Faculty and Staff Profile

Angie Sardina

Educational Background

2017, University of South Florida, Ph.D., Aging Studies

2010, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, MS, Parks and Recreation Management

2008, Florida Gulf Coast University, BS, Health Sciences

Courses Taught

Processes and Techniques in Recreation Therapy
Interprofessional Research Methods
Research and Evaluation Methods in Recreation Therapy
Exercise and Movement in Recreation Therapy
Recreation Therapy and Geriatrics
Study Abroad in Recreation Therapy, Stavanger, Norway
Expressive Arts
Directed Independent Study
Recreational Therapy Internship

Profile

Dr. Sardina is a licensed (North Carolina) and Certified Recreation Therapist, and is a Research Associate Professor within the Department of Psychology and Institute for Engaged Aging. She also serves as the Associate Director for the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and is an Editorial Board Member for the Gerontological Society of America's Journals of Gerontology: Series B, Psychological Sciences. Dr. Sardina joined Clemson University in the fall of 2024. Prior to current position, Dr. Sardina was an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the Recreation Therapy Department. She served as a Gerontology Faculty Affiliate and was an Advisory Board Member to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Dr. Sardina was selected for the All Ages, All Stages North Carolina (NC), which is North Carolina's Multisector Plan for Aging based on Executive Order 280 that seeks to build an age-friendly NC. Prior to her academic work, Dr. Sardina was employed as a recreation therapist at a continuing care retirement community, where her programmatic work focused on promoting cognitive, physical, and psychosocial health, and well-being, for older adults with and without neurocognitive disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive supranuclear palsy, among others). Given her background, Dr. Sardina is passionate about understanding social determinants of health (e.g., socioeconomic status, environmental factors, among others) that lead to and/or exacerbate health disparities in middle-aged and older adults of diverse backgrounds. By understanding the mechanisms impacting healthy aging and well-being, she is interested in the development and implementation of multifactorial programming aimed at promoting cognitive and physical health in middle-aged and older adult populations.

Research Interests

My primary area of focus is understanding biopsychosocial (e.g., pain, sleep, loneliness/social isolation, mental health, leisure engagement and constraints) and contextual factors (e.g., home usability, neighborhood quality) that constrain or support cognitive and physical health, and well-being, among middle-aged and older adults. As a licensed and certified recreation therapist, I am also interested in the development and implementation of multifaceted, person-centered, health promotion interventions/programs tailored to the specific needs, interests, and preferences of diverse groups throughout South Carolina and beyond.

Research Publications

Tan, S.C., Sardina, A.L., Mogle, J., & Gamaldo, A.A. (2024). Life purpose and
psychosocial health among older adults residing in subsidized housing. Wellbeing, Space, and Society, 6, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2024.100193.

Tian, J., Tan, S. C., Sardina, A. L., Gamaldo, A. A., & Ross, L. A. (2024). Transportation use and perception of leisure constraints, health and neighborhood characteristics: A preliminary study among low-income older adults. Journal of Aging and Environment, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/26892618.2024.2329872

Greenly, M.M.,* Sardina, A.L., Ashton-Forrester, C. (2024). Meaning of the Warrior
Games: The role of camaraderie and motivation in participation. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 23(1), 9-24. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.0285

Weaver, C.,* Sardina, A.L., Newsham, T., & Fugate-Whitlock, E. (2022). A
preliminary feasibility study of a Virtual Mentally Stimulating Activities Program for older adults. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 21(4), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2022.0270

Wilson, C.E.* & Sardina, A.L. (2022). Undervalued - Older inmates within the prison
system: A call for research. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 21(3), 6-16. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2022.0264

Sardina, A. L., Gamaldo, A. A., Allaire, J. C., Whitfield, K. E. (2022). Exploring the
association between affect and leisure activity engagement in Black adults. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences. 77(12), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbac084

Gray, C.N., Roth, J.L.,* & Sardina, A.L. (2022). Lessons learned from a pilot project
investigating Instagram use and depressive symptoms in female college students. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 21(2), 19-31. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2022.0260

Sardina, A. L., Tan, S. C.,* Perry, J.,* Gamaldo, A. A. (2021). A preliminary study of the
correlates of leisure interests and constraints among adults residing in public housing. Journal of Aging and Environment, 36(2), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/26892618.2021.1887041


Gamaldo, A. A., Sardina, A. L., Tan, S. C.,* Ross, L. A., Gerlin, L. A., Knox, T. B.,* Prawl, D.,
Argueta Portillo, K. S.,* & Andel, R. (2021). Correlates of life satisfaction among middle-aged and older Black adults. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 8, 1249-1259.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00884-7

