Dr. Lynn Ward

Room 517, Hughes Building Phone +61 (08) 8303 3182 Fax +61 (08) 8303 3770 lynn.ward@adelaide.edu.au Personal Page

Program Coordinator Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) & Bachelor of Psychological Sciences

Area of research

Ageing.

Senior Appointments and Memberships

Co-convenor: Healthy Ageing Research Cluster University of Adelaide

CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition: Human Experimentation Ethics Committee

Australian Psychological Society;

Australian Psychological Society Special Interest Group on Aging;

Awards

The Stephen Cole the Elder Prize for Excellence in Teaching (Highly Commended), 2003.

Psychology Research Interests

I am interested in factors that influence adult development and ageing. In particular, I am interested in age-related changes in cognitive functioning, both normal and dementia related. I have recently been involved with research on the impact of exercise and health habits on cognitive functioning and well-being in older adults; the impact of bereavement on cognitive functioning; meta-cognitive processing in older adults; the role of spirituality on well-being in older women; vulnerability to victimisation in adolescents; emotional intelligence; and, cross-cultural issues in successful ageing.

Recent Key Publications

Ward , L. Mathias, J.L & Hitchings, S.E. ( 2007). Relationships between bereavement and cognitive functioning in older adults. Gerontology,53,124-134

Ward, L. (2004). Risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome.  International Review of Research in Mental Retardation. 29, 159 - 196.

Gething, L., Gridley, H., Browning, C., Helmes, E., Luszcz, M., Turner, J., Ward, L. & Wells, Y. (2003). The role of psychologists in fostering the well being of older Australians. Australian Psychologist, 38, 1-10.

Bryan, J. & Ward, L. (2002). Smoking, alcohol use and engagement in exercise and cognitive performance. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 21, 63-73.

Browning, C., Gething, L., Gridley, H., Helmes, E., Luszcz, M., Turner, J., Ward, L. & Wells, Y. (2000). Psychology and ageing: contributions to the international year of older persons. Australian Psychological Society Position Paper.