Changes in Wellness Among Women Who Discontinue Using Hormonal Birth Control

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Adison Sokolosky Psychology Melissa Brillhart Psychology
Advisor(s): Sarah Hill Psychology

Research looking at the association between hormonal birth control and mental health outcomes has primarily looked at what happens to women when they start using hormonal birth control. However, researchers have not begun to delve deep into the influence of discontinuing hormonal birth control on women’s mental health outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap in the literature by investigating mental health outcomes of those who have discontinued hormonal birth control. Participants included women who had never used hormonal birth control (HBC), were currently using hormonal birth control, or had discontinued using hormonal birth control. All participants answered survey questions related to their current mental health outcomes. Results revealed that there were no differences in trait anxiety between never HBC users, current HBC users, or previous HBC users. However, there were differences in depression levels among the groups, such that individuals who had never used HBC reported higher levels of depression than previous HBC users. Therefore, these findings suggest that hormonal birth control usage may act as a neuroprotective intervention against depression during a developmentally critical time in which mood disorders commonly arise.

A Zebra Finch's Lateral Eye View of Self Recognition: Studying Cognition Through Songs and Mirror

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Maria Solis Psychology Andrew Magee Psychology
Advisor(s): Brenton Cooper Psychology

Self-recognition is a key indicator of higher cognitive processing and is atypical in children with autism spectrum disorder. A normal hallmark of typical social development requires knowledge of self and others. Self-recognition has been tested in a variety of different species and has been seen in a small number of mammals, birds, and fish. It is classically demonstrated by visual recognition using the mirror mark test. Parishar et al. (2021) previously examined self-recognition in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), and despite some potentially promising findings, none of the birds in their experiments passed the mirror mark test. This study sought to extend previous research by exploring whether zebra finches demonstrate self-recognition using a more thorough and exhaustive procedure exposing zebra finches to a mirror following the application of visible mark. Six male zebra finches were habituated to an experimental cage and were exposed to four different conditions (mirror, male bird, female bird, control). Then, two analyses were performed: Experiment 1 examined whether zebra finches change the spectrotemporal features of song in each of the four conditions, and Experiment 2 assessed whether birds attempted to inspect or remove a mark only visible when birds viewed their reflection in a mirror in each condition. Observations suggest that some birds may show attention towards the mark test because as seen by mark-directed behavior. Song characteristics will be explored to determine if zebra finches modify their song structure when facing a mirror compared to singing to a male bird, a female bird, or an empty cage (control). This would provide evidence supporting self-recognition if the singing behavior directed toward the mirror is distinct from that toward a conspecific. This study explores whether self-recognition is observed in zebra finches, providing insight into evolutionary and cognitive mechanisms of self-recognition that can be used for future studies in the neurobiology of social and cognitive behaviors.

Existential Isolation and Its Impact on Empathy and Perspective Taking

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Emily Spinning Psychology Cathy Cox Psychology Matthew Espinosa Psychology
Advisor(s): Cathy Cox Psychology

Existential Isolation and Its Impact on Empathy and Perspective Taking

Existential Isolation (EI) is the experience of feeling as though you are alone in your experience of the world; and that those around you do not share or understand your experiences. Past research demonstrates that EI is associated with negative influences on personal well-being including: loneliness, depression, anxiety, and lower levels of self-esteem. The impact of EI on our interactions or perceptions of others is less known and understood. Individuals that feel existentially isolated perceive a disconnect between how they experience the world and how others experience the world. Due to this disconnect, people with higher levels of EI may have difficulty taking the perspective of others or “walking in someone else’s shoes”. Perspective taking is a vital cognitive factor for feeling empathetic towards others. To explore if EI is associated with less empathy for others due to a difficulty in perspective taking, 186 undergraduate students were presented with three short stories depicting someone experiencing stress (e.g., recently experienced the death of a parent), and asked to try taking the perspective of the people in the stories. Results indicated that people who reported greater feelings of EI also reported greater difficulty with perspective taking and, subsequently, reported feeling less empathy for the people in the stories. These findings suggest that EI may inhibit people’s feelings of empathy due to increasing their difficulty with perspective taking. The implications of these findings for the role of EI in helping and supporting behaviors are discussed.

