Dr. Rabab Awad

Dr. Rabab Abu Elheja is a pharmacist in several geriatric institutions and a member of the Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Ageing (MCIA). She completed her master’s degree (2014) and PhD studies (2021) in the Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa. Her doctoral dissertation examined the typology of loneliness among older people via weekly-base diaries, and examined the relationship between endogenous oxytocin and reported loneliness.  

Research Interests:

Social and emotional loneliness, neuro-hormonal and neuro-cognitive processes of aging, psychological aspects of aging, polypharmacy and health issues, aging alongside disabilities.

Publications

Awad, R., Shamay-Tsoory, S., & Palgi, Y. (2023). Fluctuations in loneliness due to changes in frequency of social interactions among older adults: A weekly based diary study. International Psychogeriatrics, 1-11. doi:10.1017/S1041610223000133

Elheja, R. A., Palgi, Y., Feldman, R., Zagoory-Sharon, O., Keisari, S., & Shamay-Tsoory, S. G. (2021). The role of oxytocin in regulating loneliness in old age. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 133, 105413.

Elheja, R. A., Palgi, Y., & Shamay-Tsoory, S. G. (2021). Weekly fluctuations in loneliness among older adults. Manuscript submitted for publication.

She can be contacted at: awadrabab@gmail.com