2025 Celebration of Scholarship Abstracts

In response to growing concerns about student mental health, this scoping review synthesizes 40 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2009 and 2024 on well-being interventions for undergraduate students in U.S. higher education, examined through the emerging lens of Positive Higher Education. Drawing from diverse methodologies and interventions—including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, and positive psychology strategies—the review examines how well-being is defined, implemented, and assessed across curricular and co-curricular contexts. While many interventions demonstrated positive outcomes, particularly in reducing stress and enhancing psychological well-being, the field remains limited by conceptual ambiguity, inconsistent theoretical frameworks, and insufficient attention to long-term institutionalization and sustainability. Most studies lacked a clearly articulated definition of well-being, and relatively few were embedded in academic curricula. This review underscores the need for a coordinated, theory-informed approach to integrating well-being as a core educational outcome, aligned with the values of liberal arts education. It concludes with a call to develop a Positive Higher Education Implementation Toolkit to guide institutions in embedding well-being into policy, pedagogy, and practice.

The Institute of Mental Health and Psychological Well-Being, established within the College of Health and Community Well-Being, recently partnered with a virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR) company, GigXR in order to enhance student learning and clinical training. Life-like, virtual scenarios bring class content to life and allows students to practice patient interaction and assessment. It aims to improve pedagogy for students through innovative and engaging approaches. The GigXR platform includes three applications: HoloHuman, HoloPatient, and AI Conversations. HoloHuman allows students to view systems within the human body and see how anatomical structures fit and work together up close. In HoloPatient, students observe a holographic patient “sitting” with them in their own environment, which facilitates discussions about assessment and possible treatment options. AI Conversations presents a variety of AI patients with distinct presenting problems, all programmed to respond to students and simulate realistic patient conversations. Each of these applications are accessible via smartphone or one of 8 VR/AR HoloLens headsets. In addition to integrating the technology into current curricula,
the Institute is partnering with GigXR to develop 7 additional virtual scenarios (2 new HoloPatients and 5 new AI characters) to better support the needs of ULV students. Faculty in Biology and Psychology have started using the GigXR software in their classes. For example, one professor used HoloHuman in her undergraduate anatomy class. Using the HoloLens headsets, students were able to view a life-size hologram of the human body and interactively label specific muscles. Another professor used AI Conversations in a graduate PsyD class. Students screened suicide risk in an “adolescent” AI patient to
assess their skills during their final exam. The Institute is gathering preliminary data on professor and student satisfaction and feedback. In addition, we are developing tailored pre-test/posttest questionnaires to assess student learning outcomes after GIgXR is used in each class. Students have enjoyed the interactive element and the realism of the scenarios, and faculty have praised the practicality of such software to supplement course content. In addition, they have provided valuable feedback to the GigXR company helping them actively improve usability. For this presentation, we would like to briefly demonstrate the capabilities of the GigXR software and showcase its potential to innovate teaching and training at the University of La Verne.

This presentation explores the innovative “Path to Progress” workshop series, designed specifically for students on academic probation. After identifying that more than half of probationary students at University of La Verne are subsequently disqualified, staff from Academic Advising, CMS, and the Academic Success Center developed this targeted intervention. The three-week program equips struggling students with essential persistence factors identified through research, including confidence building, realistic goal setting, self-advocacy skills, effective study habits, and resource utilization.

Our approach addresses the critical need for structured support during this stressful and pivotal time for students. Workshop activities focus on developing practical strategies that promote academic resilience and sustainable progress toward degree completion.

Results demonstrate remarkable success: 80-90% of program participants have returned to good academic standing and are still attending our institution. This outcome validates our methodology and suggests potential for broader implementation. This session will share our research foundation, workshop structure, and specific strategies that have proven effective. Path to Progress was also shared at a conference in Anchorage, Alaska in March, sharing this work with more than 50 other public and private institutions.

We are surrounded by a world of sound. We hear external sounds because of movement: the vibration of an object moves molecules in the air, and when that vibration reaches our ears, we hear it consciously or unconsciously, whether it’s wind, bells, traffic, birds, or music. Yet the way we hear sounds is also socially constructed; the context in which people hear sounds in one cultural or social context may be very different from another. We would thus do well to lend an ear to recent developments in the growing field of sound history (or aural history): how cultural historians, social scientists, anthropologists and others are studying the ways that sounds have influenced, and continue to influence, people’s daily lives and experiences and thus how sound history can be of benefit to scholars and educators from a variety of different fields. This paper considers the use of sound in the classroom from both a theoretical and a practical perspective. I will first consider some broader methods in the use of sound for classroom use, especially the use of music in history classes, and then move to my own work in applying music in the classroom. The paper will draw on examples I’ve worked with in teaching history, concluding with three albums I’ve recorded for classroom use: Some American Music and Songs to Study By, which consist mainly of guitar and vocals, and most recently the album Bridges for solo piano. My experience suggests that students are often drawn to sounds, especially music, both in terms of its admittedly unusual place in a history classroom but also as a helpful way of using the arts as a “window” into the past.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the financial industry by substituting manual processes

with an autonomous and algorithmic system. Truely, the human role in the finance system is facing transformation. This research explores the potential rise of the “super-individual” who works across multiple financial layers to adapt to the ongoing finance system.

