Two posters from our lab at the 40th Red River Psychology Conference in Moorhead this April. Click either poster to open the full PDF.
Virtual social support during stress
Our research assistants Trevor Cvancara, Summer Martin, Juan Osorno, Rylie Rizzio, Ashlyn Seurer, and Brady Steinert presented findings from one of our virtual reality studies, working with Erin Twohy and Garrett Byron. In a sample of 113 NDSU students, social support reduced negative emotion, and the size of that benefit appeared to depend on the social context.
Cvancara, T., Martin, S., Osorno, J., Rizzio, R., Seurer, A., Steinert, B., Twohy, E., Byron, G., & Hilmert, C. J. (2026, April). The impact of virtual social support during stress on negative affect and cortisol. Presented at the 40th Red River Psychology Conference, Moorhead, MN.
Seasons of stress and sugar
Hailey Chhoun of Minnesota State University Moorhead worked with Garrett Byron, Clayton Hilmert, and Anna Strahm on data from 150 pregnancies followed through Sanford Health. They asked whether the season a pregnancy begins in changes how maternal stress and gestational diabetes relate to fetal growth. Spring conceptions stood out: gestational diabetes was linked to greater fetal growth only in that season, and perceived stress was tied to fetal growth in spring and fall pregnancies.
Chhoun, H., Byron, G., Hilmert, C. J., & Strahm, A. M. (2026, April). Seasons of stress and sugar: Exploring how timing shapes tiny growth. Presented at the 40th Red River Psychology Conference, Moorhead, MN.
