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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 24, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Neuroscientists just uncovered a fascinating link between sleep, memory, and breathing
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/neuroscientists-just-uncovered-a-fascinating-link-between-sleep-memory-and-breathing-220971

<p>In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered a significant link between breathing patterns during sleep and the brain&#8217;s ability to consolidate memories. This finding, published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43450-5"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>, sheds light on how the simple act of breathing might play a pivotal role in organizing the brain&#8217;s memory-related activities during sleep.</p>
<p>The motivation behind this innovative research stemmed from a desire to understand the complex interplay between various physiological processes and memory consolidation during sleep. Prior research had established the critical role of specific sleep stages, particularly non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, in memory strengthening.</p>
<p>During NREM sleep, the brain goes through distinct oscillations or rhythmic activities, which are believed to be crucial for transferring and solidifying memories. However, the intricacies of how these processes are regulated remained a mystery. With growing evidence suggesting that respiration influences cognitive functions during wakefulness, the researchers were curious to explore whether breathing might have a similar impact during sleep.</p>
<p>To grasp the study&#8217;s significance, it&#8217;s essential to understand two key concepts: sleep-related oscillations and memory reactivation. Sleep-related oscillations refer to the rhythmic activities in the brain during sleep, notably slow oscillations and sleep spindles. These oscillations are not just random brain activities but are thought to be crucial for memory consolidation – the process of transforming new, potentially fragile memories into stable, long-term ones. Memory reactivation is a phenomenon where memories formed during wakefulness are &#8216;replayed&#8217; and strengthened during sleep, mainly during these specific oscillations.</p>
<p>&#8220;We know quite well that the memory function of sleep relies on the precise interplay of sleep-related oscillations. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that respiration impacts neural activity and cognition during wake. Hence, we were curious to assess whether respiration might take on a similar role during sleep by shaping sleep rhythms and ensuing cognitive processes,&#8221; explained study author Thomas Schreiner, leader of the Emmy Noether junior research group at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München’s Department of Psychology.</p>
<p>Conducted at a sleep laboratory, the study involved 20 healthy participants who were monitored over two separate sessions, with each session spaced at least a week apart. This design was intentional to avoid any carryover effects from the first session to the second.</p>
<p>Before diving into the main experiment, participants were familiarized with the sleep laboratory environment through an adaptation nap. This step was crucial to ensure that participants were comfortable and to minimize any potential disturbances or anxiety that might arise from sleeping in an unfamiliar setting.</p>
<p>Once the actual experiment commenced, participants engaged in a series of tasks. They started with a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), a standard test to assess alertness and reaction times. This was followed by a memory task, where participants learned associations between 120 verbs and images of either objects or scenes. This learning phase was crucial, as it set the stage for later testing memory consolidation.</p>
<p>The heart of the experiment was the nap period. Participants were given 120 minutes to sleep, during which their brain activity, muscle activity, heart activity, and breathing were recorded. After the nap, participants&#8217; alertness was reassessed using the PVT, and their memory performance was tested again.</p>
<p>To analyze the data, the researchers focused on specific phases of the respiratory cycle and their synchronization with brain oscillations recorded in the EEG. They looked for patterns and correlations, seeking to understand how these physiological processes might be interlinked.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>A key discovery was the significant association between the rhythm of breathing and specific brain activities during sleep, known as slow oscillations and sleep spindles. Slow oscillations are a type of deep, slow brain wave that occur during restorative sleep. Sleep spindles, on the other hand, are sudden bursts of oscillatory brain activity.</p>
<p>The researchers found that these two types of brain activities were intricately synchronized with breathing patterns. Slow oscillations often appeared just before the peak of inhalation, whereas sleep spindles tended to occur right after the inhalation peak. This synchronization appeared to be a fundamental aspect of how the brain organizes its memory consolidation process during sleep.</p>
<p>Delving deeper, Schreiner and his colleagues found that this coupling between breathing patterns and sleep-related brain oscillations had a significant impact on the process of memory reactivation. The strength of the synchronization between breathing and these brain oscillations correlated with the extent to which memories were reactivated during sleep.</p>
<p>Essentially, the way participants breathed while asleep influenced the effectiveness of their memory processing. This finding suggests that the simple act of breathing could play a pivotal role in organizing the brain&#8217;s memory-related activities during sleep.</p>
<p>The findings highlight the fact &#8220;that sleep is really important both for our physical wellbeing but also for our cognitive functioning,&#8221; Schreiner told PsyPost. &#8220;Accordingly, it is quite important to maintain/establish a good sleep hygiene and to act accordingly in case of compromised sleep (e.g. due to sleep related breathing disorders).&#8221;</p>
<p>However, it&#8217;s important to note that the study&#8217;s findings were correlational. This means that while a connection between breathing patterns and brain activities during sleep was established, it does not necessarily imply a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Understanding the exact nature of this relationship requires further investigation.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our results at hand are correlational in nature. That means we just describe the relationship between respiration during sleep and sleep related rhythms. While this was an important first step, it will be crucial to assess the causality of this relationship (e.g. by directly manipulating breathing during sleep and assess its impact on sleep rhythms).&#8221;</p>
<p>Additionally, the sample was predominantly female, with an average age of around 21 years. &#8220;A crucial step will be to move on to more diverse populations in terms of age and sleep quality,&#8221; Schreiner said.</p>
<p>Future research directions are plentiful and promising. One avenue is exploring interventions that could enhance memory consolidation during sleep by targeting the relationship between breathing and brain rhythms. This could have profound implications, especially for older adults who often experience declines in both respiratory function and memory capabilities.</p>
<p>&#8220;I am every time surprised, even though we build upon a rich body of previous work on sleep and memory, how many facets of this relationship we still do not understand,&#8221; Schreiner told PsyPost. &#8220;Hence, there is still much to do.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43450-5">Respiration modulates sleep oscillations and memory reactivation in humans</a>&#8220;, was authored by Thomas Schreiner, Marit Petzka, Tobias Staudigl, and Bernhard P. Staresina.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 11:29AM
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TITLE:
New blood test that screens for Alzheimer’s may be a step closer to reality
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URL:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/22/health/alzheimers-blood-test-screening-study/index.html

A test could be used to screen for Alzheimer’s disease with “high accuracy,” even before symptoms begin to show.
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 11:28AM
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TITLE:
New study finds that multivitamins could help slow cognitive decline associated with aging
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URL:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2024/01/22/multivitamins-cognitive-decline-study/72312621007/

Taking a multivitamin could help slow cognitive decline that&apos;s associated with aging by as much as two years.
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 11:27AM
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TITLE:
UK risks being ‘burnt-out nation’ due to poor mental health
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URL:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/22/mental-health-uk-burnt-out-nation

Mental Health UK says ‘worrying’ number taking time off work as global issues fuel ‘feelings of hopelessness’.

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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 11:26AM
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TITLE:
Kids of color get worse health care across the board in the U.S.
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URL:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/18/1225270442/health-inequities-pediatrics-kids-of-color-disparities

The strongest disparity evidence was found in pain management.

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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 17, 2024 at 11:25AM
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TITLE:
Rising Latino suicide rates worry community leaders
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URL:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/rising-latino-suicide-rates-worry-community-leaders-rcna134363

The Hispanic suicide rate has risen significantly in the last decade, and mental health experts cite factors like poverty, language barriers, and a lack of bilingual mental health professionals.
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 24, 2024
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TITLE:
Book Review: Embodied Self Awakening
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URL:
https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/reviews-commentary/embodied-self-awakening/

Have you ever considered how living in a patriarchal, racist, capitalist society damages your mental health and separates you from wellness? That is exactly what Nityda Gessel explores in this work, <em>Embodied Self Awakening</em>. The book first explores how we inherently experience pain when moving through the world, and how it creates emptiness within us. We all carry trauma with us and have echoes of pain as a result. Gessel brings in teachings of Buddhism combined with several breathing exercises to center the reader. Then, we delve into neurobiology and, specifically, how the vagus nerve can send our bodies and minds into trauma response. Gessel asks us: <em>What ails us? What exiles us from wellness? Is it childhood trauma, abuse, or something else?</em>&#13;
&#13;
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 23, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
New study confirms the impact of sexual double standards in memory recall
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/new-study-confirms-the-impact-of-sexual-double-standards-in-memory-recall-220961

<p>A recent study published in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19419899.2023.2241869"><em>Psychology &amp; Sexuality</em></a> showed that individuals are more likely to remember negative information about sexually active women than men. These findings replicate and extend previous research on the sexual double standard, a societal bias that evaluates men and women differently for similar sexual behaviors.</p>
<p>The study builds upon the foundational work of Marks and Fraley in 2006, which first suggested that people remember information consistent with the sexual double standard. This concept, widely recognized in societal norms, states that sexually active men are often praised, while women are judged negatively for similar behavior. However, the original study faced criticism for its small sample size and potential bias in its findings. Given the changing societal attitudes towards gender and sexuality, especially in the wake of movements like #MeToo, the present research aimed to reassess these findings under contemporary conditions.</p>
<p>Michael Marks and Yuliana Zaikman at New Mexico State University embarked on this study to address the limitations of the previous research, and to understand better the mechanics of memory recall influenced by the sexual double standard. They were particularly interested in determining whether differences in recall were due to the way information was initially processed (encoding) or the way it was retrieved from memory.</p>
<p>To test their hypotheses, a controlled experiment was conducted involving 400 university students recruited from an introductory psychology class. Participants were tasked with reading a short story about a sexually active individual, which contained an equal mix of positive and negative remarks about the person&#8217;s sexual behavior. They were then asked to recall as much information as they could from the story. To further understand the memory process, the study included a variation in delay times before recall among half of the participants, aiming to create different conditions for memory retention.</p>
<p>The study found that participants were more inclined to remember negative comments about the sexually active female character than about the male character. This pattern aligned with the findings of the 2006 study. Interestingly, it was also noted that women participants recalled more comments in general than men.</p>
<p>However, the extended analysis of memory processing — particularly whether the bias was due to encoding or retrieval processes — did not yield conclusive results. “The mechanisms underlying the present results remain unclear,&#8221; the researchers commented, highlighting an area for future exploration.</p>
<p>While the study offers valuable insights, it is essential to consider its limitations The materials used for the study, such as the vignettes, were not pre-rated for positivity and negativity, which might have affected the balance of information presented to the participants. These factors suggest a need for further research, possibly using more diverse methodologies, to fully understand how gender biases in memory operate.</p>
<p>&#8220;In closing, we hope that future researchers will conduct further replications of influential [sexual double standard] research, as well as continue to explore the social and cognitive mechanisms that underlie the [sexual double standard]. Replications are especially important in these times of changing norms and standards, which facilitates the need for continued examination of the attitudes that people hold towards sexually active men and women, as well as the social and cognitive processes that produce those attitudes,&#8221; the researchers concluded.</p>
<p>The study was titled: “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2023.2241869">Confirmation bias and the sexual double standard: a preregistered replication</a>”.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 23, 2024 at 12:31AM
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TITLE:
AI-Generated Robocall Impersonates Biden Before New Hampshire Vote
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=176858&url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/ai-generated-robocall-impersonates-biden-apparent-attempt-suppress-106573393

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/" rel="tag" target="_blank">ABC News - Politics</a></p>The New Hampshire attorney general's office on Monday said it was investigating reports of a robocall that used artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden discouraging residents from voting in Tuesday's primary election. A recording of the fake call uses a voice similar to Biden's and employs his often-used phrase, &quot;What a bunch of malarkey.&quot; It then tells the listener to &quot;save your vote for the November election.&quot;</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 23, 2024 at 12:31AM
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TITLE:
Musk Calls Diversity-Oriented Hiring Policies "Fundamentally Antisemitic"
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=176870&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMieWh0dHBzOi8vdGhlaGlsbC5jb20vcG9saWN5L3RlY2hub2xvZ3kvNDQyMjg5My1lbG9uLW11c2stZGl2ZXJzaXR5LW9yaWVudGVkLWhpcmluZy1wb2xpY2llcy1hcmUtZnVuZGFtZW50YWxseS1hbnRpc2VtaXRpYy_SAQA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/?ned=us&topic=m" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News - Health</a></p>X owner and Tesla founder Elon Musk said in an interview Monday that diversity-oriented hiring practices are antisemitic after he toured the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. &quot;What it really means is discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, and it's against merit and, thus, I think is fundamentally antisemitic.&quot; In a post Musk wrote earlier this month, he also referred to such hiring practices as &quot;the definition of...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 23, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Exposome study reveals environmental and genetic links to depressive symptoms
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/exposome-study-reveals-environmental-and-genetic-links-to-depressive-symptoms-220954

<p>New research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00124-x"><em>Nature Mental Health</em></a> revealed significant genetic and environmental associations with depressive symptoms.</p>
<p>Western Europe has been witnessing a high prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder, with an alarming rise among adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this trend. In this work, Wang Zhiyang and colleagues consider the entirety of one’s environmental exposures (termed “exposome”) as well as relevant genetic factors, to better understand vulnerabilities to depression.</p>
<p>The researchers utilized the FinnTwin12 cohort dataset, which included twins born in Finland between 1983-1987. Of this sample, 3025 participants were in young adulthood (with a mean age of approximately 22 years), and 4127 participants were at age 17. The researchers employed two key methods, including Exposome-wide Association Studies (ExWAS) and bivariate twin modeling. The first is similar to genome-wide association studies with a focus on environmental factors instead of genetic variations. The latter allows for the decomposition of trait variability into additive and dominant genetic components, as well as common and unique environmental components.</p>
<p>The researchers considered 385 environmental exposures and grouped them into 12 domains. Some of these included air pollution, family dynamics, and life events. They further considered factors such as parental education and work status as potential confounding variables.</p>
<p>In the ExWAS, Zhiyang and colleagues identified 29 exposures as significantly associated with depressive symptoms in young adulthood, and 46 exposures at age 17, spanning 12 distinct environmental domains. Most notably, familial exposures emerged as the most influential factors, highlighting the significant impact of family dynamics and relationships in the development and persistence of depressive symptoms during late adolescence and early adulthood.</p>
<p>However, none of these exposures were associated with the incidence of Major Depressive Disorder in young adulthood. Further, environmental effects had a greater impact than genetic effects in males than females</p>
<p>Bivariate twin modeling revealed a complex link between genetic, environmental factors, and depressive symptoms, showing that while both genetic and environmental factors significantly contribute to the variance in depressive symptoms, genetics has a slightly larger influence. Environmental factors, as part of one’s exposome, are closely associated with genetic aspects. Family influences, such as happiness levels or domestic issues, can be passed down through genes <em>and</em> shared family environments.</p>
<p>This finding highlights the importance of understanding how genes and one’s environment interact and affect the way in which certain genetic traits can lead to different health outcomes depending on the environment.</p>
<p>A limitation the researchers note is that compared to other ExWAS research, the sample utilized in this work is relatively small. Thus, they were unable to stratify the data by sex as it would reduce the sample size by half.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00124-x">The effect of environment on depressive symptoms in late adolescence and early adulthood: an exposome-wide association study and twin modeling</a>”, was authored by Wang Zhiyang, Stephanie Zellers, Alyce M. Whipp, Marja Heinonen-Guzejev, Maria Foraster, Jordi Júlvez, Irene van Kamp, Jaakko Kaprio.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 23, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Study highlights varying perceptions of beards among Hispanic and Iranian women
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/study-highlights-varying-perceptions-of-beards-among-hispanic-and-iranian-women-220951