Building on Benjamin Bratton’s The Stack On Software and Sovereignty, this research

positions the financial system within a six-layered model of global computation (The Stack), where both human and nonhuman users interact through algorithmic interfaces. An example of a nonhuman user would be an AI user with “an artificial human personality” (Bratton p.277), a combination of machine-learning and deep-learning. The human user refers to the super-individual, works collaboratively with nonhuman users, interpreting, identifying, and drawing executing decisions based on algorithmic inputs. This super-individual is the navigator working adaptively in this algorithmically modeled environment.

An outcome of this transformation is a growing sense of transparency in finance system.

The algorithmic model accelerates the financial processes to become autonomous, actively recorded, and visibly traceable. This shift gives rise to a transparent environment. The new finance framework draws similarity to Graham Harman’s notion of The Third Table, a withdrawn object beyond perception or analysis. The future finance system will act like the third table, becoming an autonomous structure driven by algorithmic logic and automatic data flows. The emergent super-individual is necessary to work interconnectivity between the inner algorithmic function and to extract output for the exterior finance system.

In this study, we examined the association between exercise self-efficacy (ESE) and student commitment (SC) of undergraduate students at a Vietnamese university. Surprisingly, in previous research by the last two authors on ESE and SC at an American university, the authors found a significant negative association for ESE as a predictor of SC. Therefore, in this study, the current authors refocused their inquiry on ESE as a predictor of SC at a Vietnamese university and increased the sample size to gain further insight into this finding in a different cultural context. We hypothesized that ESE would still have a significant negative association with SC. Our belief was that the independence gained by students from increased ESE would make them less reliant on others or institutions and therefore less committed to their university. However, we further hypothesized that this association would be moderated by the level of student individualism/collectivism at the Vietnamese university which was not measured at the American University. Our rationale for this hypothesis is that for students with high individualism and low collectivism, this negative ESE/SC association would be strengthened such that students would be even less committed to their university. Conversely, we believed that for students with low individualism and high collectivism, this negative ESE/SC association would be weakened due to a lower level of independence and higher need for affiliation with and support of their university. Both hypotheses were supported.

Substantial studies have been conducted on Medicaid program enrollment, but less is known about enrollees’ termination, also known as disenrollment. Although Medicaid eligibility expanded under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014, many enrollees continue to experience coverage termination despite remaining eligible. This study addresses a significant gap in the literature regarding the determinants of Medicaid benefit loss among eligible enrollees nonelderly (aged <65 years) across all U.S. states and Washington, D.C., focusing on identifying effective mitigation strategies for re-enrollment. This study’s conceptual framework is based on Herd and Moynihan’s (2018) Administrative Burden Theory (ABT) and incorporates Coase’s (1937) and Williamson’s (1975, 1985) Transaction Cost Theory (TCT). We utilize crisp-set (csQCA) and fuzzy-set (fsQCA) qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), an innovative method designed to uncover the combinations of factors driving Medicaid re-enrollment success across states. This set-theoretic configurational approach employs the logic of Boolean algebra to examine the necessary and sufficient conditions for better outcomes. Our findings highlight improved ex parte renewals, extended fair hearing deadlines, and deferred Medicaid premiums; clear reasons for coverage loss; demographics such as Medicaid enrollment rates and education levels; the influence of partisan state control on Medicaid policy; and language diversity, all of which efficiently increase renewal rates. Nonetheless, access to the website on weekends and at night (after 6:00) and the device located to access do not impact renewals. The opening and closing periods of the application alone did not interfere with renewal rates. These findings emphasize that the combination of policies, implementation design, and supportive communication enhances Medicaid renewal rates. We recommend universal policies for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., aimed at improving website access. This includes adding a device for enrollment and renewal to the homepage and ensuring it is clearly visible. All channels, including in-person, drop box, email, mail, fax, phone, and especially the mobile app, must be available for enrollment and renewal. Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity of language translations in 242 languages for the official websites.

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how CFOs employ storytelling as a strategic communication tool to engage stakeholders, enhance trust, and convey complex financial information. Financial storytelling has emerged as a crucial leadership competency, influencing decision-making and organizational transparency. This study aims to identify key storytelling elements used by CFOs and assess their impact on stakeholder perceptions and delivering quality messages. This study is grounded in Communication Accommodation Theory, Ethical Communication Theory, and Transformational Leadership Theory, which explain how financial narratives shape stakeholder engagement, trust, and influence. Communication Accommodation Theory emphasizes adapting messages to audience literacy, Ethical Communication Theory highlights transparency, and Transformational Leadership Theory underscores storytelling’s role in strategic alignment. From these frameworks, eight core themes emerge: message clarity, audience adaptation, ethical transparency, trust-building, strategic alignment, emotional appeal, leadership influence, and stakeholder engagement. This research employs a rigorous qualitative multiple-case study approach, offering a deep dive into the strategic storytelling practices of CFOs in the entertainment industry. Data were meticulously gathered through semi-structured interviews with 20 CFOs, capturing firsthand insights into their communication strategies. A three-level thematic analysis was conducted to uncover recurring storytelling patterns, innovative approaches, and the tangible impact of narrative-driven financial communication on stakeholder engagement and trust-building. This study provides an understanding of storytelling as a vital tool in financial leadership. The findings indicate that financial storytelling is integral to simplifying complex data, fostering trust, and shaping stakeholder perceptions. CFOs utilize tailored narratives, emotional appeal, and strategic messaging to enhance communication effectiveness. The study also highlights how storytelling varies based on audience type—investors, employees, and board members—requiring different approaches to maintain credibility and engagement. Key themes emerging from the data include authenticity, transparency, and the role of leadership personality in financial storytelling. The study concludes that financial storytelling is a powerful tool for finance leaders to bridge the gap between data and decision-making. Authentic and transformational leadership practices are dynamic in shaping financial narratives, adopting trust, and enhancing stakeholder engagement. Organizations should incorporate storytelling training into development programs and refine financial communication strategies to align with stakeholder expectations.

