The Impact of Childhood Unpredictability on Sleep Quality: The Mediating Role of Unpredictability Beliefs

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Karla Fuentes Psychology
Advisor(s): Thomas Sease Psychology

Sleep quality refers to an individual's overall feeling of restfulness. Lower sleep quality is reported in many psychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. In addition to the relationship between traumatic life experiences and sleep quality, childhood unpredictability—one’s perceived level of uncertainty in their environment as a child—has been noted to impact one’s quality of sleep. This study will seek to examine whether participants’ childhood unpredictability is related to sleep quality. Furthermore, we are looking to see if unpredictability beliefs could serve as a mediating variable between childhood unpredictability and sleep quality. The implications of this study include the identification of a psychological process that could be intervened upon to improve sleep quality in general and clinical samples with a history of childhood unpredictability.

Public Perceptions of Stigma to Seeking Mental Health Treatment

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Lila Golden Psychology Brooke Blakeney Psychology Ava Burton Psychology Reese Carpenter Psychology Taren Duffy Psychology Jasmine Durrant Psychology Destyni Ellis Psychology Brianna Pitz Psychology Victoria Tucker Psychology
Advisor(s): Amanda Sease Psychology Kevin Knight Psychology

In 2022, over 50 million adults were diagnosed with a mental illness, however, only half of those individuals received mental health care. This marked disparity between diagnosis and service utilization reflects the need to understand barriers impeding individuals from seeking mental health treatment. One commonly experienced barrier to seeking treatment is stigma. Stigma can result from cultural attitudes to structural limitations within communities which impacts how its members seek and interact with mental health services. Community-based research is necessary to understand the nuances regarding barriers within specific communities and the impact of sociodemographic factors on the perceived level of stigma. This direct work with communities helps identify various lived experiences and identify where stigma is most prevalent. Participants were recruited at community centers, bus stops, and public parks in Tarrant County (N = 77) and asked to complete a brief paper survey. Analysis demonstrated that males reported higher levels of stigma towards seeking mental health treatment compared to females. No other comparisons of sociodemographic variables were statistically significant. These results suggest that interventions targeting mental health treatment engagement in Tarrant County should target stigma primarily among males. Further research is needed to understand other barriers within this community to seeking mental health treatment.

Impact of food insecurity on anxiety-like behavior and spatial memory in old-age C57BL/6J mice

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Logun Gunderson Psychology Morgan Bertrand Biology Faith Harms-Zacharias Psychology Katie Robb Psychology
Advisor(s): Gary Boehm Psychology Michael Chumley Biology

Food insecurity affects more than 6 million households with children in the U.S., the majority of which are insecure without hunger. Food insecurity and the accompanying chronic unpredictability are associated with significant negative health outcomes, such as impaired immune function, anxiety/eating disorders, malnutrition, and delayed language acquisition. To explore the connection between the unpredictability of a food source and cognitive impairments, prior studies have attempted to model food insecurity in rodent models. An ideal study design to answer this question would expose mice to a truly unpredictable food source for an extended period and assess their behavior for any significant changes, but most of the prior work has not been able to make a truly unpredictable food source which limits the generalizability of their findings. To address these limitations, the present study aimed to ensure that the rodent's food source was truly unpredictable by randomly assigning periods of limited food access across each week of the study. 18-month-old male and female C57BL/6J mice were either given ad libitum food access or were food insecure, where their otherwise full food-hopper would be reduced to 25% of their baseline consumption two randomly selected nights each week until the following morning. At 21 months, the mice underwent a battery of behavioral tests, including the open field test, elevated-zero maze, and novel object location task, to assess anxiety-like behavior and spatial memory capabilities. While insecurely-fed male mice were trending towards displaying more anxiety-like behavior than their securely-fed counterparts, we found no significant impact of food insecurity on anxiety-like behavior or spatial memory capabilities. Taken together, this study provides a more complete analysis of the behavioral changes due to a truly unpredictable food source, which more closely represents the environment of those living with food insecurity, and highlights areas to improve the model for future investigations.

