Current Position:

Professor, Department of Gerontology,University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1982 - present
Chairperson, Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1979 - 2007
Professor, Educational Administration, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1986 - present
Fellow, University of Nebraska Graduate College

Affiliations and Awards:

Fellow, Gerontological Society of America
Member, Commission of Professors of Adult Education
University Award for Distinguished Research, 1991
Affiliated Scientist, Center for the Study of Religion and Health, Duke University

Education:

B.S., Northern Illinois University, 1967
M.Ed., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1971
Ed.D., University of Georgia, 1975

Selected Consultations:

Hong Kong Research Council, 2006 & 2007
Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, 1991, 1994, 1998
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 1997
Nebraska Department on Aging, 1992-93
National Resource Center for Rural Elderly, Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City, 1990
Meyer Rehabilitation Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 1989 - 1992
Guarantee Mutual Life Foundation, 1992

Expert Witness:

Bethesda Barclay House vs. Tax Commissioner of St Louis, Missouri, 1999 - 2000
Wesley Glen vs. Tax Commissioner of Columbus, Ohio, 1997
Bethesda Gardens vs. St. Louis County, Missouri, 1994
Indian Rock Village vs. Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, 1993
Lakeside Homes vs. Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, 1991
Mayflower Homes vs. Wapello County, Iowa, 1990
Good Samaritan Society vs. Latah County, Idaho, 1988
White Plains Village vs. El Paso, Texas, 1987
Good Samaritan Society vs. Buffalo County, Nebraska, 1985

Referee, Peer Reviewer:

Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, The Gerontologist,
The Journal of Clinical Psychology, Educational Gerontology,
Humor: The International Journal of Humor Research, Personality & Social
Psychology Bulletin, Death Studies, Psychological Reports,
Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meetings,
U. S. Administration on Aging Grants Reviews, Brooks/Cole, Prentice Hall, Sage,
Brunner/Mazel, and Wadsworth Publishing Companies

Service:

President, St. Joseph's Foundation, 1997 - present
Member of the Editorial Board for the journal, Death Studies, 1997 - present
University of Nebraska System Executive Graduate Council, 1996-97
University (UNO) Graduate Council, 1994-97
Graduate Committee, Doctoral Program in Community & Human Res., UN-L, 1989 - present

Thorson, J. A. (2000). Aging in a changing society, 2nd Edition. Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel.

Thorson, J. A. (Ed.) (2000). Perspectives on spiritual well-being and aging. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

Sorenson, H., & Thorson, J. A. (1998). Geriatric respiratory care. Albany, NY: Delmar.

Thorson, J. A. (1995). Aging in a changing society. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co.

Thorson, J. A. (1989). Tough guys don't dice. New York: William Morrow & Co.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1989, reprinted 1994). Rural elderly and their needs. Kansas City: National Resource Center for Rural Elderly, University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Thorson, J. A., & Cook, T. C. (Eds.) (1980). Spiritual well-being of the elderly. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

Thorson, J. A. (1978). Psychology of aging, Gerontology readings for health professionals. Omaha: University of Nebraska Medical Center.

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS

Thorson, J. A., & Laughlin, A. M. (2007). The dark night of the soul. In A. Tomer (Ed.), Existential and spiritual issues in death attitudes (pp. 257-278). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Abdel-Khalek, A. M., & Thorson, J. A. (2006). Religiosity and death anxiety in American and Egyptian college students. In M. V. Landow (Ed.), College students: Mental health and coping strategies (pp. 167-185). London: Nova Sciences.

Thorson, J. A. (2005). Going out in style. In J. Lipschultz & M. Hilt (Eds.), Mass media and gerontology. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2003). A revised death anxiety scale. In J. Hoyer & J. Margraf (Eds.), Angstdiagnostik - Grundlagen und Testverfahren (Diagnosis of Anxiety - Basic Principles and Procedures) (pp.403-517). Heidelberg, Germany: Springer Verlag.