Large language models (LLMs) are transforming education by providing intelligent, interactive support for both students and teachers. They can generate personalized feedback, answer questions, explain complex concepts, and assist with tasks like grading and content creation. This project aims to a virtual teaching assistant powered by some open-source large language models, integrated within rich Model Context Protocol (MCP) tools. The system supports a variety of intelligent teaching tools, enabling seamless communication through natural language and text, as well as image-based homework recognition. By providing subject-specific assistance and on-demand educational support, these virtual assistants significantly enhance teaching/learning efficiency and accessibility. The platform is designed to facilitate continuous and adaptive learning experiences, supporting both educators and students in dynamic educational environments.

Exercise has numerous health benefits (Pressman et al., 2020) and allows individuals to work towards their goals (Sackett-Fox et al., 2021). Recent studies have even shown that exercising with one’s partner is related to increased relationship satisfaction (Sackett-Fox et al., 2021; Wilson & Novack, 2022). The current study examines if different types of physical activity done at the same time as one’s partner predict relationship satisfaction in a sample of 22 mid-age couples (42 individuals). Participants rated physical activity in the past week on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Craig et al., 2003). Follow-up questions asked how many days they did any walking, or moderate or vigorous activity at the same time as their partner and how much time they sat with their partner. Satisfaction was rated with the Couples Satisfaction Index-4 (Funk & Rogge, 2007). Couples walked together for an average of 2 days and did moderate and vigorous activity together on average less than one day. They sat with their partner on average 2.4 hours of the weekdays and 3.2 hours on the weekend. Couples were generally satisfied. Partner’s answers for physical activity together were averaged. Vigorous activity was dichotomized due to the low amount of any activity. Hierarchical linear modeling tested if types of physical activity was associated with relationship satisfaction. There was a trend for couples doing vigorous activity at the same time to have higher relationship satisfaction (b = 2.42, p = .07). Otherwise, there were no significant results, even when controlling for age. Engaging in vigorous physical activity at the same time as one’s partner may be related to increased relationship satisfaction. This mirrors prior findings (Sackett-Fox et al., 2021; Wilson & Novack, 2022) and adds to them by distinguishing between different types of activity. Future studies should investigate whether this effect holds while controlling for overall physical activity and if exercising with one’s partner or at the same time as one’s partner are associated with different effects. Studies would benefit from larger sample sizes as non-significant results here may be due to lack of power.

Delusional thinking is one of the most difficult-to-treat symptoms of serious

mental illness. While there are available interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), virtual reality, imagery, and cognitive restructuring, the prognosis for delusions tends to be poor. It is hypothesized that current mental health providers are not satisfied with the currently available treatments for delusions and may show interest in additional interventions. The proposed study aims to analyze current mental health providers’ opinions on available interventions for the treatment of delusions and act as a springboard for the development and validation of a group-based intervention for delusions. A survey was developed to ask clinicians who have treated clients with psychosis about their experience providing interventions. The survey then proposes a reality testing intervention, similar to Michael’s game, a group therapy reality testing intervention developed in Europe, but made more accessible to therapists in the United States. Participants were asked demographic questions, their opinion regarding any potential barriers, and current interventions they use for the treatment of delusions. They were then presented with an example of an intervention followed by questions regarding perception of the effectiveness of the proposed intervention. At the time of abstract submission, the data is in the process of being analyzed. The final analysis will be a qualitative analysis of themes collected from participant responses. Data will be successfully obtained and analyzed prior to the presentation date. These findings will contribute to the literature by providing us with a springboard from which we can move forward with developing a group intervention for the treatment of delusions. Due to the poor prognosis of those who experience delusions, vulnerable individuals experiencing serious mental illness are often subject to treatments that do not adequately address their symptoms. It is hoped that the findings from the study will draw attention to current gaps in the treatment of delusions and inform the development of future interventions.

