Motivations for Helping Professions: A Qualitative Study

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Kyra Howie Psychology Danica Knight Psychology Raya Shelashska Psychology
Advisor(s): Raya Shelashska Psychology
Location: Third Floor, Table 5, Position 3, 1:45-3:45

Abstract
Background. Understanding the motivations that drive individuals to pursue careers in helping professions is crucial for workforce recruitment, retention, and training, particularly in the child welfare sector. Despite the increasing demand for helping professionals, research on the factors influencing career decisions in this field remains limited. This qualitative study explores the motivations of individuals who become helping professionals, particularly those working with children and families affected by adversity.

Methods. The study included 398 helping professionals (M = 43.08 years, range = 22–70), with the majority identifying as female (87%) and white (80%). Participants represented various professional fields, including foster care and adoption (37%), clinical and counseling services (29%), education (16%), and juvenile justice (9%). Data were collected via Qualtrics surveys featuring open-ended questions, with one of them about career motivations (Why did you choose to be in a helping profession?). Thematic analysis was used to create a codebook and systematically analyze responses.

Results. Analysis identified five key themes underlying the motivations of helping professionals: Encouragement, Empowerment, Utilization of Own Experience, Inspiration, and Understanding. Encouragement involved fostering hope, recovery, prevention, connections, and growth. Empowerment reflected advocating for children, building trust, and amplifying voices. Utilization of Own Experience encompassed applying personal experience/trauma, empathy, and a helping mindset. Inspiration included passion, personal satisfaction, making a difference, and faith. Understanding captured the recognition of trauma’s impact and family influence in shaping individuals’ lives.

Conclusion. These findings offer valuable insights into the motivations that drive individuals to enter and remain in helping professions. By identifying core motivational factors, this study informs targeted recruitment strategies, supports retention efforts, and contributes to the development of training programs that align with professionals' values and career goals.

Sex Differences in Vagus Nerve Stimulation Sensitivity and Responsiveness

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Ally Jacobs Psychology Savannah Hastings Psychology
Advisor(s): Sarah Hill Psychology
Location: Basement, Table 10, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is a neuromodulation tool that is approved as a therapeutic for epilepsy, depression, migraines, stroke recovery, and opioid withdrawal. VNS is more effective for some individuals than others (Olsen et al., 2023). Person based factors that impact vagal activity, such as vagal tone, may contribute to variation in VNS efficacy (Geng et al., 2022). Further, sex-based differences have been found to modulate levels of vagal tone, as women show higher levels of vagal parasympathetic activity compared to men (Koenig and Thayer, 2016). Thus, the current study examines how participant sex (male v. female) impacts sensitivity (i.e., tolerance to the stimulation) and responsiveness, measured via heart rate variability (HRV), to VNS. Eligible participants from the TCU SONA pool used a lab computer to give consent and take a preliminary survey. Research assistants asked participants to put on a Polar Strap that connects to Kubios software to measure HRV. Trained graduate students then administered a taVNS procedure to stimulate the auricular branch of the vagus nerve via the left ear. The current study predicts that male participants will be able to tolerate higher levels of VNS and will have greater responsiveness to VNS than female participants. These findings have clinical implications to improve the efficacy of VNS for therapeutic use, to understand how sex-based differences relate to VNS sensitivity, and to see how VNS sensitivity impacts vagal activation.

Longitudinal Changes in Menstrual Cycle Knowledge among Women who use Menstrual Cycle Apps

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Maggie Lovoi Psychology Melissa Brillhart Psychology
Advisor(s): Sarah E. Hill Psychology
Location: Basement, Table 7, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

Historically, women’s health has been understudied. Unfortunately, improper research of women’s health can lead to unmet health care needs, health disparities, and differences in treatment access. This suggests that not only do women need more research about their health outcomes, but they also need more resources to supplement their knowledge about their own health outcomes. Therefore, the present research aimed to address this gap in the literature by assessing whether long-term usage of a menstrual cycle app, Flo, can improve women’s wellness and knowledge about the menstrual cycle. Participants were randomly assigned to receive Flo premium (experimental condition) or a pamphlet comprising of menstrual cycle information (control condition) before reporting their knowledge of menstrual cycle facts and own cycle knowledge. After having the pamphlet or Flo premium for two months, participants again reported their knowledge of menstrual cycle facts and own cycle knowledge. Results revealed women who used the Flo app gained more knowledge about their own menstrual cycle between survey 1 and survey 2, but women who received the pamphlet had no differences in their own cycle knowledge between survey 1 and survey 2. However, there were no differences in knowledge of menstrual cycle facts across time or between groups. Therefore, these findings suggest that menstrual cycle apps can improve women’s knowledge about their own bodies, but may not act as a tool for understanding facts about the menstrual cycle.

