, R. S., Almeida, D. M., Lachman, M. E., Tun, P., & Rosnick, C., Seeman, T. (2011). Associations between cognitive functioning and naturally occurring daily cortisol during middle adulthood: Timing is everything. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 66B(S1), i71-i81. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbq094

Agrigoroaei, S., & Lachman, M.E. (2010). Personal control and aging: How beliefs and expectations matter. In Cavanaugh, J. C., & Cavanaugh, C. K. (Eds.), Aging in America: Psychological Aspects (Vol. 1, pp. 177-201). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Perspectives.

Cotter, K.A., & Lachman, M.E. (2010). No strain, no gain: Psychosocial predictors of physical activity across the lifespan. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7, 584-594.

Cotter, K.A. & Lachman, M.E. (2010). Psychosocial and behavioral contributors to health: Age-related increases in physical disability are reduced by physical fitness. Psychology and Health, 25, 805-820. doi: 10.1080/08870440902883212

Lachman, M.E. (2010). Life begins at 40, 50, 60, and 70. Are we happy yet? In L. Bormans (Ed.), The World Book of Happiness, 148-150. Singapore and Belgium: Page One and Lanoo.

Lachman, M.E., & Agrigoroaei, S. (2010). Optimizing Health: A Lifespan Approach. In Rothstein, P. & Schull, D.D. (Eds.), Boomers and Beyond: Reconsidering the Role of Libraries. (pp. 15-22). American Library Association.

Lachman, M.E., & Agrigoroaei, S. (2010). Promoting functional health in midlife and old age: Long-term protective effects of control beliefs, social support, and physical exercise. PloSONE, 5(10): e13297. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013297

Lachman, M.E., Agrigoroaei, S., Murphy, C., & Tun, P. (2010). Frequent Cognitive Activity Compensates for Education Differences in Episodic Memory. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18, 4-10. doi: 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181ab8b62

Lachman, M.E., & Kranz, E. (2010). The midlife crisis. In I. Weiner & E. Craighead (Eds.), The Corsini encyclopedia of psychology (4th ed., Vol. 3, pp. 993-994).

Pearman, A., & Lachman, M.E. (2010). Heart rate recovery predicts memory performance in older adults. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 35, 107-114. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10484-009-9113-2

Stawski, R.S., Almeida, D.M., Lachman, M.E., Rosnick, D.B., & Tun, P.A. (2010). Fluid cognitive ability is associated with greater exposure and smaller reactions to daily stressors. Psychology and Aging, 25, 330-342. doi: 10.1037/a0018246

Tun, P.A., & Lachman, M.E. (2010). The association between computer use and cognition across adulthood: Use it so you won't lose it. Psychology and Aging, 25, 560-568. doi: 10.1037/a0019543

Almeida, D., Lachman, M.E., Marks, N.F., Mroczek, D., & Ryff, C.D. (2009). Orville Gilbert Brim: Icon of generativity. Research on Human Development, 6, 252-266. doi: 10.1080/15427600903281269

Lachman, M.E., Rosnick, C. , & Röcke, C., (2009). The rise and fall of control beliefs in adulthood: Cognitive and biopsychosocial antecedents and consequences of stability and change over nine years. In H. Bosworth and C. Hertzog (Eds.), Cognition in Aging: Methodologies and Empirical Advances, Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Neupert, S. D., Lachman, M.E., Whitbourne, S. B. (2009).  Exercise self-efficacy and control beliefs: Effects on exercise behavior after an exercise intervention for older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 17, 1-16.

Lachman, M.E., Röcke, C., Rosnick, C., & Ryff, C. D. (2008). Realism and illusion in Americans’ temporal views of their life satisfaction: Age differences in reconstructing the past and anticipating the future. Psychological Science, 19, 889-897. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02173.x

Lachman, M.E., & Tun, P.A. (2008). Cognitive testing in large-scale surveys: Assessment by telephone. In S. Hofer & D. Alwin (Eds.). Handbook on Cognitive Aging: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (pp. 506-522). Thousand Oaks, CA: SagePublishers.

Röcke, C., & Lachman M.E. (2008). Perceived trajectories of life satisfaction across past, present, and future: Profiles and correlates of subjective change in young, middle-aged and older adults. Psychology and Aging, 23, 833-847. doi: 10.1037/a0013680

Tun, P.A., & Lachman, M.E. (2008). Age differences in reaction time and attention in a national telephone sample of adults: Education, sex, and task complexity matter. Developmental Psychology, 44, 1421-1429. doi: 10.1037/a0012845

Whitbourne, S., Neupert, S., & Lachman, M.E. (2008). Daily physical activity: Relation to everyday memory in adulthood. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 27, 331-349. doi: 10.1177/0733464807312175

Andreoletti, C., Veratii, B., & Lachman, M.E. (2006). Age differences in the relationship between anxiety and recall. Aging and Mental Health, 10, 265-271. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607860500409773

Lachman, M. E. (2006). Perceived control over aging-related declines: Adaptive beliefs and behaviors. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15, 282-286. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8721.2006.00453.x

Lachman, M.E., & Andreoletti, C. (2006). Strategy use mediates the relationship between control beliefs and memory performance for middle-aged and older adults. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 61B, P88-P94.

Lachman, M.E., Andreoletti, C., & Pearman, A. (2006). Memory control beliefs: How are they related to age, strategy use, and memory improvement? Social Cognition, 24, 359-385. doi: 10.1521/soco.2006.24.3.359

Lachman, M. E., Neupert, S. D., Bertrand, R., & Jette, A. M. (2006). The effects of strength training on memory in older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 14, 59-73.

