Feinian Chen

Feinian Chen is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University, part of the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences. She previously served on the Sociology faculty at the University of Maryland, College Park for twelve years. Her research focuses on demography, family and life course dynamics, aging, research methods, and gender inequality. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with training in social demography at the Carolina Population Center.

Dr. Chen’s work emphasizes aging populations, caregiving roles (particularly grandparenting), social participation, and mental health in East Asian societies. Her studies investigate how cultural contexts shape family dynamics, gender roles, and well-being outcomes. Notable themes include the impact of migration on household structures and health, intergenerational relationships, and the psychological consequences of social isolation among older adults.

Her research has explored cross-national comparisons of kinlessness and end-of-life care, gender disparities in caregiving burdens, and the role of religion in modern Chinese society. Methodologically, she integrates quantitative approaches with demographic analysis, emphasizing rigorous statistical techniques.

Despite no listed scientific awards in the provided texts, her contributions to family sociology and aging studies have influenced policy discussions on elder care, household economics, and gender equity in Asia. She advises students in sociological research methodologies and has co-authored numerous studies on demographic transitions.