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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 30, 2023 at 09:52AM
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TITLE:
Why Climate Change Disinformation Is So Persistent
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175498&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231130113049.htm

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Science Daily - Top Society</a></p>The consequences of climate change are more visible than ever, and scientists have confirmed that humans are responsible. Yet a third of the U.S. population still doubts or disputes these facts. To prevent climate disinformation, a team has developed and tested six psychological interventions on nearly 7,000 participants from twelve countries. Although disinformation is often extremely persuasive, there are techniques to effectively counter it.</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 30, 2023 at 09:52AM
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TITLE:
Russian Supreme Court Bans "LGBT Movement"
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175483&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiLmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1ldXJvcGUtNjc1NjU1MDnSATJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY29tL25ld3Mvd29ybGQtZXVyb3BlLTY3NTY1NTA5LmFtcA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News</a></p>Russia's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that &quot;the international LGBT public movement&quot; was an extremist organization and banned its activities across the country. The court hearing was held behind closed doors, but reporters were allowed in to hear the court's decision. Nobody from &quot;the defendant's side&quot; attended the hearing. Russia's constitution was changed three years ago to make it clear that marriage means a union between a man and a woman.</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 30, 2023 at 05:00PM
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TITLE:
Liberal media outlets display a higher aversion to artificial intelligence than conservative media, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/liberal-media-outlets-display-a-higher-aversion-to-artificial-intelligence-than-conservative-media-study-finds-214795

<p>In a recent study, researchers found that liberal-leaning media outlets exhibit more negative sentiments towards artificial intelligence (AI) compared to their conservative counterparts. This aversion in liberal media is primarily driven by concerns over AI’s potential to amplify societal biases. The findings have been published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506231196817" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Social Psychological and Personality Science</a></em>.</p>
<p>The study&#8217;s roots lie in the increasingly prominent role of AI in our lives, impacting sectors from healthcare to job recruitment. Previous research has shown mixed reactions to AI&#8217;s growing influence, with some praising its efficiency and others worried about its societal impact, like job loss and privacy issues. This backdrop provided the researchers with a unique opportunity to explore how these divergent views play out in the media landscape, particularly through the lens of political ideologies.</p>
<p>&#8220;I was first interested in this topic because AI is a divisive issue,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://marketing.pamplin.vt.edu/grad-students/yi-angela.html">Angela Yi</a>, a PhD student at Virginia Tech. &#8220;Some people embrace AI and some are more opposed to AI. Thus, it is increasingly important to understand which sections of society are more receptive to AI and which sections are more opposed to AI.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Given that my research interest lies in political ideology, I thought it would be fascinating to see the heterogeneous reactions to AI across political lines. To that end, I sought to assess partisan reactions to AI by analyzing partisan media sentiment toward AI.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study involved an analysis of media articles from both liberal and conservative outlets. Researchers turned to the Dow Jones &amp; Company’s Factiva database to gather a robust selection of articles. The articles were chosen based on specific criteria: the articles must come from a media outlet with a known political leaning (as rated by AllSides’ Media Bias Rating Chart), they had to mention “algorithm” or “artificial intelligence,” be written in English, and published between May 25, 2019, and May 25, 2021. This process led to a substantial dataset of 7,840 articles.</p>
<p>In assessing the emotional tone of these articles, the research team employed a text analysis tool known as Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). This tool enabled them to measure the balance of positive and negative emotional words in each article, providing a nuanced view of the overall sentiment toward AI. In addition to the emotional tone, the analysis also factored in aspects like analytical thinking, authenticity, and the article&#8217;s publication date.</p>
