This study investigates whether the emotional tone of mental health misinformation articles predicts their virality on social media. Prior research suggests that emotionally charged content spreads more widely online, yet little is known about how emotional valence and discrete emotions drive the diffusion of mental health misinformation specifically (Wang et al., 2021). Using BuzzSumo, 166 mental health misinformation articles published between June 2025 and June 2026 were collected, and sharing data were retrieved across Facebook, X, Pinterest, and Reddit. Sentiment analysis was used to score each article’s emotional valence and discrete emotions. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test whether these scores predicted virality. Results indicated that negative valence was associated with greater overall sharing, whereas positive valence was not significant. Among discrete emotions, sadness predicted higher total shares, whereas disgust predicted fewer shares. Platform-specific results showed that negative valence predicted greater sharing on Facebook, Pinterest, and Reddit, but not on X. Discrete emotions also varied by platform: sadness and trust increased Facebook sharing; surprise increased X sharing; trust reduced Pinterest sharing; and surprise reduced Reddit engagement. Identifying which emotions drive the sharing of mental health misinformation can inform the design of counter-messaging strategies and extend existing theories of emotion and virality to the higher-stakes domain of public mental health. 

Financial literacy has emerged as a critical area of research as individuals increasingly navigate complex financial systems involving credit, student debt, budgeting, and long-term financial planning. For college students, the transition toward financial independence occurs during a period in which financial decisions may influence future economic stability and opportunity. Although higher education is often viewed as a pathway toward socioeconomic advancement, disparities in financial knowledge and socioeconomic resources may shape students’ ability to navigate financial challenges. This research examines the relationship between financial literacy, financial behaviors, and socioeconomic mobility among college students through a critical synthesis of existing scholarship in financial economics, education, and social inequality. This study analyzes how financial literacy relates to financial decision-making while considering the broader socioeconomic conditions that influence access to financial knowledge and economic opportunity. Existing research demonstrates that financial education can improve financial knowledge and downstream financial behaviors while also revealing disparities in financial literacy associated with socioeconomic background, educational access, and family resources. By examining financial literacy as both an individual capability and a socially influenced resource, this research explores the role of financial knowledge in shaping students’ financial agency and economic decision-making. Findings suggest that financial literacy may contribute to improved financial behaviors and economic preparedness, but it does not independently determine socioeconomic mobility. Instead, financial literacy operates within broader systems influenced by income, education, wealth, and institutional support. This study highlights the importance of equitable access to financial education within higher education institutions to support students’ long-term economic opportunities. 

This study investigates how documentary film represents mental illness and how those representations may reinforce stigma or support destigmatization. A qualitative comparative analysis of seven publicly available documentaries released between 2010 and 2023 identified recurring representational patterns, including narrative framing, depictions of diagnosis and causality, the distribution of authority, and the relationship between risk and recovery. The analysis is informed by a targeted review of academic scholarship on documentary representation, stereotypes, discrimination, and media influence on audience belief formation, to situate the findings within established research and terminology. Drawing on theoretical perspectives on stigma and media authority, the study examines how particular representational choices in documentary form relate to stigma risk and destigmatizing potential, without assessing directors’ intentions. Overall, the findings suggest which representational features may be associated with higher or lower stigma risk, offering practice-relevant guidance for documentary filmmakers about directorial storytelling choices that can shape public interpretations of mental illness.

Political polarization in the United States has become increasingly affective, meaning that it is driven less by disagreement over policy than by hostility toward members of the opposing party. Social media now serves as a primary arena in which this hostility is expressed and reinforced, yet relatively little research has examined how high-ranking elected officials frame their political opponents online. This study conducts a content analysis of Facebook posts by the eight top congressional leaders of the 119th Congress, which includes the majority and minority leaders and whips of both the Senate and the House. The sample consists of the first forty posts that each leader published on or after January 20, 2025. Each post is coded for three rhetorical categories grounded in existing scholarship: dehumanization (Cassese 2021), outrage rhetoric (Sobieraj and Berry 2011), and tribal identity framing (Finkel et al. 2020; Mason 2018). This study tests two hypotheses. The first is that the prevalence of these categories differs significantly between Republican and Democratic leaders. The second is that posts containing one or more category generate higher engagement, measured as reactions, comments, and shares, than posts that contain none. Beyond documenting these rhetorical patterns, this study draws on a growing body of research linking mindfulness practice to reduced affective polarization and emotional reactivity, and it argues that contemplative practice offers a promising response to reactive political rhetoric for both the politicians who produce it and the audiences who receive it.

Drink spiking is a growing public safety concern that involves the nonconsensual administration of drugs or other substances to an unsuspecting individual alcoholic beverage. In 2022 a global survey of more than 45,000 respondents reported that 18% believed they had experienced drink spiking and that 92% of suspected incidents were never reported to law enforcement. In response to this issue, the State of California enacted AB 2375 and AB 1013, which took effect on July 1, 2024, to establish preventative safety measures within Type 48 establishments, or businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages. The legislation requires these establishments to provide drink-spiking detection devices, such as test strips and test kits, as well as drink covers, either free of charge or at a reasonable price upon request. It also mandates that establishments display clearly visible signage stating, “Don’t get roofied! Drink spiking drug test kits available here,” and include the same notice on their websites to increase patron awareness of these resources. This study employs field research to examine the implementation of these policies by assessing whether the required signage, drink covers, and drink-spiking detection devices are being provided in accordance with AB 2375 and AB 1013. 

Staking exchange-traded funds (ETFs) represent a new class of cryptocurrency investment products that combine exposure to digital assets with yield generation through blockchain staking. Since their introduction in the United States in 2025, these products have experienced rapid growth while operating within an evolving regulatory and tax environment. Because staking ETFs are a new financial product, this project begins by examining their structure, operation, and key characteristics, as well as the risks associated with staking, including lock-up periods, slashing, cybersecurity threats, and market manipulation concerns. The project then examines how investors, firms, and regulators have responded to the emergence of staking ETFs and investigates the factors that influence their performance and adoption. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the study analyzes regulatory developments, industry responses, and existing literature alongside newly collected data on staking ETFs. The empirical analysis combines institutional holdings data from SEC 13F filings, fund characteristics, return measures, and market information to study investor behavior, ETF performance, and the relationship between yield, liquidity, and fund characteristics. In addition, the project constructs a timeline of major regulatory events and examines their implications for the development of the market. As a new and rapidly evolving financial market, staking ETFs present important regulatory, tax, and economic questions. Understanding how investors and institutions respond to these products may help inform future policy and investment decisions and provide insight into how traditional financial markets adapt to new forms of financial innovation.