Participating in substance use treatments has been linked to positive outcomes for individuals released from jail or prison (Belenko et al., 2004; Evans et al. 2012). Conversely, risk-taking is one psychological factor associated with an increased likelihood of continuing substance use post-release, failure to initiate community-based services, and recidivism (Rieser et al., 2019; Taylor et al., 2013; Vazsonyi & Ksinan., 2017). The purpose of this current study was to investigate the role risk-taking has in explaining the relationship between engagement in substance use treatment and recidivism. Data were collected across three timepoints from 455 individuals undergoing residential substance use treatment. It is hypothesized that increased treatment participation will be associated with decreased risk taking, which, in turn, will lead to lower rates of recidivism at a three year follow up. This study extends the existing literature on the importance of treatment participation for individuals with substance use disorders involved with the criminal justice system. Interventions centered on combating risk-taking behavior may prove to have a crucial role in preventing recidivism post-release and therefore warrant the need for interventions targeting risk-taking as a primary mechanism of change.

According to Horton and Wohl (1956), parasocial relationships are considered to be “one-sided relationships in which a person develops a strong sense of connection, intimacy, or familiarity with someone they do not know, most often celebrities or media personalities.” A reason that parasocial relationships may be so popular is because they can help people feel connected to others resulting in less loneliness. These one-sided relationships are psychologically powerful, influencing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in ways that mirror two-sided relationships with friends and family (Lotun et al., 2024). Further, Goldman (2024) emphasizes how parasocial relationships fill a need; that by social scrolling, streaming shows, or following celebrities may tamp down loneliness or offer curated moments of connection. Thus, this may be a way that existentially isolated individuals try to meet their needs. Existential isolation (EI) is the feeling that no one understands your subjective worldview (Pinel et al., 2017). In previous literature, it has been shown that higher EI is associated with a person having greater depression, anxiety, and distress at baseline, as well as, having poorer therapy outcomes during and at the end of treatment (Constantino et al., 2023). To our knowledge, research on existential isolation and relationships remains in its early stages, but with the growing rise of artificial intelligence (AI), it is worth investigating the relationship between parasocialism, especially as to how people may form them with AI, and its association to existential isolation. This study will utilize a cross-sectional design to establish a preliminary link between feelings of existential isolation and strength of parasocial bond.

Progesterone is a female sex hormone that has been known to have anxiolytic, craving reducing, and sedative effects due largely to its major metabolite allopregnanolone. Women who are on hormonal birth control have low levels of progesterone and higher levels of a synthetic progestin that does not break down into allopregnanolone. Given this, we hypothesized that women on hormonal contraceptives (HC) will have greater alcohol craving compared to naturally cycling (NC) women due to lower levels of allopregnanolone. In a mixed model analysis, alcohol craving was compared across groups: manipulation (video with alcohol cues) versus control (neutral video), hormonal contraceptive (HC) users versus naturally cycling (NC) women, and before versus after watching the video. Participants were first asked about their current alcohol craving, such as how strong the participant’s urge to drink at the moment (0 = not at all, 100 = the most I’ve ever felt) and how likely the participant would drink that day (1 = not at all likely, 7 = extremely likely). Results revealed a significant increase in HC women’s reported intention to drink before and after the priming condition, but the same was not found in NC women. We conclude that HC women are more likely to drink alcohol when primed with an alcohol-related stimulus. This knowledge may encourage women to be more mindful of their drinking habits while also informing contraceptive developers to consider these potential side effects.

Research shows that a sense of belonging predicts meaning in life (Lambert et al., 2013). While psychologists have studied how individuals develop a sense of belonging with others, little attention has been given to the sense of belonging in time, or temporal rootedness (Baldwin & Keefer, 2020). Temporal rootedness has previously been defined as what makes people feel like they are living in the “right time” or that they “belong in the present.” Despite its positive link to well-being, its definition and content have remained unexplored. This study replicates Baldwin and Keefer (2020) to examine temporal rootedness and compare the themes that persist across time (i.e., 2020 and 2025). Additionally, this research will serve to help further define the construct, assist in creating a better operationalization of TR, and broaden manipulation techniques. A representative sample of participants (N = 386) was recruited via Prolific to describe their source of temporal rootedness and complete a questionnaire assessing time metaphors, human flourishing, existential isolation, social and economic conservatism, familiarity with technology, and perceived discrimination. These findings will improve our understanding of TR for future research.

The present study seeks to answer the research question: Are medical professionals who experience more existential isolation (EI) less empathetic toward their patients? We hypothesize that higher levels of existential isolation among medical professionals will be negatively associated with levels of self-reported empathy toward patients. Specifically, we predict that providers with greater EI will demonstrate lower scores on standardized measures of empathy, reflecting a reduced ability to connect with patients’ experiences. By investigating this relationship, the study will provide novel insight into how existential isolation may act as a psychological barrier to physician empathy. Results may inform future interventions aimed at reducing existential isolation or increasing empathy training, thereby strengthening the physician-patient relationship and ultimately improving patient care.