Translational Issues in Psychological Science (TPS) is a peer-reviewed journal co-sponsored by APA and APAGS, designed to help graduate students get involved in the publishing and reviewing process. Each year, the APAGS Science Committee develops special issue topics that highlight pertinent and timely issues in Psychology that are both translational in nature and of broad interest to scientists, clinicians, and the general public. We are pleased to announce TPS’s 2026 special issues: Psychology and Emotion, Stigma in Immigrant Communities, Tailored Psychological Approaches, and Substance Use and Addiction.

Psychology and Emotion

This issue will feature theoretical and empirical research that investigates topics such as 1) the relationship between psychopathology and emotion, 2) current and future methods for analyzing and measuring emotion, 3) the critical role that culture plays on emotional learning, 4) how emotions may influence and guide decision making, and 5) the neurobiological mechanisms of emotion regulation. 

Stigma in Immigrant Communities

This issue will aim to explore the multifaceted influence of social stigma on immigrant populations. This special issue will invite original, empirical research and conceptual reviews that explore the psychological mechanisms that drive stigma and the critical roles of societal attitudes, cultural norms, public policy, and other factors in perpetuating or combating these negative impacts. This special issue will include the following subtopics: 1) the psychological impacts of stigma on immigrant mental health, 2) stigma and social integration, 3) the role of social media in shaping the stigma around immigrants, and 4) comparative studies on stigma across different populations.  

Tailored Psychological Approaches

This issue aims to explore and advance the application of tailored methods in the field by featuring a combination of theoretical and empirical research, along with scientific commentary. Specifically, this issue will invite original empirical research and reviews targeting the following topics: 1) Understanding the uniqueness of individuals and subgroups within historically categorized populations, 2) developing and evaluating programs by directly involving program users and historically marginalized populations, 3) applying advanced statistical techniques to facilitate treatment tailoring, and 4) culturally adapting programs or interventions to ensure they are relevant and effective across diverse cultural contexts.

Substance Use and Addiction

Lastly, this issue invites scholarship that examines substance use etiology, impact, and interventions. This may include, but is not limited to, research on substance use disorders. More specifically, this special issue will address conceptual and empirical research that (1) advances scholarly understanding of biological, neurological, social, and cultural factors that influence and/or are associated with substance use and/or addiction, (2) focuses on neural and cognitive underpinnings and conceptualizations of substance use and addiction, (3) discusses the psychological, cognitive, and social impact of substance use and/or addiction, and (4) provides empirical evidence for potential interventions for substance use and addiction in different settings/contexts (e.g., clinical interventions, school-based programs, etc.) across the lifespan. 

Stay tuned for more information regarding submission deadlines. Furthermore, as one of its central missions, TPS aims to highlight graduate student research– submissions from graduate students are strongly encouraged!   

Opportunity to Serve as a Peer-Reviewer!

Another key mission of TPS is to provide training opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to serve as reviewers, editorial board members, and even associate editors. If you are interested in the opportunity of serving as a peer reviewer for any of the issues described above, you may learn more at https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/tps/call-for-reviewers or submit an application at https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/tps/tps-reviewer-application. Applications include an online form and submitting a two-page CV. Feel free to contact the Editor-in-Chief, Jacklynn Fitzgerald with any questions.