Koichiro Shiba
Profiles

Koichiro Shiba, PhD

Assistant Professor, Epidemiology - Boston University School of Public Health

617-358-3632
Talbot (T Bldg) - T420E
View Full Profile at BUMC

Biography

My overarching research goal is using rigorous causal inference thinking and methods to improve evidence on social determinants of health and health disparities. Rather than merely applying complex methods, my motto is to harness their full potential by identifying and applying the methods to the unique challenges in social epidemiologic studies where they truly shine.

I lead a multitude of projects spanning a broad spectrum of methodological issues, including but not limited to: analyzing time-varying treatments to derive different, policy-relevant insights, and identifying when conventional single-point exposure analysis may be misleading; the use of machine learning methods for robust effect estimation and assessing high-dimensional heterogeneous exposure effects, capturing the intersectionality; the consideration of causal estimands and selection bias in trauma studies with sample attrition; novel approaches to characterize and operationalize neighborhood characteristics; and a novel causal inference method to simulate the impacts of realistic hypothetical interventions on health disparities.

In addition to these methodological focuses, I have worked on several key substantive areas that address urgent public health concerns. First, I study the effects of stressful experiences and traumatic events (such as climate change, disasters, child adversity, pandemics, and global financial crises) on population health, with a particular focus on older adult populations. Second, I investigate the roles of social relationships, social engagement (e.g., volunteering), and related exposures such as loneliness and social isolation) in promoting the health of older adults and fostering resilience. I have also explored how internet-based social interactions can influence population health. Third, I study the impacts of positive psychological factors (for instance, purpose in life, Ikigai) on health. My research further delves into inequalities in and determinants of multidimensional well-being (i.e., human flourishing), which extends beyond traditional physical and mental health outcomes and include other key domains of human well-being such as purpose in life and social well-being. In essence, my objective for this line of research is to study health in its fullest sense, defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Education

  • Harvard School of Public Health, PhD Field of Study: Population Sciences
  • University of Tokyo, MPH Field of Study: Public Health
  • University of Tokyo, BA Field of Study: Health Science

Websites

Publications

  • Published on 5/1/2025

    Rakesh D, Shiba K, Lamont M, Lund C, Pickett KE, VanderWeele TJ, Patel V. Economic Inequality and Mental Health: Causality, Mechanisms, and Interventions. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2025 May; 21(1):353-377. PMID: 40333273.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 5/1/2025

    Nakamura JS, Shiba K, Shi B, Leong RS, VanderWeele TJ, Kim ES. How is volunteering associated with reduced mortality? A mediator-wide approach. Health Psychol. 2025 May; 44(5):518-527. PMID: 40232787.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/30/2025

    Wilkinson R, Shiba K, Gibson CB, Okafor CN, Chen Y, Bradshaw M, Johnson BR, VanderWeele TJ. Life course insights into social relationship quality: a cross-national analysis of 22 countries. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 30; 15(1):12096. PMID: 40307315.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/30/2025

    Lomas T, Padgett RN, Ritchie-Dunham JL, Pawelski JO, Shiba K, Johnson BR, VanderWeele TJ. Childhood predictors of balance in life: a cross-national analysis of the global flourishing study. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 30; 15(1):13301. PMID: 40307301.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/30/2025

    Nakamura JS, Woodberry RD, Weziak-Bialowolska D, Kubzansky LD, Shiba K, Padgett RN, Johnson BR, VanderWeele TJ. Childhood predictors of charitable giving and helping across 22 countries in the Global Flourishing Study. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 30; 15(1):14493. PMID: 40307299.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/30/2025

    Lomas T, Noah Padgett R, Ritchie-Dunham JL, Lee MT, Pawelski JO, Shiba K, Johnson BR, VanderWeele TJ. An exploratory cross-national analysis of the childhood predictors of inner peace in the Global Flourishing Study. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 30; 15(1):11328. PMID: 40307288.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/30/2025

    Cowden RG, Worthington EL, Chung CA, De Kock JH, Weziak-Bialowolska D, Yancey G, Shiba K, Padgett RN, Bradshaw M, Johnson BR, VanderWeele TJ. Sociodemographic variation in dispositional forgivingness: a cross-national analysis with 22 countries. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 30; 15(1):12144. PMID: 40307281.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/30/2025

    Chen Y, Kubzansky LD, Kim ES, Koga H, Shiba K, Padgett RN, Wilkinson R, Johnson BR, VanderWeele TJ. The distribution of optimism across sociodemographic groups in 22 countries. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 30; 15(1):14553. PMID: 40307250.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/30/2025

    Nakamura JS, Woodberry RD, Gibson CB, Lee MT, Kim YI, Shiba K, Padgett RN, Johnson BR, VanderWeele TJ. Childhood predictors of volunteering across 22 countries in the Global Flourishing Study. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 30; 15(1):14797. PMID: 40307232.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/7/2025

    Kim S, Shiba K, Halvorsen C. Reducing Hypertension through Volunteering? Investigating the Potential Causal Link between Volunteering Frequency and Blood Pressure by Gender, Race, and Age Groups. Biopsychosoc Sci Med. 2025 Apr 07. PMID: 40249152.

     Read At: PubMed

View 65 more publications:View Full Profile at BUMC

News & In the Media

View all profiles