Christal Badour

Dr. Christal Badour is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Kentucky, serving as Director of the Psychology Scholars program and Director of the Stress, Trauma, and Recovery Research Collaborative (STARRC). Her research focuses on trauma-related psychopathology, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, and health disparities. She holds affiliations with the UK Clinic for Emotional Health (CEH), the Center for Health Equity Transformation, and the Lewis Honors College.

Dr. Badour’s education includes a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science from Tulane University (2007), and an M.A. (2011) and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arkansas (2014). Her work emphasizes understanding trauma’s impact on emotion regulation, treatment efficacy for co-occurring disorders, and health equity in underserved populations like rural Appalachian communities and Latina women.

Her research spans three key areas: (1) trauma and emotion mechanisms in PTSD and comorbid conditions, (2) optimizing trauma-focused interventions, and (3) addressing health disparities. Notable projects include the REST-KY Study on sleep and health disparities in Appalachian Kentucky and the Latina Sexual Health Study exploring cultural factors influencing sexual well-being.

Dr. Badour has published extensively on topics such as mental contamination, shame, and guilt in trauma survivors, as well as the intersection of PTSD and substance use. She leads collaborative initiatives to improve mental health access and equity, integrating clinical, community, and policy perspectives.