<p>The study revealed a clear partisan divide in media sentiment towards AI. Liberal-leaning outlets, such as The New York Times and The Guardian, showed a more negative tone in their AI coverage compared to conservative-leaning outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The Daily Mail. This pattern held even after controlling for factors like the article&#8217;s analytical depth and authenticity.</p>
<p>One of the most striking findings was the role of societal bias concerns in shaping these sentiments. The liberal media&#8217;s heightened sensitivity to issues like racial and gender biases in AI algorithms was a key factor driving their negative tone. This concern was notably amplified following significant societal events, such as the death of George Floyd, which the researchers identified as a moment that heightened media focus on social biases, influencing AI coverage across the political spectrum.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the study found that concerns over job displacement and privacy issues, often highlighted in debates about AI, did not significantly explain the differences in media tone.</p>
<p>&#8220;We find that liberal-leaning media have a more negative sentiment to AI than conservative-leaning media,&#8221; Yi told PsyPost. &#8220;In other words, liberal-leaning media tends to be more opposed to AI than conservative-leaning media. We also find that liberal media are more concerned with AI magnifying social biases in society than conservative media. These social bias concerns explain liberal-leaning media’s greater aversion towards AI than conservative media. Privacy concerns and unemployment concerns did not explain the results.&#8221;</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;Furthermore, we examined how media sentiment toward AI changed after George Floyd’s death. Since Floyd’s death sparked a national conversation about social biases in society, his death heightened social bias concerns in the media. This in turn led the media to become even more negative towards AI in their writing.&#8221;</p>
<p>While the study offers insightful observations, it’s important to recognize its limitations. The focus on U.S. and U.K. media outlets means the findings may not universally apply, especially in countries with different political landscapes and societal norms.</p>
<p>Future research could explore how media in other regions perceive AI, potentially revealing new dimensions to the AI discourse. Moreover, the study opens doors for further investigation into how media sentiment influences public opinion and policymaking regarding AI.</p>
<p>&#8220;Since we quantified the differences in media sentiment toward AI, the next step will be to see how social media conversations change as a function of the partisan media sentiment we see in this paper,&#8221; Yi said.</p>
<p>&#8220;I want to add that this research is descriptive rather than prescriptive,&#8221; the researcher added. &#8220;We are showing that there are differences that exist in the media sentiment in regard to AI and algorithms and that these differences are important to quantify and understand.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19485506231196817" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Partisan Media Sentiment Toward Artificial Intelligence</a>&#8220;, was authored by Angela Yi, Shreyans Goenka, and Mario Pandelaere.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 30, 2023 at 03:00PM
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TITLE:
Birth control pills and depression: Large study reveals new insights
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/birth-control-pills-and-depression-large-study-reveals-new-insights-214785

<p>In a new study published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.041" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Affective Disorders</a></em>, researchers discovered that women currently using birth control pills show a lower prevalence of major depression compared to those who have stopped using them.</p>
<p>The birth control pill has been a pivotal element in women&#8217;s health for decades, used not only for preventing pregnancies but also for managing menstrual symptoms. Despite its widespread use, there has been ongoing debate and concern regarding its potential impact on mental health, particularly depression.</p>
<p>Previous studies have shown mixed results &#8211; some suggesting a link to depressive symptoms, while others indicate no significant effects or even improved mood states in women using these pills. This inconsistency in findings led researchers to delve deeper into the subject, aiming to provide a clearer picture of how birth control pills might affect mental well-being.</p>