Existential Isolation and Its Impact on Empathy and Perspective Taking

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Emily Spinning Psychology Cathy Cox Psychology Matthew Espinosa Psychology
Advisor(s): Cathy Cox Psychology

Existential Isolation and Its Impact on Empathy and Perspective Taking

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Psychology
Advisor(s): Cathy Cox Psychology

The Independent Relationships Between Emotion Dysregulation and Anxiety on Marijuana Use for Youth in the Legal System

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Jessie Swartz Psychology Danica Knight Psychology Lillyan Shelley Psychology
Advisor(s): Danica Knight Psychology

In conjunction with the legalization of medical marijuana, there has been an increase in recreational marijuana use among youth. In 2016, marijuana use for youth in the legal system (YLS) hit a high of 64%, which far exceeded the 11% rate for youth outside the legal system. Youth that frequently or occasionally use marijuana are linked to adverse health problems, including both physical and emotional, and have poor school outcomes. Prior research has found that youth who use marijuana are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation and higher levels of anxiety. Higher anxiety levels have been linked to greater marijuana use, more significant anxiety symptoms, and increases in anxiety over time. This is concerning as research shows that youth with higher levels of anxiety sensitivity, or fear of anxiety, used marijuana to detach or manage emotional distress. Due to the risks associated with cannabis use, this study examined marijuana use among a sample of YLS, specifically looking at its connection to both emotion dysregulation and anxiety. Data were utilized over three timepoints (i.e., baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up) from a 5-year longitudinal study. Consistent with prior research, it is expected that there would be a positive relationship between anxiety and marijuana use, as well as emotion dysregulation and marijuana use. Utilizing Pearson’s correlations, results indicated a significant negative relationship between marijuana use and the emotion dysregulation subscale of nonacceptance at baseline. However, there were no significant relationship between marijuana use and anxiety. At month 3 follow-up, there were significant positive relationships between marijuana use and anxiety, as well as marijuana use and emotion dysregulation for total scores and the nonacceptance subscale. At the month 6 follow-up, results indicated a positive relationship between marijuana use and anxiety. However, there was no longer a significant relationship between marijuana use and emotion dysregulation. These preliminary results suggest there is a complicated relationship between emotion dysregulation and anxiety when it comes to marijuana use. Future research should continue examining these relationships to better inform intervention work.

Bleeding Votes: The power of period imagery in politics.

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Bao Han Tran Psychology Cathy Cox Psychology
Advisor(s): Cathy Cox Psychology

Menstruation is stigmatized in many areas of society, often leading to distancing behavior and increased objectification of women. This is commonly reflected in the widespread use of euphemisms, or metaphors, for menstruation. According to conceptual metaphor theory, a society is shaped by the metaphors it adopts. When menstruation metaphors are used in a political context, it raises questions about whether their harmful connotations affect political appeal and broader societal implications. This study explores the power of menstrual metaphors in political attack ads, specifically focussing on the “Tampon Tim” campaign. Participants were randomly assigned to view one of three political ads (i.e., metaphor, non-metaphor, and neutral) and answer questions about ad appeal and individual differences. Results support our hypothesis that menstruation metaphors influence political opinions.

Increasing PrEP Access for Black Women: The Role of Beauty Professionals in HIV Prevention Education

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Stephanie Villaire Psychology Sakina Ghafoor Psychology Savannah Hastings Psychology Quinceola Reid Psychology
Advisor(s): Kevin Knight Psychology Pamela Carey Psychology Randi Proffittt Psychology

Among women in Texas, Black women account for 56% of new HIV infections. However, Black individuals receive only 14% of prescriptions for PrEP, a medication that prevents HIV transmission. In an effort to increase PrEP uptake among Black women, the Beauty Shop Study engages beauty professionals as trusted community members, equipping them to provide sexual health education to their clients. Clients are then connected with the TCU Mobile Health Unit for service delivery and/or referral coordination. In the initial phase, the study collected Beauty Shop Study needs assessment data from 32 beauty professionals in North Texas, exploring their experiences discussing sexual health and related topics with their clients. The current study will present these findings to highlight community readiness and the importance of the Beauty Shop Study.

The anxiety acceptance paradox: State of surrender reduces anxiety sensitivity via distress tolerance

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Michael Wrucke Psychology
Advisor(s): Thomas Sease Psychology Cathy Cox Psychology

Problem: Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) refers to the fear of anxiety related feelings and their consequences and is observed at high levels in those with anxiety and panic disorders (Olatunji & Wolitzky-Taylor, 2009). These individuals oftentimes have a propensity to detect changes in bodily sensations and interpret them as negative or catastrophic, creating a positive feedback loop that predicts panic attacks and maladaptive coping behaviors such as avoidance (Schmidt et al., 1997; Berman et al., 2010).