This study analyzes the association between resilience and meaning in life, two positive psychology variables, and the depression, anxiety, and quality of life of the family members of individuals incarcerated in the United States correctional system. It was hypothesized there would be significant differences in depression, anxiety, resilience, meaning in life, and quality in life based on relationship of familial incarceration, type of parental incarceration, and binary gender, but not based on ethnicity. It was also predicted high resilience levels would be negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and quality of life. Finally, it was hypothesized outcome variables would be associated negatively with search for meaning in life and positively with presence of meaning in life. 254 family members of incarcerated persons were recruited and completed an online survey through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants were screened for depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety (GAD-7), quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF), resilience (BRS), and meaning in life (MLS). Mean differences for these variables were analyzed for gender, race, and the relationship to the incarcerated individual. MANOVA analyses and simple linear regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses. Higher levels of resilience were associated with better quality of life (p < .01) and lower levels of depression (p < .001) and anxiety (p < .001). High presence of meaning in life was associated with lower anxiety (p =.001) and higher quality of life (p < .001). High search for meaning in life was positively associated with anxiety (p < .001), depression (p < .001), and quality of life (p < .001). Comparison of means analyses indicated differences in outcome measures based on relationship of familial incarceration (p < .001), with those with an incarcerated spouse/partner tended to have worse overall outcomes. No differences were detected based on gender (p > .05). Differences based on type of parental incarceration and ethnicity could not be analyzed. Clinical implications include identifying strengths-based variables to help limit negative outcomes for family members of incarcerated persons. Future research should address study limitations including inadequate ethnic diversity and representation of different relationships of familial incarceration, to which certain hypotheses could not be analyzed.

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is transmitted by triatomine insects, including the western bloodsucking conenose bug, Triatoma protracta. This study used maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling to evaluate the habitat suitability of T. protracta in relation to morphological variability, sex distribution, and T. cruzi infection status. Morphological variation was assessed using digital images from iNaturalist, extracting 58 color and shape traits across 10 anatomical regions. Specimen sex and infection status were obtained from the Entomology Research Museum at the University of California, Riverside, and GPS metadata were used to train and test the MaxEnt model. Morphological traits varied significantly with season and climate. The proportional size of the dark region of the connexivial plate correlated negatively with the month of the year (r=-0.2495, P<0.05), as did the overall connexivial plate size (r=-0.2471, P<0.05). Light spot size on the connexivial plate differed significantly across climate types (H=10.8471, P=0.0283), being largest in cold semi-arid (BSk) and smallest in warm-summer Mediterranean (Csb) climates. Wing size varied seasonally (H=16.7611, P=0.0327), peaking in April–September. MaxEnt-based habitat suitability correlated positively with elevation (r=0.8380, P<0.05), the total pixel intensity of the dark region of the connexivial plate (r=0.7214, P<0.05), and the total pixel intensity of its light spots (r=0.6723, P<0.05). Annual mean temperature and precipitation during the driest quarter significantly influenced habitat suitability. Potential distribution mapping varied with sex but not T. cruzi infection status. These findings demonstrate the utility of habitat suitability modeling in understanding vector-pathogen dynamics within Triatominae, with implications for Chagas disease transmission.

Researchers have found that the judgment of those with alcohol misuse is influenced by other intersecting identities, implicating the importance of various social roles and alcohol misuse. One intersecting identity that carries significant weight is motherhood, which is often tied to societal expectations and judgments. The present study aimed to explore peoples’ perceptions of alcohol use and the identity of motherhood, specifically examining how these perceptions relate to moral judgments and views on competency. Additionally, previous literature shows that sexist attitudes impact these judgments; to remain consistent, the present study has a secondary focus on sexism. The present study aims to further our understanding of the inner mechanisms of stigma, which has clinical and theoretical significance. 251 participants were recruited using social media (women= 184, men= 53, trans/other gender= 26). Ages ranged from 18 to 77 years (M= 30, SD= 12.69). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four vignettes which described the general facts pertaining to a woman’s life, creating a 2 (mother vs. nonmother) x 2 (alcohol misuse vs. no mention of alcohol misuse) between-subjects design. Dependent variables were attitudes toward Social Moral Character and Competence. Participants’ sexism was also measured by questions from the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory. MANOVA results indicated that the condition describing alcohol misuse led to lower perceptions of Social Moral Character and Competence, regardless of motherhood identity. This suggests perceptions of alcohol misuse may be pervasive across differing social identities. Interestingly, the presence of alcohol misuse had a larger effect on views of Social Moral Character (ηp² = 0.23) than views on Competence (ηp² = 0.07), indicating that alcohol misuse may result in the questioning of one’s morals more so than characteristics of performance. Sexism was not significant, indicating that these judgments operate separately from sexist attitudes. These results contribute to previous findings that a woman’s morals may be judged based on her alcohol misuse. Specifically, the present study found that when it comes to intersectional components of identity, alcohol misuse may persist as the primary concern. This has implications for help-seeking behavior and treatment.

