Melissa Lunsman O'Connor

Assistant Professor

Faculty

Human Development and Family Science

Areas of Study & Research

My research focuses on characterizing changes in cognitive and functional abilities across the adult lifespan, and my ultimate goal is to promote healthy aging. Specifically, my research interests include: examining age-related differences and changes in cognitive and functional abilities, such as driving, among healthy adults and clinical populations; quantitative methods and psychometrics; interventions for improving cognition, health, and everyday functioning; and attitudes toward dementia.

Links

Education

  • 2010-2012, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Quantitative Psychology, Department of Psychology and Institute on Aging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Advisor: John R. Nesselroade, PhD
  • 2006-2010, Ph.D., Aging Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
  • 2004-2006, M.S., Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI
  • 2000-2003, B. A., Psychology, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN

Publications

O’Connor, M. L. & Pedersen, M. H. (in press). The concept of mild cognitive impairment: A review. In É. Gouveia (Ed.), Geriatric Medicine and Healthy Aging. IntechOpen.

Edwards, J. D., Phillips, C. B., O’Connor, M. L., O’Brien, J. L., Hudak, E. M., & Nicholson, J. S. (2021). Applying the health belief model to quantify and investigate expectations for computerized cognitive training. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 5(2), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-020-00183-3. 

Parker, K., Rhee, Y., Tomkinson, G. R., Vincent, B. M., O’Connor, M. L., & McGrath, R. (2021). Handgrip weakness and asymmetry independently predict the development of new activity limitations: Results from analyses of longitudinal data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 22(4), 821- 826.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.11.006.

O’Connor, M. L. (2020). A comprehensive overview of mobility and aging in the year 2020 and beyond. In S. Amornyotin (Ed.), Update in Geriatrics (pp. 1-11). IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.93939. ISBN: 978-1-83962-309-7

McGrath, R., Robinson-Lane, S., Cook, S., Clark, B. C., Herrmann, S., O’Connor, M. L., & Kackney, K. J. (2019). Handgrip strength is associated with poorer cognitive functioning in aging Americans. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 70(4), 1187-1196. doi: 10.3233/JAD-190042.

Dickerson, A. E., Molnar, L. J., Bédard, M., Eby, D. W., Berg-Weger, M., Choi, M., Grigg, J., Horowitz, A., Meuser, T., Myers, A., O’Connor, M. L., & Silverstein, N. M. (2019). Transportation and aging: An updated research agenda to advance safe mobility among older adults transitioning from driving to non-driving. The Gerontologist, 59(2), 215-221. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnx120.

Ross, L. A., Sprague, B. N., Phillips, C. B, O’Connor, M. L., & Dodson, J. E. (2018). The impact of three cognitive training interventions on older adults’ physical functioning across 5 years. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(3), 475-498. doi: 10.1177/0898264316682916

Presentations

O’Connor, M. L., Christiuk, V. T., & Pedersen, M. H. (2021, November). Medical cannabis packaging and labeling concerns for older Manitobans. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America Conference, virtual.

O’Connor, M. L., Pedersen, M. H., & McFadden, S. (2021, November). Attitudes about dementia in different stages of adulthood. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America Conference, virtual.

Pedersen, M. H. & O’Connor, M. L. (2021, April). Relationships between daily activity functioning, depressive symptoms, and social loss. Poster presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference, virtual.

O’Connor, M. L., Pedersen, M. H., & Grace, R. (2020, November). A qualitative study on making rural communities more dementia-friendly. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America Conference, virtual.

O’Connor, M. L., Strommen, J., Estepp, P., Grace, R., Hay, M., Fuller, H., & Brotherson, S. (2020, April). Preventing falls among older adults in rural communities. Poster presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference, virtual.

Ross, L. A., Sprague, B., Phillips, C., O’Connor, M. L., & Dodson, J. (2019, April). Can cognitive training maintain physical functioning across five years? Poster presented at the International Conference of Aging and Cognition, Zurich, Switzerland.

O’Connor, M. L., Fuller, H., & Cortez, F. (2018, November). Technology use among older adults in rural areas. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America Conference, Boston, MA.