Her research examines disparities in health and social resources within and between national and cultural contexts. Currently her work focuses on three themes: the link between mental health and social relationships in cross-national comparative perspective; inequalities in health, access to health care, and exposure to stress and behavioral risk factors by sexual orientation, gender, and race; social interaction/isolation/support in relation to functional and cognitive limitations among older populations. Overall, Dr. Hsieh’s research seeks to understand how social, behavioral, institutional, and cultural factors contribute to health and well-being. Before joining MSU, Dr. Hsieh was a National Institute on Aging postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago. She received her Ph.D. in demography and sociology from the University of Pennsylvania.