Projects

• Role: Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)

• Partner & Sponsoring Organization: Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College, IL; Antonine University, Lebanon

• Focus Population: Adults in Lebanon Living with Chronic Pain Conditions

• Timeline: 2025–2027

This cross-cultural research project investigates the associations among adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), mental health symptoms, and chronic pain among adults in Lebanon. Although a substantial body of research has documented the long-term health consequences of childhood adversity in Western populations, empirical evidence from Middle Eastern contexts remains limited. Sociocultural factors related to family structure, trauma exposure, and emotional expression highlight the need for culturally grounded research examining how early adversity shapes mental and physical health outcomes across the lifespan.

As a Co-Principal Investigator, my contribution centers on the conceptualization and empirical examination of biopsychosocial pathways linking ACEs to chronic pain severity and psychological distress, including depression and anxiety. The study integrates trauma-informed and developmental perspectives to examine mechanisms such as central sensitization and emotional dysregulation, as well as age-related patterns in risk and symptom expression. Cross-cultural considerations are incorporated to better understand how sociocultural context influences the manifestation and reporting of childhood adversity and its long-term consequences.

Findings from this project aim to advance theoretical understanding of trauma-related health processes in non-Western populations and inform culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches to assessment and intervention. By clarifying the intersection of early adversity, mental health, and chronic pain within the Lebanese context, the study contributes to a broader global health framework that emphasizes equity, cultural validity, and biopsychosocial integration in trauma research.