Light pollution (artificial light at night or ALAN) is one of the most widespread forms of environmental pollution. The adverse effects of ALAN exposure on humans range from sleep disturbance, depression, weight gain, eating and movement disorders, to the elevated risk of cancer. Studies reveal that ALAN impacts animals in multiple ways, revealing physiological, phenological, life history trait, and activity pattern responses. Key to understanding the impacts of ALAN is understanding the influence of natural nocturnal illumination (moonlight) on animals. Few studies have compared the effects of both natural and artificial light at night on the activity patterns of wild mammals. Activity of a species could decrease with nocturnal illumination as a strategy to avoid detection by visually hunting predators. Alternatively, bright nights may provide a visual advantage for certain species in predator detection or in foraging. We focused on two prey species: big-eared woodrat (Neotoma macrotis) and desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii). We tested the hypothesis that activity of these nocturnal mammals in the chaparral ecosystem would differ between dim nights (<10% natural lunar illumination) and bright nights (>96% natural lunar illumination). We predicted a significant decline in activity of these species during bright nights. We also tested the hypothesis that activity of these species would differ between a) dim nights with and without artificial light at night and b) bright nights with and without artificial light at night. We predicted that the activity of woodrats and cottontails would be significantly less on nights with the additional artificial light compared to nights with natural light only. We deployed camera traps in the chaparral of the California Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA, Dec 2023-Mar 2024 and Jan 2025-Mar 2025. In 2025, we also installed artificial light sources at each camera location. Photographs were taken throughout each night from 18:00-6:00 hrs and activity level was determined using number of captures. In conditions of natural nocturnal light, woodrats were significantly more active on dim nights compared to bright nights (P<0.05), conforming to our prediction. However, desert cottontail activity revealed no relationship to nocturnal light level. In conditions with ALAN, woodrat activity was significantly lower in both dim and bright nights compared to nights without ALAN (P<0.05), conforming to our prediction. However, desert cottontail activity did not differ significantly with artificial light at night compared to conditions with only natural nocturnal light. Woodrats are a keystone species in that their lodges serve as a microhabitat, with stable temperatures and higher moisture, for a variety of sensitive species. Our study demonstrates that ALAN has a negative impact on the activity of this keystone species compared to no impact on the desert cottontails. This reveals that species are unique in their responses to light at night and more investigations are needed to understand the wide-ranging impacts of light pollution.

Mental health outcomes are impacted by various social constructs. Historically, people belonging to the LGBTQ+ community have demonstrated higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress due to oppressive factors relating to homophobia. Additionally, gender impacts mental health outcomes through enforced gender roles. While both sexuality and gender are linked to mental health, their interaction is less understood. Masculinity may influence the relationship between sexuality, gender, and mental health due to emotionally restrictive behaviors often employed as protective factors against distress. This study aims to examine how gender and sexuality impact mental health, with a specific focus on the role of masculinity. Secondary data analyses were performed using existing data collected by the Self-Stigma Research Collaborative. The dataset combines samples from multiple studies on college students’ mental health, recruited through a university participant pool. Only studies that utilized both the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) and the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI) were included. An initial MANOVA revealed significant main effects and interactions for gender and sexuality on depression, anxiety, and stress scores. Men scored higher than women on each DASS scale with gay men consistently having the highest score on each scale. A subsequent MANCOVA using CMNI scores as a covariate was used to control for the effects of masculinity. The main effects remained significant, but the interaction between gender and sexuality was no longer significant. These findings suggest that masculinity is an influential factor in mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals, impacting levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. This aligns with existing research indicating elevated mental health concerns within the LGBTQ+ community. When accounting for masculinity, the interaction between gender and sexuality disappears, implying that masculinity accounts for a portion of the reason attributed to the interplay between gender and sexuality. What remains are the independent effects of gender and sexuality, rather than a combined influence. This result highlights masculinity’s role in shaping mental health outcomes and suggests that future studies should examine the nuanced effects of traditional gender roles and norms on mental health within diverse sexual and gender identities.

Previous studies have found that particular ethnic-racial socialization such as diversity appreciation can protect against mental health problems in biracial individuals. However, it is unclear if the effectiveness of the socialization practice depends on the race of the parent it is coming from. The current study sought to examine the relations between socialization and mental health (stress and self-esteem) within biracial adults with parents from a White and minoritized background. Specifically, we tested whether effects differed if the socialization messages came primarily from the White parent versus parent of color. Participants were recruited online via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and included a group of 165 biracial or multiracial adults between the ages of 24 – 63 (58.2% female, 41.8% male). All participants had one White parent and one parent of color (38.2% White-Black; 15.2% White-Hispanic; 3.6% White-Asian; 9.1% White-Native American; 0.6% White-MENA; 26.1% White-Black-Asian; 7.3% > 3 races). Participants completed a demographics survey, the Multiracial Youth Socialization Scale (Navigating Multiple Heritages, Multiracial Identity, Preparation for Bias, Negative, Race-Conscious, Colorblind, Diversity Appreciation, and Silent), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Regression analyses tested the relation between the 8 socialization practices and mental health (stress and self-esteem) and examined whether effects were moderated by the race of the parent using that practice the most. All socialization practices were related to less stress, and most were related to higher self-esteem. Most socialization effects were protective regardless of which parent it was coming from. However, race of the parent significantly moderated the effects of Preparation for Bias, Colorblind, and Silent socialization practices on stress and self-esteem. The effects of these socialization practices were stronger when they were primarily coming from the parent of color. These findings support that there are many racial/ethnic socialization practices that can be protective for biracial youth (e.g., navigating multiple heritages, diversity appreciation) and that the burden can be shared by both caregivers regardless of identity. Strategies used by caregivers of color may be more impactful and therefore caregivers may wish to avoid the more controversial socialization practices like colorblind or silent messaging.

