Positions

Overview

  • Dr. Han is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at UAB. She started working at UAB in September 2019. Dr. Han's research interests are psychological and behavioral interventions for caregivers of older adults (e.g., family caregivers of people with dementia), older adults, and people with neurological disorders. Dr. Han has served as an Associate Editor in American Journal of Occupational Therapy since May 2022.
  • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title Altmetric
    2023 A qualitative study exploring experiences of distressed family caregivers of people with dementia in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic 2023
    2023 Correlations between Social Determinants of Health and Technology Access among Rural African American AlabamiansJournal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.  34:21-34. 2023
    2023 Effects of a coach-guided videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy intervention combined with psychoeducation on distressed individuals living with spinal cord injury: a preliminary mixed-methods studyDisability and Rehabilitation.  45:644-654. 2023
    2023 Mindfulness- and Acceptance-Based Interventions for Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisRehabilitation Counseling Bulletin.  66:123-135. 2023
    2023 The feasibility and preliminary effects of a pilot randomized controlled trial: Videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy in distressed family caregivers of people with dementiaJournal of Health Psychology2023
    2022 Efficacy of Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, Stress, Psychological Distress, and Quality of Life: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis 2022
    2022 Does the Use of Social Media Affect Online Health Information-Seeking Behaviors among Underserved African Americans in Rural Alabama?Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.  33:1949-1964. 2022
    2022 The Effects of Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Process Measures: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis 2022
    2022 Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, Stress, and Quality of Life in Family Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis 2022
    2022 Effects of internet-delivered behavioral activation on individuals with depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysisJournal of Psychiatric Research.  152:104-118. 2022
    2022 Exploring Associations of Psychological Inflexibility With Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and Stress in Individuals Living With a Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional StudyRehabilitation Psychology.  67:170-178. 2022
    2022 Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on psychological distress and mindfulness in incarcerated populations: A systematic review and meta-analysisCriminal Behaviour and Mental Health.  32:48-59. 2022
    2022 A Quasi-experimental Study Measuring the Effectiveness of Two Empathy Enhancement Programs on Caregivers Working with Older Adults Living Alone 2022
    2022 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Guided Online for Distressed Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia 2022
    2022 Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Older Adults with Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-Analysis 2022
    2021 The Development and Satisfaction of Cock-up Splint Production Method with 3D Printing Applying 2D Scan 2021
    2021 Mindfulness- and Acceptance-Based Interventions for Symptom Reduction in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  102:2022-2031.e4. 2021
    2021 Effectiveness of simulation-based empathy enhancement program for caregivers (See-c) evaluated by older adults receiving careInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.  18. 2021
    2021 Effectiveness of empathy enhancement programs for social workers working with older adults: A quasi-experimental studyJournal of Social Work.  21:913-930. 2021
    2021 Effects of mindfulness-and acceptance-based interventions on quality of life, coping, cognition, and mindfulness of people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysisPsychology, Health and Medicine2021
    2021 A factorial randomized controlled trial to examine separate and combined effects of a simulation-based empathy enhancement program and a lecture-based education program on family caregivers of people with dementiaAging and Mental Health.  25:1930-1940. 2021
    2021 A simulation-based empathy enhancement program for non-medical care providers of older adults: A mixed-methods studyPsychiatry investigation.  18:132-139. 2021
    2021 Acceptance and commitment therapy for family caregivers: A systematic review and meta-analysisJournal of Health Psychology.  26:82-102. 2021
    2020 Effects of acceptance and commitment therapy on process measures of family caregivers: A systematic review and meta-analysisJournal of Contextual Behavioral Science.  18:201-213. 2020
    2020 Experiences of caregivers of people with dementia in a Korean dementia simulation program 2020
    2020 Compassionate Touch® Delivered by Long-term Care Staff for Residents with Dementia: Preliminary ResultsJournal of Social Service Research.  46:685-692. 2020
    2020 The use of motivational interviewing during an interdisciplinary Service-Learning activity for older adults at risk for dementiaGerontology and Geriatrics Education.  41:206-218. 2020
    2020 Learning Experiences of Older Volunteers in a Community-based Social Program for People with DementiaJournal of Social Service Research.  46:225-235. 2020
    2020 A systematic review on empathy measurement tools for care professionals 2020
    2020 Interventions for Attitudes and Empathy Toward People With Dementia and Positive Aspects of Caregiving: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2020
    2020 Experiences of Caregivers in a Dementia Simulation ProgramJournal of Social Service Research.  46:71-80. 2020
    2020 Impact of Family-Centered Early Intervention in Infants with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Single-Subject DesignOccupational Therapy International.  2020. 2020
    2019 Effects of Korean dementia simulation program for caregivers of the elderly with dementia: A pilot study 2019
    2019 Predictors of instrumental activities of daily living in community-dwelling older adultsArchives of Psychiatric Nursing.  33:43-50. 2019
    2019 Interventions for Caregivers of People With Dementia : A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials 2019
    2019 Development and reliability of the Korean version of the Feeding Abilities AssessmentHong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy.  32:69-74. 2019
    2019 Feasibility of Training and Delivering Compassionate Touch in Long-Term Care 2019
    2019 Characteristics and effects of lifestyle intervention for community dwelling older adults: A systematic review 2019
    2019 Older Adults’ Perspectives on Volunteering in an Activity-Based Social Program for People with Dementia 2019
    2019 A Systematic Review of Effective Interventions to Improve Executive Function of Children and Adolescents With ADHD 2019
    2019 Effect of Physical Activity on Executive Function for Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review 2019
    2019 Effect of Smooth Pursuit Eye Movement Combined With Neck Muscle Vibration to Unilateral Neglect and Performance of Activities of Daily Living on Chronic Stroke Patient: A Single Subject Research Design 2019
    2019 뇌졸중 환자의 연하장애 치료 효과에 대한 체계적 고찰 2019
    2018 Perspectives of caregivers and volunteers on Stepping Stones for people with dementiaHong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy.  31:86-96. 2018
    2017 The risk of stroke in spouses of people living with dementia in KoreaInternational Journal of Stroke.  12:851-857. 2017
    2017 The Benefits of a Person-Centered Social Program for Community-Dwelling People with Dementia: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis 2017
    2016 Spousal Caregiver Perspectives on a Person-Centered Social Program for Partners with DementiaAmerican Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias.  31:465-473. 2016
    2016 The Benefits of Individualized Leisure and Social Activity Interventions for People with Dementia: A Systematic Review 2016
    2016 Perspectives of People with Dementia about Meaningful ActivitiesAmerican Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias.  31:115-123. 2016

