Existential Isolation (El) is the experience of feeling fundamentally alone in one's perception of the world, with the belief that others cannot fully understand or share that experience (Pinet et al., 2017). It reflects a deep sense of separation from others and arises from the awareness that subjective experiences are ultimately inaccessible to others. El is central to existential psychology, which emphasizes the inherent loneliness tied to the human condition. Though research on El is relatively new, findings suggest that chronic El is linked to negative emotional outcomes, such as increased loneliness (Pinet et al., 2017), greater death thought accessibility (Helm et al., 2019), depression, anxiety (Constantino et al., 2019), and reduced self-esteem (Helm et al., 2018). Adverse early life experiences are another critical factor influencing adult well-being, leading to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation (Hays-Grudo & Morris, 2020).
Childhood abuse, specifically, has been associated with greater loneliness in young adults (Landry et al.,
2022), though various factors-such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and epigenetic influences - affect this relationship (Southwick et al., 2014).
Further, Bui et al. (in preparation) found that adverse childhood experiences predicted existential isolation, thus this research aims to qualitatively examine the relationship between such experiences and existential isolation in adulthood.

Caring for a person living with dementia (PLwD) is demanding and can be stressful even though caregivers can look upon their role favorably. Caregivers, especially those who are relatives or friends of PLwD, experience heightened stress levels that can impact both their mental and physical well-being and the quality of care they provide (Jorge et al., 2021). While resources for caregivers exist, most are not designed using effective learning methods to support long-term memory. Our goal was to determine the degree to which caregivers’ stress is reduced by an approach called “structured retrieval practice” (SRP). Structured retrieval practice involves spacing practice tests during learning and receiving corrective feedback. This study is a follow-up to a completed study from Dr. Tauber’s lab that showed SRP as the best method for remembering information about dementia caregiving long-term (Shumaker et al., under review).
Prior to participation, caregivers underwent a screening to determine qualification. Next, caregivers completed 2 sessions. In session 1, caregivers learned about managing dementia symptoms, coping strategies, and self-care techniques. Half of the caregivers learned the information by taking a practice test with immediate corrective feedback and the other half learned it by reading. Session 2 consisted of a second round of learning, followed by self-reported stress and memory tests. The aim of the study is to help caregivers learn methods to manage the stress related to caregiving and provide them with coping mechanisms to become able to better assist individuals living with dementia.
Data collection is currently ongoing, with approximately half of the target sample enrolled. The following presentation represents preliminary findings from the initial cohort.

Caring for another person can be demanding and stressful, and this is true for people providing care for a person living with dementia (PLwD). The stress process model (Pearlin et al., 1990) divides care triggers into primary stressors and primary subjective stressors. An example of primary stressors is managing difficult symptoms of dementia. An example of primary subjective stressors is feeling overwhelmed about providing help to a PLwD. Sadly, both types of stressors can negatively impact the wellbeing of caregivers (Lau et al., 2010; Polenick et al., 2020). Our study aims to explore how our psychoeducational intervention using structured retrieval practice (SRP; Shumaker, Ariel, & Tauber, submitted) impacts caregivers’ self-reported stress. We hope to reduce caregivers’ stress by providing high-quality care for their loved one living with dementia. Further, we hope to reduce both primary stressors and primary subjective stressors for caregivers. To explore this issue, caregivers will learn about the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) through either an SRP-based learning intervention or a reading-only control condition. The SRP intervention uses structured retrieval practice, whereas the control condition mimics reading from available sources online. Caregivers’ perceived stress will be measured before and after the intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983). We will examine whether stress ratings improve more for the SRP intervention compared to the reading condition. This is a first step for determining if the educational intervention improves measures of caregivers’ well-being. Data collection is ongoing, with approximately half of the target sample enrolled, and this presentation represents preliminary findings from the initial cohort.