This study investigates the relationship between dance and mental health among college students, focusing on the effects of regular dance practices on emotional well-being. With growing mental health challenges faced, this study explores whether dance, a creative and physical activity, can act as a tool for improving mental health outcomes. Previous research has shown that dance offers physical, emotional, and social benefits, enhancing confidence and alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression. This study builds on that foundation, examining the specific impacts of dance practices on the mental health of members of the University of La Verne Dance Team. Using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, participants completed pre- and post-practice surveys over six weeks to assess fluctuations in mental health scores. The study also examined how factors such as team bonding activities, routine enjoyment, formation placement, and intensity levels influenced mental well-being. Results showed that team bonding activities consistently improved mental health scores, whereas high-intensity routines or less engaging practices, such as strict formation work, sometimes led to declines. While statistical significance was observed in certain weeks, overall trends suggest that the social and creative aspects of dance positively influence mental health. The hypothesis that there will be an improvement in mental health of college students participating in dance was rejected, but was able to notice positive trends that occurred with participation. Although there was no statistical significant data, this research highlights the potential of dance as a mental health intervention for college students, emphasizing the importance of social connection, creative expression, and supportive environments. The findings can inform the development of dance programs designed to maximize mental health benefits for college age students.

Nationally, women continue to be underrepresented in undergraduate STEM majors, and this gender gap is due at least in part to women’s decisions to major in STEM. Fewer women than men enter into STEM majors and women leave STEM majors at a higher rate than men, especially after taking Calculus I. One major reason for women’s decisions to leave STEM is that they feel a low sense of belonging. Sense of belonging is the extent to which one feels like an accepted member of an academic community whose presence and contributions are valued. Scholars have identified characteristics of sense of belonging such as its malleability, as well as factors that influence one’s sense of belonging, including perceived competence, social connectedness, and learning environment. Perceived competence is the extent to which one feels like they understand the material. Social connectedness is the extent to which one has relationships with their classmates and/or instructor. Learning environments have features such as classroom climate and classroom activities. This report aims to explore the roles that perceived competence, social connectedness, and learning environment play in influencing women’s sense of belonging in Calculus. This study takes place at a mid-Atlantic research university during the Fall 2022 semester. The university offers a year-long Integrated Calculus course that covers both Pre-calculus and Calculus and was designed to incorporate frequent opportunities for students to engage in active learning. In the Fall 2022, two sections of the course were offered, with 63 and 64 students enrolled in each. The sample for analysis was narrowed to students who self-identified as women, N=41. Participants were surveyed twice during the semester. They were asked to rank the following constructs from most to least impactful on their sense of belonging in mathematics: social connectedness with classmates, social connectedness with instructor, perceived competence, classroom climate, and classroom activities. They were then asked to describe why they chose their top two most impactful constructs. Frequencies of rankings were calculated to explore which constructs were most impactful for women’s sense of belonging. Descriptions were analyzed using open coding to explore how and why these constructs impacted women’s sense of belonging. Results show that women consistently included social connectedness with classmates and perceived competence as one of their top two most impactful constructs on their sense of belonging. While classroom activities was not the most popular construct, when women did include this in their top two, they described its impact on social connectedness and perceived competence rather than its direct impact on their sense of belonging, suggesting that perhaps participants viewed classroom activities as farther removed from sense of belonging than social connectedness and perceived competence. These findings suggest that while students’ perceptions of their own social connectedness and perceived competence have much influence on their sense of belonging, instructors may be able to influence students’ social connectedness and perceived competence and, in turn, their sense of belonging via their pedagogical choices.

Space weather forecasting is the process of predicting how solar activity affects the Earth’s magnetosphere, potentially disrupting satellites, communication systems, and power grids. Using NASA satellite observations made over three solar cycles, we looked for relationships between solar wind properties and geomagnetic activity as measured by the Dst index. The satellite observation data was used to train a Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) model and a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) model to forecast geomagnetic activity 1-6 hours into the future. The models demonstrated promising results, providing accurate short-term forecasts of geomagnetic storms. These findings suggest that machine learning techniques, particularly RNN and LSTM models, hold significant potential for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of space weather forecasting.

The “dodo bird hypothesis” suggests all psychotherapies are equally effective due to common factors (Wampold et al., 1997), contradicting the belief that evidence-based treatments are superior (Mozdzierz et al., 2011). Similarly, religiosity and spirituality are often undervalued as standalone interventions, despite evidence that their integration can enhance therapy. As such, the current study examines how religion and psychotherapy, as well as enculturation, affect perception of healing. 121 participants were recruited from Prolific for participation in an online survey. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four vignette conditions in a 2×2 design: coping intervention type (psychotherapy vs. religion) and enculturation level (low vs. high), then completed quantitative measures for perception of healing and acceptance of religion as a coping intervention. Participants also provided demographic information (gender, age, race/ethnicity, religious affiliation, and religiosity). A 2×2 univariate ANOVA was conducted to examine the effects of coping intervention type and enculturation level on perception of healing. There were no significant main effects for coping intervention type, F(1, 121) = 2.71, p = .102, or enculturation level, F(1, 121) = 3.14, p = .079. The interaction term was also non-significant, F(1, 121) = 0.41, p = .523, suggesting the effect of coping intervention on perception of healing does not vary by enculturation level. Mediation analyses examined whether acceptance of religion as a coping intervention mediated the relationship between coping intervention type and perception of healing, but no significant mediation was found, b = 0.00, SE = 0.02, 95% CI [-0.04, 0.02], p = .86. Results did not support significant differences in healing perception based on coping intervention type, enculturation, or religious acceptance. This study contributes by broadening the definition of effective coping to include non- “evidence-based” strategies like religion. It challenges the devaluation of religious coping, advocating for a more inclusive view that recognizes both religious and therapeutic approaches as equally valid in non-clinician-led evaluations of healing potential. This underscores the importance of non-clinician perceptions in treatment planning. Further research should explore common factors between religion and therapy to better understand their role in coping.