Thorson, J. A. (2002). Extending the family in an era of no growth: A rumination on family caregiving. In A. L. Romer, K. S. Heller, D. E. Weissman, & M. Z. Solomon (Eds.), Innovations in End-of-Life Care (pp. 139-146). New York: Education Development Center, Inc.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2000). Death anxiety in younger and older adults. In A. Tomer (Ed.), Death attitudes and the older adult (pp. 123-136). Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2000). Developmental aspects of death anxiety and religion. In J. A. Thorson (Ed.), Perspectives on spiritual well-being and aging (pp. 142-158). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

Thorson, J. A. (1998). Religion and anxiety: Which anxiety? Which religion? In H. G. Koenig (Ed.), Handbook of religion and mental health (pp. 147-160). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1994). A revised death anxiety scale. In R. A. Neimeyer (Ed.), Death anxiety handbook (pp. 31-43). Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1993). Health and health attitude differences among rural and urban older people in the Midwestern United States. In D. Beregi, I. A. Gergely, & K. Rajczi (Eds.), Recent advances in aging science (Vol. II, pp.1843-1846). Bologna, Italy: Monduzzi Editore.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). The rural aged, social value, and health care. In C. N. Bull (Ed.), Aging in rural America (pp.134-145). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

Thorson, J. A., & Waskel, S. A. (1990). Educational gerontology and the future. In R. Sherron & B. Lumsden (Eds.), Introduction to educational gerontology (Revised 3rd ed., pp. 333-353). Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing Co.

Thorson, J. A., & Horacek, B. J. (1987). Self-esteem, value, and identity: Who are the elderly, really? In D. Oliver (Ed.), New directions in religion and aging (pp. 5-15). New York: Haworth.

Thorson, J. A., & Horacek, B. J. (1986). Aging and long-term care in Nebraska. In V. Webb & J. Luke (Eds.), Nebraska policy choices (Vol. I, pp. 106-136). Omaha: Center on Applied Urban Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Waskel, S. A. (1985). Future trends in education for older adults. In R. Sherron & B. Lumsden (Eds.), Introduction to educational gerontology (Revised 2nd ed., pp. 223-247). Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing Co.

Thorson, J. A., & Thorson, J. R. (1981). Keeping the older person alive. In L. Andrus, M. O'Hara-Devereaux, & C. Scott (Eds.), A practical guide to clinical geriatrics (pp. 331-335). New York: Grune & Stratton.

Thorson, J. A., & Thorson, J. R. (1979). Nursing responsibilities in drug administration. In D. Petersen, F. Whittington, & B. Payne (Eds.), Drugs and the elderly (pp. 151-162). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

Thorson, J. A. (1978). Future trends in education of older adults. In R. Sherron & B. Lumsden (Eds.), Introduction to educational gerontology (pp. 203-227). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

Payne, B. P., & Thorson, J. A. (1976). Death and mental health. In R. Kronley (Ed.), Exploring mental health parameters (Vol. II, pp. 217-228). Atlanta, GA: Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy, Clark College.

TECHNICAL REPORTS

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2004). Care giving and Nebraska's elders: A report on a survey of 1000 respondents. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1998). Assessment and conditions study: Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, 1998. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1997). Focus groups on Medicaid managed care: A report to the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Powell, F. C., Foster, B. G., & Thorson, J. A. (1995). Perceptions of elderly programs in Eastern Nebraska: ENOA goals, 1990 - 1995. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1994). Social conditions of Nebraska's elderly, 1994. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Evaluation of the Nebraska Cross-Training Manual. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Position paper on aging persons with developmental disabilities. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Health care perceptions of Nebraska's urban & rural aged, Occasional Paper No. 92-1. Omaha: Center for Public Affairs Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Powell. F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1991). Incidence of functionally impaired elderly: Comparing ENOA samples with a rural sample. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Bratka, C., Foster, B. G., Leibowitz, J. M., McClain, J. W., & Thorson, J. A. (1990). Nebraska plan for aging individuals with developmental disabilities. Omaha: Meyer Rehabilitation Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1989). Rural elderly and their needs: Understanding, developing, and using a needs assessment. Kansas City: National Resource Center for Rural Elderly, University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1989). Elderly blacks on Omaha's Near North Side: Their health status, utilization of services, and attitudes. Omaha: Charles Drew Health Center and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1988). The economic impact of out-migration among Nebraska's retirees. Omaha: Center on Applied Urban Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1988). Older people in Eastern Nebraska: Their attitudes, opinions, and behavior. Omaha: Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.

