Congratulations to ARCH Lab’s Jothi Khaira, who successfully defended her MSc thesis titled “Socioeconomic Indicators and Psychopathology in Children with Chronic Physical Illness.”
Jothi’s research examined how socioeconomic disadvantage and biological stress interact to influence mental health outcomes in children living with chronic physical illness.
Using longitudinal data from the MY LIFE study, Jothi found that children with chronic conditions often face greater socioeconomic challenges—particularly in housing and material resources—which can intensify externalizing symptoms. Her work also highlighted the role of biological stress, measured through hair cortisol concentration, in moderating these effects.
Jothi’s findings contribute to a growing understanding of childhood multimorbidity and reinforce the need for tailored, context-sensitive mental health supports.
We wish her all the best as she embarks on her next chapter. Congrats Jothi!