Attractiveness judgments are influenced by various factors, including gender and psychological states such as anxiety. However, the interplay between these factors and their potential moderation by personality traits such as masculinity remains understudied. This study investigates the effects of gender (man vs. woman) and anxiety (anxiety vs. no anxiety) on perceived attractiveness, with a focus on how masculinity moderates these effects. The purpose of this research is to understand how anxiety and gender interact to shape perceptions of attractiveness, and how masculinity may influence this relationship.

Using a 2 (gender: male vs. female) x 2 (anxiety: anxiety vs. no anxiety) between-subjects design, 131 participants (63 women, 63 men, 5 trans/gender non-binary; 90 straight, 19 bisexual, 15 queer, and 7 other identified; age M = 27.70, SD = 14.39) were recruited online via Prolific. Participants were presented with a vignette alongside an AI-generated photo of a male or female model. The vignette was manipulated to reflect the four experimental conditions, and participants rated the perceived attractiveness and masculinity of the individuals in the vignettes. Results revealed a significant main effect of anxiety on attractiveness ratings, with individuals in low-anxiety conditions rated as more attractive than those in high-anxiety conditions. Importantly, masculinity scores moderated the relationship between anxiety and attractiveness, such that low anxiety was rated as more attractive only when participants perceived the individuals as highly masculine. This finding suggests that masculinity may amplify the effect of anxiety on perceived attractiveness, highlighting the role of gendered expectations in attraction dynamics. These findings contribute to our understanding of how psychological states, such as anxiety, interact with individual traits like masculinity in shaping perceptions of attractiveness. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of considering both gender and personality attributes when examining social judgments. Future research should explore how these effects might vary across different cultural contexts and for individuals with different gender identities.

This research explores the relationship between authentic leadership and stress, incorporating the moderating roles of healthy lifestyle and flexible work models. Utilizing a quantitative research design, data were collected from 250 U.S.-based managers meeting specific inclusion criteria through HRV-enabled devices and survey consent. The study employed a combination of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to measure stress, while authentic leadership was assessed using the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ). The findings reveal that authentic leadership is significantly correlated with lower perceived stress and higher HRV, indicating reduced physiological stress. Moreover, the moderating variables—healthy lifestyle and flexible work—strengthened the positive impact of authentic leadership on stress reduction. Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that the inclusion of healthy lifestyle and remote work practices significantly increased the explanatory power of the models for both HRV and PSS, underscoring the critical role of lifestyle and work flexibility in enhancing leadership effectiveness in stress management. This research contributes to the literature by integrating physiological and psychological stress indicators and highlighting practical strategies for promoting leader well-being in modern work environments.

The 2020 United States election was an event that marked a period of increased political polarization, which can define how a person processes societal issues and elicit intense emotions. Despite this, there is limited research on the mental health impacts that occur from party alignment and attitudes. Understanding how political polarization impacts mental health could inform future policy or media awareness, leading to improved emotional well-being. Political preferences and attitudes reflect an individual’s candidate preferences and the strength of their support for the candidate. This study seeks to understand how political preferences and attitudes influence the emotional well-being of U.S. voters, specifically feelings of fear and nervousness. Secondary analysis was run on the American National Election Studies 2020 Time Series Study. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOV A) was conducted to examine how preference of candidate (Biden v. Trump) and strength of preference (weak v. strong) before the 2020 election predicted scores corresponding to how afraid and how nervous participants felt about “how things are going in the country.” The MANOV A model proved significant; examination of individual analyses of variance revealed significant main effects and interaction effects in predicting levels of fear and nervousness. The interaction effect showed higher fear and nervousness associated with having a preference for Biden, especially if the preference was strong. Findings suggest that Biden supporters experienced higher levels of fear and nervousness before the 2020 election compared to Trump supporters, with stronger preferences amplifying these emotions. This research underscores the importance of examining the mental health effects of U.S. political polarization and how external factors—such as media coverage, party values, and candidate rhetoric—shape voters’ emotional responses. Future studies should also investigate how political identity influences help-seeking behaviors and mental health utilization.

Despite growing recognition of siblings as long-term caregivers for individuals with chronic illness, affecting an estimated 129 million Americans, limited research examines their mental health outcomes. This study investigated how caregiving characteristics, gender, emotional support, and socioeconomic factors relate to mental health challenges and depression among adult sibling caregivers. Multiple regression analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (CDC, 2023) data from adult sibling caregivers (N=433,323) examined relationships between caregiving factors (hours of care, length of caregiving), emotional support, socioeconomic factors, gender, mental health problems, and depression diagnosis. For mental health problems, significant predictors included emotional support (β = .222, p < .001), income (β = – .150, p < .001), and hours of care (β = .129, p < .001), with the model explaining 10.7% of variance. For depression, significant predictors included emotional support (β = .181, p < .001), income (β = – .126, p < .001), and gender (β = .001), with the model explaining 7.4% of variance. Less emotional support and lower income predicted worse outcomes across both mental health measures. Notably, more caregiving hours predicted worse mental health but not depression, while being female predicted higher likelihood of depression but not general mental health problems. Length of caregiving was not significant for either outcome. These findings reveal that sibling caregivers with limited emotional support and lower socioeconomic resources face higher psychological health risks. The divergent patterns for gender and caregiving intensity suggest these variables influence psychological outcomes differently, with women more vulnerable to depression, and intensive caregiving more impactful on general mental health. The non-significant finding of caregiving duration suggests caregivers might develop other adaptive coping mechanisms over time. Healthcare providers should implement routine psychological health screening for sibling caregivers, with a focus on those with limited support networks, lower socioeconomic resources, women, and high caregiving intensity. Policy makers should increase access to caregiving resources to siblings, as an effective mechanism to address both financial and psychological burdens. Future research should explore protective mechanisms that moderate socioeconomic impacts on mental health outcomes and how childhood caregiving influences psychological well-being into adulthood.

