Rachel Margolis

Rachel Margolis is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at Western University, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Demography and Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on family dynamics, demography, social inequality, and aging, particularly examining how grandparenthood, kinship networks, and social policies influence population changes and older adult well-being.

Key research interests include aging populations, family caregiving structures, loneliness in later life, and the societal impacts of demographic shifts. She has conducted cross-national studies on topics like caregiver gaps, bereavement during pandemics, and the intersection of education expansion with family networks.

Her work frequently addresses global aging challenges, using demographic methodologies to analyze trends in kinship, health disparities, and policy impacts. Recent studies highlight rising loneliness among middle-aged and older adults worldwide, caregiving gaps in the U.S., and the mental health consequences of bereavement in pandemic contexts.

Notable contributions include analyses of Canadian divorce trends, projections of kinlessness in aging populations, and evaluations of parental leave policies on family stability. Her research is published in top journals such as Demographic Research, Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, and Population and Development Review.

Rachel Margolis collaborates internationally on projects funded by grants exploring aging populations, family leave policies, and demographic metabolism. She maintains an active research program addressing the evolving role of family networks in global demographic transitions.