Neupert, S. D., Miller, L. M. S., & Lachman, M. E. (2006). Physiological reactivity to cognitive stressors: Variations by age and socioeconomic status. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 62(3), 221-235. doi: 10.2190/17DU-21AA-5HUK-7UFG

Tun, P.A., & Lachman, M.E. (2006). Telephone assessment of cognitive function in adulthood: The Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT). Age and Ageing, 35, 629-632. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afl095.

Yun, R.J., & Lachman, M.E. (2006). Perceptions of aging in two cultures: Korean and American views on old age. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 21, 55-70. doi: 10.1007/s10823-006-9018-y

Wrosch, C., Heckhausen, J., & Lachman, M.E. (2006). Goal management across adulthood and old age: The adaptive value of primary and secondary control. In D. Mroczek & Little, T. (Eds.), Handbook of Personality Development (pp. 399-421). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Lachman, M.E. (2005, January). Aging under control? Psychological Science Agenda, Vol. 19, No. 1.

Andreoletti, C., & Lachman, M.E. (2004). Susceptibility and resilience to memory aging stereotypes: Education matters more than age. Experimental Aging Research, 30, 129-148.  doi: 10.1080/03610730490274167

Blatt-Eisengart, I., & Lachman, M.E. (2004). Attributions for memory performance in adulthood: Age differences and mediation effects. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, 11, 68-79. doi: 10.1076/anec.11.1.68.29364

Lachman, M.E. (2004). Development in midlife. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 305-331. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.141521

Lachman, M.E., & Prenda, K.M. (2004). The adaptive value of feeling in control during midlife. In O. G. Brim, C. D. Ryff, & R. Kessler (Eds.), How healthy are we?: A national study of well-being at midlife (pp. 320-349). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Markus, H., Plaut, V., & Lachman, M.E. (2004). Place matters: The cultural patterning of well-being in America. In O. G. Brim, C. D. Ryff, & R. Kessler (Eds.), How healthy are we?: A national study of well-being at midlife, (pp. 614-650). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Bertrand, R. & Lachman, M.E. (2002). Personality development in adulthood and old age. In R. M. Lerner, M.A. Easterbrooks, & J. Mistry (Eds.), Comprehensive Handbook of Psychology: Vol. 6. Developmental Psychology, NY: Wiley.

Plaut, V.C., Markus, H.R., & Lachman, M.E. (2002). Place matters: Consensual features and regional variation in American well-being and self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 160-184. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.83.1.160

Andreoletti, C., Zebrowitz, L., & Lachman, M.E. (2001). Physical appearance and control beliefs in young, middle-aged, and older adults. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 969-981. doi: 10.1177/0146167201278005

Lachman, M.E. (Ed.). (2001) Handbook of midlife development. NY: John Wiley. Preface and Introduction (PDF)

Prenda, K., & Lachman, M.E. (2001). Planning for the future: A life management strategy for increasing control and life satisfaction in adulthood. Psychology and Aging, 16, 206-216. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.16.2.206

Maier, H., & Lachman, M.E. (2000). Consequences of early parental loss and separation for health and well-being in midlife. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 24, 183-189. doi: 10.1080/016502500383304

Miller, L.S., & Lachman, M.E. (2000). Cognitive performance and the role of control beliefs in midlife. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 7, 69-85. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1076/1382-5585(200006)7:2;1-U;FT069

Walen, H., & Lachman, M.E. (2000). Social support and strain from partner, family and friends: Costs and benefits for men and women. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 5-30. doi: 10.1177/0265407500171001

Wrosch, C., Heckhausen, J., & Lachman, M.E. (2000). Primary and secondary control strategies for managing health and financial stress across adulthood. Psychology and Aging, 15, 387-399. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.15.3.387

Jette, A.M., Lachman, M.E., Giorgetti, M.M., Assmann, S.F., Harris, B.A., Levenson, C., Wernick. M., & Krebs, D. (1999). Exercise--It's never too late: the Strong-for-Life Program. American Journal of Public Health, 89, 66-72.

Peterson, L., Howland, J., Kielhofner, G., Lachman, M.E., Assmann, S., Cote, J., & Jette, A. (1999). Falls self-efficacy and occupational adaptation among elders. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 16, 1-16. doi:10.1080/J148v16n01_01

Howland, J., Lachman, M.E., Peterson, E.W., Cote, J., Kasten, L., & Jette, A. (1998). Covariates of fear of falling and associated activity curtailment. The Gerontologist, 38, 549-555. doi: 10.1093/geront/38.5.549

Jette, A.M., Rooks, D., Lachman, M.E., Lin, T.H., Levensen, C., Giorgetti, M.M., & Harris, B.A. (1998). Home-based resistance training: Predictors of participation and adherence. The Gerontologist, 38, 412-421. doi: 10.1093/geront/38.4.412

Lachman, M.E., & Weaver, S.L. (1998a). Sociodemographic variations in the sense of control by domain: Findings from the MacArthur Studies of Midlife. Psychology and Aging, 13, 553-562. doi: doi.apa.org/journals/pag/13/4/553.pdf

Lachman, M.E., & Weaver, S.L. (1998b). The sense of control as a moderator of social class differences in health and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 763-773. doi: doi.apa.org/journals/psp/74/3/763.pdf

Tennstedt, S., Howland, J., Lachman, M., Peterson, E.W., Kesten, L., & Jette, A. (1998). A randomized, controlled trial of a group intervention to reduce fear of falling and associated activity restriction in older adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 538, 384-392. doi: 10.1093/geronb/53B.6.P384 (Winner of The American Physical Therapy Association Geriatrics Research Publications Award, February, 2000)

Lachman, M.E., & James, J. (Editors) (1997). Multiple paths of midlife development. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Awards

Residential Fellowship (2009-2010), Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University (2009)

2003 Distinguished Research Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, Division 20 on Adult Development and Aging.

Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation from the American Public Health Association.