<p>In two studies examining the perceptions of male beardedness, U.S. Hispanic women tended to assign the highest attractiveness, masculinity, fighting ability, and partner quality to drawings of male faces with light and moderate-length beards rather than clean-shaven and long beards. They also had stronger preferences for bearded men (in the drawings) than Iranian women. The paper was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40750-023-00225-y"><em>Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology</em></a>.</p>
<p>Facial hair, or beardedness, is a secondary sexual characteristic in men. Beard growth is influenced by androgens, a group of hormones including testosterone, which are crucial in developing male sexual characteristics. Researchers suggest that due to the biochemistry governing its growth, a beard may serve as a reliable indicator of a man&#8217;s fitness, health, and parenting ability.</p>
<p>In various cultures and historical periods, beardedness has been seen as a symbol of maturity, wisdom, masculinity, or social status. The perception and social significance of beardedness can vary greatly. In some contexts, a beard is considered fashionable or attractive, while in others, bearded men may be seen as unkempt or unconventional. Women often use multiple cues to assess the qualities of a potential mate, and studies suggest that beardedness, including the characteristics of a beard, might be one of these cues.</p>
<p>Study authors Ray Garza and his colleagues wanted to explore women’s perceptions of men’s beardedness. They conducted two studies in which they collected responses from Hispanic and Iranian women.</p>
<p>In the first study, the researchers asked women to select the beard profile they found most attractive, masculine, capable in a fight, reliable as a partner, and suitable as a father. They presented the participants with seven drawings of male faces, each with different beard lengths, ranging from clean-shaven to very long. The women were asked to choose a face for each mentioned characteristic.</p>
<p>The participants in the first study were 152 heterosexual female students from Texas A&amp;M International University, primarily of Hispanic, Mexican-American descent. The average age of the participants was 24 years. They received course credit for their participation and completed assessments on disgust sensitivity (the Three-Domain Disgust Scale) and disease vulnerability (the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Scale).</p>
<p>The second study involved 127 heterosexual women from Iran and 77 heterosexual female students from Texas A&amp;M International University. The study design replicated the first study, but instead of choosing the most representative beard for each characteristic, participants rated each profile on a scale to indicate the degree to which each trait was present in an individual with such a face.</p>
<p>The results of the first study indicated that women most commonly selected faces with light or moderate beards as best representing the characteristics of interest. Faces with light beards were most frequently chosen as the most attractive, reliable as a partner, and suitable as a father. The moderate beard was most commonly selected as the most masculine and the most likely to win in a fight. It&#8217;s important to note that these choices were not unanimous, as some women chose other beard types for these characteristics.</p>
<p>Women who reported higher levels of disgust were more likely to prefer clean-shaven and light beard faces as attractive. Those with a greater perceived vulnerability to disease tended to choose light beards.</p>
<p>Overall, the findings of the second study largely echoed those of the first, particularly regarding the characteristics associated with various beard lengths. Profiles with moderate amounts of facial hair generally received the highest ratings. Notably, Hispanic women demonstrated a stronger preference for bearded men compared to Iranian women.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>“The findings showed that women generally perceive some degree of facial hair as being associated with attractiveness, masculinity, fighting ability, and parental quality, with Hispanic women showing a stronger preference for bearded men compared to Iranian women. Further, we showed that preferences for bearded men may be moderated by trait pathogen proneness across both samples, which is an avenue for future research to explore,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
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<p>This study highlights the varying perceptions of bearded men among Hispanic and Iranian women. However, it&#8217;s important to recognize that beard preferences are likely heavily influenced by cultural factors. Therefore, similar studies in other cultural contexts might yield different results. The studies also suggest that perceptions of beards may depend on a woman&#8217;s fertility status, and since the participants were primarily young women, the findings might differ in other age groups. Lastly, the study&#8217;s interpretation of a &#8220;clean-shaven&#8221; face was actually a simplistic contour drawing of a male face without any features. The low preference for this depiction might not reflect a dislike for clean-shaven faces but rather for a featureless face. The results could vary if pictures of real male faces were used.</p>
<p>The paper, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40750-023-00225-y">“Perceptions of Beardedness for Attractiveness, Masculinity, Fighting Ability, and Partner Quality: A cross-cultural Examination Among Hispanic and Iranian Women</a>”, was authored by Ray Garza, Reza Afhami, Jose Mora, and Farid Pazhoohi.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 06:00PM
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TITLE:
Ketamine can rapidly reduce symptoms of PTSD and depression, new study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/ketamine-can-rapidly-reduce-symptoms-of-ptsd-and-depression-new-study-finds-220933

<p>The <a href="https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/ketamine">drug ketamine</a> can reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and symptoms of depression in patients as early as a day after injection. That is the key finding of my team’s new meta-analysis, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/10600280231199666">just published in the journal Annals of Pharmacotherapy</a>.</p>
<p>Ketamine is an anesthetic that is sometimes used as a substance of abuse but is increasingly being <a href="https://theconversation.com/ketamine-paired-with-looking-at-smiling-faces-to-build-positive-associations-holds-promise-for-helping-people-with-treatment-resistant-depression-190950">explored as a treatment</a> for a range of mental health conditions.</p>
<p>We analyzed <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/10600280231199666">six randomized controlled trials</a> representing 259 patients with moderate to severe PTSD. In all trials, about half were injected with ketamine. The rest received either salt water or the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jcph.2233">drug midazolam</a>, a benzodiazepine like <a href="https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-9824/xanax-oral/details">Xanax</a> that is also used as an anesthetic agent.</p>
<p>Patients receiving ketamine saw their PTSD symptoms reduced by about 25% both at one day and one week after therapy. But if patients received <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01266-9">repeated injections over four weeks</a>, PTSD symptoms declined by only 12%. Reduction of depression symptoms were more modest but still significant.</p>
<p>In most of these trials, patients only received a single shot; in the other two, they were given an injection at the same dose six or more times over two to four weeks. The benefits after the first injection were similar across studies, but it’s unclear how well additional doses of ketamine over time maintain these benefits.</p>
<p>Overall, the benefits of even a single ketamine injection occur rapidly, but are modest in magnitude. The best regimen to maintain these benefits by reinjecting ketamine has not been determined.</p>
<h2>Why it matters</h2>
<p>PTSD, a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.02.009">debilitating mental health disorder</a>, occurs when past trauma causes flashbacks, nightmares, depressed mood, anxiety and avoidance of activities that could trigger traumatic memories. Patients with PTSD are <a href="https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/cooccurring/suicide_ptsd.asp">twice as likely to attempt suicide</a> than the general population.</p>
<p>About <a href="https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp">13 million Americans have PTSD</a> in a given year, which translates to nearly 5% of the adult population. PTSD is caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Many combat veterans have the disorder, as do survivors of physical assault, natural disasters, child abuse and sexual abuse. Those with moderate to severe disease cases lose an average of about three and a half days of work per month due to triggered symptoms or treatment for the illness.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/ptsd/VA-DoD-CPG-PTSD-Full-CPG.pdf">Trauma-focused psychotherapy</a> – techniques that help patients <a href="https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/interventions/tfcbt_fact_sheet.pdf">recall, process and respond</a> to traumatic memories – is the treatment of choice for PTSD, but it <a href="https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/overview_therapy.asp">can take several weeks to see benefits</a>, and not all patients respond.</p>
<p>For these people, antidepressants such as <a href="https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/medications">paroxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine</a> are recommended as alternatives, or as an addition to psychotherapy.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>But like psychotherapy, these drugs may not work for a while – about <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35234292/">five to eight weeks</a> – unlike ketamine, which seems to begin working almost immediately. That said, the reduction in PTSD and depression symptoms over time following ketamine injection is about the same as what the traditional antidepressants provide once they take effect.</p>
<p>Because some people with severe PTSD may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, time is of the essence; they simply might not be able to wait for traditional options to begin working. Ketamine might be an effective bridge to immediately reduce patients’ symptoms until trauma-focused psychotherapy and other antidepressants can kick in.</p>
<h2>What still isn’t known</h2>
<p>The big unknown with using ketamine for PTSD and depressive symptoms is how often the injections are needed. The data simply is not robust enough to determine whether multiple doses maintain the effects better than simply using a single dose.</p>
<p>Ketamine costs around <a href="https://psychedelicspotlight.com/ketamine-therapy-how-much-does-it-cost-who-is-eligible/">US$800 per injection</a>, so knowing how much to administer each treatment and how many injections to give over time is important.</p>
<p>Importantly, ketamine can be abused. If purchased from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/10600280221092482">unlicensed pharmacies or online stores</a>, the ketamine product is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It may not have the correct dose, may have expired or might not even have any ketamine in it. Or, it may contain a substitute drug with a dangerous active ingredient, like the <a href="https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/lsd">synthetic street drug LSD</a>. Such fake products <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2020.04.020">can harm or even kill patients.</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ketamine-can-rapidly-reduce-symptoms-of-ptsd-and-depression-new-study-finds-216077">original article</a>.</em></p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
Can parasocial relationships with reality TV stars impact health and lifestyle behaviors? Here’s what the research says
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/can-parasocial-relationships-with-reality-tv-stars-impact-health-and-lifestyle-behaviors-heres-what-the-research-says-220931

<p>A recent study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/21674795211045039"><em>Communication &amp; Sport</em></a> has unveiled intriguing findings about the influence of reality TV shows on viewers&#8217; health behaviors. Contrary to what one might expect, forming emotional bonds with characters from the popular weight-loss competition &#8220;The Biggest Loser&#8221; does not significantly alter viewers&#8217; confidence in their ability to exercise — or their actual exercise habits.</p>
<p>Understanding the relationship between media and audience behavior has long fascinated researchers, especially in the context of health promotion. Prior studies suggested that viewers can form what is known as &#8220;parasocial relationships&#8221; with media characters, which are one-sided connections where a viewer feels a bond with a TV character. These relationships were thought to influence viewer attitudes and behaviors — particularly in health contexts. However, this new study challenges these assumptions and provides a fresh perspective on the media&#8217;s role in shaping health-related behaviors.</p>
<p>The team of researchers embarked on this study to explore if these parasocial relationships, and their eventual end, termed as &#8220;parasocial breakups”, could be leveraged to enhance health communication strategies, particularly in encouraging physical activity and exercise. The premise was straightforward: if viewers form a bond with a character promoting healthy behaviors, would they be more likely to emulate these behaviors themselves? And conversely, would the end of such relationships negatively impact their health behaviors?</p>
<p>To investigate these questions, the study employed a methodical approach. Overweight participants — a choice made because they were likely to resonate more with the content of &#8220;The Biggest Loser&#8221; — were observed over a period of five weeks. These participants had their BMI calculated through questionnaires before and after the During this time, they watched one episode of the show per week and subsequently answered questions. These questions were designed to measure their feelings of connection to the characters, their confidence in their ability to exercise (self-efficacy), and their actual exercise behaviors.</p>
<p>The results of this in-depth study were quite clear-cut. There was no significant growth in the strength of the parasocial relationships over time, even with repeated exposure to the show. More crucially, the intensity of these relationships did not correlate with any significant change in self-efficacy or exercise behavior among the participants. This finding held, even when considering the impact of parasocial breakups —when a favorite character leaves the show — which also did not significantly affect the participants&#8217; exercise behavior or confidence.</p>
<p>It is important to consider that the selection of &#8220;The Biggest Loser,&#8221; a show that has faced criticism for its portrayal of weight loss, may have influenced the development of parasocial relationships. Additionally, the short duration of the study might not have been sufficient for significant relationships to develop, especially given that participants did not choose to form these relationships voluntarily. Moreover, a high dropout rate during the study suggested that the results may be biased towards those more inclined to form parasocial relationships.</p>
<p>Overall, the findings suggest that simply watching a health-focused reality TV show and forming connections with its characters might not be enough to spur changes in health behaviors.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21674795211045039">A Longitudinal Study on the Effects of Parasocial Relationships and Breakups With Characters of a Health-Related TV Show on Self-Efficacy and Exercise Behavior: The Case of The Biggest Loser</a>”, was authored by Perina Siegenthaler, Tanja Aegerter, and Andreas Fahr at the Department<br />
of Communication and Media Research, University of Fribourg.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder severity is associated with vulnerable narcissism, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/relationship-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-severity-is-associated-with-vulnerable-narcissism-study-finds-220925

<p>A new study focusing on adults diagnosed with relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder revealed a significant presence of vulnerable narcissistic traits in these individuals. This association remained even when controlling for cognitions related to this disorder. The paper was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23601"><em>the Journal of Clinical Psychology</em></a>.</p>
<p>Relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROCD) is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It involves individuals experiencing persistent, unwanted, and distressing thoughts concerning the strength, quality, and true nature of their relationship with their partner. Those affected by ROCD frequently seek reassurance about their relationship, doubt their love for their partner or their partner&#8217;s love for them, and obsess over perceived imperfections in their partner or the relationship itself. This obsessive focus can cause significant anxiety and emotional distress, undermining the individual&#8217;s ability to sustain a healthy, stable relationship.</p>
<p>Research suggests that individuals who are intensely focused on their partners, as seen in cases of ROCD, experience a rapid decrease in self-esteem when exposed to intrusive thoughts about their partner’s perceived worth. This instability in self-esteem is akin to what is observed in vulnerable narcissism, a type of narcissism marked by hypersensitivity, defensiveness, and insecurity, often concealed behind a guise of self-absorption and arrogance.</p>
<p>With this in mind, study author Gabriele Melli and her colleagues proposed that vulnerable narcissism might constitute a general vulnerability to ROCD. It might contribute to the development of a situation where an individual’s self-worth becomes dependent on the perceived value of the partner. They conducted a study where they explored the link between vulnerable narcissism, the links between perceived value of the partner and the evaluation of one’s own worth (partner value self-contingencies), and individuals’ obsessive preoccupations with the perceived flaws of their intimate partner.</p>
<p>The study involved 319 adults who reported being diagnosed with ROCD by a qualified clinician. The researchers recruited participants by sharing information about the study in OCD support groups and via an advertisement on an Italian mental health website&#8217;s ROCD page. The average age of the participants was 28 years, with 76% being women. Regarding education, 47% had a high school diploma, and 44% held a university degree. Out of these participants, 69% were single, while 28% were married or cohabiting.</p>
<p>Participants underwent assessments for partner-related ROCD symptoms (using the Partner‐Related Obsessive‐Compulsive Symptoms Inventory), the degree to which their self-worth was tied to their partner’s value (using the Partner Value Contingent Self-worth Scale), obsessive beliefs (using the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire), the tendency to magnify negative aspects and potential problems in their romantic relationship (using the Relationship Catastrophization Scale), and narcissism (using the Pathological Narcissism Inventory).</p>
<p>The results showed that the severity of partner-related ROCD symptoms was significantly linked with nearly all the other study measures, particularly with vulnerable narcissism and partner self-value contingency.</p>
<p>Statistical analyses identified that the strongest predictors of partner-focused ROCD symptoms included vulnerable narcissism, partner self-value contingency, and the propensity to overestimate the negative consequences of being in an unsuitable relationship. The findings also suggested that vulnerable narcissism might exacerbate the severity of partner-focused ROCD symptoms by intensifying the dependence of an individual’s self-worth on their partner’s perceived value.</p>
<p>“Results supported the role of vulnerable narcissistic traits and domain‐relevant self‐vulnerabilities on obsessive preoccupation with romantic partners&#8217; perceived flaws,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study makes a valuable contribution to the scientific understanding of ROCD. However, it should be noted that the study design does not allow any cause-and-effect conclusions to be drawn from the data. Additionally, study authors report that, although all participants reported being diagnosed with ROCD, 9% of them did not show clinical levels of symptom severity on the ROCD assessment used in the study.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23601">Pathological narcissism and relationship obsessive‐compulsive disorder (ROCD) symptoms: Exploring the role of vulnerable narcissism</a>”, was authored by Gabriele Melli, Laura Caccico, Elena Micheli, Francesco Bulli, and Guy Doron.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 11:30AM
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TITLE:
Slipping on Your New Year's Resolutions? Science Tips to Get on Track
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URL:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/slipping-on-your-new-years-resolutions-science-tips-to-get-on-track/