TBRI Practitioner Training Improvement Feedback

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Ava McConnell Psychology Carla Ayala Psychology Paige Hassel Psychology Norah Melton Psychology
Advisor(s): Carla Ayala Psychology Erin Razuri Psychology

Participant Experiences Across Four Years of TBRI Practitioner Training

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Norah Melton Psychology Carla Ayala Psychology Paige Hassel Psychology Ava McConnell Psychology
Advisor(s): Carla Ayala Psychology Erin Razuri Psychology
Location: Basement, Table 2, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) is an emerging therapeutic intervention technique for professionals working with children and youth who have experienced trauma, providing evidence-based strategies to address complex developmental needs. TBRI Practitioner Training is a key way that the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development equips professionals with strategies to support children's developmental potential and continue to expand the use of TBRI. Optimizing TBRI practitioner training to be impactful and accessible as participant needs change remains an ongoing challenge. This exploratory study examines participant feedback from TBRI practitioner training sessions to identify opportunities for improvement across delivery formats and content areas. The current study includes participants who were accepted into TBRI Practitioner Training from 2021-2024 (n = 1,907). The study utilizes data collected through a feedback survey sent out at the conclusion of the training. Thematic analysis and year-to-year comparisons of quantitative and qualitative data reveal several constructive themes including the importance of networking and the benefit of mentor groups. The survey highlights necessary changes needed to fit the changing needs of participants as time goes on and standards evolve. This research offers a vigorous foundation for data-driven improvements to TBRI practitioner training that align with evolving professional needs and delivery preferences.

The Effects of Interparental Marital Conflict on College Student Mental Health

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Madison Milligan Psychology
Advisor(s): Naomi Ekas Psychology
Location: FirstFloor, Table 5, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Marital conflict is a key factor in the quality of marriages (Gottman & Levenson, 1992; Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2005), and research shows that it is also pertinent to child functioning, affecting the mental health and behavioral outcomes of the children of marital partners (Buehler et al., 2009; O’Leary & Vidair, 2005; Tavassolie et al., 2016). Most of the past research examining the relationships between marital conflict and child functioning has examined couples with a child in the developmental stages of childhood and adolescence, with little research observing effects beyond adolescence. Emerging adulthood is a developmental period between the ages of 18-25 and is a crucial stage in the development of emotion regulation and suppression (Arnett, 2007; Zimmermann & Iwanski, 2014). Despite this, there is a lack of research observing the effects that marital conflict may have on the children of marital partners in emerging adulthood, a gap that the current study seeks to fill. The current study had three goals. First, it examined the association between parental marital conflict and the mental health outcomes of emerging adults, exploring whether specific conflict resolution strategies differentially influenced mental health outcomes. Second, it examined how parental reports of marital satisfaction relate to reports of marital conflict and strategy use and how these reports relate to emerging adult mental health outcomes. Finally, it aimed to add to existing research on discrepancies between mother, father, and child reports of marital conflict. The current study included 176 emerging adults (18-25 years old) and 163 of their parents, of which 90 were mothers and 73 were fathers. The children answered a series of questionnaires about their self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and their parents’ marital conflict. The parents answered a series of self-report questionnaires about their marital conflict, their marital satisfaction, and their and their partners’ resolution strategies. The results of the study have not yet been analyzed.

Impact of Trauma-Informed Training on Police Officer's Rape Myth Acceptance & Attitudes Towards Trauma-Informed Care

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Katie Nguyen Psychology
Advisor(s): Danica Knight Psychology
Location: Basement, Table 1, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

There has been limited research evaluating Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA) in police officers. However, previous research has suggested that although low levels of RMA have been found among police officers, specific myths such as victim credibility, are still prevalent. The endorsement of specific myths can be impactful as they can influence victim-blaming attitudes and case progression, along with reinforcing negative rape stereotypes (Sleath & Bull, 2017). Police officer's trainings have been held to address rape misconceptions; however, the long-term effectiveness of these trainings remain unclear (Darwinkel et al. 2013);(Sleath & Bull, 2017). As trauma informed-care has begun to emerge in the field of policing, there is a need for further research on how trauma-informed attitudes influence RMA in police officers (Lathan et al., 2019). The study aims to address (1) how RMA scores differ from police officers that have trauma-informed knowledge versus police officers who do not, and (2) the difference in attitudes towards trauma-informed care among officers who have trauma-informed knowledge versus those that do not. This study includes secondary data collected from a previous study recruiting police officers from across the state of Texas. A total of 108 police officers voluntarily completed the online Qualtrics survey that assessed their trauma-informed knowledge, attitudes towards trauma-informed care, and rape myth acceptance. Two t-tests were conducted to examine the differences between (1) trauma-informed knowledge and rape myth acceptance, and (2) trauma-informed knowledge and attitudes towards trauma-informed care. This study provides informative insights about the relationship between trauma-informed knowledge, trauma-informed attitudes, and rape myth accepts among police officers, which overall emphasizes the need for the continuous implementation of trauma-informed care in police officers.