Stigma towards individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) influences social attitudes towards treatment decisions and policy support (Kennedy-Hendricks et al., 2017). Prior research has shown that using stigmatizing language, such as “substance abuser” rather than “a person with substance use disorder,” increases perceptions of personal culpability and support for punitive responses (Kelly & Westerhoff, 2010). The present study examined whether personal culpability moderates the relationship between stigmatizing language and punitive attitudes towards individuals with SUD. Community members in Tarrant County were randomly assigned to read either a vignette containing person-first or a stigmatizing language and completed a brief survey online. We hypothesize that the effect of language condition on punitive attitudes will be stronger among participants with higher levels of personal culpability, such that stigmatizing language will be most strongly associated with punitive attitudes when perceived culpability is high. These findings would suggest that educational efforts aimed at reducing perceived personal culpability, particularly around the development of SUD, should be implemented to decrease punitive attitudes toward this population.

Frustrative nonreward occurs when a reward is unexpectedly reduced or omitted, producing a temporary suppression of behavior. In animals, this phenomenon is commonly studied using the consummatory successive negative contrast (cSNC) task, in which a high-value reward is replaced with a lower-value one. Following this downshift, animals typically show a reduction in consummatory behavior followed by gradual recovery as they adjust to the new reward conditions. Although the behavioral dynamics of recovery have been well described, the neural mechanisms that regulate this process remain incompletely understood. Previous research suggests that subcortical structures such as the basolateral amygdala and the nucleus accumbens play a role in the recovery of behavior after an unexpected reward downshift. However, cortical regions involved in behavioral flexibility may also contribute to recovery. The infralimbic cortex (IL), a region of the medial prefrontal cortex, has been implicated in processes such as fear extinction learning and habit regulation, both of which require updating previously learned associations and suppressing outdated responses. Based on this evidence, the present study examined whether inhibiting the IL would alter behavioral recovery following reward downshift. Rats were trained in a cSNC task in which a high-concentration sucrose solution was later downshifted to a lower concentration (32% → 2% sucrose). Animals received an infusion of inhibitory DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) targeting the IL. Three experimental groups were tested: animals expressing inhibitory DREADDs and treated with the activating drug CNO (clozapine N-oxide), animals expressing inhibitory DREADDs but treated with a vehicle injection, and animals treated with a control infusion that has the same elements but lacks the engineered receptor and treated with CNO. Lick frequency served as the primary behavioral measure. Contrary to our initial prediction, results suggest that inhibition of the IL may accelerate behavioral recovery following reward downshift. One possible explanation for this unexpected effect is the spread of viral expression into adjacent regions, particularly the prelimbic cortex (also part of the medial prefrontal cortex), which has been associated with behavioral effects opposite to those attributed to the IL. Because the IL cortex is relatively small and anatomically close to neighboring cortical regions, DREADD diffusion may influence the functional outcome of the manipulation. These findings highlight the potential role of medial prefrontal cortex circuits in regulating behavioral adjustments to reward downshifts.

Research suggests that demographic characteristics, particularly age, significantly shape perceptions of crime and sentencing outcomes (Gleadell, 2019). Studies indicate a notable disparity in punitive leanings: younger adults tend to recommend harsher measures, whereas older adults often favor more lenient punishments (Hosch et al., 2011). This divergence may be driven by age-related increases in empathy, which can temper retributive impulses (Beadle & Vega, 2019), or by younger individuals’ limited experience with the legal system, which may hinder their ability to assess proportional sentencing (Hosch et al., 2011). Despite judicial instructions to remain objective, sentencing decisions frequently reflect these preexisting beliefs and personal experiences (Curley et al., 2022). To further explore this relationship, the current study examines how age influences perceptions of crime severity. Community members of Tarrant county were asked to read a vignette describing a low-level, nonviolent offense and rated its seriousness on a 5-point Likert scale. It is hypothesized that younger participants will perceive the offense as significantly more severe than older participants. By highlighting these generational differences, this research aims to better understand how age-related biases influence legal decision-making and inform broader discussions on legislative reform.