<p>Studies of goal setting reveal why it&rsquo;s so hard to keep resolutions&mdash;and how to make ones that actually stick</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 12:00PM
.
TITLE:
New study challenges common perceptions of pornography viewer preferences
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/new-study-challenges-common-perceptions-of-pornography-viewer-preferences-220914

<p>Viewer preferences for male ejaculation in pornographic videos appear to be more varied and complex than previously assumed, according to new research published in the scientific journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/4/4/38"><em>Sexes</em></a>. Contrary to popular belief, the study found that a significant number of viewers, particularly women, prefer male ejaculation inside the female partner’s vagina, with less interest in other forms, such as on the face or mouth.</p>
<p>Some feminist scholars have argued that certain depictions of male ejaculation, particularly those involving ejaculation on a woman&#8217;s face or in her mouth, are symbolic of misogyny and sexual domination. However, until now, little was known about the actual preferences of pornography viewers regarding these portrayals. This lack of understanding prompted researchers to investigate what viewers, both male and female, genuinely prefer and perceive regarding male ejaculation in pornographic videos.</p>
<p>&#8220;I have been teaching a class on the sociology of deviance for the last 10 years at McGill University, and as part of it, have looked into pornography,&#8221; explained study author Eran Shor, the co-author of &#8220;<a href="https://www.routledge.com/Aggression-in-Pornography-Myths-and-Realities/Shor-Seida/p/book/9780367540302" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aggression in Pornography: Myths and Realities</a>.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;While doing that, I found that there are many misconceptions about pornography in both the academic literature and in public discourse. Some of these misconceptions have to do with the content of mainstream pornography and others with what viewers want to see and how they interpret the content of pornographic videos.&#8221;</p>
<p>The research team used a mix of voluntary and purposive sampling techniques to recruit a diverse group of participants. The study&#8217;s participants, who were drawn from 55 different countries and included a near-equal number of men and women, as well as non-binary individuals, were primarily recruited through online platforms such as Craigslist, Kijiji, and Facebook groups. Participants were required to be over 18 and regular viewers of online pornography.</p>
<p>The interviews, conducted in either French or English, were carried out by two skilled graduate research assistants via Skype audio calls, ensuring the anonymity of both parties to encourage openness and reduce social desirability bias. The conversations, which ranged from 30 to 120 minutes, were recorded and transcribed for detailed analysis. The researchers focused on two primary questions: the importance of seeing male orgasm in pornography and the preferred placement of male ejaculation.</p>
<p>A significant portion of the interviewees (about half) expressed indifference to the depiction of male ejaculation. This sentiment was notably higher among heterosexual men, with a substantial number stating that they often stopped watching before the male orgasm occurred.</p>
<p>Contrary to the common depictions in mainstream pornography, the most popular specific preference (37.8% of all interviewees) was for ejaculations to occur inside the female partner&#8217;s vagina. This preference was particularly strong among women, with nearly half of the female participants expressing this view.</p>
<p>A segment of the participants did express a preference for visible ejaculations on various body parts. However, only about 17% of all interviewees preferred ejaculation on a woman&#8217;s face or in her mouth, far less than what might be expected based on the content of popular pornographic videos.</p>
<p>&#8220;One thing that I found interesting is that there were relatively minor differences between the preferences of male and female viewers of pornography related to male ejaculations,&#8221; Shor told PsyPost. &#8220;The literature leads one to expect a much more substantial difference here.&#8221;</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Interestingly, less than 10% of the interviewees, including a slightly higher percentage of heterosexual women than men, preferred to see male ejaculation on the female performer&#8217;s face. Moreover, this practice often elicited strong negative reactions from participants, who described it as unappealing or even repulsive.</p>
<p>&#8220;In contrast to common assumptions, most viewers either did not care about the male ejaculation or its placement, or preferred for it to be in the female partner’s vagina,&#8221; Shor said. &#8220;Very few viewers expressed a preference for ejaculation on a woman’s face or in her mouth and many of them found such practices disturbing.&#8221;</p>
<p>A related study, published in the <em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em> in 2022, found that <a href="https://www.psypost.org/2022/12/psychology-researchers-are-taking-a-serious-look-at-64421" target="_blank" rel="noopener">both men and women viewed images of external ejaculation more positively</a> when accompanied by facial expressions indicating pleasure from the recipient. This suggests that the enjoyment of viewing external ejaculations is not about degradation but rather is influenced by perceived mutual pleasure, challenging some common assumptions about its appeal and significance.</p>
<p>Similarly, the findings from the new study &#8220;are not in line with the assumptions of many feminist scholars,&#8221; Shor told PsyPost. &#8220;These assumptions suggest that male ejaculations in pornographic videos, particularly ejaculations on a sexual partner’s face or in their mouth, are often used to symbolically debase and humiliate women and that they are therefore prefered by many male viewers (leading producers to include them in videos).&#8221;</p>
<p>The new study also uncovered interesting variations in preferences across different cultures and genders.</p>
<p>&#8220;The preference for ejaculations inside a female performer’s vagina was especially salient among South Asian and African interviewees, perhaps because these cultures ascribe great importance to the male semen and the common belief that spilling semen in vain weakens men,&#8221; Shor explained. &#8220;Visible ejaculations (ejaculations on the female performer’s face or body) were especially popular among Middle Eastern interviewees. One possible explanation for this is that Middle Eastern cultures ascribe great importance to the male orgasm and viewers wanted visible proof that it occurred.&#8221;</p>
<p>While the study provides valuable insights, it is not without limitations. Despite efforts to mitigate it, the results might be influenced by social desirability biases. In other words, participants might have responded in a way they believed to be more socially acceptable or favorable, rather than providing their genuine preferences and thoughts. This is a common challenge in research involving personal and potentially sensitive topics like pornography viewing habits.</p>
<p>The study was titled: &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes4040038" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“As Long as It’s Not on the Face”: Pornography Viewers Discuss Male Ejaculation Perceptions and Preferences</a>&#8220;.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 11:05AM
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TITLE:
Diversification and Burnout Prevention for Counselors
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URL:
https://ct.counseling.org/2024/01/diversification-and-burnout-prevention-for-counselors/

<p>Discover how to build a sustainable and profitable practice by diversifying your income and incorporating strategies that prevent therapist fatigue.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://ct.counseling.org/2024/01/diversification-and-burnout-prevention-for-counselors/">Diversification and Burnout Prevention for Counselors</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ct.counseling.org">Counseling Today</a>.</p>

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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 10:00AM
.
TITLE:
Understanding intimate partner violence: The role of early life abuse and neglect
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/understanding-intimate-partner-violence-the-role-of-early-life-abuse-and-neglect-220922

<p>People who experience adverse events such as abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction in childhood are more likely to be a victim or perpetrator of intimate partner violence as adults, according to new research. The study was published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423000196"><em>Development and Psychopathology</em></a>.</p>
<p>Intimate partner violence (IPV), which encompasses physical, sexual, and emotional harm toward a current or former partner, is a global health issue with detrimental consequences for physical and mental health.</p>
<p>Previous research has suggested that one of the risk factors for IPV is having experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, or witnessing domestic violence, parental substance use, parental incarceration, or divorce, before the age of 18 years.</p>
<p>However, the results of these studies have been inconsistent, demonstrating different strengths of the association between ACEs and IPV. Some studies have also examined whether this association varies depending on factors such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, type of IPV (physical, sexual, psychological), and the year that the study was published &#8211; again with mixed results.</p>
<p>To clarify these discrepancies and provide a more accurate estimate of the association between ACEs and IPV (both victimization and perpetration), the researchers conducted a meta-analysis, which is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies.</p>
<p>Led by Jenney Zhu from the University of Calgary, Canada, the study team searched electronic databases for studies that measured ACEs and IPV using self-report, interviews, or official records. They included 27 studies with a total of 65,330 participants from different countries and contexts.</p>
<p>The results demonstrated that ACEs were positively associated with both IPV perpetration and victimization, meaning that people who had more ACEs were more likely to be violent or experience violence in their intimate relationships. The effect sizes were small to medium in magnitude, indicating a moderate but significant relationship between ACEs and IPV.</p>
<p>Zhu and colleagues explained, “it has been proposed that parent–child attachment may play a role, such that abuse perpetrated by a caregiving figure (e.g., father; stepfather) towards the child or the child’s attachment figure (e.g., mother) may impact the child’s sense of safety and security. When a child’s safety and security is threatened, they may develop the perception that the world is hostile and engage in more aggressive tendencies towards others.”</p>
<p>The association may also be explained in terms of neurophysiology, “repeated exposure to stress can lead to … negative implications for neurological development. This, in turn, can lead to impairments in stress responses and coping, and the management of emotional arousal, thereby increasing the likelihood of engaging in violent behavior.”</p>
<p>Behavioral genetics may also be a contributing factor, “genes associated with violent behaviors may be shared between parents and offspring. Genetics may explain the tendency for why some individuals who are maltreated by parents go on to perpetrate maltreatment in adulthood,” Zhu and colleagues added.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Moreover, the researchers found that the connection between ACEs and IPV victimization was stronger for younger participants. “This … is consistent with existing research that has found antisocial behavior tends to peak in early adulthood and decrease with age… adulthood is associated with greater responsibility, including those related to careers and parenthood, and this transition generally leads to a decrease in crime,” the study authors highlighted.</p>
<p>The association between ACEs and IPV victimization was also stronger for more recent studies. The authors proposed, “increased screening for both ACEs and IPV … may have implications for reducing stigma surrounding disclosure of both experiences when participating in research. [For example,] ACEs screening has been implemented in routine primary care and has been rated with a high degree of acceptability by participants.”</p>
<p>Conversely to IPV victimization, Zhu and colleagues did not find any significant factors that could influence the association between ACEs and IPV perpetration.</p>
<p>The study has some limitations, such as relying on retrospective recollection of ACEs, which is prone to biases in memory. Furthermore, North American studies were overrepresented, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Finally, the meta-analysis only examined participants identifying as heterosexual, with limited knowledge about IPV amongst 2SLGTBQIA+ individuals.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/development-and-psychopathology/article/adverse-childhood-experiences-and-intimate-partner-violence-a-metaanalysis/E931CC81FDD035698C4E0CCBB44CE214">Adverse childhood experiences and intimate partner violence: A meta-analysis</a>”, was authored by Jenney Zhu, Deinera Exner-Cortens, Keith Dobson, Lana Wells, Melanie Noel, and Sheri Madigan.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 07:22AM
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TITLE:
Should Police Officers Ever Be Allowed to Hog-Tie Suspects?
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=176845&url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/manny-ellis-death-lawmaker-proposal-ban-hog-tying-by-police/

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/us/" rel="tag" target="_blank">CBS News - U.S. News</a></p>Washington state lawmakers are expected to consider a proposal Monday to prohibit police from hog-tying suspects, nearly four years after Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man, died facedown with his hands and feet cuffed together behind him in a case that drew protests among civil rights advocates. The restraint technique has long drawn concern due to the risk of suffocation, and while many cities and counties have banned it, others still allow...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 07:22AM
.
TITLE:
Trump's Mental Fitness Questioned After He Appears Confused
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=176830&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiemh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm5wci5vcmcvMjAyNC8wMS8yMS8xMjI1ODgwNzkyL2hhbGV5LXF1ZXN0aW9ucy10cnVtcHMtbWVudGFsLWZpdG5lc3MtYXMtaGUtc2VlbXMtdG8tY29uZnVzZS1oZXItd2l0aC1uYW5jeS1wZWxv0gEA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/?ned=us&topic=m" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News - Health</a></p>Nikki Haley on Saturday questioned whether Donald Trump is mentally capable of serving as president again after he repeatedly seemed to confuse her with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a campaign speech. A day earlier, Trump, 77, mistakenly asserted that Haley, his former ambassador, was in charge of Capitol security on January 6, 2021, when a crowd of his supporters stormed the building to stop certification of his loss to Democrat...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 22, 2024 at 06:00AM
.
TITLE:
Microdosing psilocybin may reduce stress-induced anhedonia
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/microdosing-psilocybin-may-reduce-stress-induced-anhedonia-220909