Thorson, J. A. (Ed.) (1981). White House Conference on Aging: Issues 1981. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Horacek, B. J., & Thorson, J. A. (1979). Social and educational needs of the elderly developmentally disabled. In P. Daniels (Ed.) Gerontological aspects of developmental disabilities: The state of the art (pp. 31-38). Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Payne, B. P. (Eds.) (1974). Political responses to aging: Proceedings of the First Annual Georgia Conference on Aging. Athens, GA: Center for Continuing Education, University of Georgia.

Thorson, J. A. (Ed.) (1972). Action now for older Americans toward independent living. Athens, GA: Center for Continuing Education, University of Georgia.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Thorson, J. A., Allwardt, D., & Batten, S. (2007, in press). Sense of humor and purpose in life. Psychological Reports.

Thorson, J. A., Valero, C., & Carbelo Baquero, C. (2006). A study of sense of humor in Spanish and American samples. North American Journal of Psychology, 8(3), 447-454.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2004). Depression and intrinsic religiosity. Psychological Reports, 95, 1008.

Thorson, J. A. (2004, April). No laughing's the matter. Spirituality & Health, 7(2), 34-39.

Thorson, J. A. (2003, June). Euthanasia and assisted suicide. AARC Times, 27(6), 45-65.

Richeson, N., & Thorson, J. A. (2002). The effect of autobiographical writing on the subjective well-being of older adults. North American Journal of Psychology, 4(3), 395-404.

Thorson, J. A. (2002). Social values and decision making: A generation in the lifeboat. Death Studies, 26, 337-349.

Thorson, J. A. (2001, September). Aging in a changing world society. AARC Times, 32-35.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2001). Undertakers' sense of humor.Psychological Reports, 89, 175-176.

Thorson, J. A. (2001, March 15). Extending the family in an era of no growth. Innovations in End-of-Life Care, 3(2), www.edu.org/lastacts.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., & Samuel, V. T. (2001). Sense of humor in black and white. North American Journal of Psychology, 3(1), 1-12.

Thorson, J. A., & Davis, R. E. (2000). Relocation of the institutionalized aged. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56, 131-138.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2000). Health practices and attitudes among rural, semi-rural, and urban older people. North American Journal of Psychology, 2(1), 47-58.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1999). Methodological note on the use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale with older samples. Psychological Reports, 85, 823-824.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., & Samuel, V. T. (1998). Age differences in death anxiety among African-American women. Psychological Reports, 83, 1173-1174.

Thorson, J. A. (1998, September). Mental illness in later life: Paranoia and schizophrenia. AARC Times, 22(9), 16-18.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., & Samuel, V. T. (1998). African and Euro-American samples differ little in scores on death anxiety. Psychological Reports, 83, 623-626.

Thorson, J. A. (1998, April). Understanding aspects of dementia. AARC Times, 22(4), 17-19.

Thorson, J. A. (1998, March). Clarifying the confusion associated with delirum. AARC Times, 22(3), 23-25.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., Abdel-Khalek, A. M., & Beshai, J. (1997). Constructions of religiosity and death anxiety in two cultures. Journal of Psychology & Theology, 25, 373-382.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., Sarmany-Schuller, I., & Hampes, W. (1997). Psychological health and sense of humor. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 53, 605-619.

