Since 2016, we have been conducting a nine-year-long international collaborative study on trauma recovery after gender-based violence (GBV), including partner violence, sexual violence, and child abuse.

The Multicultural Study of Trauma Recovery Consortium (MiStory) was founded by Dr. Denise Saint Arnault of the University of Michigan, a member of our institute.
MiStory brings together 33 trauma researchers from 13 countries, including Japan, the United States, Greece, Turkey, Finland, — 

Our Institute’s Representative Director, Dr. Sachiko Kita the Representative Director of our Institute, Dr. Laura Sinko (Temple University) and Dr. Kleio Koutra (Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece), serve on the consortium's board. Together, they are leading global efforts in trauma recovery research.

To date, our research team has conducted narrative interviews with over 300 GBV survivors from around the world, encouraging them to share their life stories through drawings, diagrams, and photographs. Additionally, we have collected survey data from more than 2,000 individuals. This represents one of the largest trauma recovery datasets in the world.

Drawing on this rich body of data, we are analyzing the diverse trajectories of trauma recovery through the lenses of culture, gender, and recovery typology. These insights are being used to develop an internationally applicable care guidebook that is sensitive to cultural and gender diversity.

The research team meets monthly online to share updates, seek input, plan international comparative studies, and analyze data. We also gather in person every two years for a retreat. The team is built on mutual respect for each other’s expertise and individuality. We support one another during difficult times and celebrate each other’s successes. It is a warm and collaborative environment where we continually challenge ourselves with new methodologies and strive to contribute novel insights to the global understanding of trauma recovery.