About

Lindsay Sullivan, PhD, MA, CHES®, is an Assistant Professor at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Her professional interests include child and adolescent health, childhood injury prevention, sport-related concussion, and mental health promotion. Dr. Sullivan is committed to promoting the health and well-being of children and adolescents through rigorous, interdisciplinary research and the translation of research into policy and practice. Her overarching research goal is to design, implement, and evaluate effective health behavior change interventions that improve mental and physical health outcomes and reduce health disparities among youth. Her research has primarily focused on injury prevention, especially in the context of sports-related injuries and concussions, with a particular emphasis on education, prevention, management, and behavior change. Additionally, she develops, implements, and evaluates theory-based health promotion programs aimed at injury prevention and mental health enhancement for children and adolescents. Framing her work within the social ecological model, Dr. Sullivan works across individual, interpersonal, community, and policy levels, employing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies as a mixed methods researcher.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Psychology
• Physical therapy
• Clinical psychology
• Applied psychology

Selected publications

• Family Resilience and Mental and Physical Health Sequelae of Pediatric TBI in Youths

  JAMA Network Open · 2026-04-13

  articleOpen access

  Importance: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and adolescents is associated with mental and physical health sequelae, including elevated risks of anxiety, depression, persistent headaches, and chronic physical pain. However, factors that may be associated with the risk of these adverse outcomes and with improved recovery remain underexplored. Objective: To examine associations between medically diagnosed TBI and mental (anxiety and depression) and physical (frequent headaches and chronic pain) health outcomes among US children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years and to evaluate whether these associations vary by level of family resilience. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2022 and 2023 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), a nationally representative survey conducted by the US Census Bureau and sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The NSCH collects caregiver-reported data on child and adolescent health, family context, and social determinants across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. This study included children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years whose parents reported medically diagnosed TBI and a comparison group without medically diagnosed TBI. Children and adolescents with comorbidities were excluded. Survey weights accounted for complex sampling to generate nationally representative estimates. Data analysis was done from June 1 to November 13, 2025. Exposures: Medically diagnosed TBI. Main Outcomes and Measures: Current status and severity of medically diagnosed anxiety, depression, frequent or severe headaches (including migraine headaches), and chronic physical pain. Moderators included adverse childhood experiences, child and adolescent flourishing, and family resilience. Results: Among 33 572 participants, 1195 individuals (3.5%; 47.0% [95% CI, 41.2%-52.9%] female; 46.5% [95% CI, 41.0%-52.0%] aged 15-17 years) had a history of medically diagnosed TBI and 32 377 individuals (96.4%; 54.0% [95% CI, 52.9%-55.1%] female; 51.7% [95% CI, 50.6%-52.8%] aged 6-11 years) had no TBI. Children and adolescents with TBI had a significantly higher prevalence of poor health than those without TBI (eg, current anxiety: 12.9% [95% CI, 9.3%-16.5%] vs 4.7% [95% CI, 4.3%-5.0%]; adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.38-2.43]). They had increased odds of current anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.87 [95% CI, 1.31-2.67]), depression (aOR, 1.98 [95% CI, 1.13-3.47]), frequent headaches (aOR, 7.76 [95% CI, 2.71-22.20]), and chronic pain (aOR, 3.99 [95% CI, 1.81-8.77]). Interaction analyses showed evidence of effect modification on the multiplicative (OR) scale for depression, with higher odds observed at moderate (aOR, 5.64 [95% CI, 1.13-28.20]; P = .04) and low (aOR, 6.41 [95% CI, 1.24-33.20]; P = .03) resilience levels compared with the reference group (no TBI × high resilience). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, family resilience was associated with variation in the association between TBI and depression. These findings support further investigation of family-focused rehabilitation approaches in prospective studies.

