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.