The Mexican state of Aguascalientes is exploring forest carbon offsets as a conservation strategy to restore a fragmented premontane thorn woodland ecosystem in the western Sierra Madre. Using drone imagery, we assessed the vigor of Quercus potosina across different canopy compositions, below-ground carbon dynamics, and oak life history strategies within fragmented forest plots in the Sierra Fría mountain range. Drone surveys enabled precise quantification of tree canopy area, oak dispersion, and crown density, allowing for the evaluation of oak health using metrics such as dead branch index (DBI) and canopy length-to-tree height ratio (CL/TH). Our results show that tree vigor positively correlates with oak canopy area, plot cover, and tree density, emphasizing the critical role of spatial arrangement in supporting healthy oak populations. Below-ground analysis indicated that acidic soils, associated with higher root biomass, are linked to improved oak survivorship, highlighting the importance of soil properties in carbon sequestration. The presence and density of Juniperus spp. facilitated early oak establishment but became detrimental to oak survival as competition intensified. Our findings suggest that balancing competitive interactions and successional facilitation between Quercus and Juniperus species is essential for successful forest regeneration and long-term ecosystem sustainability. This study underscores the potential of drone technology as an efficient tool for collecting landscape data and gaining insights into forest succession dynamics. By leveraging drones, forest conservation programs, such as carbon offset initiatives, can optimize reforestation strategies and enhance forest management practices.

Invasive species—particularly those that encourage excessive grass growth—present escalating challenges for conservation areas near urban regions with Mediterranean climates. These species outcompete native flora, reduce biodiversity, and significantly increase wildfire risks, especially as climate change exacerbates dry conditions. This study explores the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect and monitor invasive grasses in fire-prone conservation areas. Using UAVs equipped with RGB cameras, pixel data was collected from conservation zones bordering urban development in La Verne. Terrain imagery was analyzed using SigmaScanPro to interpret vegetation patterns and quantify disturbances through an optimization curve of pixel data. This approach assessed the intensity and frequency of spatial changes, aligning with the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis to evaluate ecosystem resilience in the face of invasive grass proliferation. While the study is ongoing and further analysis is forthcoming, preliminary results have identified high-density invasive grass clusters and areas of stressed native vegetation.

We propose that UAVs are highly effective for early detection and risk assessment, enabling timely interventions in high-risk zones. Beyond ecological monitoring, integrating UAV generated data can inform urban policy, reinforce fire preparedness, and strengthen ecosystem resilience in rapidly urbanizing areas. This research supports the development of proactive conservation strategies that align ecological integrity with community safety.

Perceived criticism from partners is associated with negative outcomes (Renshaw, 2008) and thus it is important to understand. Even though personality has not been related to perceived criticism (Masland et al., 2018), personality, in combination with other factors, such as rumination, might impact how criticism is perceived. The personality trait of openness, specifically, is related to rumination and can have both positive and negative effects on mental health outcomes (Fabretti & Zanon, 2024). Thus, it may be important to study the conditions under which openness may be related to perceived criticism. We hypothesize that at lower levels of rumination, the relationship between openness and perceiving less criticism will be stronger than at higher levels of rumination.

Forty-four middle-age participants (n = 22 couples) had diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, with the majority being heterosexual, cisgender, and in long-lasting marriages. Participants completed assessments including the Perceived Criticism Measure which measures partner criticism (Hooley & Teasdale, 1989), the Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire which measures how frequently one thinks consistently of the same thing (Brinker & Dozois, 2009), and the Ten-Item Personality Measure which measures Big Five personality factors with two items for each factor (Gosling et al., 2003). A hierarchical model with rumination, openness, and their interaction predicting perceived criticism was run. Results neared a trend toward moderation (b = .045, p = .10) such that the relationship between openness and criticism was strengthened with higher levels of rumination. Graphing the interaction suggested that at 1SD below the mean of rumination, the relationship between openness and criticism was negative, at the mean of rumination there was no relationship, and at 1SD above the mean of rumination, the relationship between openness and criticism was positive. Although the results were not statistically significant, they showed a potential trend toward moderation suggesting opposite relationships between openness and perceived criticism depending on level of rumination. Future research will benefit from larger samples for increased power and diversity. Future research should also examine types of rumination (i.e. brooding vs. reflective) because this could illuminate a relevant factor involved in the relationship between personality (i.e. openness) and rumination.