<p>&#8220;Contraception is a crucial component of preventive health care,&#8221; said study author Julia Gawronska, a postdoctoral research fellow at Anglia Ruskin University. &#8220;There is no clear evidence linking the pill with depression. However, there is a common misconception that the oral contraceptive pill causes depression. Women who worry about depression and choose not to use effective contraceptive methods put themselves at risk of unintended pregnancies. Promotion of family planning is essential to securing the wellbeing and autonomy of women.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a program designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. It focuses on a representative sample of the population through interviews and physical examinations. The specific data for this study came from women aged 18 to 55 who were part of the NHANES cohorts from 2005 to 2012. This timeframe was selected due to the availability of both depression questionnaires and reproductive health data within the survey. After applying certain criteria to ensure the relevance of the participants to the study’s aims, the final sample size comprised 6,239 women.</p>
<p>The primary area of interest was the current use of birth control pills, including both the combined pill (containing estrogen and progesterone) and the progestogen-only pill. However, the survey data did not differentiate between these two types. Women were categorized based on their responses to questions regarding their use of birth control pills &#8211; as current users, former users, or never users.</p>
<p>Depression was assessed using a validated questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire, which is based on the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It helps identify the frequency and severity of depressive symptoms over the previous two weeks.</p>
<p>The study also considered a range of potential influencing factors or confounders, including socio-demographic characteristics (like age, race, income, and marital status), behavioral factors (such as smoking and body mass index), and chronic health conditions (including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and thyroid problems).</p>
<p>Women who were currently using birth control pills showed a lower prevalence of major depression (4.6%) compared to those who had never used them (10%) and those who had stopped using them (11.4%).</p>
<p>However, when the researchers examined the data more closely, they found no significant difference in depression rates between current pill users and those who had never used them. Additionally, the study did not find a significant difference between former users and never users. This nuanced finding suggests that while current use of birth control pills is associated with a lower reported rate of depression, the relationship is not straightforward.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;We believe that this could be due to the fact that taking the pill can remove concerns about unwanted pregnancy, therefore helping to improve the mental health of oral contraceptive pill users,&#8221; Gawronska told PsyPost. &#8220;It is also possible that the results could be influenced by &#8216;survivor bias,&#8217; where women who experience signs of depression while using oral contraceptive pills stop taking it, moving them into the category of former users.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;However, stopping taking the pill without a suitable alternative increases the risk of unintended pregnancy. It is important that women are fully supported, provided with full information, and offered alternative forms of contraception if necessary. Based on our findings, women should be aware of potential side effect of depression. However, women should feel comfortable knowing that there are alternative options available.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study also found disparities in the prevalence of major depression based on race, marital status, income, smoking status, and chronic health conditions. For instance, black and Hispanic women, those with lower income, and smokers were more likely to report major depression.</p>
<p>But the cross-sectional nature of the survey data means that it captures a snapshot in time, making it challenging to establish cause-and-effect relationships. Another limitation is the lack of detailed data on the specific types of birth control pills used by the participants. The combined pill and the progestogen-only pill may have different impacts on mood, but this study could not differentiate between them.</p>
<p>Given these constraints, the researchers recommend future studies that can more precisely track the onset and progression of depressive symptoms in relation to the use of different types of birth control pills. Such longitudinal studies would help in understanding whether the onset of depression is influenced by the use of these pills or other external factors.</p>
<p>&#8220;The prevalence of major depression among women taking oral contraceptive may be lower than in former users of the pill,&#8221; Gawronska said. &#8220;However, there are some women who still experience clinically relevant depression. Further research with longitudinal follow-up for depression in women using oral contraceptive pills is needed to understand the real world effect of the pill on depression.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016503272301217X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of oral contraceptive pill use and depression among US women</a>&#8220;, was authored by Julia Gawronska, Catherine Meads, Lee Smith, Chao Cao, Nan Wang, and Susan Walker.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 30, 2023 at 01:00PM