  PublisherDOI

• Safe@Campus Virtual Reality Training for Campus Shooting Preparedness: Prototype Development and Usability Study

  JMIR Formative Research · 2026-03-27

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Campus shootings, though infrequent, result in significant loss of life, psychological trauma, and disruption to university communities. Traditional preparedness programs developed for K-12 settings do not translate well to university environments. Virtual reality (VR) offers an immersive and engaging method to enhance situational awareness and decision-making during high-stress events. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop the Safe@Campus prototype, a theory-informed, stakeholder-engaged VR-based prototype designed to prepare university students to recognize and respond to campus shooting threats, and to evaluate its initial usability and feasibility among undergraduate students. METHODS: We followed a 2-phase, user-centered design process. Phase I (stakeholder-informed feasibility assessment and prototype refinement): through interviews with campus safety experts, firearm safety practitioners, school safety specialists, and students, we identified key content, scenario requirements, and implementation considerations. A 360-degree video-based VR prototype depicting an active shooter incident in a university classroom was developed using Unity3D, incorporating branching decision points aligned with the "run, hide, or fight" framework. Expert and user feedback guided iterative refinements. Phase II (student usability and acceptability testing): 2 focus groups with undergraduates at The Ohio State University (N=17) viewed a VR scenario and then participated in guided discussions about prior training experiences, the acceptability of VR, and recommendations for improvement. Transcripts were analyzed using constant comparative methods in ATLAS.ti (version 25). RESULTS: The first focus group comprised 8 students (n=5, 63% female; n=3, 38% White, n=4, 50% Asian/Asian American), and the second comprised 9 students (n=6, 67% female; n=6, 67% White). Across both groups, 82% (14/17) reported participating in active shooter drills during K-12 schooling, yet many felt these experiences did not adequately prepare them for the complexity of university environments. The following four major themes emerged: (1) prior experience with active shooter drills: K-12 drills varied widely in realism and left students uncertain about appropriate actions in university settings; (2) need for university-specific training: participants noted substantial gaps in preparedness and expressed strong support for required, standardized training; (3) perceived usefulness of VR: students found VR highly engaging, realistic, and effective for reinforcing situational awareness and decision-making; and (4) recommendations for prototype improvement: students suggested increasing interactivity, adding time-pressured decisions, expanding scenarios to diverse campus spaces, and integrating the program into required university activities such as orientation. CONCLUSIONS: Safe@Campus is a feasible, acceptable, and engaging VR-based approach to campus shooting preparedness. Students viewed the immersive, decision-driven format as an effective way to build practical skills not addressed by traditional training. Future development should expand scenario diversity, increase interactivity, and evaluate program effectiveness in larger trials.

  PublisherDOI

• Safe@Campus Virtual Reality Training for Campus Shooting Preparedness: Prototype Development and Usability Study (Preprint)

  2025-12-12

  articleOpen access

  <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Campus shootings, though infrequent, result in significant loss of life, psychological trauma, and disruption to university communities. Traditional preparedness programs developed for K-12 settings do not translate well to university environments. Virtual reality (VR) offers an immersive and engaging method to enhance situational awareness and decision-making during high-stress events. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This study aimed to develop the Safe@Campus prototype, a theory-informed, stakeholder-engaged VR-based prototype designed to prepare university students to recognize and respond to campus shooting threats, and to evaluate its initial usability and feasibility among undergraduate students. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> We followed a 2-phase, user-centered design process. Phase I (stakeholder-informed feasibility assessment and prototype refinement): through interviews with campus safety experts, firearm safety practitioners, school safety specialists, and students, we identified key content, scenario requirements, and implementation considerations. A 360-degree video–based VR prototype depicting an active shooter incident in a university classroom was developed using Unity3D, incorporating branching decision points aligned with the “run, hide, or fight” framework. Expert and user feedback guided iterative refinements. Phase II (student usability and acceptability testing): 2 focus groups with undergraduates at The Ohio State University (N=17) viewed a VR scenario and then participated in guided discussions about prior training experiences, the acceptability of VR, and recommendations for improvement. Transcripts were analyzed using constant comparative methods in ATLAS.ti (version 25). </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> The first focus group comprised 8 students (n=5, 63% female; n=3, 38% White, n=4, 50% Asian/Asian American), and the second comprised 9 students (n=6, 67% female; n=6, 67% White). Across both groups, 82% (14/17) reported participating in active shooter drills during K-12 schooling, yet many felt these experiences did not adequately prepare them for the complexity of university environments. The following four major themes emerged: (1) prior experience with active shooter drills: K-12 drills varied widely in realism and left students uncertain about appropriate actions in university settings; (2) need for university-specific training: participants noted substantial gaps in preparedness and expressed strong support for required, standardized training; (3) perceived usefulness of VR: students found VR highly engaging, realistic, and effective for reinforcing situational awareness and decision-making; and (4) recommendations for prototype improvement: students suggested increasing interactivity, adding time-pressured decisions, expanding scenarios to diverse campus spaces, and integrating the program into required university activities such as orientation. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Safe@Campus is a feasible, acceptable, and engaging VR-based approach to campus shooting preparedness. Students viewed the immersive, decision-driven format as an effective way to build practical skills not addressed by traditional training. Future development should expand scenario diversity, increase interactivity, and evaluate program effectiveness in larger trials. </sec> <sec> <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> <p/> </sec>

