Areum Han
About Us
The PATH Research Lab (Promoting ACT-based Programs for Health and Participation), led by Dr. Areum Han, develops, adapts, implements, and evaluates online and hybrid psychological and behavioral programs—particularly those grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)—to foster psychological flexibility, enhance mental health, and support participation in valued, meaningful activities across diverse populations.
To address the needs of different populations and settings, the lab develops and adapts ACT-based programs in multiple delivery formats, including videoconference-delivered programs, self-paced programs with or without AI-enhanced components, and hybrid programs (e.g., self-paced programs combined with brief therapist coaching in clinical settings).
The lab’s primary populations include family caregivers and healthcare professionals working with older adults and individuals with disabilities, including family caregivers of people with dementia and parents of children with disabilities; individuals with disabilities (e.g., those living with spinal cord injuries); older adults; and Korean immigrants.
Using clinical trials, community-engaged research, implementation science, and digital health approaches, the lab advances inclusive, evidence-based solutions that support mental health and participation in meaningful, values-aligned activities.
Join Our Team
If you are interested in joining the PATH Research Lab, please email Dr. Areum Han at areumhan@usf.edu with a cover letter describing your experience and research interests, along with your CV or resume.
Areum Han, PhD, OTR – Lab Director / Principal Investigator
Dr. Han is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of South Florida and the Director and Principal Investigator of the PATH Lab. She joined the USF College of Nursing in April 2025 after serving for 10 years as a faculty member in departments of occupational therapy at several universities, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Yonsei University in South Korea, and Texas Woman’s University.
Dr. Han’s research broadly focuses on psychosocial and behavioral interventions. Since 2020, her work has centered on developing, culturally adapting, implementing, and evaluating online and hybrid programs grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to promote mental health and values-based living. Her research uses diverse methodologies and approaches, including randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, mixed-methods studies, cross-sectional studies, qualitative approaches such as phenomenology, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, community-engaged research, and implementation science.
Dr. Han’s full list of publications can be found on Google Scholar and ResearchGate:
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UFZdvM4AAAAJ&hl
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Areum-Han-4
Contact
Areum Han PhD, OTR
Associate Professor
College of Nursing
University of South Florida
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDN 1103A | Tampa, FL | 33612
Email: areumhan@usf.edu
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Active Extramural Funding
Agency: RRF Foundation for Aging
Title: Cultural adaptation of acceptance and commitment therapy to mitigate loneliness in older Korean immigrants: Evaluation of its feasibility and initial efficacy
Role: Principal Investigator
Period: 06/2025 – 05/2027
Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Title: Adaptation and feasibility testing of an AI-enabled web app based on acceptance and commitment therapy for family caregivers of people with dementia
Role: Lead (Contact) Principal Investigator
Period: 09/2024 – 08/2026, with an anticipated no-cost extension through 08/2027
Agency: American Occupational Therapy Foundation – Implementation Research Grant
Title: Implementing an occupational therapist-led acceptance and commitment training group for parents in pediatric outpatient clinics
Role: Principal Investigator
Period: 07/2024–12/2026 (with a no-cost extension)
Agency: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation
Title: Acceptance and commitment therapy for depressed people with spinal cord injuries: Testing efficacy and mechanisms of change
Role: Principal Investigator
Period: 05/2024–08/2027
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Below are examples of completed research projects from the past five years.
Agency: Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation
Title: Acceptance and commitment therapy supplemented with psychoeducation for improving mental health of depressed individuals living with spinal cord injury sustained within 5 years
Role: Principal Investigator
Period: 03/2023–02/2026 (with a no-cost extension)
Agency: Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant
Title: Guided online acceptance and commitment therapy for dementia caregivers
Role: Principal Investigator
Period: 02/2022–04/2025
Agency: American Occupational Therapy Foundation – Intervention Research Grant
Title: A guided eight-week online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention for distressed family caregivers of people with dementia: A mixed-methods pilot study
Role: Principal Investigator
Period: 07/2021–06/2022