Uncovering Substance Use Dynamics: A Study of Incarcerated Youth

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Emily Hardin Psychology Danica Knight Psychology Lillyan Shelley Psychology
Advisor(s): Danica Knight Psychology

Substance use among adolescents, particularly those in the juvenile justice (JJ) system, remains a critical public health issue with serious long-term consequences. Adolescents in JJ facilities face a heightened risk of developing substance use disorders (SUDs) and are more likely to experience negative outcomes such as mental health challenges and re-incarceration. Identifying substance use patterns in this population is essential for developing targeted treatment and intervention strategies that can mitigate these risks. This study examines the prevalence and patterns of substance use among incarcerated youth, focusing on how these patterns, as well as changes in use over time, relate to treatment needs. Data were analyzed from the Leveraging Safe Adults (LeSA) project, a 5-year longitudinal study evaluating the effectiveness of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) in reducing opioid use among youth after release from JJ facilities. Quantitative methods, including frequencies, cross-tabulations, and ANCOVAs, were used to analyze survey data. Results at baseline (N = 250) indicate that incarcerated youth report most frequent use of marijuana and alcohol and identify marijuana as the most problematic substance for them. However, a general decrease in marijuana and alcohol use was observed at a 3-month follow-up (n = 90) and 6-month follow-up (n = 60). These findings suggest a need for targeted interventions focused on marijuana use and provide preliminary evidence that substance use patterns in this population can improve over time. Findings could inform future interventions designed to address the unique challenges faced by adolescents within the juvenile justice system.

Histological analysis of peripheral tissues following Typical American (TAD) or Mediterranean (MD) diet consumption in C57BL/6J mice.

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Faith Harms-Zacharias Psychology Skye Duncan Biology Sara Gabriel Biology Ashish Rana Psychology
Advisor(s): Gary Boehm Psychology Michael Chumley Biology

At least 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and above are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as of 2024, and that number is only expected to increase as the aging population grows. The exact cause of AD has yet to be discovered, but there are several significant risk factors such as sleep deprivation, a lack of exercise, and diet quality. Our lab has investigated diet quality in relation to AD pathology through the creation of two representative diets, the Typical American Diet (TAD) and the Mediterranean Diet (MD). These diets are calorically matched and are used to investigate their long- and short-term effects on Alzheimer’s pathology in C57BL/6J mice. To follow up on a previous study that used 6 months of diet exposure to explore the longer-term effects of these diets, groups of mice were fed either the TAD or MD for 3 months, beginning at 4 months of age, to better understand the short-term effects. This project then conducted histological analysis on the colon, liver, and gonadal white adipose tissue using different histological techniques. Specifically, a cryostat and microtome were used to prepare the tissue samples, and they were stained using Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Oil Red O. Samples were then examined using confocal microscopy, and tissues from each diet were compared and analysed. We found that 3 months of diet led to excess hepatic lipid deposition, as was found in the 6-month study. Additionally, the 6-month study suggested that the TAD may have induced an insulin resistance (IR) state, so gonadal white adipose tissue was examined to explore adipocyte expansion after 3 months on diet. Preliminary colon histology was conducted to begin the exploration into gut dysbiosis and inflammation and the connection to Alzheimer’s pathology. This study presents novel histological evidence of the impact of diet quality on peripheral tissue in relation to Alzheimer’s disease.

Sector Diversity in Trust Based Relationship Intervention Practitioners

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Paige Hassel Psychology Carla Ayala Psychology Erin Razuri Psychology
Advisor(s): Carla Ayala Psychology Erin Razuri Psychology

Sector diversity in professional training programs is a crucial factor in expanding the reach and effectiveness of trauma-informed interventions across multiple disciplines. This exploratory study examines the year-to-year expansion of sector diversity in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner Training from 2019 to 2024. Data from 4,048 participants across six years of training sessions were analyzed to assess trends in sector representation across 16 professional categories. Annual participant counts ranged from 498 in 2020 to 1,229 in 2024. Findings indicate a gradual diversification of professional representation, with juvenile justice, sex trafficking, corrections, international outreach, and medical professional sectors remaining underrepresented. These insights highlight areas requiring targeted outreach to enhance the inclusion of diverse professional backgrounds in future training cohorts. The study contributes to understanding trends in professional diversity within TBRI training and informs future recruitment strategies for underrepresented sectors.

