YSPH Biostatistics Seminar: “Bayesian Multistate Life Tables: Methods and Applications"

NOTE: BIS 525 students are required to attend in person. Others are invited to attend in person, but may also attend via Zoom.

SPEAKER: Emma Zang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Biostatistics (Secondary) and Global Affairs (Secondary)

TITLE: “Bayesian Multistate Life Tables: Methods and Applications"

ABSTRACT: Multistate life tables (MSLTs) provide a powerful framework for modeling the dynamics of population transitions between states, such as health statuses, employment conditions, or geographic locations. Traditional MSLTs rely on frequentist approaches, which may not fully account for uncertainty in model parameters or accommodate complex data structures. I will introduce a Bayesian approach to constructing multistate life tables, offering a flexible and robust alternative that enhances the precision and interpretability of life table estimates. The Bayesian framework allows for the integration of prior information, the handling of sparse data, and the incorporation of uncertainty in parameter estimates. Through a series of applications, including the modeling of health, marital, and living arrangement transitions in US aging populations, we demonstrate the advantages of Bayesian MSLTs over traditional methods, providing valuable insights for policymakers and researchers in social science, public health, and medicine.

YSPH values inclusion and access for all participants. If you have questions about accessibility or would like to request an accommodation, please contact Charmila Fernandes at Charmila.fernandes@yale.edu. We will try to provide accommodations requested by September 19, 2024.