While environmental enrichment has been widely studied in laboratory animals, less is known about how voluntary, species-specific exercise influences behavior and psychological well-being in pigeons. Captive birds housed in under-stimulating environments like laboratory settings often develop maladaptive behaviors such as depression, feather plucking, or cage biting. This study examines how flight-based enrichment, designed to mimic natural behavior, influences motivation and psychological state in laboratory pigeons (Columba livia). To investigate this, we use a contrafreeloading task in which pigeons choose between flying to earn food or remaining stationary to receive the same amount of food without effort. Psychological state is assessed through a touchscreen art program, which our lab has previously used to differentiate and diagnose acute stress in pigeons. We will measure changes in peck-generated art patterns across pigeons with and without access to the flight-based enrichment condition. This approach will allow us to examine how voluntary physical activity influences decision making, well-being, and creativity, and emphasizes the importance of exercise for psychological health in under-stimulating environments for laboratory animals.

Millions of students are affected by chronic illness, yet research, practice, and policy often overlook the challenges they face in navigating school. This study examines the challenges and their impact on the psychological and educational development of such students. Using a qualitative, literature‑based approach, it draws from a diverse range of peer‑reviewed articles and first‑person narratives to examine shared hardships across conditions such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Thematic analysis of these sources yielded the following concerns: (1) limited understanding of chronic illness in educational settings, often resulting in limited accessibility to necessary accommodations and adequate psychological support; (2) disrupted transitions from pediatric to adult care, which impact academic stability; (3) identity challenges and peer reintegration issues post‑hospitalization, particularly in adolescents; (4) unmet emotional needs, including increased isolation and anxiety; and (5) systemic inequities shaped by factors including race, socioeconomic status, and illness visibility. These findings point to critical directions for school research, practice, and policy to address such major challenges currently encountered by so many students affected by chronic illness.

Body image disturbances, or distorted perceptions of how an individual views their body, can have profound negative impacts on an individual’s wellbeing and have become increasingly common among adolescents and young adults. Intervention-based studies have found that stress management strategies and self-compassion exercises are correlated with improved body image in adolescent girls and college-aged women, respectively. Our study aims to examine the relationship between stress and body image disturbances in college students, a population already vulnerable to body image concerns. With regard to previous research, we will also study the role of emotional regulation strategies as a possible moderating factor. We predict a positive correlation between stress and body image disturbances, with higher scores of emotional regulation lessening the impact of higher stress on body image disturbances. Through an online survey, we assessed these variables among undergraduate UCLA students, using questions from the Body Appreciation Scale, the Body Appreciation Scale-2, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire. Data analysis is currently ongoing and we are examining data from over 200 undergraduate students, balanced across gender identity and age. This study aims to better understand the factors that can negatively affect body image in young adults, which may inform future intervention strategies.

Mental illness stigma—defined as negative societal or individual beliefs about a diagnosis—creates barriers to treatment, help-seeking, and employment. While traditional interventions like psychoeducation and contact-based strategies have proven effective, limited research has explored social media’s role in reducing stigma. As the second most-used platform among young adults—the age group with the highest rates of serious mental illness—TikTok may be a valuable tool for reducing stigma. This study examines how TikTok content influences perceptions of anxiety and depression by analyzing three video types: educational content, personal narratives, and influencer advocacy. Participants (N=280) were recruited via Prolific and randomly assigned to one of three groups—each viewing a mental health-related TikTok video—or a control group viewing unrelated content. Pre-exposure, participants completed surveys on demographics, TikTok use, and prior mental health exposure. Post-exposure, they completed an attention check and a modified Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) to assess stigma. ANOVA results comparing stigma levels across conditions will be presented. It is hypothesized that mental health video exposure will reduce stigma compared to the control group, with influencer advocacy most effective due to celebrities’ impact on public attitudes. This research supports TikTok’s potential in mental health advocacy and may offer applications for other stigmatized topics like disability, addiction, and LGBTQ+ identities.