    Chapter

    Year Title Altmetric
    2016 CHAPTER 14 Cognitive executive abilities in aging and everyday life.  235-244. 2016
    2014 Advanced major neurocognitive disorder: Effect on occupation and occupational therapy evaluation and intervention 2014

    Research Overview

  • Dr. Han's research interests are developing and testing psychological and behavioral interventions for caregivers of older adults (e.g., family caregivers of people with dementia), older adults, and people with neurological disorders.
    She has actively served as the PI or a Co-I in internally or externally funded projects, including TWU Chancellor’s Research Fellows Program (2016-2017), Korean government grants from 2018 to 2023 (National Research Foundation of Korea, the Ministry of Health & Welfare, and the Ministry of Science & ICT), American Occupational Therapy Foundation Intervention Research Grant (2021-2022), Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant (2022-2025), and Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation (2023-2025).
  • Teaching Overview

  • Dr. Han taught courses related to research methodology, psychology, and older adults at Texas Woman's University and Yonsei University (South Korea). Dr. Han also gave lectures in various courses at the University of Kansas Medical Center while working as a graduate teaching assistant in the OT department for 4 years. Dr. Han has been teaching research courses for OT students and PhD students in rehabilitation science at UAB, including OT 653, OT 704, RHB 783, and RHB 784.
  • Education And Training

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational Therapy / Therapist, University of Kansas School of Medicine 2015
  • Master of Occupational Therapy in Occupational Therapy / Therapist, University of Kansas School of Medicine 2011
  • Bachelor of Science or Mathematics in Occupational Therapy / Therapist, Yonsei University 2009
  • Full Name

  • Areum Han