Mindfulness has been shown to be a promising intervention in reducing anxiety sensitivity (Alimedhi et al., 2016). While the exact mechanism is unclear, mindfulness is designed to create an attitude of acceptance which may allow one to notice bodily sensations without judgement. State of Surrender (SoS), while distinct from mindfulness, promotes a similar acceptance and refers to one’s ability to accept what is to come without resistance and to relinquish control (Sease et al., 2024). SoS is an important construct in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which has been shown to reduce anxiety sensitivity, although the research is limited (Aghel Masjedi et al., 2020).

No current research has examined the effects of SoS on anxiety sensitivity. First, an exploratory analysis was conducted examining the relationship between SoS and anxiety sensitivity, as well as other variables that may affect the relationship, such as distress tolerance and difficulty in emotion regulation. This study was used to

Method: Participants (N = 263) were recruited using CloudResearch MTurk Toolkit from Amazon Mechanical Turk, and completed an online survey which included state of surrender (short SoS scale), anxiety sensitivity (ASI-3), distress tolerance (DTS), difficulty in emotion regulation (DERS-16), trait anxiety (STAI-Y), arousal predisposition (APS), and demographics. Pearson’s r correlations were conducted to examine the relationship between variables and mediation analysis was used to build a model.

Results: While the results showed no significant correlation between SoS and anxiety sensitivity, exploratory post-hoc analysis revealed that distress tolerance (absorption dimension, specifically) was found to be a significant mediator between SoS and anxiety sensitivity, such that SoS was a positive predictor of distress tolerance absorption, which in turn, was a negative predictor of anxiety sensitivity.

Conclusions: The results revealed a significant mediational model in which distress tolerance absorption mediates the relationship between SoS and anxiety sensitivity. Distress tolerance absorption refers to one’s ability to experience negative emotions without allowing the feelings to absorb their attention, and has been shown to be enhanced by mindfulness practice (Cougle et al., 2013; Nila et al., 2016). However, the effects of SoS have not been studied. Further research is warranted, as the model would prove meaningful if a causal mechanism could be determined experimentally, in that relinquishing control leads to an ability to experience negative emotions without absorbing one’s attention, which in turn, decreases catastrophic appraisal of anxiety related sensations. Broader implications may include the use of ACT to reduce anxiety sensitivity.

Effects of Sensory Modality in a Visual Working Memory Task in Pigeons

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Hampton Zidlicky Psychology Ashley Kyle Psychology John Solorzano Restrepo Psychology Brianna Vaughan Psychology
Advisor(s): Kenneth Leising Psychology

Prior research has found that visual cues presented before (pre) or after (retro) an object improve object properties recognition, like identity (what it is) and spatial location (where it is), in humans (Griffin & Nobre, 2003) and monkeys (Brady & Hampton, 2018). However, this has not yet been tested in other species or using other cue modalities (e.g., auditory). The current experiment will analyze the effect of visual and auditory cues on object recognition in 6 pigeons, explicitly examining how these cues influence identity and spatial location processing in a visual working memory task.

Pigeons will perform a change detection task,in a Plexiglas chamber with a monitor, touch screen, and speakers. In each trial, the subject will peck a white crosshair on the center of the screen to start. After 1500 ms, a sample pair of colored circles will appear on the left and right sides of the screen for 5000 ms. After a 1500 ms delay, a test stimulus will be displayed on the screen’s left or right side. Pigeons must compare the test stimulus to the sample previously presented on the same side of the screen. During some trials, pigeons will receive pre- or retro-cue signaling which sample stimulus will be tested (e.g., the one displayed on the left). For half of the pigeons, the cues will be different frequency sounds (auditory group), and for the rest, colored backgrounds (visual group). It is predicted that the auditory group will have higher accuracy than the visual group, suggesting auditory cues may enhance recognition of visual objects more than visual cues.

Goats in the Garden: Sustainable Grazing for Ecological Restoration and Land Management

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Taryn Mitchell Ranch Management Sebastian Ranch Management Brooke Best Ranch Management
Advisor(s): Jeffrey Geider Ranch Management

Invasive plant species significantly impact native ecosystems by outcompeting indigenous flora, reducing biodiversity, and disrupting the delicate ecological equilibrium. In collaboration with the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, this research study evaluated the efficacy of utilizing sheep and goats as a sustainable grazing strategy to mitigate invasive plant species within the garden.

Vegetation analyses, specifically vegetative cover and species richness, of pre- and post-grazing indicated an initial decline in plant species richness. However, based on prior studies, plant succession and resilience are anticipated to rebound in the grazed areas over time (Booth & Skelton, 2009; Rathfon et al., 2021). The research findings also indicated environmental and operational benefits, including reduced labor costs, minimized chemical inputs, decreased noise pollution, and mimicked historical ecological processes that have been found to improve soil health and biodiversity. The findings from this research emphasize the targeted use of livestock grazing as a sustainable land management practice. This case study highlights the benefits of integrating controlled livestock grazing into public garden maintenance protocols. Furthermore, this research contributes to the existing literature regarding sustainable land management and the role of livestock in controlling invasive species and restoring ecosystems.