<p>In a new study from the University of Southern Denmark, researchers have shed light on the effects of microdosing psilocybin, the active component in psychedelic mushrooms, in rats. The study offers preliminary evidence that small, regular doses of psilocybin could potentially offer therapeutic benefits, particularly in reducing stress-induced anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure) and compulsive behaviors, without inducing significant anxiety or schizophrenic-like symptoms. The findings have been published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02280-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molecular Psychiatry</a></em>.</p>
<p>Psilocybin, long known for its psychedelic effects, has recently caught the attention of the scientific community for its potential in treating various psychiatric disorders. Previous studies have primarily focused on the effects of high doses of psilocybin, often used in combination with psychotherapy, to treat conditions like depression and addiction. Patients undergoing such treatments experience a controlled psychedelic episode in a supportive setting, which is then integrated into their therapy.</p>
<p>However, less was known about the impact of taking psilocybin in much smaller, sub-psychedelic doses, commonly referred to as &#8216;microdosing.&#8217; This practice, popularized by high-performance cultures in places like Silicon Valley, has been claimed to improve mental clarity and well-being without the intense psychedelic experiences. The researchers aimed to scientifically investigate these claims and expand our understanding of psilocybin&#8217;s potential therapeutic uses.</p>
<p>&#8220;I have always been interested in psychedelic drugs and the serotonergic system. I did my master thesis developing radiotracers for positron emission imaging of 5-HT2A receptors. Microdosing caught my attention when I was a postdoc at Stanford University in 2012-2015,&#8221; said study author <a href="http://www.palnerlab.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mikael Palner</a>, an associate professor at The Department of Clinical Research at University of Southern Denmark.</p>
<p>&#8220;It was a lot in the media and I knew a few people in the tech industries that were talking about it. When colleague of mine, Martin Korsbak Madsen, carried out a study in humans where they measured the 5-HT2A receptor binding of psilocybin and correlated this to the psychedelic experience, it really paved the way for a good microdosing study in rats, with a new way to define microdoses that are more scientific. Below 20% binding to the 5-HT2A receptor did not induce psychedelic effects in humans.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study involved 78 Long Evans rats in various experimental setups. The rats were housed under controlled conditions, and some were kept on a restrictive diet to maintain motivation for certain tests. The researchers first established what constituted a &#8216;microdose&#8217; of psilocybin. They did this by administering varying doses of the substance and measuring its occupancy of a specific type of serotonin receptor in the brain (5-HT2A receptors) using positron emission tomography (PET) scans.</p>
<p>A dose that occupied less than 20% of these receptors without inducing overt behavioral changes was considered a microdose. This was determined to be 0.05 mg/kg of psilocybin.</p>
<p>Further, the team examined psilocybin&#8217;s impact on different serotonin receptors, assessing the drug&#8217;s affinity and activation potential. The behavioral effects of psilocybin microdosing were then evaluated. Rats were given a microdose every other day for 24 days, and their behaviors, such as anxiety levels, reaction to stress, and compulsive actions, were observed in both familiar and novel environments. Postmortem analyses were also conducted to examine changes in receptor expressions and synaptic protein levels.</p>
<p>In controlled settings, the microdosed rats did not exhibit increased anxiety or symptoms akin to schizophrenia, which are sometimes concerns with psychedelic substances. Intriguingly, a reduction in compulsive self-grooming behavior was observed. This suggests a potential impact on stress-related or compulsive behaviors.</p>
<p>Even in new environments, microdosed rats showed no significant increase in anxiety. They did not exhibit altered exploration behaviors in the elevated plus maze or open-field tests.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>One of the most interesting findings was the increased resistance to stress-induced anhedonia. Rats receiving microdoses maintained a steady preference for sucrose, indicating that they did not lose the ability to feel pleasure, a common symptom in certain mental health disorders like depression.</p>
<p>&#8220;In our study we compared a group that got psilocybin injections to a group that got saline injections,&#8221; Palner said. &#8220;I was surprised that these repeated injection of saline was enough to induce anhedonia in our animals, that was not our initial hypothesis. The animals that got psilocybin did not show the same anhedonic behavior.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study also found no evidence of behavioral desensitization to psilocybin. This means the rats&#8217; responses to the substance remained consistent throughout the treatment period, which is important for considering its long-term therapeutic use.</p>
<p>Notably, the study observed an increase in 5-HT7 receptor expression and synaptic vesicle protein 2A levels in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus of the brain. This suggests that microdosing might induce changes in synaptic connections and receptor expressions, potentially underpinning the observed behavioral changes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Small doses of psilocybin do have effects on the rat brain and behavior,&#8221; Palner told PsyPost. &#8220;In particular, it seems to induce stress resilience, which may be one reason why people report so varied results. Stress is a predisposition for many mental disorders and will exaggerate symptoms.&#8221;</p>
<p>One significant limitation is that the study was conducted on rats, not humans. While rats are a common model for understanding human biology and behavior, there are intrinsic differences between species that may affect how these findings translate to human treatments. Additionally, exploring the long-term effects and sustainability of any therapeutic benefits will be essential before considering psilocybin microdosing as a viable treatment option.</p>
<p>&#8220;This is a study in rats, and rats are not humans,&#8221; Palner explained. &#8220;Especially trying to say anything about mental health from studies in rats should be taken lightly. But that said, I hope it can guide future human studies. Secondly, we did not look at any possible side-effects, increased plasticity in the brain long-term may not be a good thing, and could make you vulnerable to other disorders or diseases. Otherwise, natural selection would have given us a much longer teenage period where the brain is especially adaptable.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I would really like to emphasize that while some people will see microdosing of psilocybin as a natural thing, it is still a drug, and we do not currently know a lot about side-effects from long term repeated use.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02280-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Repeated low doses of psilocybin increase resilience to stress, lower compulsive actions, and strengthen cortical connections to the paraventricular thalamic nucleus in rats</a>&#8220;, was authored by Kat F. Kiilerich, Joe Lorenz, Malthe B. Scharff, Nikolaj Speth, Tobias G. Brandt, Julia Czurylo, Mengfei Xiong, Naja S. Jessen, Agata Casado-Sainz, Vladimir Shalgunov, Celia Kjaerby, Grzegorz Satała, Andrzej J. Bojarski, Anders A. Jensen, Matthias M. Herth, Paul Cumming, Agnete Overgaard, and Mikael Palner.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 21, 2024 at 01:00PM
.
TITLE:
Personality traits and political opinions: New study sheds new light on our reactions to opposing views
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/personality-traits-and-political-opinions-new-study-sheds-new-light-on-our-reactions-to-opposing-views-220893

<p>In an exploration of the intersection between personality and politics, a recent study published in the scientific journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886923000752"><em>Personality and Individual Differences</em></a> reveals how our inherent traits might shape our reactions to political disagreements. The study found that traits like conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness significantly influence how we handle conflicting political information — challenging previous assumptions about the role of openness in political engagement.</p>
<p>The study builds upon a rich background of research suggesting that personality impacts how people deal with conflict in social settings. The focus was on the Big Five personality traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. These traits have long been thought to influence our cognitive, behavioral, and emotional responses in various scenarios, including how we process information that contradicts our political beliefs. Previous studies have indicated that exposure to opposing political views, instead of fostering tolerance, often leads to resistance, which in turn could contribute to the polarization of political attitudes.</p>
<p>Researchers behind the study had an interest in understanding the nuances of how individual personality differences shape reactions to political disagreement. With the rise of political polarization and increasing avoidance of political engagement, they aimed to investigate how personality traits influenced the way individuals resist or engage with opposing political views. The study’s goal was to provide insights into the psychological mechanisms driving political discourse and engagement.</p>
<p>To test their hypotheses, the study employed an online survey involving 936 Swiss citizens, recruited through German panel provider Gapfish, during a referendum campaign on a &#8220;burqa ban&#8221; initiative. Participants averaged an age of 41 and were 54% female to 46% male. All participants first completed a questionnaire to assess their personality based on the Big Five traits — and were then exposed to counterarguments that challenged their initial stance on the referendum. The survey asked participants to report their cognitive, behavioral, and emotional responses to these counterarguments, allowing for a direct correlation between personality traits and specific resistance strategies in a real-world political context.</p>
<p>Contrary to expectations, openness did not significantly influence any of the resistance strategies. Conscientious individuals were less inclined to actively resist opposing political views, especially exhibiting lower levels of negative affect. Extraverts tended to reinforce their existing views, often seeking social validation, while agreeable individuals primarily used avoidance strategies and steered clear of confrontational information. Notably, those high in neuroticism exhibited strong emotional reactions, particularly negative, to oppositional political information.</p>
<p>However, the use of short forms of scales to assess resistance strategies might have impacted the validity of the constructs being measured. Additionally, the reliance on self-reported measures could introduce biases in the responses. The use of a 10-item personality inventory, while efficient, may not have captured the full complexity and subdimensions of the Big Five traits.</p>
<p>Moreover, focusing solely on resistance to opposing political views may have overlooked more positive or nuanced responses to such information. It&#8217;s also important to note that the specific context of the study – a Swiss referendum – might limit the generalizability of the findings to different cultural or political settings.</p>
<section id="s0050">
<section id="s0060">
<p id="p0215">&#8220;From a broader societal perspective, this study can shed new light on the psychological mechanism related to political extremism, including recent events such as the violent occupation of government buildings in the US and Brazil. In a world increasingly defined by political contrasts and ideological oppositions, knowing why and under which conditions citizens resist incongruent political views likely matters for scholars, public officials, and democracy practitioners alike.&#8221;</p>
</section>
</section>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886923000752">Dispositioned to resist? The Big Five and resistance to dissonant political views</a>”, was authored by Chiara Valli and Alessandro Nai.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 21, 2024 at 11:00AM
.
TITLE:
An extra hour of sleep brings multiple health benefits for college students, study finds
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/an-extra-hour-of-sleep-brings-multiple-health-benefits-for-college-students-study-finds-220886

<p>Recent research has uncovered significant health benefits associated with just one additional hour of sleep each night among college students. The small study, published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352721823002413"><em>Sleep Health</em></a>, found that extending sleep duration by an hour resulted in decreased sleepiness, lower blood pressure, improved glucose regulation, and better hydration, offering new insights into the widespread benefits of adequate sleep for young adults.</p>
<p>The idea that a good night&#8217;s sleep is essential for health is not new, but the specific impacts of extending sleep duration, particularly among young adults, have been less clear. Previous research has established a link between short sleep duration and various health issues, including high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and lower physical activity levels. College students, with their unique schedules and lifestyle, often experience disrupted sleep patterns, making them an ideal demographic for studying the effects of sleep extension.</p>
<p>&#8220;There have been some studies showing that young adults with short sleep duration (&lt;7 hours/night, the minimum recommended duration by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for optimal adult health and wellbeing) report feeling sleepy and have poor physical health, including higher systolic blood pressure and heart rate, higher hemoglobin A1C, and lower levels of physical activity,&#8221; explained study author <a href="https://ginamariemathewphd.weebly.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gina M. Mathew</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/GinaMMathewPhD/">@GinaMMathewPhD</a>), a postdoctoral associate in public health at Stony Brook Medicine.</p>
<p>&#8220;There is a lack of research that examines whether attempting to lengthen sleep is feasible in college students, a population that’s at high risk for insufficient sleep, and whether such a sleep extension intervention would improve physical health. We therefore examined effects of a 1-week, 1-hour nightly sleep extension intervention in a sample of 12 college students on cardiac and metabolic parameters, physical activity, and hydration levels.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study&#8217;s sample was predominantly female, aged 18-23 years, and had an average Body Mass Index of 24.5. Participants were in good physical and mental health, and those with sleep disorders, cardiometabolic diseases, or on certain medications were excluded to isolate the effects of sleep extension.</p>
<p>Over two weeks, the study followed a rigorous protocol. The first week served as a baseline, where participants maintained their usual sleep habits. In the second week, they were instructed to extend their sleep by one hour each night. The researchers monitored sleep patterns using actigraphy watches and measured physical activity with hip-worn accelerometers. Blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolic responses to a standardized meal were recorded in laboratory visits. Additionally, urine samples were analyzed for hydration status, and participants completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, a measure of daytime sleepiness.</p>
<p>On average, participants increased their sleep duration by about 43 minutes per night. This seemingly small change led to a notable decrease in self-reported sleepiness. More surprisingly, participants showed a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure &#8211; a key marker of heart health. The study also found that the time it took for participants&#8217; blood glucose levels to return to baseline after a meal was shorter, indicating improved glucose regulation &#8211; a vital factor in managing and preventing diabetes.</p>
<p>Another fascinating outcome was the improvement in participants&#8217; hydration status. Measurements showed significant reductions in urine osmolality and specific gravity, suggesting better hydration. This finding is particularly important, as proper hydration is crucial for various bodily functions, including kidney and cognitive performance.</p>
<p>&#8220;College students can indeed extend their sleep significantly; across a week, college students in our sample lengthened their sleep by an average of 43 minutes/night,&#8221; Mathew told PsyPost. &#8220;Moreover, compared to their typical sleep, sleep extension resulted in less reported sleepiness, better physical health (lower systolic blood pressure, lower glucose levels and faster time for glucose to return to baseline levels after a meal, and lower levels of dehydration), and lower levels of sedentary activity.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study&#8217;s findings are significant as they suggest that even a modest increase in sleep duration can have multiple health benefits for young adults, a demographic often prone to sleep deprivation. The improvements in blood pressure and glucose regulation are particularly noteworthy, given their implications for long-term heart health and diabetes risk.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>However, the study is not without its limitations. The small sample size and the lack of a randomized design mean that these findings need to be replicated in larger, more diverse populations to confirm their validity. Additionally, the researchers observed a decrease in physical activity levels during the sleep extension week, which raises questions about the potential trade-offs between increased sleep and physical activity, an important area for future research.</p>
<p>&#8220;The sample size was small and limited to healthy young adults, so we can’t make broad generalizations to the larger population,&#8221; Mathew said. &#8220;Additionally, we found that levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) decreased during the sleep extension week, suggesting that exercise may have been sacrificed for increased sleep. Interestingly, we saw the improved physical health metrics after the sleep extension despite this reduction in MVPA!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Questions for future studies: Would a longer sleep extension intervention (e.g., one month) be feasible? What incentives and/or strategies would promote sustained sleep extension in different populations (e.g., college students, working adults, the retired, etc.)? What strategies would work to boost both sleep duration AND MVPA? Would our results apply to older adults and/or those with chronic diseases?&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;The principal investigator of the study is Dr. Anne-Marie Chang, with whom I received my doctoral degree at Penn State,&#8221; Mathew added. &#8220;I’m so thankful for her and the rest of our Penn State team, and I’d especially like to acknowledge Rodney Jones for his dedication to the planning and running of this study.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2023.10.006">Effects of a 1-hour per night week-long sleep extension in college students on cardiometabolic parameters, hydration status, and physical activity: A pilot study</a>&#8220;, was authored by Gina Marie Mathew, Nicole G. Nahmod, Lindsay Master, David A. Reichenberger, Asher Y. Rosinger, and Anne-Marie Chang.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 21, 2024 at 09:00AM
.
TITLE:
Loneliness might be associated with reduced gray matter volume in certain areas of the brain in men
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/loneliness-might-be-associated-with-reduced-gray-matter-volume-in-certain-areas-of-the-brain-in-men-220891

<p>A scientific analysis of the UK Biobank data revealed an association between loneliness and reduced gray matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex regions of the brain. This correlation appears particularly strong in males diagnosed with depression, whereas it was not observed in females. The paper was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhad399"><em>Cerebral Cortex</em></a>.</p>
<p>Depression or major depressive disorder is a leading cause of disability globally. It represents a profound burden both on the individual and on family, health, and social care systems. Individuals suffering from this disorder experience persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, Major depressive disorder can also lead to changes in appetite or weight, sleep disturbances, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.</p>
<p>Research suggests that emotional difficulties in major depressive disorder may be linked to the neural circuitry responsible for emotion processing and regulation, located in the frontal-subcortical region of the brain. Numerous studies have reported structural brain abnormalities in individuals with this disorder, including reduced brain mass volume, particularly in the anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex regions.</p>
<p>Study author Zhenhong He and his colleagues wanted to examine whether there are abnormalities in the volume of the gray mass of the anterior cingulate cortex and the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex regions of the brain in individuals suffering from major depressive disorder compared to brains of healthy individuals. Gray mass is mainly composed of neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons. It is crucial for processing and interpreting information in the brain.</p>
<p>The researchers also sought to explore whether loneliness correlates with structural changes in these brain regions. They focused on these areas based on previous studies suggesting their connection to feelings of loneliness.</p>
<p>In this study, brain data from males and females were analyzed and compared separately. The data was sourced from the September 17, 2019, version of the UK Biobank database, comprising 21,402 individuals who underwent structural brain magnetic resonance imaging. The researchers excluded data from participants with extremely low or high gray matter volumes in these regions and from those who reported diagnoses of neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders.</p>
<p>Participants with major depressive disorder were categorized into three severity categories based on the number of depressive episodes they had. Participants with no depressive episodes were considered healthy controls. Loneliness was assessed based on answers to two questions: “Do you often feel lonely?” and “How often are you able to confide in someone close to you?” Both questions were yes/no, resulting in a loneliness score ranging from 0 to 2.</p>
<p>After eliminating all participants with incomplete data and those who fulfilled the criteria for exclusion, the final sample for analysis consisted of data from 339 males with major depressive disorder and 3,781 healthy male participants. The female sample included data from 666 individuals with major depressive disorder and 3,466 healthy women.</p>
<p>Results showed that males with major depressive disorder had lower gray mass volume in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. This difference was not found in females. In males with major depressive disorder, lonelier individuals tended to have lower gray mass volumes in the left and right anterior cingulate cortex areas and in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. In healthy males, lonelier individuals tended to have lower gray mass volumes in the right anterior cingulate cortex. These associations were absent in females.</p>
<p>“Findings indicate the adverse effect of loneliness on brain health in MDD [major depressive disorder], and the possibility that social engagement may have a direct and measurable effect on brain volume in middle-older aged men vulnerable to depression,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The study sheds light on the links between structural brain characteristics and mental health. However, it&#8217;s important to note that it employed a cross-sectional design. Consequently, the long-term relationship between brain structure and loneliness remains unclear. The data does not clarify whether loneliness and major depressive disorder are the cause of the observed structural brain changes in males, or if these brain changes lead to the psychological symptoms of loneliness and major depression. Other possibilities remain open for exploration.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhad399">Loneliness is related to smaller gray matter volumes in ACC and right VLPFC in people with major depression: a UK biobank study</a>”, was authored by Zhenhong He, Youcun Zheng, Jingxuan Ni, Jin Huang, Qingqing Pang, Tongtong Chen, Nils Muhlert, and Rebecca Elliott.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 21, 2024 at 07:00AM
.
TITLE:
New psychology insights: The power of perception in predicting depression
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/new-psychology-insights-the-power-of-perception-in-predicting-depression-220889