Thorson, J. A. (1997, August). Elder abuse and neglect. AARC Times, 21(8), 30-31.

Thorson, J. A., Brdar, I., & Powell, F. C. (1997). Factor-analytic study of humor in Croatia and USA. Psychological Reports, 81, 971-977.

Thorson, J. A. (1997). Qualitative thanatology. Mortality, 1, 177-190.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1996). Undertakers' death anxiety. Psychological Reports, 78, 1228-1230.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1996). Women, aging, and sense of humor. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research, 9, 169-186.

Thorson, J. A. (1996). Note on forced institutional relocation of nursing home residents. Psychological Reports, 78, 482.

Sorenson, H. M., & Thorson, J. A. (1995). Biological theories of aging. Journal of Subacute Care, 1(3), 35-39.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1994). Depression and sense of humor. Psychological Reports, 75, 1473-1474.

Hellbusch, J. S., Corbin, D. E., Thorson, J. A., & Stacy, R. D. (1994). Physicians' attitudes toward aging. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 15(2), 55-65.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., & Hilt, M. (1994). Epidemiology of gambling and depression in an adult sample. Psychological Reports, 74, 987-994.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). The CES-D: Four or five factors? Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 31, 577-578.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Sense of humor and dimensions of personality. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 49, 799-809.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Personality, death anxiety, and gender. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 31, 589-590.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Relationships of death anxiety and sense of humor. Psychological Reports, 72, 1364-1366.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Development and validation of a multidimensional sense of humor scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 49, 13-23.

Thorson, J. A. (1993). Did you ever see a hearse go by? Some thoughts on gallows humor. Journal of American Culture, 16(2), 17-24.

Thorson, J. A. (1993). To die with your boots on: Relative lethality of the states. Psychological Reports, 72, 843-854.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). A revised death anxiety scale. Death Studies, 16, 517-531.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Rural and urban aged construe health differently. The Journal of Psychology, 126, 251-260.

Thorson, J. A. (1992). Another look at pastoral candidates' personality traits. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 20, 47-50.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Vagaries of college norms for the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. Psychological Reports, 70, 943-946.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1991). Medical students' attitudes towards ageing and death: A cross-sequential study. Medical Education, 25, 32-37.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1991). Life, death, and life after death: Meanings of the relationship between death anxiety and religion. Journal of Religious Gerontology, 8(1), 41-56.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1991). Age differences in health attitudes and beliefs. Psychological Reports, 69, 1111-1115.

Thorson, J. A. (1991). Afterlife constructs, death anxiety, and life reviewing: Importance of religion as a moderating variable. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 19(3), 278-284.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1991). Measurement of sense of humor. Psychological Reports, 69, 691-702.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1991). Constructions of death anxiety among those high in intrinsic religious motivation: A factor-analytic study. Death Studies, 15, 131-138.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1990). Meanings of death and intrinsic religiosity. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46, 379-391.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1990). To laugh in the face of death: The games that lethal people play. Omega-Journal of Death and Dying, 21, 221-235.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1990). Political behavior: Voting participation of inner-city elderly blacks compared to other populations in a medium-sized city. Psychological Reports, 67, 64-66.

Thorson, J. A. (1990). The brave new world of educational gerontology. Educational Gerontology, 16, 329-339.

Thorson, J. A. (1990). Is propensity to laugh equivalent to sense of humor? Psychological Reports, 66, 737-738.

Powell, F. C., Thorson, J. A., Kara, G., & Uhl, H. S. M. (1990). Stability of medical students' attitudes toward aging and death. The Journal of Psychology, 124, 329-342.

Davis, R. E., Thorson, J. A., & Copenhaver, J. H. (1990). Effects of a forced institutional relocation on the mortality and morbidity of nursing home residents. Psychological Reports, 67, 263-266.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1989). Construct validity of the Lethal Behaviors Scale. Psychological Reports, 65, 844-846.

