Rebecca Adams

Rebecca Adams is a Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). She serves as the GROWTH Coordinator and Undergraduate Gerontology Program Coordinator, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to aging studies and social work. Her research focuses on aging populations, particularly exploring music's role in later life, friendship dynamics among older adults, and the sociocultural impacts of subcultures like Grateful Dead fandom. She has published extensively on topics such as family caregiving, community development, and intergenerational social networks.

Adams holds a Ph.D. and has contributed to over 50 academic publications since the 1980s, with a focus on qualitative and interdisciplinary research. Her work bridges sociology, gerontology, and music studies, addressing issues like racial disparities in healthcare access for older adults, the validity of caregiver identity scales, and the role of technology in maintaining social ties across the lifespan.

Her research agenda emphasizes practical applications for aging societies, including preparing health educators for demographic shifts and fostering community resilience through friendship networks. She has collaborated on projects examining Deadhead subcultures' longevity and identity continuity, as well as the sociological implications of aging in rural communities.

Adams' contributions include editorial roles in journals like Personal Relationships and interdisciplinary conference presentations on topics such as 'collaborative pedagogy' and 'aging with dementia.' Her work consistently highlights the intersection of personal relationships, cultural context, and societal structures affecting older adults.