<p>Can the way we perceive life&#8217;s major events predict our mental health? A new study, encompassing half a century of research, suggests a strong link between how we perceive significant life events and the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms. The findings have been published in the <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016503272400051X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Affective Disorders</a>.</em></p>
<p>Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that affects millions worldwide. Understanding its triggers and mechanisms is crucial for effective treatment and prevention. Previous research has established that major life events, such as the loss of a loved one or a significant career change, can trigger depression. However, it&#8217;s not just the events themselves but also how individuals interpret these events that may determine whether they develop depression.</p>
<p>&#8220;Depression is an important threat to mental health world-wide so that it is important to understand when and why people become depressed. Life events have been identified as one important trigger of depression. However, not every person who experiences a major life event like a job loss becomes depressed,&#8221; said study author Peter Haehner, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich.</p>
<p>The study spanned an impressive scope, analyzing research conducted over nearly five decades, from 1974 to 2022, and included a total of 500 studies. To synthesize the findings from these varied studies, the researchers conducted meta-analyses &#8212; a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies to identify patterns and draw more generalizable conclusions. In this case, the researchers used it to understand the overall relationship between the perception of major life events and depression, as well as to explore specific perceived event characteristics and their correlation with depressive symptoms.</p>
<p>A key aspect of the study&#8217;s methodology was its distinction between confounded and non-confounded studies. This categorization was crucial for the clarity and accuracy of the analysis. Confounded studies were those that did not differentiate between the number of experienced life events and the perception of these events. This conflation could potentially obscure the specific impact of event perception on depression.</p>
<p>In contrast, non-confounded studies, which accounted for 276 out of the 500 analyzed, were able to isolate the perception of life events from their frequency, providing a clearer view of the relationship between event perception and depressive symptoms. These studies included a total of 89,600 participants.</p>
<p>Another innovative aspect of the study&#8217;s approach was the differentiation between studies based on autobiographical (real-life experiences) and hypothetical (imagined events) scenarios. This distinction allowed the researchers to compare how different types of event perceptions &#8211; those grounded in reality versus those envisioned &#8211; relate to depression.</p>
<p>The researchers found that a more negative perception of life events was significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. This relationship held true across various study designs and sample characteristics.</p>
<p>In studies based on autobiographical events, the centrality of the event to a person&#8217;s life, the distress it caused, and the perceived threat were most strongly linked to depression. This indicates that the personal significance and emotional impact of real-life events play a critical role in the development of depressive symptoms.</p>
<p>In studies that used hypothetical scenarios, the researchers found that specific perceived event characteristics, such as negative self-implications and inferred negative consequences, showed strong associations with depressive symptoms. This suggests that the way individuals anticipate the impact of potential life events can significantly influence their mental health.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The researchers also examined longitudinal analyses, which track changes over time. This approach provided insights into the direction of the relationship between depression and event perception. The findings suggested that the relationship might be bidirectional: the way people perceive major life events can predict future depressive symptoms, and existing depressive symptoms can influence how people perceive subsequent life events.</p>
<p>The study&#8217;s findings underscore the importance of perception and cognitive processing in understanding the onset and development of depressive symptoms. They suggest that the way individuals interpret, anticipate, and emotionally respond to major life events is a crucial factor in mental health.</p>
<p>&#8220;How people perceive major life events is related to depressive symptoms,&#8221; Haehner told PsyPost. &#8220;That is, people who perceive an event like a job loss more negatively tend to have higher levels of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, our analyses suggest that this link may be bidirectional: A higher level of depressive symptoms may lead to a more negative event perception and a more negative event perception may lead to higher levels of depressive symptoms.&#8221;</p>
<p>However, this comprehensive review was not without its limitations. Most of the included studies were conducted in Western countries, primarily the United States, and often involved college student participants. This raises questions about the applicability of the findings across different cultures and age groups. Furthermore, the reliance on self-reported data in many of these studies may introduce biases, as personal perceptions can be influenced by current mood or social desirability.</p>
<p>The researchers suggest several directions for future research. There&#8217;s a need for more studies in non-Western cultures to understand how cultural norms and values might influence the perception of major life events. Also, future studies should include more diverse age groups and consider clinician-diagnosed depression instead of solely relying on self-reported symptoms.</p>
<p>&#8220;The causal relationship between the perception of major life events and depression is not yet well understood,&#8221; Haehner added. &#8220;We need further longitudinal and experimental research to examine whether a certain way of perceiving major life events leads to depression or vice versa.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016503272400051X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The relationship between the perception of major life events and depression: A systematic scoping review and meta-analysis</a>&#8220;, was authored by Peter Haehner, Felix Würtz, Sarah Kritzler, Marius Kunna, Maike Luhmann, and Marcella L. Woud.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 20, 2024 at 12:32AM
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TITLE:
Climate Change Could Cut Average Life Expectancy by 6 Months
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URL:
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<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.upi.com/Health_News/" rel="tag" target="_blank">United Press International - Health News</a></p>The effects of climate change&mdash;and the public health problems that come with them&mdash;are projected to decrease average human life expectancy by six months, researchers warn in Thursday's issue of the journal PLOS Climate. Heat waves and flooding are a direct threat to human health, but climate change also can produce more subtle health effects, the researchers said in background notes. The study was based on data from 191 countries between 1940...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 20, 2024 at 01:00PM
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TITLE:
Caffeine use prevents stress-induced impairment of spatial memory
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/caffeine-use-prevents-stress-induced-impairment-of-spatial-memory-220872

<p>A study conducted in Turkey discovered that adding caffeine to the drinking water of rats exposed to social isolation stress can protect them from developing spatial memory impairments. While rats who did not drink caffeine with water showed spatial memory impairments as a result of stress, these impairments were absent in rats who drank water with caffeine. The research was recently published <em>in</em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jdn.10292"><em> Developmental Neuroscience</em></a>.</p>
<p>Caffeine is a natural stimulant that primarily affects the central nervous system. It provides a temporary boost in energy and alertness. Caffeine is found in various plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves, and cacao pods, making it a common ingredient in beverages like coffee, tea, and chocolate. When consumed, caffeine blocks the action of a neurotransmitter called adenosine. This neurotransmitter promotes relaxation and sleepiness, so blocking it results in increased wakefulness and alertness.</p>
<p>Caffeine also induces changes in specific genes associated with strengthening and weakening of connections between neurons (i.e., synaptic plasticity) in the hippocampus region of the brain. Another factor that is known to affect synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus is stress. The hippocampus is essential in the formation of new memories, including memories related to spatial features of one’s surroundings, but also those related to facts and events. Previous studies indicated that caffeine can prevent memory deficits and destruction of synapses connecting neurons.</p>
<p>Study author Seval Musuroglu Keloglan wanted to investigate the effects of caffeine on behavioral and neurochemical changes related to learning and memory function caused by stress. They conducted an experiment on mice exposed to social isolation. Social isolation is a well-established stress factor that causes changes in the whole body. It affects the neurochemical and neuroendocrine systems of the body both in humans and in many other animals.</p>
<p>The research was conducted on 28 Wistar albino male rats, 21 days old at the beginning of the experiment. The rats were housed in a controlled environment with a 12-hour light/dark cycle and a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius, with free access to food and water.</p>
<p>The rats were randomly divided into four groups, each consisting of seven rats. One group underwent social isolation stress, another received caffeine in their water, the third group experienced both social isolation stress and consumed caffeinated water, and the fourth group served as the control, living normally without any special treatments. The caffeine-exposed groups had 0.3 grams of caffeine per liter of water, resulting in a daily intake of approximately 1-2 mg/kg of caffeine. Social isolation stress was induced by housing selected rats individually for four weeks, with minimal handling and reduced noise, thereby limiting their social interactions.</p>
<p>After four weeks of treatment, the rats&#8217; learning and memory functions were assessed using the Morris Water Maze Test. This test involves placing a rat in a large circular tank filled with water, where it must find an escape platform that is hidden just below the water&#8217;s surface. The pool is surrounded by various visual cues, and the rat must use these cues to navigate and remember the platform&#8217;s location over repeated trials. This test is extensively used in neurological research to study cognitive functions, the effects of brain injuries, and the efficacy of treatments for conditions affecting memory and spatial learning.</p>
<p>This test was performed over five days. The first day was the habituation day. On this day, if a rat could not find the platform within 120 seconds, the experimenter would use a wooden stick to force it onto the platform and allow it to rest there for 10 seconds. Learning training was conducted by throwing each rat into the water from various corners five times between days 1 and 4 of the test.</p>
<p>Results showed that there were no differences in weight between rats from different groups after the treatment. However, rats in the social isolation group showed impaired spatial memory in the Morris Water Maze Test compared to the control group. Examination of brain tissue of these rats showed that the control and caffeine only groups, but also the group that was exposed to both social isolation and caffeine, had normal shapes of neurons.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the study authors found various irregularities in the appearance of neurons of rats from the group exposed to social isolation stress but not to caffeine. &#8220;[Social isolation] impaired spatial memory and caused morphological changes in adolescent rats, but this effect of isolation was not seen in caffeine-treated animals,&#8221; they concluded.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The study sheds light on the effects of caffeine on the brains of rats exposed to stress. However, it should be noted that the study was conducted on rats and not on humans. Although rats and humans share many physiological similarities, they also differ in many other areas. The effects on humans might not be the same.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jdn.10292">Effect of caffeine on hippocampal memory and levels of gene expression in social isolation stress</a>”, was authored by Seval Musuroglu Keloglan, Leyla Sahin, Sayad Kocahan, Ebru Annac, Nurhan Tirasci, and Ayper Boga Pekmezekmek.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 20, 2024 at 11:00AM
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TITLE:
Interpersonal victimhood intensifies the negative impact of loneliness, study suggests
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/interpersonal-victimhood-intensifies-the-negative-impact-of-loneliness-study-suggests-220867

<p>Greater loneliness is linked to worse mental health of young adult cancer patients and, according to new research in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/07347332.2023.2223203"><em>Journal of Psychosocial Oncology</em></a>, this effect is intensified among those with a high tendency for interpersonal victimhood (TIV). The findings suggest that interpersonal victimhood might be an important factor that needs to be addressed to improve the overall well-being of this vulnerable group.</p>
<p>Understanding the psychosocial experiences of cancer patients, especially young adults, has been an area of growing interest in medical research. Previous studies have consistently shown that a cancer diagnosis during young adulthood is not just a medical challenge but also a profound psychological ordeal.</p>
<p>Young adults with cancer often report feeling isolated and disconnected from their peers, leading to intense feelings of loneliness. This loneliness, as past research suggests, can negatively impact both mental and physical health. However, what remained less explored was how patients&#8217; personality traits, particularly their tendency to see themselves as victims in social interactions, might influence this relationship between loneliness and health.</p>
<p>&#8220;Most of my work is concerned with the psychosocial side of cancer, including how it affects our relationships, can cause feelings of loneliness, and negatively impact our mental and physical health,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://colterray.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Colter D. Ray</a>, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at The University of Tampa. &#8220;Recently, <a href="https://www.psypost.org/2020/12/researchers-identify-a-new-personality-construct-that-describes-the-tendency-to-see-oneself-as-a-victim-58753" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the tendency for interpersonal victimhood</a> was offered by a team of social psychologists as a potential personality trait, and I figured that one&#8217;s tendency to play the victim card might affect how they view their own cancer diagnosis, feelings of loneliness, and their mental and physical health. &#8221;</p>
<p>For his study, Ray recruited 140 young adult cancer patients and survivors, aged between 19 and 39 years, from various geographical locations without any restriction on the country or region. The participants represented a diverse group in terms of gender, race, sexual orientation, education, and socioeconomic status. They had experienced different types of cancer, ranging from lymphoma to breast cancer, and were at various stages of treatment.</p>
<p>The research process involved two online questionnaires. The first questionnaire assessed the participants’ TIV using a specialized scale, while the second, conducted about three months later, measured their levels of loneliness and mental and physical health. Loneliness was gauged using the University of California, Los Angeles loneliness scale, a tool comprising 20 items that probe the frequency of feelings of isolation and lack of close connections. Mental and physical health were evaluated using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) global short form, which includes self-report items to assess overall well-being.</p>
<p>The study confirmed that loneliness significantly inversely impacts mental health among young adult cancer patients. In simpler terms, the lonelier the patients felt, the worse their mental health was. More importantly, this relationship between loneliness and mental health was found to be stronger in patients with a higher TIV. Essentially, those who frequently felt victimized in their interpersonal relationships experienced a greater negative impact of loneliness on their mental health.</p>
<p>In terms of physical health, while loneliness alone didn’t show a direct significant effect, it did when coupled with high TIV. Young adult cancer patients with higher TIV scores who felt lonely were more likely to report poorer physical health. This suggests a complex interaction between psychological factors and physical health outcomes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Loneliness continues to be an important predictor of mental health for young adult cancer patients, and this relationship is strengthened when a patient has a greater tendency for interpersonal victimhood,&#8221; Ray told PsyPost. &#8220;Unless you score particularly low on the tendency for interpersonal victimhood, that connection between loneliness and mental health is likely present. Interestingly, if someone scores above average on the tendency for interpersonal victimhood, they may also start to see a significant connection between loneliness and their physical health.&#8221;</p>
<p>However, the study is not without its limitations. The sample&#8217;s representativeness was skewed towards certain demographics, such as a higher proportion of LGBTQ individuals compared to general population statistics, and a majority of White participants. This calls for caution in generalizing these findings across all cultural backgrounds.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;Similar studies should be done to confirm these results and to see if certain aspects of the tendency for interpersonal victimhood are really accounting for the strengthening of the loneliness to health connection,&#8221; Ray explained. &#8220;The tendency for interpersonal victimhood is composed of four components (the need for recognition, lack of empathy, rumination, and a sense of moral superiority). Are all of these working towards strengthening the connection between loneliness and health or is it really just one or two of those components?&#8221;</p>
<p>The findings of this study underscore the potential consequences of loneliness. They call attention to the necessity of acknowledging and addressing loneliness not as a fleeting emotion, but as a critical component of health, particularly in vulnerable populations.</p>
<p>&#8220;Leaders in organizations and governments are starting to realize the pervasiveness of loneliness as a societal issue and its subsequent mental and physical health impacts,&#8221; Ray said. &#8220;For example, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has declared <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a loneliness epidemic</a> and the insurance company Cigna found that approximately 60% of U.S. adults report being lonely.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;This study looked specifically at cancer patients and the effects of loneliness on their health and how this might be exacerbated by a sense of victimhood. However, we should be consider the effects of loneliness and a sense of victimhood for the general population, too, and figuring out ways to foster social connection and a sense of community.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07347332.2023.2223203" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The relationships between loneliness and mental and physical health are moderated by the tendency for interpersonal victimhood: A study of young adult cancer patients</a>&#8220;, was published June 13, 2023.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 20, 2024 at 09:00AM
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TITLE:
Scientists identify specific gut bacteria linked to severity of depression and anxiety symptoms
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/scientists-identify-specific-gut-bacteria-linked-to-severity-of-depression-and-anxiety-symptoms-220869