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TITLE:
Income boosts self-esteem more than vice versa, new study reveals
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/income-boosts-self-esteem-more-than-vice-versa-new-study-reveals-214792

<p>A new study has provided deeper insights into the nuanced relationship between income and self-esteem. The research, published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976231185129"><em>Psychological Science</em></a>, highlighted how having higher personal earnings is a strong <em>source</em> of higher self-esteem in subsequent years but is less of a <em>consequence</em> of higher self-esteem.</p>
<p>Self-esteem can be defined as a person’s evaluation of their own worth. Many previous studies have found a small but positive association between income and self-esteem. In other words, individuals with higher incomes tend to have higher self-esteem.</p>
<p>However, little is known about how income and self-esteem change <em>within</em> individuals over time.</p>
<p>To better understand the link between income and self-esteem, the study team led by Wiebke Bleidorn from the University of Zurich proposed the question, “do people feel better about themselves when they make more money, or do people make more money when they feel better about themselves?”</p>
<p>The researchers accessed a publicly-available Dutch dataset, the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences. Data was analyzed from 4,101 adults (52% female) who provided annual reports of their self-esteem and income yearly from 2019 to 2022, roughly 56 years old on average (in 2019). Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and income was measured as average monthly gross income, corrected for inflation.</p>
<p>Bleidorn and colleagues then employed sophisticated statistical methods to separate the effects of differences <em>between</em> people from the effects of differences <em>within</em> people.</p>
<p>The researchers first noted a significant positive association between income and self-esteem at the <em>between-person</em> level. As the authors described, “a higher income relative to other people’s income relates to higher self-esteem relative to others’ self-esteem”, which is consistent with previous studies.</p>
<p>Following this, they discovered that income and self-esteem had a two-way relationship at the <em>within-person</em> level, across several years.</p>
<p>Specifically, individuals who earned a higher income in one year tended to have higher self-esteem relative to their average self-esteem level in the following year, and those who had higher self-esteem in one year relative to their average self-esteem level tended to earn a higher income in the next year.</p>
<p>However, the effect of income on self-esteem was stronger and more reliable than the effect of self-esteem on income, suggesting that income is more likely to shape self-esteem as opposed to the other way around.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Bleidorn and colleagues noted how these results strongly supported the social-indicator theory, which states that “a person’s self-esteem is a function of their social status… income shifts should lead to changes in self-esteem if income is considered a marker of a person’s interpersonal value.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile the findings provided weaker support for the self-consistency theory, which proposes how &#8220;people with higher self-esteem may seek out jobs consistent with their self-appraisals and potentially also pay better … [while] lower self-esteem may lead people to miss out on career opportunities that could be associated with higher income and promotion prospects.”</p>
<p>The link between income and self-esteem was also found to be independent of employment status and did not differ significantly across gender, age group, or education group. In other words, the link was similar for different types of people. Interestingly, this was inconsistent with previous studies.</p>
<p>The researchers noted some limitations. The data was sourced from a Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) country and may not generalize to other cultural contexts. Furthermore, the study did not include participants who reported zero income because of ambiguity in the interpretation of this response &#8211; i.e., some participants did not want to disclose their income and falsely reported their financial status.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976231185129">Self-Esteem and Income Over Time</a>”, was authored by Wiebke Bleidorn, André Kretzschmar, John F. Rauthmann, Ulrich Orth, Jaap J. A. Denissen, and Christopher J. Hopwood.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 30, 2023 at 11:00AM
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TITLE:
Brain Study Suggests Traumatic Memories Are Processed as Present Experience
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/health/ptsd-memories-brain-trauma.html

Traumatic memories had their own neural mechanism, brain scans showed, which may help explain their vivid and intrusive nature.
