Faculty Profile

Kristine Ajrouch

Kristine Ajrouch, PhD., MA

Research Professor, Research Center of Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research
Research Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity

Kristine J. Ajrouch is Research Professor in the Research Center of Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research where she co-directs the Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease (MCCFAD).  She also has a joint appointment as Research Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity, University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her research has focused, for over thirty years, on Middle Eastern and Arab populations in the U.S and Arab World.  Her areas of research include ethnic identity and immigrant adaptation; social relations and aging; Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia health disparities. She has been the recipient of a Fulbright award where she taught and conducted research in Lebanon. 

  • PhD, Wayne State University, Detroit
  • M.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • B. S., Wayne State University, Detroit
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship in Aging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • Social Relations
  • Aging and Life Course
  • Health Disparities
  • Culture
  • Arab, Middle Eastern and North African Populations

Ajrouch, K. J., Abuelezam, N. N., Kasravi, N., Read, J. G. (2025) Structural inequities and Middle Eastern and North African American Health in Systems that Impact Population Health: Past and Present, Washington DC: American Public Health Association Press

Ajrouch, K. J., Barada, F. M., Janevic, M. R., & Antonucci, T. C. (2024). Supporting Arab-American Families Living with Dementia: Testing a Culturally Adapted Program. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 07334648241281153

Ajrouch, K. J., Zahodne, L. B., Brauer, S., Tarraf, W., & Antonucci, T. C. (2024). COVID-19 Stress and Cognitive Disparities in Black, MENA and White Older Adults. The Gerontologist, gnae073

Ajrouch, K. J., Hu, R. X., Webster, N. J., & Antonucci, T. C. (2024). Friendship trajectories and health across the lifespan. Developmental Psychology, 60(1), 94–107

Nasser,  S., Ajrouch, K. J., Dallo, F. and Hakim-Larson, J. (eds.) (2023). Biopsychosocial  Perspectives on Arab Americans:  Culture, development, and health, 2nd edition, New York, NY: Springer Publications

Email: kajrouch@umich.edu

Phone: (734)764-8354

Institute for Social Research

426 Thompson

Rm. 5068

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Areas of Expertise: Aging,  Chronic Disease