Brad A. Meisner

Associate Professor

Locations / Contact Info:

Keele Campus
Phone: 416-736-2100 Ext. 77451

Email address(es):

meisnerb@yorku.ca

Web site(s):

@bamphd

Faculty & School/Dept.

Faculty of Health - School of Kinesiology & Health Science

Degrees

PhD - 2011
School of Kinesiology & Health Science
York University

Doctoral Diploma in Health Psychology - 2011
Faculty of Health
York University

MSc - 2007
School of Kinesiology & Health Science
York University

HBSc - 2004
Departments of Psychology (Neuroscience) & Anthropology (Health Studies)
University of Toronto

Biography

Dr. Brad Meisner (he/him/his) is an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science. Previously, Brad was an Assistant Professor in the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University and the Department of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University. Brad maintains an adjunct appointment and is an Associate Research Scholar of the Healthy Populations Institute at Dalhousie University. 

As an interdisciplinary gerontologist, Brad’s research focuses on the interaction of biological, psychological, and social dimensions of aging, adult development, and older adulthood. He is particularly interested in aging adults’ experiences in leisure and recreation as well as the impact of age-based stigma (ageism) on the health and lives of aging adults. In his research, Brad uses collaborative and applied approaches as well as mixed- and multi-methodologies.

Brad regularly teaches 'KINE 3350: Physical Activity, Health & Aging' and 'KINE 4645: Active Living & Aging' at the undergraduate level and 'KAHS 6485: Interdisciplinary & Practical Approaches to Healthy Aging' at the graduate level. He is also invested in research supervision and mentorship. Students with an interest in intersectional aging studies who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and/or with disabilities are encouraged to contact Brad for research opportunities.

Further, Brad contributes to various committees at York. For example, as a member of the Steering Committees for both the Health Psychology Doctoral Diploma Program and York University’s Centre for Aging Research and Education (YU-CARE). Externally, Brad is actively involved with the Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG) as Chair of the Educational Gerontology Division (2014-2020), Conference Chair of CAG's 2021 Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting, and currently as President (2022-2024). Brad is also an Editorial Board member of the Canadian Journal on Aging and serves as the Book Reviews Editor.

Selected Publications


  • Sibley, D., Bassett-Gunter, R. L., & Meisner, B. A. (In press). Promoting lifespan physical activity intentions… and aging anxieties? The paradox of high-risk and loss-framed health messages. Journal of Adult Development. (Click Here)

  • Eswaran, A., & Meisner, B. A. (In press). Influence of ageism on physical activity prescription for prediabetes management. Journal of Aging & Physical Activity. (Click Here)

  • Sedaghat Modabberi, R., Meisner, B. A., & Safai, P. (In press). Lived experiences of long-term care administrative staff responsible for the admissions process. Canadian Journal on Aging. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A. (2022). Hindsight 20/20: Looking back for a vision forward in gerontology. Canadian Journal on Aging, 41(1), 1-3. (English Version) (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A. (2022). Rétrospective 20/20 : Regarder en arrière pour une vision d’avenir en gérontologie. La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, 41(1), 4-6. (Version Française) (Cliquez Ici)

  • Massie, A. S., Johnston, H., Sibley, D., & Meisner, B. A. (2022). Factors associated with the intention to begin physical activity among inactive middle-aged and older adults. Health Education & Behavior, 49(1), 97-106. (Click Here)

  • Vervaecke, D., Owaisi, R. B., & Meisner, B. A. (2021). Adult day program directors' experiences managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Journal on Aging, 40(4), 639-650. (Click Here)

  • Rogers-Jarrell, T., Vervaecke, D., & Meisner, B. A. (2021). Intergenerational family leisure in the COVID-19 pandemic: Some potentials, pitfalls, and paradoxes. World Leisure Journal, 63(3), 316-329. (Click Here)

  • Miller, L., Brushett, S., Ayn, C., Furlotte, K., Jackson, L., MacQuarrie, M., Massie, A. S., Mathias, H., McKay, M., Meisner, B. A., Moritz, L., Stilwell, C., & Weeks, L. E. (2021). Developing a competency framework for population health graduate students through student and faculty collaboration. Pedagogy in Health Promotion, 7(3), 280-288. (Click Here)

  • Rogers-Jarrell, T., Eswaran, A., & Meisner, B. A. (2021). Extend an embrace: Availability of hugs is an associate of self-rated health in later life. Research on Aging, 43(5-6), 227-236. (Click Here)

  • Barber, B. V., Weeks, L. E., Spassiani, N. A., & Meisner, B. A. (2021). Experiences of health and aging for younger adults in long-term care: A social-ecological multi-method approach. Disability & Society, 36(3), 468-487. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A. (2021). Are you OK, Boomer? Intensification of ageism and intergenerational tensions on social media amid COVID-19. Leisure Sciences, 43(1-2), 56-61. (Click Here)

  • Vervaecke, D., & Meisner, B. A. (2021). Caremongering and assumptions of need: The spread of compassionate ageism during COVID-19. The Gerontologist, 62(2), 159-165. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A., Boscart, V., Gaudreau, P., Stolee, P., Ebert, P., Heyer, M., Kadowaki, L., Kelly, C., Levasseur, M., Massie, A. S., Menec, V., Middleton, L., Sheiban Taucar, L., Thornton, W. L., Tong, C., van den Hoonaard, D. K., & Wilson, K. (2020). Interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches needed to determine impact of COVID-19 on older adults and aging: Canadian Association on Gerontology/L’Association canadienne de gérontologie (CAG/ACG) and Canadian Journal on Aging/La revue canadienne du vieillissement (CJA/RCV) joint statement. Canadian Journal on Aging, 39(3), 333-343. (English Version) (Click Here) (Open Access)