  PublisherDOI

• EP6.105 Recovery from Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Qualitative Study of Patients’ Experiences

  Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery · 2025-03-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Background: The incidence of hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has substantially increased in recent years. Hip arthroscopy for FAI generally results in good symptomatic relief and improved functioning, although prior studies have demonstrated variability in patient outcomes. Currently, no studies have used qualitative methods to understand the experiences of individuals recovering from hip arthroscopy for FAI, including the perceived impact of surgery and facilitators and barriers to the rehabilitation and recovery process. Understanding the experiences of individuals recovering from hip arthroscopy for FAI is critical for developing effective interventions and strategies to promote optimal function and recovery after surgery. Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews with 12 individuals (9 females and 3 males) aged 19-78 years old following hip arthroscopy for FAI. All interviews were conducted by phone approximately six weeks following surgery. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: We identified eight themes: (1) role of social support, (2) physical, social, and emotional needs throughout recovery, (3) emotional response to the rehabilitation process, (4) influence of mental health on recovery, (5) impact of surgery on quality of life and wellbeing, (6) barriers and facilitators to rehabilitation and recovery, (7) interventions to promote mental health throughout the rehabilitation and recovery process, and (8) advice for future hip arthroscopy patients. Conclusions: Hip arthroscopy can positively influence quality of life and wellbeing in individuals with FAI, although patients often experience challenges during the initial postoperative period. Meeting patients’ fundamental care and emotional needs are essential for positive patient experiences and optimal recovery. Individuals’ social support systems must also be considered throughout the rehabilitation and recovery process. Our findings suggest that individuals recovering from hip arthroscopy for FAI may benefit from interventions and resources that promote mental well-being and enhance social support throughout the rehabilitation and recovery process. As such, interventions and resources to enhance mental well-being and social support need to be developed for and tested in individuals recovering from hip arthroscopy for FAI.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Enhancing psychological wellbeing in hip surgery patients through psychological interventions: a scoping review

  BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · 2025-08-04 · 2 citations

  reviewOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Literature indicates that poor psychological wellbeing can have a negative impact on outcomes following hip surgery. However, limited information is available on psychological interventions for adults with a planned hip surgery. This study describes and synthesizes existing interventions to improve psychological wellbeing in hip surgery patients. METHODS: We conducted a search of articles using seven electronic databases: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. We included all original studies (n = 12) investigating psychological interventions for adults with a planned hip surgery or recovering from hip surgery. RESULTS: Most articles focused on adults aged > 60 and individuals recovering from total hip arthroplasty (n = 7). The interventions varied in approach, dose, delivery methods, and timing. The most used approach was self-efficacy enhancing interventions (n = 5) followed by patient education (n = 2) and motivation-based interventions (n = 2). Most interventions (n = 9) were delivered post-operatively either in-person or through a combination of in-person and telephone delivery. Two-thirds of the articles (n = 8) evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention in a randomized controlled trial, with studies varying in sample size and outcome measures. In general, results indicated that psychological interventions positively influenced patient-reported outcomes, including functional status and health-related quality of life, following hip surgery. CONCLUSION: Psychological interventions were generally found to be helpful in improving psychological wellbeing and patient-reported outcomes, such as functional status and health-related quality of life, following hip surgery. Several gaps in the literature were identified, highlighting the need for further research to strengthen the evidence base for psychological interventions in this population.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The impact of chronic pain on adolescents and their families: A qualitative investigation of parental perspectives