Increasing Access to PrEP for Women of Color by Leveraging Beauty Shops as Community Health Hubs with Women's Healthcare Delivery: The Beauty Shop Study

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Savannah Hastings Psychology Pam Carey Psychology Sarah Gonzalez Psychology McKynzie Johnson Psychology Randi Proffitt Psychology Stephanie Villaire Psychology
Advisor(s): Kevin Knight Psychology

Each year, Black women are disproportionately affected by new HIV diagnoses. Recent data of HIV cases in Texas indicate that approximately 56% of new HIV cases in women occur in Black women, despite them making up only 13% of the female population in the state. This stark disparity highlights the need for targeted interventions that address the barriers to accessing sexual health resources, including HIV prevention services. The Beauty Shop Study seeks to address these gaps by leveraging beauty professionals as trusted community health advocates (CHAs). These CHAs facilitate sexual health conversations and connect clients with essential healthcare services. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the two combined interventions: (a) using beauty shops as community health hubs and (b) providing healthcare through either a mobile health unit (MHU) or a referral coordinator. Participants engage in three visits with a research assistant across 6 months, which include interviews and specimen collection. In Tarrant County, participants have access to a MHU for 3 months, while in Dallas County, participants receive support from referral coordinators for the same duration. Recruitment for the present study presented several challenges, including the ineffectiveness of virtual training for CHAs and the inability to accept snowball referrals. However, outreach efforts strengthened trust, ultimately increasing referrals and community engagement. Moving forward, insights from this pilot study will inform the development of future iterations of the project. The findings will continue to advancing community-centered approaches that enhance Black women’s access to sexual health care.

Under Pressure: How Frustration Disrupts Ethical Decision-Making

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Paris Hayes Psychology Will Komar Psychology Adelaide Lovett Psychology Amanda Ochranek Psychology Hailey Stewart Psychology
Advisor(s): Timothy Barth Psychology Kevin Diegel Psychology

Ethical decision-making is affected by both cognitive and emotional factors; nevertheless, little research has been directed towards the impact of frustration in moral reasoning. We examined the impact of frustration in decision-making in response to both classical (Sacrificial) and real-world (Contemporary) moral dilemmas in two different studies (N = 328). The participants first took the Ethical Perspectives Scale (Diegel et al., 2024) and were then assigned to a frustrating anagram completion or control group. Next, they responded to ethical dilemmas and gave us data about personality traits, religious orientation, socioeconomic status, sex, age, and political orientation.
The results showed that frustration significantly reduced the ability of ethical perspectives to predict decision-making. Without frustration, Utilitarianism was a strong predictor of outcome-oriented decisions (p ≤ .01), while Rights and Common Good ethics were linked to deontological decision-making (p ≤ .01). However, under the influence of frustration, these effects disappeared (p ≥ .05), suggesting that emotional upset undermines moral consistency. Frustration also undermined the influence of Virtue and Care ethics (p ≤ .01), particularly under high-stakes conditions.
Later tests revealed correlations between ethical positions and personality traits. Both Care ethics and Virtue ethics showed significant relationships with higher religiosity levels (p ≤ .05), while Rights ethics was negatively related with religiosity (p ≤ .01). Politically, Virtue ethics was linked with conservative orientations, while Care ethics was linked with liberal orientations (p ≤ .05). Tests for personality factors showed Utilitarianism associated with low Openness (p = .002), while Virtue ethics was predictive of higher Openness (p = .043).
The findings highlight how frustration undermines moral reasoning, thus disrupting ethical frameworks in the decision-making process. This carries important implications for leadership, policy-making, and crisis situations where ethical decisions have to be made under high-stress conditions.

Testing with Feedback Enhances Caregiver Knowledge of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Maryann Hernandez Psychology Sophia Lohrmann Psychology Morgan Shumaker Psychology
Advisor(s): Uma Tauber Psychology

Many people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) are cared for by informal caregivers (Thompson et al. 2007). Caregivers can face challenges managing and treating symptoms owing to gaps in their dementia-related knowledge (Jorge et al., 2021). Prior work has found that practice testing enhances long-term retention of information (Agarwal et al., 2021). Practice testing followed by elaborative feedback also benefits learning, regardless of whether the retrieval attempt is successful or unsuccessful (Butler, 2008; Roediger & Butler, 2011). We examined whether practice testing with or without elaborative feedback improved caregivers’ learning of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Caregivers studied 12 categories of BPSD and then either restudied the material, took a practice test with no feedback, or took a practice test with elaborative feedback. We found that testing with feedback enhanced caregivers’ learning of BPSD more than testing with no feedback or restudying on both an immediate and delayed test. We also present characteristics of our sample.