  • Meisner, B. A., Boscart, V., Gaudreau, P., Stolee, P., Ebert, P., Heyer, M., Kadowaki, L., Kelly, C., Levasseur, M., Massie, A. S., Menec, V., Middleton, L., Sheiban Taucar, L., Thornton, W. L., Tong, C., van den Hoonaard, D. K., & Wilson, K. (2020). La nécessité des approches interdisciplinaires et collaboratives pour évaluer l’impact de la COVID-19 sur les personnes âgées et le vieillissement : Déclaration commune de L’Association canadienne de gérontologie/Canadian Association on Gerontology (ACG/CAG) et de La revue canadienne du vieillissement/Canadian Journal on Aging (RCV/CJA). La revue canadienne du vieillissement, 39(4), 487-499. (Version Française) (Cliquez Ici) (Accès Ouvert)

  • Fiocco, A. J., & Meisner, B. A. (2020). Mindful aging: The association between trait mindfulness and expectations regarding aging among middle aged and older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 24(4), 591-595. (Click Here)

  • Spassiani, N. A., Meisner, B. A., Abou Chacra, M. S., Heller, T., & Hammel, J. (2019). What is and isn’t working: Factors involved in sustaining community-based health and participation initiatives for people aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(6), 1465-1477. (Click Here)

  • Hutchinson, S. L., Lauckner, H., Gallant, K. A., Silversides, C. L., & Meisner, B. A. (2019). What does it take to build sustainable intersectoral recreation initiatives? Learning from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Leisure/Loisir, 43(3), 291-314. (Click Here)

  • Massie, A. S., & Meisner, B. A. (2019). Perceptions of aging and experiences of ageism as constraining factors of moderate to vigorous leisure-time physical activity in later life. Society & Leisure, 42(1), 24-42. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A., Hutchinson, S. L., Gallant, K. A., Lauckner, H., & Stilwell, C. L. (2019). Taking ‘Steps to Connect’ to later life: Exploring leisure program participation among older adults in rural communities. Society & Leisure, 42(1), 69-90. (Click Here)

  • Stilwell, C. L., Hutchinson, S. L., & Meisner, B. A. (2019). ‘I’ve got Parkinson’s and that makes a difference’: Understanding health and leisure through a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Society & Leisure, 42(1), 43-55. (Click Here)

  • Hutchinson, S. L., Lauckner, H., Meisner, B. A., Gallant, K. A., & Silversides, C. (2017). Fostering self-determination and sense of belonging through leisure education: Reflections on the Steps to Connect program. Society & Leisure, 40(3), 360-376. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A., Linton, V., Séguin, A., & Spassiani, N. A. (2017). Examining chronic disease, pain-related impairment, and physical activity among middle-aged and older adults in Canada: Implications for current and future aging populations. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 33(3), 182-192. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A., & Binnington, L. E. (2017). I’m so glad you’re here: Positive aspects of informal caregiving. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 65(1), 25-26. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A., & Levy, B. R. (2016). Age stereotypes’ influence on health: Stereotype Embodiment Theory. In V. Bengtson & R. Settersten (Eds.), Handbook of Theories of Aging (3rd ed., Chap. 14, pp. 259-276). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company. (Click Here)

  • Malone, M. R., & Meisner, B. A. (2015). Nebraska: Oscar® winning representations of aging and older adults. Journal of Ethics in Mental Health, 10(1), 1-5. (Click Here)

  • Sparks, C. R., Meisner, B. A., & Young, B. W. (2013). Investigating general and self-expectations regarding aging in a physical activity context. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 44(1), 17-36. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A., & Baker, J. (2013). An exploratory analysis of aging expectations and health care behavior among aging adults. Psychology & Aging, 28(1), 99-104. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A., Weir, P. L., & Baker, J. (2013). The relationship between aging expectations and various modes of physical activity among aging adults. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 14(4), 569-576. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A. (2012). A meta-analysis of positive and negative age stereotype priming effects on behavior among older adults. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences, 67(1), 13-17. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A. (2012). Physicians’ attitudes toward aging, the aged, and the provision of geriatric care: A systematic narrative review. Critical Public Health, 22(1), 61-72. (Click Here)

  • Bailey, K. A., Spassiani, N. A., Baker, J., & Meisner, B. A. (2012). Gatekeepers of gerontological research: A pilot study investigating factors influencing research compliance. Research on Aging, 34(5), 499-506. (Click Here)

  • Weir, P. L., Meisner, B. A., & Baker, J. (2010). Successful aging across the years: Does one model fit everyone? Journal of Health Psychology, 15(5), 680-687. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A., Dogra, S., Logan, A. J., Baker, J., & Weir, P. L. (2010). Do or decline: Comparing the effects of physical inactivity on biopsychosocial components of successful aging. Journal of Health Psychology, 15(5), 688-696. (Click Here)

  • Meisner, B. A., & Hynie, M. (2009). Ageism with heterosexism: Self-perceptions, identity, and psychological health in older gay and lesbian adults. Gay & Lesbian Issues & Psychology Review, 5(1), 51-58. (Click Here)


Affiliations

Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG)
President

Healthy Populations Institute (HPI)
Associate Research Scholar

Canadian Association for Leisure Studies (CALS)
Member

Canadian Journal on Aging (CJA)
Editorial Board Member & Book Reviews Editor

Awards

New Faculty Teaching Award, Faculty of Arts, Toronto Metropolitan University - 2012

Teaching and Mentorship Excellence Award, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University - 2016

Mid-Career Award, Canadian Association on Gerontology - 2022

Supervision

Currently available to supervise graduate students: Yes

Currently taking on work-study students, Graduate Assistants or Volunteers: No

Available to supervise undergraduate thesis projects: Yes

Current Research