The ability to recall information through associations plays a crucial role across the lifespan, and is particularly important in learning health-related information. However, substantial evidence has revealed age-related declines in paired-associate learning, which involves remembering a connection between two items (Naveh-Benjamin et al., 2007). Older adults (defined here as aged 60+) often take multiple prescription medications, many of which can pose significant health risks when combined with other drugs or substances (Qato et al., 2008). Age-related memory loss can make remembering those connections more difficult. Research in the science of learning has shown that retrieval practice can significantly enhance long-term memory compared to passive strategies like rereading (Agarwal et al., 2021). As such, improving older adults’ ability to remember drug interactions through the use of retrieval practice represents a meaningful and practical goal.

To examine whether retrieval practice can improve associative memory for drug interactions, we presented both young and older adult participants with 8 fictitious medications (e.g. Floragin) and an associated interaction and outcome (diarrhea when used with alcohol). All participants studied the drugs with their corresponding substance interaction and side effects. Each participant completed 5 study blocks, with participants in the restudy condition simply rereading each medication, while those in the structured retrieval practice (SRP) condition took a practice test with immediate feedback. All participants were given an immediate test and asked to recall the interacting substance and outcome when given the medication name. Two days later, participants from both conditions completed an identical delayed test.

We hypothesized that those in the SRP condition will successfully recall more medication-interaction and outcome pairs than the restudy condition, even after the 2-day delay. We also hypothesized that the younger adults will display better recall than the older adults. Interim analyses revealed that participants who engaged in SRP demonstrated better recall compared to those in the restudy condition, regardless of age group. Critically, this outcome reveals that retrieval practice is an effective strategy for learning medication interactions. Data collection for the older adult sample is ongoing, so the lack of interaction between condition and age group should be considered preliminary

HIV-related stigma remains a significant obstacle in the prevention and delivery of care within faith-based communities. Faith communities, particularly churches in the southern United States, play a powerful role in shaping community norms and can either reinforce silence around HIV or serve as trusted entities that promote awareness and education (Pichon et al., 2020). The current study explores how individuals within religious communities perceive HIV prevention strategies and HIV-related stigma, with particular attention to how personal religiosity, church involvement, and trust in faith institutions shape attitudes toward prevention and care. Participants complete an online survey via Qualtrics covering HIV knowledge, PrEP self-efficacy, and religious trust. Recruitment will utilize flyers and raffle incentives to gather data. The study is expected to reveal both barriers and opportunities within faith-based settings, such as levels of knowledge, attitudes toward prevention strategies, and the potential role of churches in reducing stigma and partnering with health organizations. By generating community-specific insights this research can inform future public health programs, reduce stigma, and strengthen vital partnerships between healthcare providers and faith-based organizations.

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.

Food insecurity affects more than 6 million households with children in the U.S., the majority of which are insecure without hunger, and is associated with significant negative health outcomes, such as impaired immune function, anxiety/eating disorders, malnutrition, and delayed language acquisition. Given the increased control allowed by animal model work, an ideal study design to answer this question would expose mice to a food source that is truly unpredictable and of poor nutritional value for an extended period and assess their behavior for any significant changes. However, most of the prior work has either not been able to make a truly unpredictable food source or utilized a food source that is both unpredictable and less-than-healthy, thus limiting 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. At weaning, 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 three randomly selected nights each week until the following morning. Additionally, mice were also randomly assigned to be fed either a control chow or a “typical American diet” (TAD) chow. At 6.5 months, the mice underwent a battery of behavioral tests, including the open field test, elevated-zero maze, y-maze, and novel object location task, to assess anxiety-like behavior and spatial memory capabilities. Early analysis indicates that mice fed the TAD and were insecurely fed displayed more anxiety-like behavior and impaired spatial memory capabilities compared to the securely fed mice and those fed control chow. Taken together, this study demonstrates the combined impact of being exposed to both a nutritionally poor food source and having an unreliable food source, further illustrating the significant and deleterious nature of experiencing food insecurity.