Thorson, J. A. (1989). She ain't heavy, she's my mother: On caring for older parents. Adult Learning, 1(3), 18-20.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1989). Death anxiety and religion in an older male sample. Psychological Reports, 64, 985-986.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1988). Elements of death anxiety and meanings of death. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44, 691-701.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1988). Medical students' Edwards Personal Preference Schedule norms. Psychological Reports, 63, 465-466.

Thorson, J. A. (1988). Relocation of the elderly: Some implications from the research. Gerontology Review, 1, 28-36.

Thorson, J. A., Horacek, B. J., & Kara, G. (1987). A replication of Kalish's study of cemetery visits. Death Studies, 11, 177-182.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1987). Factor structure of the Lethal Behaviors Scale. Psychological Reports, 61, 807-810.

Thorson, J. A., & Thorson, J. R. (1986). How accurate are stress scales? Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 12(1), 21-24.

Thorson, J. A., & Horacek, B. J. (1986). Self-esteem, value, and identity: Who are the elderly, really? Journal of Religion and Aging, 3, 5-15.

Thorson, J. A. (1985). A funny thing happened on the way to the morgue: Some thoughts on humor and death, and a taxonomy of the humor associated with death. Death Studies, 9, 201-216.

Thorson, J. A. (1985). A Chinese nursing home. Rehabilitation World, 8(4), 30-41.

Thorson, J. A. (1985). Differing perceptions of stress among the aged. Nebraska Psychological Association Journal, 28-31.

Thorson, J. A., & Kasworm, C. (1984). Sunshine and suicide: Possible influences of climate on behavior. Death Education, 8 (Supplement), 125-136.

Thorson, J. A. (1984). The Peoples' First Social Welfare Institution for the Aged. American Health Care Association Journal, 10, 88-91.

Thorson, J. A. (1983). Spiritual well-being in the secular society. Generations, 8(1), 10-11.

Zelinsky, L., & Thorson, J. A. (1983). Educational approaches to preparing social work students for practice related to death and dying. Death Education, 6, 313-320.

French, W., Thorson, J. A., & Perreault, W. (1981). Mannerisms of the elderly and approaches to rapport. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 12(3), 187-195.

Thorson, J. A., & Perkins, M. (1981). An examination of personality and demographic factors on attitudes toward old people. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 12(2), 139-148.

Thorson, J. A., & Horacek, B. J. (1980). Curriculum planning for program development in gerontology. Religious Education, 16, 328-331.

Thorson, J. A., & Thorson, J. R. (1979). Patient education and the older drug taker. Journal of Drug Issues, 9, 85-89.

Thorson, J. A. (1978). Lifeboat: Social values and decision making. Death Education, 1, 459-467.

Thorson, J. A. (1977). Variations in death anxiety related to college students' sex, major field of study, and certain personality traits. Psychological Reports, 40, 857-858.

Thorson, J. A. (1976). A media approach to pre-retirement education. Adult Leadership, 24, 344-346.

Thorson, J. A., & Ackerman, S. (1975). Attitudes toward the aged and frequency of thoughts about death. Psychological Reports, 37, 825-826.

Thorson, J. A. (1975). Attitudes toward the aged as a function of race and social class. The Gerontologist, 15, 343-344.

Thorson, J. A. (1974). Continuing education in death and dying. Adult Leadership, 23, 141-144.

Thorson, J. A., Whatley, L., & Hancock, K. (1974). Attitudes toward the aged as a function of age and education. The Gerontologist, 14, 316-318.

Thorson, J. A. (1973). Training para-professionals in the field of aging. Adult Leadership, 22, 9-11.

BOOK REVIEWS

Thorson, J. A. (1998). Letting go: The grief experience. Death Studies, 22, 485-488.

Thorson, J. A. (1989). The ties that bound: Peasant families in Medieval England. Death Studies, 13, 339-340.

Thorson, J. A. (1988). Shrapnel in the heart. Death Studies, 12, 287-289.

