BIOPATH study

The measurement and predictors of Environmental Sensitivity in Syrian refugee children

The cross-disciplinary ESPIRE project incorporates genetic, physiological, and psychological data to broadly examine individual differences in environmental sensitivity (the extent to which sensory information is integrated and processed)  amongst Syrian refugee children. The project has three objectives:

• Determine which individual, family, and community variables predict differences in refugee children’s environmental sensitivity
• Assess the mental health outcomes for refugee children of different sensitivities
• Examine if sensitivity modifies behavioural outcomes for refugee children.

Results from this research are anticipated to further develop the theory of environmental sensitivity and potentially inform interventions for the improved well-being of refugee children.

Team and Collaborators:

• University of Surrey, Queen Mary University of London (Dr Andrew May and Prof Michael Pluess)

Funding

• This study is funded by a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Horizon Europe Guarantee fellowship award (EP/X028690/2). See here, for more information on the funded project.

The CARINGTrauma Study

The CARINGtrauma study aims to advance our understanding of individual differences in the response to war and displacement by investigating and establishing the causal relationships between specific biological, social, and psychological factors and mental health outcomes in Syrian refugee children. The study is based on data from the BIOPATH study and has three objectives:

• Development and testing of statistical procedure to establish causality in the interplay between biological and psychosocial factors on mental health
• Identification of the most relevant social, biological, and psychological causal factors for risk and resilience in mental health
• Investigation of the causal interactions between genetic and environmental factors regarding individual differences in mental health

Team and Collaborators:

• Queen Mary University of London (Dr Claudinei Biazoli and Prof Michael Pluess)

Funding

The CARINGTrauma study is funded by the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Commission (H2020-MSCA-IF 2019; 896021). See here, for more information on the funded project.

Individual Differences in the Biological Embedding of Developmental Origins of Health and Illness in Syrian Refugee Children

This project applies evolutionary-developmental models to explore individual differences in biological embedding of stress among Syrian refugee children.

The overarching goals of the project are to 1) understand individual differences in the developmental origins of health and illness, 2) identify modifiable risk and protective factors that suppress or enhance refugee mental health, and 3) inform individualized interventions to prevent and treat mental illness among Syrian—and other—displaced populations. These aims are achieved with the following Research Objectives:

• Investigate whether childhood adversity and protective factors impact developmental trajectories of Syrian refugee children
• Investigate the relations among developmental trajectories and mental health outcomes, including both adverse and positive outcomes as well as modifiable risk/protective factors that influence those outcomes
• Investigate whether Environmental Sensitivity moderates relations between exposure to adversity and biological embedding of stress via developmental trajectories, as well as relations between developmental timing and mental health outcomes

Team and Collaborators:

• Queen Mary University of London (Dr Candace J. Black and Prof Michael Pluess)

Funding

• This study is funded by the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Commission (H2020-MSCA-IF 2019; 896988). See here, for more information on the funded project.