Yu-Tien Hsu
she/her/hers
Postdoctoral AssociateDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Postdoctoral Associate
Biography
Yu-Tien Hsu, MD, PhD, is a physician and social epidemiologist whose work examines mental and cognitive well-being in aging populations. Her research focuses on how social factors—particularly social connectedness, participation, and social life—shape mental health trajectories and may protect individuals across the aging process.
She earned her PhD in Population Health Sciences (Social and Behavioral Sciences) from Harvard University and her MD from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan.
Last Updated on December 12, 2025.
Appointments
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Postdoctoral AssociatePrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- Harvard University, Population Health Sciences - Social & Behavioral Sciences
- MPH
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Social & Behavioral Sciences
- MD
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Medicine
Research
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Overview
My research sits at the intersection of psychiatry and public health, with a particular interest in how social relationships, community environments, and broader social conditions shape mental health. I am especially interested in social connectedness, loneliness and social isolation, psychiatric and substance use outcomes, and mental health across the life course. My work combines epidemiologic and causal inference methods with qualitative interviews to better understand people’s lived experiences and to identify social and clinical factors that can support prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Medical Research Interests
Mental Disorders; Psychosocial Support Systems; Social Support
Public Health Interests
Aging; Epidemiology Methods; Mental Health; Health Equity, Disparities, Social Determinants and Justice
ORCID
0000-0001-6384-9878The Society Connectedness & Health Lab
The SOCAH Lab is dedicated to advancing research and practice on the social and structural drivers of population health.
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Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Yu-Tien Hsu's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Yu-Tien Hsu's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Yu-Tien Hsu is interested in exploring.
Yusuf Ransome, MPH, DrPH
Tamara Taggart, PhD, MPH
David Fiellin, MD
Declan Barry, PhD
William Becker, MD
36Publications
615Citations
Social Support
Publications
2026
Neighbourhood church closures and self-rated health in Southeastern Pennsylvania: a population-based study.
Robinson T, Hsu Y, Song I, Luan H, Ransome Y. Neighbourhood church closures and self-rated health in Southeastern Pennsylvania: a population-based study. Journal Of Epidemiology & Community Health 2026, jech-2026-226232. PMID: 42686415, DOI: 10.1136/jech-2026-226232.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricLoneliness, not isolation, is the missing link between social connectedness and mental health among midlife to older U.S. adults
Hsu Y, Villalonga-Olives E, Rice B, Taggart T, Williams D, Ransome Y. Loneliness, not isolation, is the missing link between social connectedness and mental health among midlife to older U.S. adults. Aging & Mental Health 2026, ahead-of-print: 1-15. PMID: 42667132, DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2026.2723232.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeighborhood Church Closure Density and Self-Reported Mental Health Diagnoses in Southeastern Pennsylvania: A Population-Based Analysis
Hsu Y, Robinson T, Song I, Luan H, Ransome Y. Neighborhood Church Closure Density and Self-Reported Mental Health Diagnoses in Southeastern Pennsylvania: A Population-Based Analysis. American Journal Of Epidemiology 2026, kwag206. PMID: 42661373, DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwag206.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAssociations of smoking and second-hand smoke exposure with obesity and obstructive sleep apnoea risk in Tuvalu
Lin C, Lin P, Hsu Y, Chang C, Shih C, Kuo C, Shiau S, Lo Y, Elisala N, Elisala J, Tehulu F, López-Gil J, Lee W, Hershey M, Chang S, Lu J, Pan C, Wei C. Associations of smoking and second-hand smoke exposure with obesity and obstructive sleep apnoea risk in Tuvalu. Journal Of Global Health 2026, 16: 04250. PMID: 42626874, PMCID: PMC13494845, DOI: 10.7189/jogh.16.04250.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFamily support is important for mitigating the mental health consequences of loneliness among Black Americans at midlife: Results from a longitudinal mediation analysis
Hsu Y, Ransome Y. Family support is important for mitigating the mental health consequences of loneliness among Black Americans at midlife: Results from a longitudinal mediation analysis. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2026, 202: 166-175. PMID: 42623964, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.08.019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSubstance Use Among US Adults at Midlife: Risk Factors and Protective Factors Among National and Milwaukee Black American Samples.
Hsu Y, Ransome Y, Becker W, Frater J, Demuyakor I, Fiellin D, Barry D. Substance Use Among US Adults at Midlife: Risk Factors and Protective Factors Among National and Milwaukee Black American Samples. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2026 PMID: 42372082, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001736.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAssociation between prenatal, pre-pregnancy rainfall and adult obesity: Findings from the Community Behavior and Attitude Survey in Tuvalu (COMBAT)
Tang L, Lin P, Lee T, Wu S, Shih C, Tausi S, Sosene V, Maani P, Tupulaga M, Shiau S, Lo Y, López-Gil J, Hershey M, Chang C, Hsu Y, Wei C. Association between prenatal, pre-pregnancy rainfall and adult obesity: Findings from the Community Behavior and Attitude Survey in Tuvalu (COMBAT). Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 2026, 20: 119-126. PMID: 41667360, DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2026.02.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricSocial connectedness dimensions are associated with lower psychological distress among middle-aged Black Americans
Hsu Y, Song Z, Villalonga-Olives E, Rice B, Taggart T, Williams D, Ransome Y. Social connectedness dimensions are associated with lower psychological distress among middle-aged Black Americans. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2026, 401: 121235. PMID: 41621445, PMCID: PMC13082441, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121235.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitations
2025
Association between hot spring residency and dry eye disease: a crossover gene–environment interaction (GxE) study in Taiwan
Wu H, Chang K, Chiu W, Wang C, Lin Y, Hsu Y, Wen Y, Chiang P, Chen Y, Dai H, Lu C, Chen Y, Tsai H, Chen Y, Hsu C, Chiou S, Yang Y, Hsieh A, Hsu C. Association between hot spring residency and dry eye disease: a crossover gene–environment interaction (GxE) study in Taiwan. Human Genomics 2025, 19: 120. PMID: 41126362, PMCID: PMC12541981, DOI: 10.1186/s40246-025-00824-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDisaster-related home loss, mental health, and risk of cognitive disability: causal mediation analysis using longitudinal data of disaster survivors
Okuzono S, Shiba K, Zhu D, Oh S, Hsu Y, Yazawa A, Hikichi H, Aida J, Kondo K, Tiemeier H, Kawachi I. Disaster-related home loss, mental health, and risk of cognitive disability: causal mediation analysis using longitudinal data of disaster survivors. American Journal Of Epidemiology 2025, 194: 3501-3509. PMID: 40977047, PMCID: PMC12671964, DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaf208.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Honors
honor Research Colloquium for Junior Psychiatrist Investigators
02/18/2026National AwardAmerican Psychiatric Associationhonor AAGP Honor Scholar
12/30/2025National AwardAmerican Association for Geriatric Psychiatryhonor APA Foundation Scholar
11/26/2025National AwardAmerican Psychiatric Association FoundationDetailsUnited Stateshonor AAAP Regional Travel Award
11/08/2025Regional AwardAmerican Academy of Addiction PsychiatryDetailsUnited Stateshonor NATMA Foundation Scholarship
10/18/2025National AwardNorth American Taiwanese Medical AssociationDetailsUnited States
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