Thorson, J. A. (1987). The mirror of time: Images of aging and dying. The Gerontologist, 27, 810-812.

Thorson, J. A. (1983). Death education for the health professional. The Gerontologist, 23, 553.

Thorson, J. A. (1982). The Methuselah factors. The Gerontologist, 22, 339-340.

Thorson, J. A. (1980). Basic gerontology. Educational Gerontology, 5, 450-451.

Thorson, J. A. (1979). The continuing education unit: Concept, issues, and use. Adult Education, 29, 204-207.

Thorson, J. A. (1977). The sociology of aging: Selected readings. Adult Leadership, 25, 157-158.

Thorson, J. A. (1976). Love in the later years. Journal of Gerontology, 31, 108.

Thorson, J. A. (1974). Foundations of practical gerontology. Journal of Gerontology, 29, 105-106.

Thorson, J. A. (1972). Geriatric contentment. Journal of Gerontology, 27, 285-286.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thorson, J. A. (1991). A new Eve. Vanity Fair, 54(10), 34.

Thorson, J. A. (1989). The sub-culture of the nursing home aide. The Gerontologist, 29, 579-589.

REFEREED CONFERENCE PAPERS

Thorson, J. A. (2003). Intrinsic religiosity and anxiety: A cross-cultural approach. A paper delivered at: Integrating Research on Spirituality and Health and Well-Being into Service Delivery, A Research Conference Sponsored by the International Center for the Integration of Health and Spirituality, National Institutes of Health, Bethesada, MD, April 2, 2003 (invited).

Carbelo, B., Rodriquez, S., Valero, C., Alonso, C., & Thorson, J. (2002). Spanish translation and validation of a measure of humor sense: Multidimensional Humor Sense Escale (MSHS). A paper delivered at the International Society of Humor Studies International Congress held at Forly, Italy.

Thorson, J. A. (1998). Religiosity, death anxiety, and depression. A part of a Symposium on Religion and Spirituality at the End of Life presented at the 51st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Philadelphia, November 21, 1998.

Beshai, J. A., Thorson, J. A., & Abdel-Khalek, A. M. (1997). Does the Hoge Scale of Intrinsic Religious Motivation measure spirituality? A paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, August 8, 1997.

Beshai, J. A., Thorson, J. A., & Abdel-Khalek. A. M. (1996). Towards a cross-cultural religiosity scale. A paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, August 12, 1996.

Harris, M. R., Hellman, E. A., Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1995). Relationships among functional status, health status and social support. Presented at the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC, November 16, 1995.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1995). Fear of crime and victimization between elderly groups: Inner-city African Americans compared with urban and rural whites. Presented at the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC, November 17, 1995.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1993). Health and health attitude differences among rural and urban older. A paper presented at the 15th Congress of the International Association of Gerontology, Budapest, July 5, 1993.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Age differences in health attitudes. Presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC, November 19, 1992.

Hellman, E., Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Social network participation and health care utilization among older adults in rural and urban areas. Presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC, November 19, 1992.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Differences in health care perceptions and satisfaction among older rural and urban persons in the Midwestern U.S. A paper presented at the Intercongress Meeting of the Section on Aging of the International Sociological Association, Stockholm, June 26, 1992.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., Kara, G., & Uhl, H. S. M. (1989). Medical students' personal traits and attitudes toward old people: A cross-sequential study. A paper presented at the 15th Annual Meeting of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Tampa, March 4, 1989.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., Kara, G., & Uhl, H. S. M. (1988). Personality correlates and changes in medical students' attitudes toward old people and death anxiety. A paper presented at the 45th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society, Anaheim, California, May 4, 1988.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1984). Revision and factor analysis of a death anxiety scale. Presented at the 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society, San Antonio, October, 1984.

Thorson, J. A. (1982). Helplessness in late life. Presented at a symposium on geriatric medicine, Second Medical College, Shanghai, July 9, 1982.

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