Psi Chi Journal

02/27/2026

The Psi Chi Journal Editorial Team mourns the passing of Dr. Steven V. Rouse, who was the Journal Editor from 2021-2025 and an Associate Editor from 2014-2021.

Steve’s thoughtful and enthusiastic leadership has made a profound impact on thousands of Psi Chi researchers and their work. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts for his extraordinary service and for being such a cherished friend to so many.

A Celebration of Life for Steve will be hosted in person and virtually on Saturday, February 28 at 1 pm Pacific Time (4 pm Eastern). Additional details are provided at https://www.psichi.org/news/719849

11/27/2024

Pagnani and colleagues at Wake Forest University described the inclusion of undergraduate researchers in “many labs” studies as an invited editorial.

Mia Pagnani, Yizhou Zhang, Christy Ye, Aaron Nataline, and Shannon T. Brady Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University

11/20/2024

Barron and Hale at UNG - University of North Georgia replicated previous research about the influence of context on emotion perception in facial expressions. The study replicates Carroll & Russell (1996) paper exploring how semantic context influences facial emotion perception. Participants evaluated a fear expression with either no context, congruent, or incongruent scenarios. Findings show that context significantly alters perception, with incongruent scenarios reducing correct emotion identification. Results suggest emotion perception is influenced by both facial features and contextual information.

The study replicates Carroll & Russell (1996) paper exploring how semantic context influences facial emotion perception.

11/13/2024

Stokes and colleagues at Penn State studied differences in condom use patterns between couples and singles in college-aged individuals. Heterosexual individuals (n = 219) in committed and in noncommitted (n = 87) relationships were surveyed to predict differences in condom use patterns. Less effective birth control, concern for pregnancy and positive attitudes towards condoms predicted more consistent condom use in coupled individuals. Concern for STI, concern for pregnancy, and positive attitudes towards condoms predicted more consistent condom use in single individuals. Understanding differences in couples and singles can inform public health strategies to improve contraceptive education and promote condom use.

Less effective birth control, concern for pregnancy and positive attitudes towards condoms predicted more consistent condom use in coupled individuals.

10/30/2024

Johnson and colleagues at Spelman College studied gendered racial identity and the internalization of the Sapphire stereotype among Black women. Differences in disengagement coping and internalizing negative stereotypes were found among Black women. Black women who reported their gendered racial identity as unimportant may disengage more when they highly internalize the Sapphire stereotype. Black women who reported their gendered racial identity as central to their overall identity were less likely to use disengagement coping. For Black women, seeing their race and gender as important to their overall identity may be a useful tool for combatting gendered racism.

Differences in disengagement coping and internalizing negative stereotypes were found among Black women.

10/23/2024

Marquez and colleagues at Weber State University studied racial priming and the race-crime congruency effect. The undergraduate sample exhibited racial biases in their judgments of the Black vs. White defendant (on verdict, punishment, and discipline). Among undergraduates, the race-crime congruency effect emerged for the White defendant but not for the Black defendant. Among the undergraduate sample, the racial prime led to harsher judgments for the Black defendant compared to the White defendant. Many findings were qualified by the interaction with the sample (White MTurk participants vs. White undergraduate students).

The undergraduate sample exhibited racial biases in their judgments of the Black vs. White defendant (on verdict, punishment, and discipline).

10/16/2024

Roberts and Finley at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville studied the interplay of depression, rumination, and negative autobiographical memory. Ruminating repeatedly about a negative memory kept the memory more negative as compared to being distracted from the memory. This was especially true for participants with greater depressive symptoms. Depression leads to rumination, and may also amplify the effect of rumination on the negativity of autobiographical memories.

Ruminating repeatedly about a negative memory kept the memory more negative as compared to being distracted from the memory.

10/09/2024

Powell and Joseph at Roanoke College studied the phenomenon of cybermonitoring. Emerging adults were surveyed on their use of social media to gather information on potential, current, and/or past romantic partners. More than 90% reported engaging in cybermonitoring. Emerging adults frequently engaged in less intrusive behaviors (e.g., viewing profile and tagged photos). Cybermonitoring was most common during the relationship, followed by before it, and least likely after its dissolution.

Emerging adults were surveyed on their use of social media to gather information on potential, current, and/or past romantic partners.

09/18/2024

Casidsid and colleagues at Western Washington University studied the ideal affect of Filipinx Americans. Both Filipinx Americans and European Americans equally preferred feeling low arousal positive emotions (e.g. calm) and high arousal positive emotions (e.g. excitement). Religious similarities between Filipinx Americans and European Americans may be a factor in the two groups’ overlapping emotional preferences. Filipinx Americans’ equal preference of low arousal positive and high arousal positive emotions differs from previously observed emotional preferences of other collectivist cultural groups.

Both Filipinx Americans and European Americans equally preferred feeling low arousal positive emotions (e.g. calm) and high arousal positive emotions (e.g. excitement).

09/11/2024

Shin and colleagues at Pepperdine University studied loneliness rates among undergraduates, as reported between 2008 and 2019 on the National College Health Assessment. Undergraduate loneliness rates increased from 54.9% in 2008 to 67.4% in 2019. A majority of U.S. undergraduates reported feeling "very lonely" at some point in the last 12 months. Even after controlling for demographic factors, the upward trend in loneliness persisted. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to address loneliness and promote well-being among undergraduates.

Undergraduate loneliness rates increased from 54.9% in 2008 to 67.4% in 2019.

09/04/2024

Ferrari and Burch at Mount Saint Mary College studied the complex relationship between race, internalized stigma, and substance abuse. Differences in levels of stigma were found among adolescents (ages 15–17) and young people (ages 18–22) with substance use disorders who did not identify as White compared to those who identified as White. Adolescents (ages 15–17) and young people (ages 18–22) with substance use disorders who did not identify as White reported higher levels of self-stigma regarding their substance use than their White peers. Self-stigma of substance use was greater on all three subscales, namely self-devaluation, fear of enacted stigma, stigma avoidance and values disengagement, as well as the entire scale, in adolescents (ages 15-17) and young people (ages 18-22) with substance use disorders who did not identify as White than it was for those who identified as White.

Differences in levels of stigma were found among adolescents (ages 15–17) and young people (ages 18–22) with substance use disorders who did not identify as White compared to those who identified as White.

08/28/2024

Christy and colleagues at Pepperdine University studied mental health and religiosity among LGBTQ+ students at a Christian university. Among students at a religiously affiliated university, sexual minorities reported higher rates of mental health concerns than heterosexuals. Religious beliefs slightly decreased the risk of mental health concerns among both sexual minorities and heterosexuals. Among sexual minorities, attending religious services was correlated with higher rates of internalized homophobia. Religion may positively and negatively impact sexual minorities’ mental health. Religious universities should increase affirming religious resources.

Among students at a religiously affiliated university, sexual minorities reported higher rates of mental health concerns than heterosexuals.