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.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the 6th leading cause of death the United States of America, affecting more than six million Americans aged 65 years and older. In the absence of disease-modifying therapies, identification and modification of lifestyle-related risk factors remain critical strategies for mitigating AD incidence and progression. Dietary pattern represents a particularly salient and modifiable determinant of risk. Preclinical and epidemiological evidence consistently demonstrates that Western-style dietary patterns—characterized by high intake of saturated fats and refined carbohydrates—are associated with cognitive impairment and increased amyloid-β accumulation within the hippocampus, a region essential for learning and memory. In contrast, plant-forward dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet have been linked to preserved cognitive function and reduced AD risk.

Despite this evidence, a major limitation in the literature is the reliance on rodent models fed exaggerated Western diets providing 40–60% of total kcal from fat, which do not accurately reflect typical human consumption patterns. Furthermore, experimental Mediterranean diets often isolate one or two nutritional components rather than modeling the full dietary pattern. To address these gaps, we developed a translationally relevant rodent model incorporating three dietary conditions: a diet that mimics the typical American diet (TAD), a macronutrient-matched Mediterranean diet (MD), and a standard rodent chow control diet. C57BL/6J mice were weaned onto one of the three diets at postnatal day 21 and maintained for six months. Behavioral assessments include the open field test, elevated zero maze, and object-location memory task. We hypothesize that, relative to MD-fed and chow-fed controls, TAD-fed mice will exhibit reduced locomotor and exploratory activity, heightened anxiety-like behavior, and impaired spatial memory performance. These anticipated findings would suggest that dietary pattern—independent of extreme macronutrient manipulation—significantly influences affective and cognitive outcomes, underscoring the translational importance of modeling realistic dietary exposures in AD risk research.

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.

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities and differences in reciprocal social communication abilities (APA, 2013). Prior research emphasizes the importance of including multiple informants when collecting data on child psychopathology (De Los Reyes, 2011). For example, results of a study conducted by Baumgarter et al., (2020) suggested large informant discrepancies between adolescents and their parents regarding the child’s mental health. However, there is a lack of research examining informant discrepancies between autistic adolescents and their parents. Therefore, the current study examined informant discrepancies between dyads (mother-father, mother-child, father-child) in a sample of autistic adolescents regarding adolescent mental health.

Methods: Participants included 117 autistic adolescents between the age of 10 and 17 years old. Both parents and the adolescent completed a series of questionnaires related to the adolescent’s mental health. Parents completed questionnaires regarding their child’s symptoms of depression and anxiety. Adolescents completed self-report measures of their own depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Results: A series of t-tests were conducted in order to examine whether there were discrepancies in ratings of depressive and anxiety symptoms between parents and their child. For each mental health outcome, a series of three t-tests were conducted including, mother versus father report, mother versus child report, and father versus child report. For depressive symptoms, all t-tests were non-significant (p > .05) suggesting that mothers, fathers, and their children agree in the rating of the adolescent’s depressive symptoms. However, for anxiety symptoms, there was a significant difference between both mother versus father report, t(117) = 3.30, p < .001, as well as father versus child report t(115) = -4.18, p < .001. These results revealed that mothers and adolescents are reporting higher anxiety symptoms than fathers. In addition, there was no difference between mother and child report of anxiety symptoms (p > .05), suggesting that mothers and adolescents agree in the rating of the adolescent’s anxiety symptoms.

Discussion: Overall, the results of the current study suggest that the family generally agrees on the rating of the child’s depressive symptoms, however, there are discrepancies in the rating of the child’s anxiety symptoms with fathers reporting less anxiety symptoms as compared to the mother and adolescent report. These discrepancies highlight the importance of including multiple informants when examining child psychopathology. Future research should consider possible predictors (i.e., symptom severity, child gender, parent mental health) of these discrepancies.

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.

Prior work has shown that individuals become more committed to their partners and report higher relationship satisfaction when thoughts of nostalgia were salient. Although mentally revisiting partner-shared memories may be beneficial at reducing stress and increasing affect, other literature has argued that positive traits (e.g., optimism, forgiveness) are connected to heightened resilience and a greater acceptance of domestic abuse. The present research was designed to test the relationship between forgiveness, nostalgia, partner commitment, and intimate partner violence (IPV) attitudes. Nostalgia is positively associated with more forgiveness, partner commitment (Study 1), and IPV attitudes (Study 2).

