McKenna Nhem, who is now a PhD student in counseling psychology at the University of North Texas, recently published her Honors thesis completed in the lab in the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychology.
McKenna conducted a systematic scoping literature review mapping the empirical literature conducted within the environmental sensitivity framework in adult mental health. This includes mapping which social environments have been examined, which individual sensitivity factors at the genetic, endophenotypic (physiological), and phenotypic (observable) levels have been examined, which mental health outcomes have been examined, and what models have been supported. This clarifies the current state of the literature, identifies existing gaps, informs future systematic reviews and empirical research, and allows for the identification of potential sensitivity-related strengths in adult adjustment.
This work was conducted with the contribution of three other students in the lab who are co-authors on the paper: Christina Personette, Zoe Childers-Rockey and Madison Bissa.
Find the paper (open access) here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08919-0