<p>A new study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.05.002"><em>Neuroscience</em> </a>has discovered that young adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not have significant changes in their overall gut microbiome compared to healthy people. However, the study also identified some specific bacteria and functions that are different between the two groups, some of which are related to the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms.</p>
<p>The gut microbiome is the complex community of bacteria and other microbes that live in the digestive tract. It can influence the brain through various pathways, such as producing chemicals that affect mood and cognition, and activating the vagus nerve, which is a connection between the gut and the brain.</p>
<p>Previous studies have suggested that the gut microbiome may play a role in the development and treatment of MDD, but the results are inconsistent. Furthermore, only a few studies have focused on the gut microbiome of young adults with MDD, who are more vulnerable to chronic and severe depression.</p>
<p>Researchers from the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University in China sought to address this gap. Led by Mian-mian Chen, the study team recruited 40 young adults with MDD and 42 healthy controls from China’s Early Warning System and Comprehensive Intervention for Depression project, and collected stool samples from them.</p>
<p>Chen’s team utilized a laboratory technique known as shotgun metagenomic sequencing, which allows for a comprehensive and high-resolution analysis of the gut microbiome by sampling all the genes present in the samples.</p>
<p>Questionnaires were administered to collect data on factors that could influence the results, known as confounding factors. These included sex, age, body mass index, diet, alcohol and cigarette consumption, and bowel movement quality. They also controlled for other potential confounding factors including exercise and defecation frequency.</p>
<p>The researchers compared the diversity, structure, and function of the gut microbiome between the two groups, and identified specific bacterial taxa (types) and functional modules (specialized groups).</p>
<p>They found that the overall gut microbiome was not significantly different between MDD and healthy controls, suggesting that depression does not alter the general composition and function of the gut microbiome in young adults.</p>
<p>However, <em>Sutterellaceae </em>bacteria decreased in the MDD group, but the “mechanism underlying this decrease in abundance in MDD is still unknown and requires further study”.</p>
<p>Chen and colleagues also found 15 species of bacteria that differed between the young adults with MDD and the healthy young adults, mainly belonging to the groups <em>Clostridium</em>, <em>Eubacterium</em>, and <em>Ruminococcus</em>.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>“We found that species enriched in healthy controls mainly belonged to the <em>Clostridium</em> cluster XIVa, an important short-chain fatty acid-synthesizing bacteria that benefits the human body by affecting the immune system,” the authors explained.</p>
<p>Some of these bacterium types were correlated with symptom scale scores, such as <em>Sutterellaceae</em> with anxiety, <em>Ruminococcus</em> with depression, and <em>Eubacterium</em> with physical symptoms.</p>
<p>They also found an increase in a specialized microbe group related to degradation of an amino acid, known as cysteine, in MDD. “Increased cysteine degradation in the MDD group might further affect oxidative stress and affect the transmission of cellular signals … by activating inflammatory and oxidative pathways and impairing neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, neuroprotection,” Chen and colleagues noted.</p>
<p>Some limitations are to be recognized. For example, chemical stabilization of samples meant that further analysis using a technique called metabonomics could not be conducted in order to determine metabolites and their concentrations to better understand the underlying biochemical activity. Additionally, dietary preference and education level were not well-controlled for, which may influence the composition of gut microbiome.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.ibroneuroscience.org/article/S0306-4522(23)00206-3/fulltext">Young Adults with Major Depression Show Altered Microbiome</a>”, was authored by Mian-mian Chen, Peilin Wang, Xin-hui Xie, Zhaowen Nie, Shu-xian Xu, Nan Zhang, Wei Wang, Lihua Yao and Zhongchun Liu.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 19, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
Study sheds light on how the brain consolidates emotional memories during sleep
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/study-sheds-light-on-how-the-brain-consolidates-emotional-memories-during-sleep-220848

<p>In a new scientific paper recently published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2023.08.003"><em>Cell Press</em></a>, researchers have unveiled new insights into how the brain processes and consolidates emotional memories during sleep. The paper, drawing on extensive rodent-based research, highlights the critical role of the hippocampus — a key brain region — in weaving together spatial and emotional aspects of memory, particularly during different stages of sleep.</p>
<p>For years, scientists have been fascinated by the hippocampus, a seahorse-shaped part of the brain vital for forming memories. Previous research has established its role in creating &#8216;episodic&#8217; memories — or, memories tied to specific events and places. This new study explores how different parts of the hippocampus work together during sleep to strengthen memories — especially those with emotional significance.</p>
<p>What drove the researchers to undertake this comprehensive study was a quest to unravel the complexities of emotional memory processing. The brain doesn&#8217;t just store memories; it attaches emotions to them, influencing how we recall these memories. Understanding this process is crucial, particularly for insights into conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, where emotional memories play a pivotal role.</p>
<p>In their approach, the researchers combed through extensive existing literature on rodent models. This review method was chosen because it allows for a detailed examination of the brain&#8217;s functions in a controlled environment, which would be challenging and less ethical to replicate in human studies. Rodents share many brain structures and functions with humans, making them ideal for such neuroscience research. By focusing on the hippocampus and its connections to other brain areas during rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep, the researchers aimed to build a comprehensive picture of how emotional memories are consolidated.</p>
<p>The findings of the study showed that two regions of the hippocampus, known as the dorsal and ventral hippocampus, have specialized, interconnected roles. The dorsal is more involved in processing spatial memory — where things happen — while the ventral plays a crucial role in emotional memory, and how we feel about things that happen. During sleep, particularly in the REM and pre-REM stages, these regions interact through specific brain wave patterns. This interaction facilitates the integration of spatial and emotional information, crucial for strengthening memories.</p>
<p>The primary reliance on rodent models, while informative, might not fully capture the complexity of human brain functions and emotions. In addition, the findings are based on a literature review rather than direct experimentation — which may limit the scope to existing knowledge. Emotional processing and memory consolidation are highly complex and may involve more factors and brain regions than covered in this study.</p>
<p>Still, this study opens new avenues for understanding how our brains process and store memories, particularly those with emotional significance. Understanding these processes has profound implications — from improving mental health treatments, to enhancing our grasp of how memories shape our identities.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(23)00191-1">The role of the hippocampus in the consolidation of emotional memories during sleep</a>”, was authored by Éléonore Pronier, Juan Facundo Morici, and Gabrielle Girardeau at the Institut du Fer à Moulin.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 19, 2024 at 02:58PM
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TITLE:
Robert Rosenthal, Who Linked Subtle Cues to Behavior, Dies at 90
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/education/robert-rosenthal-dead.html

His most famous finding was the “Pygmalion effect,” in which teachers’ high expectations of students can subconsciously make them better students.
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 19, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Unlocking the puzzle of academic success: A huge global study sheds new light
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/unlocking-the-puzzle-of-academic-success-a-huge-global-study-sheds-new-light-220837

<p>A student&#8217;s confidence in their academic abilities and the educational background of their parents, particularly mothers, are key predictors of their academic success, according to new research published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886923004361"><em>Personality and Individual Differences</em></a>. Analyzing data from over hundreds of thousands of students across 79 countries, the study provides new insights into the intricate dynamics of educational achievement.</p>
<p>For decades, the debate on what determines a student&#8217;s intelligence and academic proficiency has been vigorous and, at times, controversial. Past research has pointed towards a blend of heritable, biological components and environmental influences. However, there has been less agreement on the specific environmental factors involved.</p>
<p>This ambiguity extends to how best to enhance intelligence quotient (IQ), especially among socially disadvantaged groups. With such a wide range of variables in play – including familial background, school environment, and personal attitudes – the study aimed to bring clarity to this complex issue.</p>
<p>For their study, the researchers analyzed data from around 600,000 fifteen-year-old students who participated in the 2018 PISA – a worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in member and non-member nations intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils&#8217; scholastic performance on mathematics, science, and reading. The students completed tests in these three subjects, and the results were later converted into equivalent intelligence quotient (IQ) scores for a more nuanced analysis.</p>
<p>&#8220;I have long been interested in IQ and knew about this wonderful data set,&#8221; said study author Adrian Furnham, a professor at BI Norwegian Business School.</p>
<p>Apart from the academic tests, the study also focused on a range of psychological measures. These included parental education levels, student attitudes towards their teachers, self-assessed academic competence, perceived parental support, school motivation, self-esteem, and self-determination. Each of these factors was evaluated using specially designed scales consisting of several items, where students responded on a scale from &#8220;strongly disagree&#8221; to &#8220;strongly agree.&#8221;</p>
<p>Self-assessed academic competence, particularly in reading (e.g. &#8220;I am able to understand difficult texts”), was the strongest predictor of PISA scores. This implies that students who have a higher self-perception of their academic abilities tend to perform better academically. The study found that this factor alone accounted for a significant portion of the variance in PISA scores.</p>
<p>The findings suggest that &#8220;most 15-year-olds have a pretty good insight into their abilities,&#8221; Furnham said.</p>
<p>Another critical determinant identified was the educational level of parents, especially mothers. The study found that maternal education level had a notable predictive power over the students&#8217; PISA scores. This suggests that a mother&#8217;s education level, possibly indicative of the intellectual environment at home and the value placed on education, significantly impacts a child&#8217;s academic achievement. It also hints at the genetic component of intelligence, as parental IQ could influence both the parents&#8217; educational attainment and, in turn, that of their children.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the perceived quality of teaching and overall self-esteem were not as closely linked to PISA scores as other factors. This challenges some prevalent beliefs regarding the impact of teaching quality and self-esteem on academic achievement. &#8220;Many factors determine success at school. Parental education, often a function of intelligence, is a major factor and school much less so,&#8221; Furnham said.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Furthermore, the study shed light on the nuanced roles of parental support and self-esteem. While these factors were significantly associated with student motivation and determination, they were less directly correlated with PISA scores. In contrast, self-determination, which relates to achievement motivation and conscientiousness, was significantly associated with higher scores.</p>
<p>This study stands out for its scale and its attempt to integrate various factors to better understand academic success. Despite its extensive scope, however, the study is not without limitations. One of the primary limitations was the reliance on self-reported data, which can introduce biases.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the study did not account for several other potentially influential factors, such as the type and size of the school, the actual competence and experience of the teachers, or the personal characteristics of the students, like whether they had siblings or had changed schools. These omissions suggest areas for future research to explore. &#8220;I have been particularly interested in the relationship between personality, school success, and intelligence,&#8221; Furnham said.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886923004361">The role of parents, teachers, and pupils in IQ test scores: Correlates of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) from 74 countries</a>&#8220;, was authored by Adrian Furnham and Helen Cheng.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 19, 2024 at 12:00PM
.
TITLE:
Asthma Drug Still Being Prescribed to Kids Despite Potential Mental Health Risks
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URL:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/asthma-drug-still-being-prescribed-to-kids-despite-potential-mental-health-risks/

<p>The allergy and asthma drug montelukast, also known as Singulair, can cause psychiatric side effects&mdash;and researchers aren&rsquo;t sure why</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 19, 2024 at 12:00PM
.
TITLE:
Decoding morality across cultures: Insights from a mega-study of Moral Foundations Theory
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/decoding-morality-across-cultures-insights-from-a-mega-study-of-moral-foundations-theory-220845

<p>Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) was developed with the intention of understanding variations in moral judgments across cultures, proposing five universal moral concerns, including “care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, and purity/degradation.” The Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ) was developed to measure these five foundations. Despite the extensive reference to MFT, and widespread use of the MFQ, critics have requested theoretical refinement and improvement of its psychometric properties. In a mega-study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000470"><em>Journal of Personality and Social Psychology</em></a>, Mohammad Atari and colleagues responded to this call.</p>
<p>“My main goal was to go beyond WEIRD [Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic] morality and develop a measurement tool based on a genuinely diverse sample,” said study author <a href="http://mohammadatari.com/">Mohammad Atari</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadAtari90">@MohammadAtari90</a>), an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.</p>
<p>MFT originally proposed five psychological foundations upon which cultures construct their moralities, undergirded by research in evolutionary and cultural psychology, and anthropology. These foundations were categorized into individualizing foundations (care and fairness) focusing on the protection of individuals, and binding foundations (loyalty, authority, and purity) centered around group cohesion and societal structures. The initial version of the MFQ (i.e., MFQ-1) was designed to measure the degree to which individuals endorse these five areas of morality.</p>
<p>MFQ-1’s extensive use has revealed that various moral foundations correlate with specific attitudes and behaviors, such as empathy, social justice, national security, tradition, and religious attendance. These foundations have further been linked to political ideology, emotional reactions, and other societal attitudes and behaviors. However, the application of MFT and MFQ-1 have also exposed gaps in the theory and measurement. For example, critics have pointed out the omission of moral concerns such as equality,and the inadequacy of MFT in addressing societal inequalities. The MFQ-2 was developed to address these gaps.</p>
<p>The goal of Study 1a was to develop a preliminary item pool for the MFQ-2, based on a top-down structure including six foundations: care, equality, proportionality, loyalty, authority, and purity. The team ensured cultural diversity and avoided Eurocentrism in item creation. A total of 840 participants from the United States and India were included. Participants first completed the MFQ-2 item pool, followed by the MFQ-1, and provided demographic details. The MFQ-2 item pool initially had over 100 items in a declarative format. The item pool was narrowed down for further studies.</p>
<p>Studies 1b and 1c further refined the MFQ-2 item pool. In Study 1b, 90 items were administered to participants from India, United States, and Iran, with the aim of fine-tuning the pool to a more focused set of items. A total of 71 items were retained. Study 1c aimed to finalize the item pool, administering 71 items to participants from the United States, Ecuador, and China. The final MFQ-2 had 50 candidate items.</p>
<p>The final 50-item pool from Study 1 was administered in Study 2. A total of 3902 participants from 19 different nations were recruited. This study had a goal of finalizing the MFQ-2 into a 36-item questionnaire. Exploratory Structural Equation Models were used to finalize the items, leading to the exclusion of 14 items. Reliability across nations was high, with omega coefficients ranging between .73 and .95. The study further revealed that the MFQ-2 had good structural validity across populations.</p>
<p>The researchers found significant cross-cultural differences in moral foundations. Purity was most strongly related to cultural variance, with participants from less WEIRD societies endorsing it more. Gender differences were also observed, with women scoring higher on equality and purity, and men scoring higher on proportionality, loyalty, and authority. Religious affiliation and religiosity showed significant relationships with different moral foundations.</p>
<p>Study 3 aimed to establish the convergence of MFQ-2 scores with MFQ-1 and to examine its capacity to predict criterion variables (e.g., psychopathy, social dominance orientation, disgust sensitivity, among others). This study involved 1410 participants from the United States, India, and Canada. The results showed strong correlations between MFQ-2 foundation scores and their counterparts in MFQ-1. Further, MFQ-2 demonstrated substantive associations with criterion variables and had greater predictive power than MFQ-1 in predicting related psychological variables. The addition of MFQ-2 scores improved the variance explained in outcome measures by an average of 13.7%.</p>
<p>There are several takeaways from this work. First, fairness in MFT was refined into two distinct foundations, including equality and proportionality. This allows for a better understanding of fairness-related norms and behaviors across cultures. The MFQ-2 demonstrated superior psychometric properties compared to MFQ-1, proving more effective in capturing morality cross-culturally. It also outperformed MFQ-1 in predicting various psychological outcomes.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The present findings support a pluralistic view of morality, showing that moral values and their importance greatly vary across cultures. The researchers discovered that moral foundations were not universal, but culture-dependent. There were notable differences in moral values based on gender, religion and political ideology. For example, women placed more importance on equality and purity compared to men, religious individuals scored higher on loyalty, authority, purity and equality, and conservatives scored higher on loyalty, authority, purity, and proportionality, while liberals valued care and equality to a greater extent.</p>
<p>A limitation the researchers note is that despite efforts to collect data from 25 different populations and seven languages, “the present results are still based on a subset of these populations who were educated enough to complete the surveys online.”</p>
<p>Overall, Atari shared that “[This work] suggests a lot of diversity in moral judgments around the globe. People’s endorsements of moral values vary across cultures and the nature of morality might vary from one culture to another.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000470">Morality Beyond the WEIRD: How the Nomological Network of Morality Varies Across Cultures</a>”, was authored by Mohammad Atari, Jonathan Haidt, Jesse Graham, Sena Koleva, Sean T. Stevens, and Morteza Dehghani.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 19, 2024 at 10:00AM
.
TITLE:
Trumpism exacerbates the problem of science rejection, study finds
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/trumpism-exacerbates-the-problem-of-science-rejection-study-finds-220842

