Name
Poster 79 - The Reciprocal Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Health of Older Adult-Caregiver Dyads
Date & Time
Friday, October 9, 2026, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Location Name
Grand Foyer (4th Floor)
Description

This submission is proposed as a poster presentation. The poster will present the study’s theoretical framework, analytic approach, and preliminary findings on the interdependence of biopsychosocial (BPS; Engel, 1977) health among older adult–caregiver dyads. Visual elements will illustrate the Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM; Wood et al., 1993) pathways and implications for integrated care practice and research.

Speakers
Rachel Smith, MS
Lorreine Wanjau, MA
Co-Authors
Rachel Smith*, Lorreine Wanjau*, Kayla Fitzke; *equal first authors
Content Level
All Audience
Tags
Bidirectional, Geriatrics
Session Type
Poster
Describe how the Biobehavioral Family Model conceptualizes biopsychosocial (BPS) health as an interdependent process within older adult–caregiver dyads.
Interpret how actor and partner pathways contribute to understanding biopsychosocial health processes within caregiving dyads.
Discuss how understanding biopsychosocial interdependence within caregiver–patient relationships can inform integrated and family-centered care approaches.

To cite this article in APA 7th edition format, you can use the following: Reference List Entry Wood, B. L., Woods, S. B., Sengupta, S., & Nair, T. (2021). The Biobehavioral Family Model: An evidence-based approach to biopsychosocial research, residency training, and patient care. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, Article 725045. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.725045

Woods, S. B., Bridges, K., & Carpenter, E. N. (2020). The critical need to recognize that families matter for adult health: A systematic review of the literature. Family Process, 59(4), 1608-1626. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12505

Alonso-Perez, E., Gellert, P., Kreyenfeld, M., & O’Sullivan, J. L. (2022). Family structure and family climate in relation to health and socioeconomic status for older adults: A longitudinal moderated mediation analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), Article 11840. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811840

Koons-Beauchamp, D. (2023). Dyadic relationships and their impact on health and well-being [University of Iowa]. https://doi.org/10.25820/etd.007047

Woods, S. B., Thakur, B., Booker, S., Wood, B., & Roberson, P. N. E. (2026). Family emotional climate, depressive symptoms, and pain prevalence: Testing mediation pathways among midlife and older Black Americans. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 202, Article 112509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2025.112509