Bonnie M. Hagerty

Biography

As one of the major accomplishments of her career, Dr. Hagerty developed a theory of Human Relatedness with a focus on Sense of Belonging and designed an instrument to measure this concept, the Sense of Belonging Instrument (SOBI). This instrument has been published and is currently translated into several languages and used world-wide for research relating to belonging, depression, suicide, identity, and other indicators of social and psychological functioning. Results of her research indicate that sense of belonging is more powerful than social support in relation to interpersonal functioning difficulties. In related work, Dr. Hagerty has also been conducting research on depression with a specific focus on depression in the military, adherence to antidepressant medications, self-management of recurrent depression, and the relationship between depression and sense of belonging. As one of the major accomplishments of her career, Dr. Hagerty developed a theory of Human Relatedness with a focus on Sense of Belonging and designed an instrument to measure this concept, the Sense of Belonging Instrument (SOBI). This instrument has been published and is currently translated into several languages and used world-wide for research relating to belonging, depression, suicide, identity, and other indicators of social and psychological functioning. Results of her research indicate that sense of belonging is more powerful than social support in relation to interpersonal functioning difficulties. In related work, Dr. Hagerty has also been conducting research on depression with a specific focus on depression in the military, adherence to antidepressant medications, self-management of recurrent depression, and the relationship between depression and sense of belonging.

Research Interest

Sense of belonging Mood disorders Self-management of mood disorders Stress and coping Military stress and coping