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 30, 2023 at 11:00AM
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TITLE:
Autism and stress: A pivotal study highlights unique emotional challenges
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/autism-and-stress-a-pivotal-study-highlights-unique-emotional-challenges-214781

<p>Recent research has found that young individuals with autism not only experience heightened daily stress but also tend to employ less effective emotional regulation strategies compared to their non-autistic peers. This study, published in the journal <em><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613231204829" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autism</a></em>, provides a deeper understanding of the daily emotional landscape faced by those with autism.</p>
<p>Earlier studies have consistently shown that individuals with autism often report higher levels of stress and are more likely to encounter adverse experiences, such as bullying, compared to non-autistic individuals. These increased levels of stress can contribute to a range of mental health issues, including anxiety and mood disorders. Recognizing these challenges, researchers aimed to delve deeper into how autistic adolescents and young adults react to daily stressors, particularly focusing on their emotional responses and coping strategies.</p>
<p>&#8220;Autistic individuals are shown to have increased likelihood of developing mental health difficulties during the lifespan, so possible risk and protective factors are important to identify,&#8221; said study author Laura Ilen, a PhD student in clinical psychology at the University of Geneva.</p>
<p>&#8220;Increased affective reactivity to daily-life stress has been shown to be a vulnerability factor for negative evolution in several clinical populations, which is why we were interested in investigating the topic in adolescents and young adults with autism too. Moreover, to better understand the role of emotion regulation and how clinical interventions could be targeted, one of the study’s interests was to investigate the link between cognitive emotion regulation and affective responses to daily-life stress.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study involved a meticulous and detailed methodology to gather accurate data. A total of 94 participants were involved, comprising 39 autistic individuals aged between 12 and 29 years and 55 non-autistic individuals aged between 12 and 26 years. The autistic participants were recruited through clinical centers and family associations in Switzerland and France, ensuring a diverse and representative sample. On the other hand, the non-autistic participants were sourced from the local community in Geneva and from an ongoing study of typically developing individuals.</p>
<p>To measure stress and emotional responses, the study used a technique called Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). This involved participants receiving notifications on their smartphones eight times a day for six consecutive days to complete questionnaires about their current feelings and the stressfulness of their activities. This method provided real-time data on the participants&#8217; emotional states in their natural environments, offering a more nuanced understanding of their daily experiences.</p>
<p>The results showed that autistic participants reported higher levels of negative emotions, such as sadness and anxiety, in their day-to-day lives. They also experienced significantly higher levels of stress related to social interactions and daily activities, although there was no significant difference in stress related to specific events. Interestingly, the study revealed that autistic individuals found social events less pleasant than non-social events, suggesting a heightened sensitivity to social stressors.</p>
<p>A particularly notable finding was the increased reactivity of autistic participants to stress related to daily activities. This suggests that routine tasks and obligations may be more emotionally taxing for individuals with autism. Additionally, autistic females exhibited higher stress reactivity to these daily activities and events than autistic males, pointing to possible gender differences in stress responses within the autistic population.</p>
<p>The researchers also explored cognitive emotion regulation &#8211; the strategies individuals use to manage and respond to their emotions. Cognitive emotion regulation strategies are mental techniques that people use to manage and influence their emotional responses to situations.</p>
<p>It was found that autistic participants used less adaptive strategies, like positive refocusing and planning, and more non-adaptive strategies, such as rumination and self-blame. This pattern could contribute to the higher levels of stress and negative emotions observed in this group.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;We showed that autistic adolescents and young adults report increased perceived stress in the flow of their daily lives compared to their non-autistic peers, which highlights the importance of reducing stressors in the context of daily life, for example through environmental adjustments,&#8221; Ilen told PsyPost. &#8220;Autistic participants also reported more difficulties in regulating their emotions (e.g., more frequent use of rumination).&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;These emotion regulation difficulties increased negative emotions in relation to daily stressors and might contribute to the severity of mental health symptoms. Therefore, our results suggest that to prevent stress-related negative emotions and mental health symptoms in young people with autism, clinical interventions could focus on stress management skills and strategies that youth use to manage their emotions when faced with daily stressors.&#8221;</p>
<p>Positive refocusing involves shifting one&#8217;s focus away from a negative or stressful situation and directing attention towards positive aspects or experiences, while planning as a cognitive emotion regulation strategy involves thinking about how to cope with a stressor or challenge in a constructive way. On the other hand, rumination is a maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategy that involves repeatedly thinking about distressing situations, feelings, or thoughts, while self-blame involves attributing personal responsibility, often unfairly or irrationally, for negative events or outcomes.</p>