Introduction: Parents can have a crucial impact on their child’s academic performance and internalizing symptoms. For example, parents who engage in helicopter parenting, are excessively involved and monitor their children, which is associated with mental health problems (Schiffrin et al., 2014). Children's report of maternal helicopter parenting is associated to perfectionist discrepancies, extrinsic motivation to learn, and avoidance to goals in learning which have been related to lower academic performance (Schiffrin et al., 2014). However, there is a lack of research that examines the role of helicopter parenting in college students' academic satisfaction and mental health outcomes. Thus, the overall goal of the current study is to examine the associations between helicopter parenting, academic satisfaction, and internalizing symptoms.

Method: 667 college students from Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University served as participants for this study. All students participated during Spring of 2019. Students answered surveys about their parents' levels of helicopter parenting, their own mental health, and their academic performance. Measures used in the current analysis include Padilla-Walker & Nelson Helicopter Parenting Scale (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012), Inventory for Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS; Watson et al., 2007), and College Student Subjective Well-Being Scale (Renshaw & Bolognino, 2016).

Results: A two-way moderated regression examined the effect of academic satisfaction (centered) on depressive symptoms as a function of helicopter parenting (centered) in a sample of college students. The results indicated significant main effects for both academic satisfaction, b= -1.12 (SE = .09), t = - 11.82, p ≤ .001, such that as academic satisfaction increases depressive symptoms decrease, and helicopter parenting, b = 1.88 (SE = .84), t = 2.25, p ≤ .001 such that as helicopter parenting increases depressive symptoms decrease. However, there was not a significant interaction between academic satisfaction and helicopter parenting, b = .13 (SE = .15), t = .83, p = .41.

Another two-way moderated regression examined the effect of academic satisfaction (centered) on college students' well-being as a function of helicopter parenting (centered). The results indicated that there was a significant main effect for academic satisfaction, b= 0.61 (SE = .04), t = 14.01, p ≤ .001. There was no significant main effect for helicopter parenting, b = - 0.35 (SE = .04), t = -0.91, p = 0.36. However, these main effects were qualified by a significant interaction, b = - .17 (SE = .07), t = - 2.35, p = .02. To probe at this interaction further, we conducted simple slope analyses to examine the relationship between academic satisfaction on students' well-being at low, mean, and high levels of helicopter parenting. The results revealed that at low (-1 SD), b = 0.71 (SE = .06), t = 11.83, p ≤ .001, mean, b = .61 (SE = .04), t = 14.01, p ≤ .001, and high (+1 SD), b = .51 (SE = .06), t = 7.88, p ≤ .001, levels of helicopter parenting, higher student academic satisfaction resulted in higher well-being. Overall, these results suggest that academic satisfaction can serve as a protective factor against helicopter parenting for a college students’ emotional well-being.

Discussion: The results of the current study revealed that helicopter parenting is significantly associated with an increase in depressive symptoms in college students. These results are consistent with past research (Wang et al., 2025). However, academic satisfaction appears to be a potential protective factor against helicopter parenting for students’ well-being. It is possible that when students are satisfied with their academic success can potentially protect from the negative impacts from helicopter parenting. It is important to note a potential limitation of the current study such that, the sample is not representative of the broader population but rather the sample of high-income college-aged students. Overall, based on these findings, school psychologists should focus on increasing academic satisfaction by fostering a supportive environment for students, and aiding in aligning students' courses to their preferences and personal strengths in order to counter potential parental pressures.