  Canadian Journal of Pain · 2025-12-08

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background: Understanding the experiences of parents of adolescents with chronic pain is crucial in creating a better experience for all involved throughout the adolescent's chronic pain journey. However, limited qualitative research has explored the experiences of parents of adolescents with chronic pain. Aims: This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of parents of adolescents with chronic pain, with a focus on the impact of chronic pain on their child and family life. Methods: We conducted 12 semi-structured interviews with parents of adolescents with chronic pain receiving care through a pain management program. Data were transcribed and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Seven key themes were generated and divided into two groups: (1) adolescent and (2) family (including both parents and siblings). Groups were determined based on whether the theme referred to the effect of chronic pain on the adolescent or the caregiver or family. The adolescent group included four themes: (1) physical, (2) psychological, (3) social interaction, and (4) school functioning. The family group included three themes: (1) disruption to daily life, (2) emotional, and (3) relationship dynamics. Conclusions: This study provides a deeper understanding of the negative effect chronic pain can have on adolescents and family life. Our findings call for interventions to mitigate the physical, psychological, and social impact of chronic pain on adolescents. Family level interventions are also needed to support families of adolescents with chronic pain. More research is needed to explore adolescents' own views of their experiences with chronic pain.

  PublisherDOI

• Parents’ Perspectives on the Use of Virtual Reality in Pediatric Chronic Pain Management: Qualitative Study

  Journal of Medical Internet Research · 2025-06-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background: Virtual reality (VR) technology holds significant potential for chronic pain management in children and adolescents by providing an alternative and complementary approach to traditional methods of alleviating pain and improving quality of life. Parents play an important role in the successful adoption of VR technologies for children, influencing how children accept, use, and benefit from it. However, little is known about parents' views on integrating VR technology into pediatric and adolescent chronic pain management. Objective: This study aimed to better our understanding of parents' perspectives regarding the integration of VR technology into pediatric and adolescent chronic pain management-including barriers, facilitators, and recommendations for future VR technologies. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with parents of children with chronic pain between March and November 2024. Key aspects of the discussion centered on the acceptability, barriers, and enablers of integrating VR technology into pediatric and adolescent chronic pain management. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. Results: We conducted 12 interviews. We identified four broad themes from the interview data: (1) views toward integrating VR technology into chronic pain management (perceived benefits, distraction, and redirection); (2) barriers to using VR technology for chronic pain management (accessibility, complexity, discomfort, and symptom exacerbation); (3) facilitators of integrating VR technology into chronic pain management (addressing financial barriers, integrating VR technology into clinical care, establishing evidence of effectiveness and showcasing positive patient experiences); and (4) recommendations for program content and features (relaxation and mindfulness, physical activity, customization, and social connection). Conclusions: Our findings underscore the perceived benefits of integrating VR technology into pediatric and adolescent chronic pain management to enhance physical, social, and mental health and well-being. However, there are several potential challenges that need to be addressed to improve the accessibility of VR technology for use in pediatric and adolescent chronic pain management. Our findings yielded several practical suggestions to guide the development of effective and equitable VR technology for chronic pain management in children and adolescents.

  PublisherDOI

• EP6.104 Lived experiences of patients scheduled to undergo hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement: A qualitative investigation

  Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery · 2025-03-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Background: Despite the increasing rate of hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), very little research has examined the lived experiences of individuals scheduled to undergo hip arthroscopy for FAI. The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of individuals aged 18 and older scheduled to undergo hip arthroscopy for FAI and to present the findings through their voices. Understanding the lived experiences of patients with FAI scheduled to undergo hip arthroscopy may inform the development of preoperative preparation programs that meet the needs of this vulnerable and growing population. Methods: We conducted 12 semi-structured phone interviews with individuals aged 18 and older with hip impingement (women = 9, men = 3, age = 39 ± 18.8 years). All participants were scheduled for a hip arthroscopy for FAI within 30 days of the interview. Interviews were conducted between March 2023 and February 2024. Data were analyzed using the methods of open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. Results: We identified 9 themes during data analysis, which we divided into 3 categories: impact of hip condition, attitudes towards surgery, and views about recovery. The impact of hip condition category included 4 themes: (1) pain, (2) emotional well-being, (3) activities of daily living, and (4) social support and coping strategies. The attitudes towards surgery category included 2 themes (1) initial feelings towards surgery and (2) preparation for surgery. The views about recovery category included 3 themes: (1) feelings about the initial postoperative period; (2) facilitators and barriers to recovery, and (3) goals for recovery. Conclusions: FAI can negatively impact quality of life, social participation, and emotional wellbeing. Our results support the need for interventions that promote social and emotional wellbeing in individuals scheduled for and recovering from hip arthroscopy for FAI. Additionally, our findings highlight that individuals with FAI often experience a range of emotions upon learning that they must undergo surgery. Preoperative preparation programs for individuals with FAI that seek to provide comprehensive emotional and cognitive preparation for hip arthroscopy and recovery from surgery may be warranted.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Lived experiences of individuals with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: a qualitative investigation

  Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research · 2025-11-05

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing rate of hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), very little research has examined the lived experiences of individuals scheduled to undergo hip arthroscopy for FAIS. This study aimed to understand the experiences of individuals aged 18 and older with a planned hip arthroscopy for FAIS and to present the findings through their voices. Understanding the lived experiences of patients with FAIS may inform the development of preoperative preparation programs that meet the needs of this growing population. METHODS: We conducted 12 semi-structured telephone interviews with individuals aged 18 and older with FAIS (women = 9, men = 3, age = 39 ± 18.8 years). All participants were scheduled for a hip arthroscopy for FAIS within 30 days of the interview. Interviews were conducted between March 2023 and February 2024. Data were analyzed using the methods of open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. RESULTS: We identified eight themes during data analysis, which we divided into three categories: impact of hip condition (chronic pain, emotional and mental well-being, activities of daily living), views toward surgery and the rehabilitation process (optimism, pessimism), and perceived facilitators to recovery following hip arthroscopy (information gathering, preparation for surgery, social support). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the need for interventions that promote social, emotional, and mental well-being in individuals with a planned hip arthroscopy for FAIS. Preoperative preparation programs that seek to provide comprehensive emotional and cognitive preparation for hip arthroscopy for FAIS and recovery from surgery may be warranted.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• EP6.103 Interventions to promote mental health and well-being in hip surgery patients: A scoping review

  Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery · 2025-03-01

  reviewOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Background: Literature indicates that poor mental health can have a profound negative impact on patient-reported outcomes following hip surgery. Despite this evidence, limited information is available on the extent and effectiveness of mental health interventions for adults undergoing hip surgery. Questions/Purposes: We performed this scoping review to describe and synthesize existing interventions to improve mental health in hip surgery patients. Methods: We conducted a search of articles using seven electronic databases: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. We included all original studies (n = 13) investigating mental health interventions for adults undergoing hip surgery. Results: A majority of the articles focused on adults aged &amp;gt;60 and individuals recovering from total hip arthroplasty (n = 7). The interventions varied in approach, dose, delivery methods, and timing. The most used approach was mindfulness (n = 6) followed by patient education (n = 5) and motivational interviewing (n = 1). Most interventions (n = 7) were delivered post-operatively either in-person or through a combination of in-person and telephone delivery. Over half of the articles (n = 7) evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention in a randomized controlled trial, with studies varying in sample size and outcome measures. In general, results indicated that mental health interventions positively influenced patient-reported outcomes, including functional status and health-related quality of life, following hip surgery. Conclusion: This review maps the current state of mental health interventions for adults undergoing hip surgery and identifies opportunities for future research. We identified gaps in current interventions, including the scarcity of studies on adults younger than 60 years of age, the absence of information on long-term effectiveness, and the need for mental health interventions that span the pre- and post-operative periods. Future research is essential to strengthen the evidence supporting the effectiveness of mental health interventions on patient-reported outcomes, such as functional status and health-related quality of life, among individuals undergoing or recovering from hip surgery.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Jingzhen Yang

  The Ohio State University

  61 shared

• Thomas L. Pommering

  The Ohio State University

  19 shared

• Lihong Huang

  The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University

  19 shared

• Keith Owen Yeates

  University of Calgary

  14 shared

• Lara B. McKenzie

  Nationwide Children's Hospital

  12 shared

• Michal Molcho

  Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway

  10 shared

• Lihong Huang

  Chongqing Medical University

  10 shared

• James MacDonald

  The Ohio State University

  9 shared