Which Comes First? The Temporal Order of Reward Sensitivity and Inflammation Following Childhood Abuse
Advisor: Phoebe Lam
Major: Psychology and Biological Sciences
Abstract
Childhood abuse is linked with increased cardiovascular disease risk, with reduced reward sensitivity and heightened low-grade inflammation proposed as key mechanisms. However, whether abuse first impacts reward sensitivity or inflammation is unclear. Moreover, prior studies relied on behavioral tasks, limiting ecological validity and real-world implications. To address these gaps, I will analyze MIDUS data (N=780, 3 waves over 18 years) which included self-reported childhood abuse and biomarkers of inflammation. Using its eight-day diary data, I will ecologically operationalize reward sensitivity as within-person difference in positive emotion experienced on a positive event vs. non-event days. I will test two competing hypotheses: (a) childhood abuse measured at Time 1 (T1) will predict decreased reward sensitivity at Time 2 (T2), which in turn will predict increased inflammation at Time 3 (T3); (b), abuse at T1 will predict increased inflammation at T2, which in turn will predict decreased reward sensitivity at T3.
Bio
Majoring in Psychology and Biological Sciences, I am deeply intrigued by the intersection of these fields and their ties to society. Interested in brain trauma and how our experiences manifest in the brain, I began cognitive neuropsychology research my first year at 好色先生TV in the Concepts, Actions, and Objects lab with Brad Mahon. As I鈥檓 particularly interested in how experiences continue to have implications in our mental and physical health, in addition to their neurological presentations, I am excited to be conducting my honors thesis project with Phoebe Lam and developing multi-faceted skills in her Lifespan Stress and Health lab. With this opportunity, I am able to pursue my passion for examining how life experiences can have disproportionate impacts on communities鈥� health around us with an additional neurological perspective. In addition to academics, I enjoy campaigning for human rights, journaling, cooking fish, attending sporting events and exploring new places and foods (and taking pictures of such things).