Stigma is a pervasive issue in society, with stigmatizing language describing individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) negatively impacting coping effectiveness, treatment-seeking, and interpersonal relationships (Luoma et al., 2008). Previous research has found that labeling individuals with SUD is associated with public fear and desire for minimal social contact (Link et al., 1999). Additionally, stigmatization of this population has been associated with reduced support for public health policy and greater support for punitive policies (Kennedy-Hendricks et al., 2017). The current study examined whether the language used to describe an individual with SUD affects perceptions of social distance and support for treatment. Community members in Tarrant County were approached in public areas and invited to participate in a survey regarding individuals with SUD. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of two different vignettes written in either person-first language or stigmatizing language, then completed survey questions via tablet or QR code. We hypothesize that participants reading stigmatized language will report greater desired social distance from the individual with SUD and display less support for treatment engagement. These findings would suggest that efforts to reduce stigmatizing language in public discourse, such as media campaigns, healthcare training, and policy reform, are critical to fostering more supportive attitudes toward treatment and recovery for individuals with SUD.

Eighty percent of Americans feel like they "never have enough time." This phenomenon is referred to as time scarcity, or the feeling that we do not have enough time to do all that we want. According to Self Determination Theory, people need to feel like they can act in accordance to their values (autonomy), are able to master their environment (competence), and connect with others (relatedness) in order to thrive. It is hypothesized that when time feels restricted, our sense of autonomy,  competence, and relatedness is reduced. This study examines how time scarcity affects our meaning in life through the mediation of basic psychological needs. Two-hundred and thirty-six participants completed an online survey about time scarcity, time affluence, basic psychological needs, and meaning in life. Parallel mediation analyses reveal that time scarcity reduces autonomy and competence, which in turn reduces meaning if life, while time affluences increases autonomy and competence, which in turn increases meaning in life.

Throughout history, pathogens have posed a major threat to human survival. In response, humans have developed both physiological and behavioral defense mechanisms, including the immune system, which helps combat infections. Disgust serves as a crucial defense, preparing the body for exposure to potential pathogens before they enter the body. Since internal state changes redirect energy toward immune activity and healing, inflammatory responses may also influence willingness to exert effort in various contexts. This study examines how disgust affects effort exertion for rewards or to avoid costs. We hypothesize that disgust increases inflammation, which in turn reduces willingness to exert effort. We propose that this shift is driven by energy conservation due to an inflammatory response, rather than a reduced desire for rewards or avoidance of costs. Participants will be exposed to disgust-inducing stimuli while inflammatory markers (core body temperature, heart rate, and blood cytokines) are measured. Their willingness to exert effort for rewards or to avoid costs will also be assessed. Findings may offer insights into adaptive decision-making, clarifying how an immune response triggered by disgust impacts motivation and effort allocation. 

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) refers to the fear of bodily sensations typically associated with physiological arousal. High AS is a transdiagnostic predictor of poor mental health outcomes, such as panic disorder, other anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and overall functional impairment. Individuals with high AS may exhibit body hypervigilance, and in turn, be more likely to experience psychosomatic symptoms. A State of Surrender (SoS) refers to one's ability to accept what is to come without resistance and relinquish control. It has been associated with greater well-being, and preliminary data suggests it is negatively associated to anxiety and AS, mediated by distress tolerance. To further test this, we will recruit individuals on Prolific and randomly assign them to either a surrender-based meditation protocol or a control condition. We will measure functional somatic symptoms, trait anxiety, distress tolerance, self-efficacy, and anxiety sensitivity. We predict that individuals in the experimental condition will endorse less AS, mediated by self-reported SoS. We also predict that the effect will be greater for individuals with more somatic symptoms. Findings will suggest further exploration of acceptance-based treatment for individuals with high AS and other psychosomatic complaints.

Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period marked by increased independence, elevated social stress, and heightened susceptibility to mental health challenges. While digital device use is deeply embedded in their daily lives, its dynamic relationship with physiological functioning and mental health remains scare. Traditional retrospective self-reports cannot capture the objective, real-time, and complicate interactions between these factors. With the Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and passive sensing techniques, we can overcome these obstacles and reveal the interactions between these factors in daily life.
This prospective, observational study aims to investigate the associations between phone use, physiological functioning, and mental health wellbeing among college students. Specifically, we aim to: 1) identify smartphone usage and physiological functions associated with between-person differences in mental health symptoms; 2) evaluate concurrent associations between individuals’ smartphone usage, physiological functions, and mental health symptoms; and 3) evaluate the time-lagged, mediating pathways of physiological functions (sleep duration and HRV) between smartphone use and next-day mental health symptoms.
We propose the recruitment of 100 undergraduate students aged 18-22 for a 28-day intensive longitudinal study. At baseline, participants will complete demographics survey and a series of assessments regarding their mental health. After the study takes place as physiological function (e.g., blood pressure, HRV, sleep quality, etc.) will be continuously measured via wearable devices Garmin Vivoactive Smartwatch. Digital behavior will also be measured via AWARE framework app installed and activated in the background of participants’ smartphones to passively record screen time and app use patterns. EMA will be provided 3 times a day (9am, 1pm, 6pm) to capture participants’ daily mental health. At the end of the 28-day period, a post-study assessment will re-administer mental health measures to evaluate change over time.
We anticipate specific digital and physiological patterns in distinguishing individuals' symptoms. First, at the between-person level, higher average daily screen time and greater evening smartphone use will be associated with elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms, while better physiological functioning, such as higher HRV and sleep quality, will be associated with alleviated depressive and anxiety symptoms. Second, at the within-person, concurrent level, days characterized by increased smartphone use and lower HRV will associate with higher stress and negative affect. Third we hypothesize a significant time-lagged mediation that elevated social media use will predict HRV and disrupted sleep, which in turn will prospectively predict (acute stress, negative affect, and depressive level) the following day.
Such findings will inform the development of scalable, data-driven models for early risk detection and support the creation of just-in-time intervention strategies to improve mental health outcomes for college students.