Dilemmas of Morality: How Ethical Perspectives Drive Decision-Making

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Amanda Ochranek Psychology Paris Hayes Psychology Will Komar Psychology Adelaide Lovett Psychology Hailey Stuart Psychology
Advisor(s): Timothy Barth Psychology Kevin Diegel Psychology
Location: SecondFloor, Table 4, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

Moral decision-making is influenced by a range of ethical perspectives; yet little is known about how the more nuanced perspectives impact people's response to different moral dilemmas. The present study examines the predictive power of six ethical perspectives—Utilitarianism, Rights, Justice/Fairness, Common Good, Virtue, and Care—when predicting decision outcomes among 20 dilemmas divided into Sacrificial-Personal (SP), Sacrificial-Impersonal (SI), Contemporary-Personal (CP), and Contemporary-Impersonal (CI) types. Participants in the study comprised two different groups: Study 1 (N = 210) consisted of a sample of college students recruited through TCU’s Psychology Participant Pool, while Study 2 (N = 501) consisted of a general population sample recruited through CloudResearch.
The results indicate that contextual as well as population-specific characteristics drive ethical decision-making. Utilitarian ideals notably predicted the acceptance of sacrificial-impersonal situations, emphasizing the need to maximize group welfare. In contrast, Virtue and Care ethics were inversely related to sacrificial-personal choices, suggesting aversion to causing direct harm. Justice/Fairness and Rights-based ethics exhibited increased relevance in contemporary policy issues, echoing concerns for equity and individual rights. Study 2 also revealed that demographic variables of age, gender, political ideology, and religious affiliation contributed to ethical inclinations: young liberals exhibited a proclivity for Utilitarian and Justice/Fairness ideals, while older, conservative, and religious individuals preferred Virtue-based considerations.
The results highlight persistent disparities in moral judgment within various categories of dilemmas and demographic groups, depicting the effects of context-specific factors along with individual characteristics on ethical decision making. The findings provide additional insight into the workings of ethical perspectives within real-life moral dilemmas and policy decision making.

Existential Isolation and Dehumanization

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Rylie Owens Psychology Matthew Espinosa Psychology
Advisor(s): Cathy Cox Psychology
Location: Third Floor, Table 2, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

This study explored the relationship between existential isolation (EI) and dehumanization. Studies have shown existential isolation, or feeling alone in one’s experience, is associated with deficits in personal well-being, such as feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety, and lower levels of self-esteem. Other forms of isolation, such as social ostracism, have been associated with feelings of dehumanization, perceiving oneself or others as being “subhuman” or lacking essential human attributes. Given these associations, we wanted to test whether greater levels of EI were positively associated with dehumanizing perceptions. Across three studies surveying undergraduate students and adults, we found significant evidence of an association between high EI and greater self-dehumanization (perceiving oneself as subhuman), greater meta-dehumanization (perceiving others as subhuman), and lower moral goodness.

Sex Differences in Emotion Dysregulation and Impulsivity: Implications for Youth in the Legal System and Family Dynamics

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Olivia Pisaneschi Psychology
Advisor(s): Danica Knight Psychology Lillyan Shelley Psychology
Location: SecondFloor, Table 2, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Research indicates that sex differences are evident in most emotion regulation strategies including impulsivity, as measured by higher delayed discounting, even when controlling for substance use. Impulsivity, linked to deficits in self-control and delayed discounting, contributes to substance use and risk-taking behavior, with emotion dysregulation further reinforcing these patterns in youth. However, protective factors like parental support and monitoring can mitigate impulsivity by fostering moral reasoning and self-regulation, which encompasses emotion regulation, reducing risk of delinquency. A deeper understanding of emotion regulation and impulsivity can inform the development of more effective, tailored interventions for all youth in the legal system (YLS), focusing on self-control deficits and risk behaviors. This study examined sex-based variations in impulsivity and emotion regulation among YLS, while also looking at their link to substance use and family dynamics. Data utilized were from an ongoing 5-year longitudinal project with YLS. Hypotheses were tested through independent t-tests and Pearson’s correlation analyses. Despite prior research with adult samples, findings indicated no significant sex differences in emotion dysregulation or delayed discounting among YLS. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between family functioning, emotional regulation, and substance use. Specifically, emotional regulation difficulties correlated with poorer family functioning, which was also linked to higher substance use. These results may suggest that future interventions can apply similar strategies for both males and females; however, they should consider the role of family functioning in emotional regulation to mitigate impulsive behaviors and risk of delinquency.