Caring for a person who is living with dementia (PLwD) is challenging and emotionally demanding. Much of this care is provided by unpaid, informal caregivers of a person living with dementia (PLwD) who often lack formal training and dementia care education (Thompson et al., 2007). As a result, caregivers frequently feel incompetent in their caregiving abilities (Merrilees et al., 2018) and desire more training about how to manage dementia symptoms effectively (Jorge et al., 2021). Thus, enhancing caregiver education and self-efficacy is critical, as caregiver self-efficacy predicts both mental health and overall well-being (Gallagher et al., 2011). However, informal caregivers often have limited access to structured educational support. To examine this issue, caregivers learned about the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) through one of two instructional approaches: a learning intervention or a restudy condition. The learning intervention implemented structured retrieval practice, in which caregivers completed self-paced practice tests followed by detailed corrective feedback. The restudy condition simulated a more passive learning experience, similar to reading information from online sources. Caregivers’ self-efficacy was assessed before and after the learning session using the family caregiver self-efficacy for managing dementia scale (Fortinsky, Kercher, & Burant, 2002). Self-efficacy scores were compared across conditions to determine whether structured retrieval practice enhanced caregivers’ confidence and competence more effectively than restudy. Performance results are consistent with our prediction that structured retrieval practice enhances learning; however, participants from both conditions report higher self-efficacy from pre to post-test. Therefore, caregivers’ self-efficacy assessments thus far are not sensitive to content in the study nor the learning condition they were in. Future work could assess ways to improve sensitivity to such self-efficacy measures.

As social media increasingly serves as a primary source of news, questions arise regarding
how digital exposure to crime-related content affects public views and emotions. The current
study examines how reliance on social media for news may influence perceptions of the
severity of crimes and concerns for community safety. Dallas-Fort Worth community members
(N = 40) completed measures assessing perceptions of crime severity, community safety, social
media use frequency, social media behaviors, preferred sources of news, and demographic
characteristics. We anticipate that more frequent social media usage as a news source and
higher use of audiovisual (rather than text-based) news sources will correlate positively with
more severe perceptions of crime and community safety concerns. These results will provide
insight into how media and the way it is delivered shape how people may feel about crime and
safety in their local communities. This insight can also encourage more mindful media
engagement and help communities think critically about how crime is represented in the
news.

