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 2/11/2025

    Wang K, Kino S, Matsuyama Y, Shiba K, Nakagomi A, Kondo K, Shirai K, Fueki K, Aida J. Association between oral health and multidimensional flourishing: A cross-sectional study from Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). J Prosthodont Res. 2025 Feb 11. PMID: 39938902.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 1/27/2025

    Nakagomi A, Ide K, Kondo K, Shiba K. Digital Gaming and Subsequent Health and Well-Being Among Older Adults: Longitudinal Outcome-Wide Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2025 Jan 27; 27:e69080. PMID: 39869904.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 11/9/2024

    Yazawa A, Li X, Shiba K, Okuzono SS, Hikichi H, Aida J, Kondo K, Kawachi I. Resilience factors affecting long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami among older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2024 Nov 09. PMID: 39520149.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 10/2/2024

    Okuzono SS, Burrows K, Shiba K, Yazawa A, Hikichi H, Aida J, Kondo K, Kawachi I. Pre-disaster income inequality and post-disaster mental health: A natural experiment from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Health Place. 2024 Nov; 90:103363. PMID: 39362076.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 8/9/2024

    Takeda S, Haseda M, Sato K, Shiba K, Nakagomi A, Ide K, Kondo N. Community-level social capital and subsequent health and well-being among older adults in Japan: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach. Health Place. 2024 Sep; 89:103336. PMID: 39121522.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 6/12/2024

    Tamura M, Nakagomi A, Ide K, Kondo K, Ojima T, Takasugi T, Shiba K. Volunteer group participation and subsequent health and well-being among older adults in Japan: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2024 Nov; 126:105537. PMID: 38878597.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 6/3/2024

    Shiba K, Inoue K. Harnessing causal forests for epidemiologic research: key considerations. Am J Epidemiol. 2024 Jun 03; 193(6):813-818. PMID: 38319713.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/2/2024

    Kim ES, Wilkinson R, Okuzono SS, Chen Y, Shiba K, Cowden RG, VanderWeele TJ. Positive affect during adolescence and health and well-being in adulthood: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach. PLoS Med. 2024 Apr; 21(4):e1004365. PMID: 38564500.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 3/18/2024

    Hong JH, Nakamura JS, Sahakari SS, Chopik WJ, Shiba K, VanderWeele TJ, Kim ES. The silent epidemic of loneliness: identifying the antecedents of loneliness using a lagged exposure-wide approach. Psychol Med. 2024 Jun; 54(8):1519-1532. PMID: 38497115.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 1/23/2024

    Yazawa A, Hikichi H, Shiba K, Okuzono SS, Kondo K, Sasaki S, Kawachi I. Association of disaster-related damage with inflammatory diet among older survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Br J Nutr. 2024 May 14; 131(9):1648-1656. PMID: 38258409.

     Read At: PubMed

View 54 more publications:View Full Profile at BUMC

News & In the Media

View all profiles