<p>Support for former president Donald Trump serves as a crucial intervening variable in the public&#8217;s rejection of scientific consensus on climate change and COVID-19 vaccination, according to new research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293059"><em>PLOS One</em></a>. Analyzing responses from over a thousand participants, the study highlights how Trumpism transcends other demographic factors in influencing attitudes towards these key scientific issues.</p>
<p>The study builds on a wealth of previous research examining the social and political dimensions of science acceptance and rejection. Over the years, scientists have been concerned about the politicization of science, where beliefs about climate change and public health measures, such as vaccinations, seem influenced more by political leanings than scientific evidence.</p>
<p>This trend has been especially pronounced in the United States, where political affiliation has become a powerful predictor of one&#8217;s stance on scientific issues. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing climate crises, understanding these patterns has become more critical than ever.</p>
<p>&#8220;As an environmental sociologist, I&#8217;ve long been fascinated by human/environment interactions. One strand of my research explores the connections or disconnects between the reality and public perceptions of environmental problems,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://findscholars.unh.edu/display/lch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lawrence Hamilton</a>, a professor of sociology and senior fellow in the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire.</p>
<p>&#8220;Science can be a messenger, as with observations about climate change or pandemics. But scientific messages also get filtered through public perceptions, and perhaps rejected if they seem to conflict with identity-based beliefs. Analyzing many surveys over the past fifteen years, I’ve learned that socio-political identity is often the elephant in the room, predicting people’s views on environment, science and so many other things. And the linkages between general identity and specific views are influenced externally by economic, media and partisan elites. It’s hard to do meaningful research without meeting these realities head on.</p>
<p>&#8220;Some decades back, clean air and water were consensus American values, and strong legislation could pass with bipartisan support. Sadly, that time has gone by; now opinions about environmental protection are nearly a proxy for political identity. Identity-based divisions are particularly acute regarding climate change and COVID-19. The rapid spread of politicized opposition to COVID mitigation in 2020 partly tracked statements by then-president Donald Trump. His influence on pandemic perceptions highlights another issue as well — the shifting content of socio-political identity, as familiar categories of party and ideology take on new meanings.&#8221;</p>
<p>For his study, Hamilton analyzed data from a survey conducted during the summer and early fall of 2021. Named the Polar, Environment, and Science survey (POLES 2021), it was designed to be nationally representative, encompassing a wide range of demographic indicators, including age, gender, race, education, and political party. The survey successfully garnered 1,134 valid completions.</p>
<p>Participants were asked about their views on climate change, COVID-19 vaccination, and former President Trump. The survey also included questions on various conspiracy theories. These seemingly unrelated conspiracy beliefs were included to assess a broader inclination towards rejecting established knowledge and allowed Hamilton to explore the broader landscape of science rejection beyond just politically charged topics.</p>
<p>As expected, conservatives, Republicans, white Americans, and evangelicals were significantly more likely to approve of Trump. Trump support was also higher among Republicans who predominantly associated with friends from the same political party. Additionally, individuals who believed in unpolitical conspiracy theories, such as the moon landing being faked or the Earth being flat, also tended to support Trump more strongly.</p>
<p>Central to the study’s findings was the pivotal role of support for Trump in shaping public attitudes towards science. Trump support acted as a significant predictor of science rejection, independently of ideology, race, or religion. This influence of Trumpism was evident in attitudes towards both climate change and COVID-19 vaccination. But Trumpism was not just an independent predictor of science rejection; it also enhanced the effects of other background factors on science rejection.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;Trumpism exacerbates the problem of science rejection,&#8221; Hamilton told PsyPost. &#8220;Unfortunately, there are deadly consequences to having a large fraction of the US public dismiss expertise regarding hard realities such as climate change and COVID. Earlier studies have shown parallel divisions across many other fields — including the disproportionately conservative rejection of central propositions in biology, geology and astronomy; and conservatives’ lower trust in scientists regarding nuclear power, genetically modified organisms, environmental protection, renewable energy and forest management, as well as epidemiology and vaccination long before COVID.&#8221;</p>
<p>Notably, while being white or an evangelical Christian did not directly lead to science rejection, these identities contributed to such attitudes indirectly, through their association with Trump support. Conspiracy beliefs directly increased the likelihood of vaccine rejection. On the other hand, their effect on climate change rejection was more indirect, mainly exerted through the influence of Trumpism. In other words, those who endorsed conspiracy beliefs were more likely to support Trump, which in turn was associated with climate change rejection.</p>
<p>&#8220;There are differences in how individual characteristics such as age, gender, race, income, religion, education, ideology, political party and conspiracism affect climate and COVID views, but the common denominator of Trumpism is impressive,&#8221; Hamilton said. &#8220;A simple, seemingly nonpolitical conspiracism indicator — openness to flat Earth or Moon landing conspiracy beliefs — predicts Trump approval and to a lesser degree COVID vaccine rejection, but not climate change rejection.&#8221;</p>
<p>While these findings are insightful, there are some limitations. The data, being specific to the U.S. and collected during a particular period, might not fully capture the evolving dynamics of public opinion or the political contexts of other countries. The changing nature of phenomena such as climate change skepticism, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and Trump support also suggests the need for continuous research to track these shifts.</p>
<p>&#8220;Every survey is a snapshot in time,&#8221; Hamilton explained. &#8220;The main data for this paper are from 2021, when Trump was out of power but still very much in view. A few years later, the conspiratorial aspects of Trumpism are perhaps even more salient. Where will he take his followers in the near future, and what might their movement become after Trump?&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;On newer surveys, conducted since this paper was written, I am seeing Trumpism-correlated science rejection across a range of seemingly unpoliticized topics, from aquaculture to rabies vaccination for dogs. It feels as if the political, conspiratorial arguments against climate scientists and epidemiologists &#8216;bleed over&#8217; into attitudes on other domains that respondents really haven’t thought much about, and where political elites have said nothing. These trends hold importance for us all.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0293059" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trumpism, climate and COVID: Social bases of the new science rejection</a>&#8220;, was published January 10, 2024.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 19, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
People who use online dating might look more desperate to people not using online dating, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/people-who-use-online-dating-might-look-more-desperate-to-people-not-using-online-dating-study-finds-220841

<p>A study conducted in Canada revealed that individuals generally view those who use online dating methods more negatively than those who opt for offline dating methods. However, this perception shifts among individuals who have themselves used online dating. They tend to view fellow online dating service users more positively compared to those who have never used online dating. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12523"><em>Personal Relationships</em></a>.</p>
<p>Online dating services offer a convenient and accessible means for individuals to connect with potential partners based on shared interests, preferences, and demographic factors. They often employ complex algorithms to suggest matches, increasing the likelihood of compatibility between users. Online dating services cater to a wide range of audiences, offering specialized platforms for different age groups, lifestyles, and dating goals, from casual encounters to long-term relationships. The use of these services particularly increased during the COVID-19 lockdowns.</p>
<p>However, in spite of their increasing use, past research suggests that people tend to perceive users of online dating services in negative terms. Studies report that people tend to view users of these services as unattractive, desperate or deviant individuals who are unable to find dates through more traditional means. Other studies suggest that they are viewed as deceitful opportunists willing to lie to find dates, as “sleazy” or just looking for short-term “hook-ups”.</p>
<p>In their new study, Trenton C. Johanis and his colleagues wanted to examine how daters who use online and offline/traditional methods for finding partners would be perceived by individuals who themselves had, or had not, used the Internet to find a partner. They expected that daters using online methods would generally be viewed more negatively than daters using offline methods. This view would be particularly strong among individuals who never used online dating methods themselves.</p>
<p>The study involved 214 MTurk workers, including 103 women, with an average age of 35 years, ranging from 19 to 66 years. The participants completed a survey rating their impressions of “the average user” of eight different dating methods.</p>
<p>Three of these methods were online – online dating websites/apps that use algorithm-based matching (e.g., eHarmony), online dating apps/websites that exclusively use profile browsing (e.g., Tinder), and meeting through social media (e.g., Facebook). Five methods were offline: meeting by going out (e.g., bars, clubs), meeting through one&#8217;s main occupation (work, colleagues), meeting through luck/serendipity/chance encounters, meeting through friends or family, and meeting through groups that one belongs to (e.g., religious, hobby, etc.).</p>
<p>For each dating type, participants rated their impression of “the average” user on 11 different attributes ranging from positive (desirable, attractive, smart, likable, romantic, cool) to negative (weird, questionable, shameful, desperate). They also reported which dating methods they had personally used.</p>
<p>Results showed that ratings of these attributes clustered into two groups – positive perceptions (all positive attributes) and negative perceptions (all negative). Individuals who attributed one negative property to the “average user” tended to attribute the other negative properties to that individual as well. The same was the case with positive attributes.</p>
<p>Participants who had used online dating methods reported more positive perceptions of daters overall compared to participants who had not used online methods. These individuals also viewed those who searched for dates through work, groups, or family and friends more negatively compared to individuals who did not use online dating methods.</p>
<p>Interestingly, both online dating users and non-users had less positive and more negative perceptions of online daters compared to those who met dates through traditional methods. Online dating users, however, held more positive views of online daters than non-users.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;Given the rising popularity of online methods to pursue romantic relationships, it is surprising that daters who use online methods continue to be regarded with suspicion and some disdain, even by individuals with experience using these methods,&#8221; the study authors concluded. &#8220;As individuals see more positive online method exemplars profiled in the media, such as Internet influencers or other public figures who openly discuss meeting their partners online, the stigma associated with using the Internet to find dates may be reduced or reversed.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;In the present, those who use online methods to find a partner are perceived to be at least somewhat deviant and undesirable; in the future, it is possible that people will come to see online users as cool, smart, and attractive individuals unafraid of using technology to find love.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study sheds light on perceptions of online daters. However, it should be noted that study participants are a convenience sample and might not be representative of the general population of Canada. Additionally, it focused on general stereotypes about users of different dating methods and did not take into account the possibility that individuals might hold more nuanced views of individuals using a specific method to find dates.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12523">Desperate or desirable? Perceptions of individuals seeking dates online and offline</a>”, was authored by Trenton C. Johanis, Claire E. Midgley, and Penelope Lockwood.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
January 19, 2024 at 06:00AM
.
TITLE:
Violent video games decrease stress hormones, study finds
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/violent-video-games-decrease-stress-hormones-study-finds-220834