Testing a Women and PrEP Education Tool

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Esmeralda Herrera Psychology Casey Chesterman Interdisciplinary Breton Estes Biology Vera Farah Biology Sarah Gonzalez Interdisciplinary Savannah Hastings Psychology Ewaoluwa Olabisi Biology Morayma Rodriguez Psychology
Advisor(s): Amanda Weise Psychology

Awareness and uptake of HIV-preventative medications in women remain low, which contributes to a high prevalence of cases in the southern United States. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an available and effective HIV prevention medication. However, it is not very well-known, particularly among women. This study aims to increase awareness and knowledge of PrEP through an educational model, which includes a pre-survey and a post-survey to assess changes in the participants’ understanding of the medication. Women were recruited through SONA, Mturk, and in-person recruitment methods, with a goal of N = 50 - 150. Data from the surveys about the women’s attitudes and knowledge of PrEP before and after the educational model will be analyzed using a paired samples t-test. We hypothesize that after viewing the PrEP & Women education module, participants’ knowledge and attitudes towards PrEP will change significantly. Specifically, we predict that after viewing the module, individuals’ PrEP attitudes will become more positive and their PrEP knowledge will increase. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of a PrEP education tool that can be utilized on a wider scale to increase PrEP knowledge and decrease negative attitudes/stigma.

Task Experience Improves Younger and Older Adults’ Ability to Memorize Important Medication Information

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Esmeralda Herrera Psychology Emily Anderson Psychology Jordan Edwards Psychology Morgan Shumaker Psychology
Advisor(s): Uma Tauber Psychology

Learning and remembering medications requires forming memory associations that older adults (65+ years old) tend to experience difficulty forming (e.g., Naveh-Benjamin, 2000). One way older adults can compensate for such memory deficits is to prioritize remembering more important information over less important information. With task experience, older adults can prioritize remembering important information as well as younger adults (e.g., Castel, McGillivray, & Friedman, 2012; McGillivray & Castel, 2017). We examined how much task experience is needed for older and younger adults to learn drug interactions and their side effects. Participants studied fictitious drug interactions with side effects that differed in severity (mild, moderate, severe) and took a cued recall test across three trials. Participants also completed measures of health knowledge and side effect knowledge to evaluate self-efficacy. Recall improved with task experience in both younger and older adults, and both age groups remembered severe side effects over mild and moderate side effects, which is consistent with prior work (e.g., Friedman et al., 2015). Younger adults remembered more than older adults, which provides insights to the cognitive differences between older and younger adults in their abilities to recall health information. Older adults scored higher than younger adults on the health knowledge measure, but there was no difference in side effect knowledge between age groups.

Motivations for Helping Professions: A Qualitative Study

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Kyra Howie Psychology
Advisor(s): Raya Shelashska Psychology

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

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

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

TBRI Practitioner Training Improvement Feedback

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

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

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.

Examining Trauma-Informed Attitudes, Knowledge, and Rape Myth Acceptance Among Police Officers

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Katie Nguyen Psychology
Advisor(s): Danica Knight Psychology

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

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

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 Regulation 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

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.

Comparing Different Methods for Assessing Substance Use Post-Release Among Justice-Involved Youth

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Brianna Pitz Psychology Danica Knight Psychology Kevin Knight Psychology Yang Yang Psychology
Advisor(s): Yang Yang Psychology