Sardina, A.L., Gamaldo, A.A., Andel, R., Johnson, S., Baker, T.A., Thorpe, R.J., McEvoy, C.,
Evans, M.K., & Zonderman, A.B. (2020). Cross-sectional examination of musculoskeletal pain and physical function in a racially and socioeconomically diverse sample of adults. Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Medical Sciences, 76(2), 368-377. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa251

Dobbs, D., Sadeq, N.A., Peterson, L., Sardina, A., Tan, S.C.,* Brown-Hughes, T., Andel, R., &
Gamaldo, A.A. (2020). Middle-aged and older Black adults’ experiences completing a traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive battery and two contemporary computerized cognitive batteries. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 28(4), 600-615. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2020.1802403

Sardina, A.L., Fitzsimmons, S., Hoyt, C.M.,* & Buettner, L.L. (2020). A mentally stimulating
activities program for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 18(4), 27-37. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2019.0200

Arms, T., Sardina, A., Rowan, N., & Ashton, C. (2020). Use of the Into Aging Game to
improve empathy among nursing, recreational therapy, and social work students. International Journal of Human Caring, 24(2), 76-83. https://doi.org/10.20467/HumanCaring-D-19-00045

Gamaldo, A., Sardina, A., Sutin, A., Cruz, T.E., Salas, R., Gamaldo, C. E., Buxton, O., & Andel,
R. (2020). Facets of personality related to sleep habits in older Black adults. Sleep Health,
6(2), 232-239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2019.10.004

Gamaldo, A.A., Tan, S.C., Sardina, A.L., Henzi, C., Guest, R., Willingham, K., Zonderman, A.,
& Andel, R. (2018). Older Black adults’ satisfaction and anxiety completing alternative and traditional cognitive batteries. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 75(7), 1462-1474. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gby095

Gamaldo, A.A., Sardina, A., Corona, R.,* Willingham, K.,* Migoyo, R.,* & Andel, R. (2018).
The association between educational parameters and cognitive functioning in older Blacks. International Psychogeriatrics, 30(3), 311-322. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610217001107

Edwards, J.D., Lister, J.L., Tetlow, A., Sardina, A., Sadeq, N.A., Brandino, A.D., & Harrison-
Bush, A.L. (2017). Auditory processing of older adults with probable mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60, 1427-1435. https://doi.org/10.1044/2016_JSLHR-H-16-0066

Richeson, N. & Sardina, A. (2016). Recreational therapy competencies for working with older
adults. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 15(2), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2016.0104

Kobesova, A., Nyvltova, M., Kraus, J., Kolar, P., Sardina, A., Mazanec, R., & Andel, R. (2015).
Evaluation of muscle strength and manual dexterity in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Journal of Hand Therapy, 29(1), 66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2015.12.002

Kobesova, A., Dzvonik, J., Kolar, P. Sardina, A., & Andel, A. (2015). Effects of shoulder
girdle dynamic stabilization exercise on hand muscle strength. Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 23(1), 21-32. https://doi.org/10.3233/IES-140560

Sardina, A. (2014). Website review: Promoting positive behavioral health: A non- pharmacological toolkit for senior living communities. American Journal of Recreational Therapy, 13(1), 46-48.

Richeson, N., & Sardina, A. (2013). Editorial. Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services
(CMS) initiative reducing antipsychotic medications: Why recreation therapy should care. American Journal of Recreational Therapy, 12(1), 6-7.

*=Student Collaborator/Co-Author

Honors and Awards

College of Health and Human Services Summer Scholars Pilot Program Recipient, UNCW (2024)

Best Practices in Applied Gerontology of 2024 Award. Southern Gerontological Society, (2024)

SMART Educator of the Year Award. SMART CEU’s Hub, LLC (2024)

Innovative Research on Aging – Silver Award. Mather Institute (2021)

Selected Early Career Reviewer (ECR) Program. Center for Scientific Review: National Institutes of Health (2020)

Awarded Doctoral Fellowship through the Arthritis Foundation, University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies (2014)

Health and Human Sciences Emerging Leader Alumni Award, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2014)

Best in Show for Innovation Exchange. LeadingAge Leadership Academy Project, LeadingAge Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida (2013)

Graduated from LeadingAge Leadership Academy, University of Florida (2013)

Graduated from Dale Carnegie Executive Leadership Training, Cypress Cove at HealthPark, Fort Myers, Florida (2013)

LeadingAge Award for Best Practices in the state of Florida for Falls Education and Aquatic Training (FEAT©) Program, LeadingAge Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida (2012)