<p>In a surprising twist to the long-debated topic of video game violence, a recent study suggests that playing violent video games might actually decrease stress hormones in some players. Contrary to popular belief, the study found no increase in aggressive tendencies, indicating a more complex relationship between video game content and player responses than previously thought. The findings have been published in the scientific journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938423003463"><em>Physiology &amp; Behavior</em></a>.</p>
<p>For years, the impact of violent video games on behavior has been a contentious subject. Past research has often pointed towards a potential increase in aggression and stress among players of these games. This belief has fueled ongoing debates among parents, educators, and policymakers regarding the suitability of such games for young audiences. Motivated by these discussions and inconsistencies in previous findings, researchers embarked on a new study to explore the physiological and psychological effects of violent video games more comprehensively.</p>
<p>&#8220;I am interested in this topic as I am a gamer myself. Since I was little, I was fascinated by video games and the virtual worlds. I played because it was fun, because I enjoyed the competition, to enjoy good stories, but also to relief some stress of my daily life,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gary-Wagener">Gary L. Wagener</a>, a doctoral researcher at the University of Luxembourg.</p>
<p>&#8220;When I started my studies in psychology I was interested in research, and especially on video game effects. I started to notice that there were large inconsistencies in the research on violent video game effects, with some researchers claiming that playing violent video games increases aggressive behavior, while other researchers showed that this was not the case. I did not enjoy the media depiction of violent video games that did not reflect this still ongoing debate and therefore I decided to investigate violent video game effects myself.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study involved 54 male participants. These individuals were recruited through various channels including university mailing lists, social media, and advertisement posters. Each participant was randomly assigned to play either a violent or non-violent passage from the popular video game &#8220;Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End&#8221; for 25 minutes.</p>
<p>To measure the effects of gaming, the researchers employed several innovative techniques. They assessed participants&#8217; levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) and testosterone, both before and after gameplay, using saliva samples. Additionally, to gauge personality traits, participants completed questionnaires assessing the &#8220;Dark Tetrad&#8221; – Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism, and everyday sadism. Finally, an Implicit Association Test (IAT) was used to measure aggressive tendencies.</p>
<p>The results were quite unexpected. Contrary to what many previous studies have suggested, the researchers found no significant change in testosterone levels in either group. More strikingly, cortisol levels actually decreased in the group playing the violent game. This suggests that, rather than increasing stress, playing the violent game might have had a relaxing effect on the players.</p>
<p>Moreover, using the Implicit Association Test, the study evaluated aggressive cognition – essentially, how likely participants were to associate themselves with aggressive thoughts or behaviors. The results showed no significant difference between the group that played the violent game and the group that played the non-violent game. This indicates that short-term exposure to video game violence might not influence a person&#8217;s aggressive thoughts or tendencies as much as some earlier research has suggested.</p>
<p>&#8220;We set out trying to test if violent video game play increases aggression, which we hypothesized based on prior literature on the topic,&#8221; Wagener told PsyPost. &#8220;We thought that the inconsistencies in the literature on this topic might be due to prior negligence to take factors like personality of players and physiological effects into account. What was surprising for us in the end was that playing a violent video game had no effect on aggression whatsoever, even taking physiological effects and personality into account but it provided even beneficial physiological effects.&#8221;</p>
<p>The personality trait of Machiavellianism – characterized by manipulation and a focus on self-interest – was found to moderate this effect. Participants with higher levels of Machiavellianism who played the violent game showed a more pronounced decrease in cortisol. This finding indicates that the response to violent video games may vary based on individual personality traits. In contrast, other traits in the Dark Tetrad, such as sadism, psychopathy, and narcissism, did not show any significant moderating effects.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;The average person should take away from this study that there is no clear picture that violent video games are harmful for players,&#8221; Wagener said. &#8220;They do not necessarily increase aggression in any way but can even have positive relaxing effects for players.&#8221;</p>
<p>But the study, like all research, includes some limitations. &#8220;We can only generalize the effects in this study for the video game we chose,&#8221; Wagener explained. &#8220;However, in our Media and Experimental Lab at the University of Luxembourg, we continue this research and try to use different materials in all our experiments to be finally able to generalize these findings more broadly in the medium.&#8221;</p>
<p>Another constraint was the focus solely on male participants. The study was limited to men to reduce variability and control factors like menstrual cycles and oral contraceptives, which could influence hormonal levels. But this leaves open questions about how women might respond to violent video games.</p>
<p>Looking to the future, the researchers suggest that more comprehensive studies, including female participants and larger sample sizes, are needed. Such studies would provide a more detailed understanding of the complex relationship between video game content, physiological and cognitive responses, and different personality types.</p>
<p>&#8220;This study was only a stepping stone for more research on violent video game effects that are part of my PhD studies at the University of Luxembourg,&#8221; Wagener said. &#8220;So, stay tuned for more (hopefully) interesting findings that we may be able to report in the future.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114421" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Games, hormones, and “dark” personalities: Dark tetrad and the effects of violent gaming on aggression, cortisol, and testosterone</a>&#8220;, was authored by Gary L. Wagener, André Schulz, and André Melzer.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 08:50AM
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TITLE:
Plant Protein Linked to Sharply Lower Cancer Rates—How to Eat More of It
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=176769&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiTWh0dHBzOi8vdWsuc3R5bGUueWFob28uY29tL2hvdy10by1lYXQtbW9yZS1wbGFudC1wcm90ZWluLXN0dWR5LTE1MTUxMzcxNi5odG1s0gEA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News</a></p>Plant proteins have been labelled &quot;unsung heroes&quot; in the world of nutrition&mdash;and now there's even more science to back this up. A large-scale study from Tufts has found that women who eat higher amounts of plant protein have a far lower risk of cancer and heart disease later in life. Based on data from 48,000 women between 1984 and 2016, the study also discovered that those who ate more plant protein were nearly 50% more likely to have a...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 08:30AM
.
TITLE:
Florida Education Board Votes to End Diversity Efforts at State Colleges
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=176767&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMidmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRhbXBhYmF5LmNvbS9uZXdzL2VkdWNhdGlvbi8yMDI0LzAxLzE3L2Zsb3JpZGEtZWR1Y2F0aW9uLWJvYXJkLXZvdGVzLWVuZC1kaXZlcnNpdHktZWZmb3J0cy1zdGF0ZS1jb2xsZWdlcy_SAQA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/?ned=us&topic=m" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News - Health</a></p>Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. told the State Board of Education Wednesday that &quot;Students should be focused on learning the truth about our country instead of being radicalized by woke ideology in our college classrooms.&quot; Shortly after, the board unanimously approved two rules governing Florida's 28 state colleges. One bans spending on diversity efforts, and the other removes sociology as an option to fulfill core requirements.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 08:29AM
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TITLE:
Therapy Just As Effective As Anti-Depressants for Heart Patients
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=176779&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240117143926.htm

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Science Daily - Top Health</a></p>Roughly 50% of heart failure patients experience symptoms of depression along with their condition. Now, research suggests these patients can treat depression just as effectively with 'behavioral activation therapy&quot; (an evidence-based treatment that heightens engagement in activities a patient finds enjoyable) as with anti-depressants. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, followed more than 400 patients over the course of a year.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 08:29AM
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TITLE:
Multivitamins Improve Memory and Slow Cognitive Aging, Study Finds
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=176788&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240118122110.htm

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Science Daily - Top Health</a></p>Can a daily multivitamin improve memory and slow cognitive aging? A new report&mdash;based on data from 573 older adults and a meta-analysis using more than 5,000 non-overlapping participants across multiple studies&mdash;suggests the answer is yes. The results, published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed a statistically significant benefits of a multivitamin versus placebo for both memory and global cognition.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 07:02AM
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TITLE:
U.S. Approves First AI Medical Device to Detect Skin Cancer
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=176772&url=https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2024/01/18/FDA-AI-device-skin-cancer/8081705586391/

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.upi.com/Health_News/" rel="tag" target="_blank">United Press International - Health News</a></p>The first medical device powered by artificial intelligence and designed to help doctors catch skin cancer has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Although not meant to be used as a primary screening tool, the technology further evaluates skin lesions that doctors have already flagged as suspicious. The handheld device uses AI-powered spectroscopy to assess lesions at both the cellular level and beneath the skin's surface.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 12:46PM
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TITLE:
Nancy E. Adler, Who Linked Wealth to Health, Dies at 77
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/18/health/policy/nancy-e-adler-death.html

She documented the powerful role that education, income and self-perceived social status play in a person’s health and longevity.
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 11:06AM
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TITLE:
Sex Educator Emily Nagoski’s New Book ‘Come Together’ Is a Product of Experience
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/18/well/family/emily-nagoski-book-come-together.html

The sex educator Emily Nagoski’s new book on maintaining intimacy in long-term relationships began at home.
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 11:14AM
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TITLE:
Happy Days
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URL:
https://ct.counseling.org/2024/01/happy-days/

<p>Counselors are using happiness interventions to help clients redefine happiness and live a more fulfilling life.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://ct.counseling.org/2024/01/happy-days/">Happy Days</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ct.counseling.org">Counseling Today</a>.</p>

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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 11:00AM
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TITLE:
Men’s mental health tied to their social network investment, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/mens-mental-health-tied-to-their-social-network-investment-study-finds-220819

<p>A recent study has found that the size of men&#8217;s social networks, particularly their close and extended friendship circles, is related to their mental health. The findings stem from research conducted over a span of four years — which found that men with fewer friends in these networks are more likely to experience higher levels of depressive symptoms, both in the present and in the future. The study was published in <a href="https://iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aphw.12475"><em>Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being</em></a>.</p>
<p>Prior research has long suggested a link between social connections and mental health, but specific, long-term data focusing on adult men has been lacking. This study fills that gap by focusing on &#8220;social network investment&#8221; — a term that describes the time and resources individuals devote to building and maintaining social networks. Unlike social support, which deals with the quality of these interactions, social network investment emphasizes the structural aspects, such as the number of friends or the frequency of interaction.</p>
<p>Researchers at Deakin University in Australia aimed to explore the association between social network investment and mental health specifically in men. This demographic has historically reported fewer emotionally supportive connections compared to women, raising concerns about the potential impact on their mental health. Particularly in established adulthood, a life stage marked by significant transitions such as career choice and parenthood, understanding these social dynamics could be key to developing public health strategies aimed at improving men&#8217;s mental health.</p>
<p>The study utilized data from the Men and Parenting Pathways (MAPP) Study, involving 507 Australian men aged between 28 and 32 years at the beginning of the study. All men were recruited between 2015 and 2017 through community organizations, social media, and word of mouth.</p>
<p>The researchers collected data at five different points, analyzing the relationship between various aspects of social network investments — like time spent with friends, and the size of friendship networks. They also studied and collected data on mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and stress. Then, they employed linear regression models with generalized estimating equations — a statistical method ideal for examining both immediate and long-term relationships in the data.</p>
<p>Men with fewer friends in both close and extended networks reported higher levels of depressive symptoms. This association was observed not just concurrently but also longitudinally — indicating that the size of these social networks could predict depressive symptoms a year later.</p>
<p>Engaging in activities like eating meals and physical activities with friends was associated with better mental health outcomes. &#8220;Men&#8217;s extended friendship network size and sharing a meal with friends were negatively associated with concurrent anxiety and stress,&#8221; the study reports. This highlights benefits of social interactions, where even simple activities like dining together can offer significant mental health advantages.</p>
<p>However, these benefits appeared to be immediate and did not have a long-term impact on reducing future mental health issues. In addition, the study found no significant link between social drinking activities and men&#8217;s mental health, either positively or negatively.</p>
<p>Despite its comprehensive approach, a notable aspect of the study is its potential for unmeasured factors that may have influenced the results — such as the quality of friendships or individual personality traits. The reliance on self-reported data could introduce biases, and the last two waves of data collection coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which might have affected social interactions. Furthermore, the study&#8217;s focus on an Australian cohort raises questions about the applicability of the findings to other cultural contexts.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our findings demonstrate certain facets of social network investment may play a more important role in men&#8217;s mental health than others, with a lack of close and extended friendship networks appearing to have a particularly detrimental influence on men&#8217;s depressive symptoms a year later,&#8221; the researchers concluded.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The study, “<a href="https://iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aphw.12475">Social network investment of men: Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with mental health problems</a>”, was authored by Kayla Mansour, Christopher J. Greenwood, Lauren M. Francis, Imogene Smith, Craig A. Olsson, and Jacqui A. Macdonald.</p>
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psychbot , 6 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
January 18, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
Female Tinder users lean towards liberal sexuality and away from soulmate beliefs, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/female-tinder-users-lean-towards-liberal-sexuality-and-away-from-soulmate-beliefs-study-finds-220809

<p>New research sheds light on how the use of the dating app Tinder is related to relationship attitudes and dating behaviors of young Australian women. The findings indicate that while users of the app do show a greater openness towards casual sex, they also engage in committed relationships, suggesting that Tinder can serve a variety of relationship goals. The study was published in <em><a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fppm0000420" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Psychology of Popular Media</a></em>.</p>
<p>The motivation for this study stemmed from Tinder&#8217;s significant influence on modern dating culture. Since its launch in 2012, Tinder has dramatically changed how people meet and form relationships. With over 60 million users and facilitating 1.5 million dates weekly, Tinder&#8217;s impact is undeniable.</p>
<p>&#8220;A few years ago, I was one of the 60 million people worldwide who used dating apps. I remember sitting on my couch one night wondering how my use of dating apps was impacting my wellbeing and how I felt about relationships,&#8221; said study author Andrea Steele, a senior lecturer in psychology and associate dean of learning and teaching at Murdoch University.</p>
<p>&#8220;Anecdotally, I had heard from people who said they had become ‘disillusioned’ from dating apps, but I had also heard many success stories emerging from dating apps. At the time, there was emerging research into how other forms of social media, e.g., Instagram, related to mental health outcomes and how people felt about their bodies, but there was not a lot of research out there on dating apps.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study included 249 Australian women between the ages of 18 and 29, primarily heterosexual and not currently in a serious relationship. Over half of the participants reported having used Tinder. The researchers collected data from May to August 2020, using a combination of university recruitment and social media outreach.</p>
<p>Participants were asked about their use of Tinder, their general dating experiences, and their attitudes towards relationships. They responded to a series of questionnaires that measured their views on sexual standards, permissiveness in sexual behavior, and beliefs in concepts like soulmates. These questionnaires included the Sexual Standards Script, which gauges attitudes towards casual sex and multiple sexual partners, and the Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale, which assesses openness to casual relationships and idealized views of sex in committed relationships.</p>
<p>Additionally, participants were asked to report on their number of committed romantic relationships and frequency of hookups over the past year.</p>
<p>The researchers found that Tinder users reported engaging in more hookups and also had a higher number of committed relationships compared to non-users. This finding challenges the stereotype of Tinder solely promoting casual relationships.</p>
<p>&#8220;We expected that Tinder users would report engaging in more &#8216;hook-ups&#8217; compared to non-Tinder users,&#8221; Steele told PsyPost. &#8220;But we didn’t expect that Tinder users would also report having been in more committed relationships. Despite Tinder’s reputation as a &#8216;hookup app,&#8217; it may also be fruitful for committed relationship development.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Indeed, subsequent research that we’ve conducted has suggested that although most users of dating apps are aware of the &#8216;hookup&#8217; stereotypes associated with the apps, many people still use dating applications hoping for committed romantic relationships.&#8221;</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Tinder users showed a lower adherence to strict sexual standards and a higher level of sexual permissiveness compared to non-users. This suggests that Tinder users are more accepting of casual sexual encounters. In particular, Tinder users were more likely to <em>disagree</em> with statements such as &#8220;I have a hard time respecting a girl who has casual sex&#8221; and more likely to <em>agree</em> with statements such as &#8220;Casual sex is acceptable.&#8221;</p>
<p>Users of Tinder were also less likely to believe in the concept of a soulmate, indicating a possible shift in how young adults view the potential for &#8220;one true love.&#8221; They tended to disagree with statements such as &#8220;Somewhere I have a &#8216;soul mate&#8217; I should marry, a special partner who is uniquely suited to me and vice versa.”</p>
<p>However, no significant difference was found between Tinder users and non-users in terms of sexual communion (e.g., &#8220;At its best, sex seems to be the merging of two souls&#8221;), indicating that idealistic views of sex within committed relationships are not necessarily affected by Tinder use.</p>
<p>&#8220;Tinder use appears connected to relationship attitudes and behaviors,&#8221; Steele said. &#8220;In our study, women who had used Tinder were more likely than non-Tinder users to report greater numbers of both casual hookups and relationships. These findings support the notion that Tinder is creating an easily accessible means of meeting potential partners. We also found that Tinder users reported more liberal beliefs about sex and were less likely to believe in the existence of a soulmate.&#8221;</p>
<p>But the study, like all research, has some limitations. The sample was largely homogenous, primarily consisting of heterosexual, young adult women in Australia, which may not fully represent the diverse global Tinder user base. Additionally, the study’s design does not allow for conclusions about whether Tinder use causes changes in relationship attitudes or simply attracts individuals with certain predispositions towards dating and relationships.</p>
<p>&#8220;We found that Tinder use was related to greater liberality towards sex,&#8221; Steele explained. &#8220;However, because this study was correlational, we don’t know whether Tinder facilitates greater engagement in the ‘hook-up culture’ or whether those who already have liberal views towards sex are more likely to use Tinder, or it could be a combination of the two!</p>
<p>&#8220;More research is needed to disentangle these relationships. Further, although we found many young women are engaging in casual sex, we don’t yet know the extent to which they are active participants in seeking casual sex or whether they are simply adapting their behaviours to align with the ‘hook-up culture’ that is associated with dating apps and/or to meet the expectations of their matches.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000420" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swiping Right for “Mr Right”: An Investigation Into the Relationship Between Tinder Use and Relationship Attitudes and Behaviors in Australian Female Emerging Adults</a>&#8220;, was authored by Jane E. Lapsley, Andrea Renee Steele, and Olivia Monson.</p>
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