Existential isolation, or feeling that others cannot fully understand one’s subjective experiences, has been linked to psychological distress in general populations, yet little research has examined its implications for sexual and gender minority individuals. LGBTQ+ people may be particularly vulnerable to EI because identity-related stigma and minority stress can create barriers to feeling understood by others. The present project examined whether existential isolation is associated with mental health and well-being among LGBTQ+ persons. Participants included 1,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults recruited through Prolific. Participants completed well-validated measures assessing existential isolation, loneliness, depression, suicidal ideation, meaning in life, and LGBTQ+ stigma. Preliminary analyses indicate that greater existential isolation is associated with lower meaning in life and higher levels of depression and suicidal ideation. Importantly, these associations remained significant when controlling for loneliness. Mediation analyses demonstrated that internalized LGBTQ+ stigma is associated with greater existential isolation, which in turn predicts poorer psychological outcomes.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder often diagnosed in childhood with symptom presentation extending well into adulthood. Despite extensive empirical support acknowledging the lifelong presence of this disorder, ADHD in adulthood is sometimes perceived as less legitimate than childhood presentations, leading to interpretations that trivialize its academic and functional impact. In college or higher education environments, peer perceptions may shape the extent to which ADHD is regarded as a legitimate and enduring disability, potentially affecting one’s disability identity and willingness to seek accommodations or academic support. The present study utilizes a quasi-experimental design comparing (expected N= 100) undergraduate TCU students with and without ADHD to examine how perceived peer attitudes and knowledge toward ADHD relate to students’ feelings about their diagnosis, perceived stigma, and willingness to seek accommodations. In this study, students with ADHD complete self-report measures assessing perceived disability visibility and stigma on campus, while students without ADHD complete ADHD knowledge scales, evaluated behavioral vignettes to assess recognition of ADHD-related impairment, and reported attitudes toward accommodations and medication. We expect that lower ADHD knowledge will be associated with more negative interpretations of ADHD-related behaviors. We further predict that students with ADHD will report experiences consistent with perceived stigma in higher education settings compared to students without ADHD. These findings will help inform future efforts to improve peer understanding of ADHD and create collegiate academic environments where students feel comfortable seeking accommodations and support.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been empirically linked to a range of negative mental health outcomes, including increased risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, further research is needed to better understand how parental warmth and support can serve as a protective factor against ADHD symptom presentation after a child faces trauma. This study investigates the protective impact of parental warmth and support on ACEs and ADHD risk. Using a cross-sectional, observational design, participants (expected N=100) in this study will complete self-report questionnaires assessing demographics, ACE exposure, parental warmth/support, ADHD symptoms, and ADHD diagnostic history. Responses will be analyzed quantitatively to examine two research questions: (1) whether ACE exposure predicts ADHD symptoms and diagnosis, and (2) whether parental warmth/support buffers this relationship. We predict that ACE exposure will predict ADHD symptoms and diagnosis and that parental warmth/support will buffer this relationship. By identifying protective factors that reduce ADHD risk following trauma exposure, this research has important clinical implications. As findings may provide evidence-based guidance for clinicians, educators, and caregivers supporting children who have experienced adversity, promoting resilient developmental trajectories despite early trauma exposure.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical trait in law enforcement due to the association it has to resilience, stress management, as well as effective job performance. Prior research suggests that early influences of parental attachment can affect a person's emotional development, although there is a lack of research exploring whether attachment anxiety predicts EI among law enforcement officers. Attachment anxiety refers to an attachment style or pattern that is rooted within fear of abandonment and a strong desire for emotional intimacy. This study examined whether parental attachment anxiety predicts emotional intelligence within a sample of law enforcement officers. It was predicted that anxious attachment would strongly predict an individual's EI within this population because of how integral parental attachment experiences shape how someone manages, understands, and experiences their emotions. The participants included in this study consisted of 108 law enforcement officers across rank, years in service, gender, and age. This sample of law enforcement officers were asked to complete a survey via Qualtrics, which was distributed via email with a link, which personnel within the workplace with little to no seniority to counteract any potential for coercion due to the nature of law enforcement hierarchical system. Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographic variables, a correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence as well as parental attachment anxiety, and a simple linear regression was then used to explore whether attachment anxiety served as a significant predictor of emotional intelligence. The results indicated a significant, negative correlation between attachment anxiety and total EI scores, which suggests that higher attachment anxiety was associated with lower emotional intelligence in officers. The results suggest that anxious attachment could be associated with a lower total emotional intelligence score among law enforcement officers. These results may help to guide future research on the predictions that early parental attachment patterns have on emotional intelligence later in life, thus influencing trauma-informed policing strategies and future changes to training programs to aid in this.

As global populations age, equitable representation of older adults in digital technologies has become a psychological and ethical concern. AI increasingly shapes perceptions of social roles, yet may reinforce ageist stereotypes through biased training data (Stypińska, 2022). Developmental psychology emphasizes that aging involves growth and adaptability rather than decline (Donizzetti et al., 2024), yet technologies often position youth as the default. This study investigates how popular AI systems portray age across common social identities (e.g., leader, doctor, genius).
Five AI tools were examined: three text-based (ChatGPT, Gemini, Snapchat My AI) and two image-generating (Meta AI, Leonardo AI). Consistent prompts were provided across tools, with follow-up questions asked when age was not volunteered. Responses were coded into five categories: Child (0–12), Teen (13–17), Young Adult (18–35), Middle-Aged Adult (36–59), and Older Adult (60+). Across 36 responses, most individuals were categorized as young adults (33%) or middle-aged adults (36%). Only one response (3%) depicted an older adult alone, and five (14%) included older adults solely as secondary family figures. No AI tool portrayed older adults as leaders, doctors, or geniuses. Additionally, 69% of responses required follow-up questioning to determine age, suggesting AI tools rarely volunteer this information.
These findings indicate that generative AI defaults to younger and middle-aged adults, rarely representing older individuals in roles of competence or authority. This reflects and potentially reinforces societal ageism. Future research should examine interventions to diversify AI training data and explore how age-related bias shapes user perceptions of aging.