Substance use is a pervasive issue in adolescents, and justice-involved youth are at a heightened risk of SU compared to the general youth population. Monitoring individual SU trajectory such as initiation, escalation of use, progression, and reductions is important for identifying key prevention and intervention opportunities. There are tools to assess SU in youth populations, but little research has been conducted to compare these assessments in terms of how they accommodate sporadicity of SU within various time frames. This study compared two self-reported measures for post-release SU—Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) and Substance Use Involvement Scale (SUIS)—within youth who were recently released from secure residential facilities. The aims of this study are to examine the differences between TLFB and SUIS in (1) alcohol and cannabis use (yes/no), (2) the cumulative number of days of alcohol and cannabis use, and (3) the average daily use frequency for youth who have initiated alcohol and cannabis use post-release. This study used a subsample of 89 youth who reported post-release SU. Results revealed that (1) SUIS reported significantly greater number of youth that indicated alcohol and cannabis use (ps ≤ .001) than TLFB, (2) SUIS and TLFB did not differ in cumulative number of days of cannabis use (p = .40), but SUIS recorded a significantly greater number of days of alcohol use than TLFB (p ≤ .001), and (3) SUIS reported significantly greater average frequency of use per day for both cannabis and alcohol use (ps ≤ .001) compared to TLFB. TLFB provided more in-depth results for individual participants’ SU patterns including date of initiation post-release and day-by-day frequencies of use compared to SUIS. Despite TLFB’s advantages, additional strategies are needed to optimize the intensive process of data capturing and to support the external validity for capturing long-term SU. SUIS adequately captured data for sporadic SU without an overwhelming amount of data that worked well for comparing broad patterns of SU. These findings collectively show the importance of TLFB and SUIS measures in addressing different research goals.

Examining Provider Views on Barriers to Delivering Prevention and Treatment of HIV and OUD Services for Individuals with Justice Involvement

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Angela Rique Psychology Kevin Knight Psychology Jen Pankow Psychology
Advisor(s): Jen Pankow Psychology Kevin Knight Psychology

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and HIV are both critical and interconnected public health issues, particularly among individuals who are justice-involved. Individuals under community supervision face significant obstacles in accessing the prevention and treatment services necessary for both OUD and HIV. Although harm reduction strategies such as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for OUD and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention have proven effective, these interventions remain underutilized and difficult to access. This research explores barriers to service delivery that service providers face in delivering OUD and HIV care to justice-involved individuals with substance use disorder. Qualitative analysis of data sourced from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded study, Addressing Risk through Community Treatment for Infectious Disease and Opioid Use Disorder Now (ACTION) was coded with deductive methods. By identifying systemic, structural, and social barriers, the study aims to understand the challenges that affect care delivery. Key findings included stigma surrounding PrEP, lack of awareness about available services, delays in ART (anti-retroviral treatment) initiation, transportation barriers, judicial resistance to MAT and punitive legal approach to OUD. Addressing these barriers is essential to improving health outcomes and reducing the impact of HIV and OUD in justice-involved individuals, drawing on service provider insights to inform future policy changes.

Survival and seduction: Understanding the adaptive link between threat and sexual openness

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Kaylee Sanchez Psychology Melissa Brillhart Psychology
Advisor(s): Sarah Hill Psychology

For much of human evolutionary history, women have relied on their men for direct benefits like resources and protection. Importantly, men are unlikely to provide these benefits without receiving something in return. One potential strategy women may use to secure these resources is offering men sexual access in exchange for investment. Given that sex is a highly valuable resource for men, as their reproductive success largely depends on the number of women who are willing to grant him sexual access, they should be willing to accept obtaining sexual access in exchange for their investment. For women in harsh environments, having an investing male figure is particularly crucial to survival. As such, we should expect that women’s sexual openness may vary depending on whether they are in a stable or harsh environment as being more sexually open may be advantageous for women who are in harsh environments. Thus, the present research aims to examine the impact of environmental harshness on women’s sexual openness. We predict that women who are in harsh environments will be more sexually open than women who are in stable environments. Data are forthcoming.

Beliefs About Emotion and Emotion Regulation Goals

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

Emotion regulation capability is a major contributor to various areas of functioning, including well-being and mental health(citation). Previous research (Rusk et al., 2011) shows that people differ on how motivated they are to demonstrate their ability to control their emotions (performance goals) and how motivated they are to learn to control their emotions better (learning goals). The current study explored the relationship between beliefs about controllability and usefulness of emotions and how much the participants endorsed higher performance and learning emotion regulation goals. The study also explored how emotion regulation goals and emotion beliefs correlated with various indicators of well-being. The initial correlational study showed that believing emotions can be controlled moderately predicted higher performance-avoidance goals for emotion regulation, while believing that emotions were generally useful had a weak negative association with learning emotion regulation goals. Additionally, higher emotion controllability beliefs, as well as higher performance-avoidance goals, predicted lower well-being. A second study was conducted to assess the causal relationship between emotion controllability beliefs and performance-avoidance emotion regulation goals.