References

Booth, A. L., & Skelton, N. W. (2009). The use of domestic goats and vinegar as municipal weed control alternatives. Environmental Practice, 11(1), 3-16. DOI:10.1017/S1466046609090012

Rathfon, R. A., Greenler, S. M., & Jenkins, M. A. (2021). Effects of prescribed grazing by goats on non‐native invasive shrubs and native plant species in a mixed‐hardwood forest. Restoration Ecology, 29(4).

https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13361

Native Grassland Stewardship: An Archetype for Sustainable Management

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Riley O'Connor Ranch Management Brooke Best Ranch Management Kelton Eason Ranch Management Jeffrey Geider Ranch Management Ashley Titus Ranch Management
Advisor(s): Jeffrey Geider Ranch Management

Native Grassland Stewardship: An Archetype for Sustainable Management

Fort Worth, Texas, encompasses two significant tallgrass prairie ecosystems: the Blackland Prairie and the less-studied Fort Worth Prairie. Currently, less than 1% of these prairies remain due to escalating urban expansion, unsustainable agricultural practices, and the growth of the energy sector (Robison et al., 1995). With over 93% of Texas land under private ownership, effective conservation strategies must inclusively engage all stakeholders, notably land managers (Texas Parks and Wildlife, 2025). This study aims to develop a comprehensive management plan for the native prairie ecosystem located within the Botanical Research Institute of Texas at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. The proposed plan is designed to act as an archetype for regeneratively managed prairies and ranches.
Field methodologies encompassed a detailed vegetation survey, forage-clipping analyses, and identification of dominant species. From an ecological perspective, this research emphasizes the critical role of adaptive management in restoring native ecosystems, fostering responsible land stewardship, and promoting public engagement in grassland conservation. The findings aim to contribute practical insights for landowners, conservationists, and policymakers dedicated to preserving and sustainably managing tallgrass prairies in North Texas.

Keywords: Prairie Conversation, Adaptive Management, Sustainable Grazing, Ranch Management

References
Robison, R., White, D. B., & Meyer, M. H. (1995). Plants in Prairie Communities. St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/93930.
Texas Parks and Wildlife. (2025). Private Landowners and Listed Species. https://tpwd.texas.gov/wildlife/wildlife-diversity/nongame/listed-species/private-landowners-and-listed-species/

Beef for Bees: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Undergraduate Students' Efficacy and Experiences in Experiential Learning

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Ashley Titus Interdisciplinary Jeff Geider Ranch Management Megan O'Connell Interdisciplinary Molly Weinburgh Interdisciplinary
Advisor(s): Jeff Geider Ranch Management

Having Your Cake & Eating It, Too: A Mixed Methods Study of Community (Citizen) Science in Higher Education

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Ashley Titus Interdisciplinary Jeff Geider Ranch Management Megan O'Connell Biology Molly Weinburgh Interdisciplinary
Advisor(s): Jeff Geider Ranch Management

Experiential learning in higher education is often undervalued due to perceived logistical challenges and concerns that reducing time spent in classroom lectures will lead to diminished student content knowledge, especially in science-intensive curricula. This mixed-methods dissertation study challenges this assumption by exploring the experiences and impact of a community (citizen) science intervention on undergraduate students’ self-efficacy in scientific learning, practice, and environmental action. The dissertation research was guided by two central questions: (1) To what degree do undergraduate students’ self-efficacy for learning and doing science and environmental action change after engaging in a community science intervention? and (2) How do the students explain their experiences with the community science intervention?

The eight-week intervention was conducted at a private university in the fall of 2022 and 2023 as part of a core curriculum course offered for majors and non-majoring undergraduate students through a Ranch Management department. The 34 participants (N = 34) were selected based on course enrollment, and the data sources included (a) pre- and post-intervention surveys and (b) student artifacts (such as discussion posts, reflection papers, and opinion papers). The integrated findings indicate that engagement in the community science intervention significantly increased students’ self-efficacy for learning and doing science and improved undergraduate students’ content knowledge, environmental collective efficacy, personal agency, and critical scientific literacy. These results highlight the potential benefits of incorporating community science curricula within higher education courses and the capacity of experiential learning to enhance content comprehension, foster higher-order cognitive processes, and cultivate pro-environmental behaviors.