<p>For participants without autism, the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies was found to weaken the link between event-related stress and negative emotions. However, this moderating effect of adaptive emotion regulation strategies was not observed in participants with autism.</p>
<p>&#8220;We showed that the use of &#8216;non-adaptive&#8217; emotion regulation strategies increased autistic participants’ negative emotions in relation to daily stressors, as expected,&#8221; Ilen explained. &#8220;In contrast, more frequent use of &#8216;adaptive&#8217; emotion regulation was not associated with affective reactivity to stress and was therefore not a protective factor against negative emotions when faced with stress, as might have been expected. This could possibly be explained by the fact that we only investigated cognitive emotion regulation, and not other types of strategies that youth with autism might use.&#8221;</p>
<p>While the study offers valuable insights, it&#8217;s important to approach these findings with some considerations in mind. One limitation of the study is its reliance on subjective self-reports, which can vary significantly from person to person. Also, the study&#8217;s participants were verbally fluent and mostly had average or above-average intellectual functioning, which means the results may not apply to all individuals on the autism spectrum. Moreover, the study&#8217;s cross-sectional design means that it can highlight correlations but cannot conclusively prove cause-and-effect relationships.</p>
<p>&#8220;As the study design was cross-sectional, we could not make any causal interpretations about the association between affective reactivity to stress and mental health symptoms,&#8221; Ilen said. &#8220;Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether increased stress reactivity can predict later mental health difficulties in autistic youth and adults.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231204829" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cognitive emotion regulation difficulties increase affective reactivity to daily-life stress in autistic adolescents and young adults</a>&#8220;, was authored by Laura Ilen, Clémence Feller, and Maude Schneider.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 30, 2023 at 09:00AM
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TITLE:
Female cat and dog owners tend to be slightly more involved with their families, potentially leading to better well-being, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/female-cat-and-dog-owners-tend-to-be-slightly-more-involved-with-their-families-potentially-leading-to-better-well-being-study-finds-214788

<p>A study of high school and university students in Japan reported that female (but not male) cat and dog owners tend to be a bit more involved with their families compared to non-owners. This involvement might, in turn, lead to greater well-being. The study was published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1220265">Frontiers in Veterinary Science</a>.</em></p>
<p>The period of adolescence and early adulthood is a time of significant change, marked by numerous physical and psychological transitions. It is also a stage when many mental health issues first emerge. Research indicates that mental health problems during this period strongly predict mental health issues in young adulthood and later in life.</p>
<p>During adolescence, individuals begin to form extensive social relationships beyond their family connections. These social relationships are crucial for mental health, offering emotional support, companionship, and a sense of belonging. Such connections can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Strong social bonds are associated with lower rates of mental health disorders, increased resilience, and a better capacity to handle life&#8217;s challenges.</p>
<p>Numerous studies have found that a relationship with an animal, such as pet ownership, may also play a protective role. These studies generally suggest that the well-being of pet owners is, on average, somewhat better than that of non-pet owners.</p>
<p>Study author Hikari Koyasu and colleagues aimed to investigate whether this protective effect is also present in Japanese adolescents. They theorized that pet ownership could enhance adolescents&#8217; well-being and increase their general trust, which they describe as a belief in the benevolence of human nature. The researchers conducted an online survey, noting that general trust is low in Japan.</p>
<p>The survey involved 2,845 high school and university students recruited by Cross Marketing Inc. Participants provided demographic data, family composition, and pet ownership details. They also completed assessments for cultural estrangement – how their values align with their family and environment (using the Cultural Estrangement Inventory, CEI), subjective well-being (using the Five Well-Being Index, WHO-5), general trust, family involvement, and community involvement.</p>
<p>The results indicated that dog owners generally had lower well-being and general trust than non-owners. However, both dog and cat owners showed higher levels of family and community involvement than non-owners. Females were more involved with their families than males, while males were more involved with their communities.</p>
<p>The study authors tested a statistical model to examine the relationships between various factors in the study. Among other hypotheses, the model suggested that owning a dog or cat increases family involvement, which in turn, could lead to better well-being. The results confirmed that this relationship model is plausible for females but not for males. In this model, family involvement was associated with greater well-being, but not with increased general trust. Greater community involvement was linked to higher general trust in both males and females.</p>
<p>“This study revealed that late adolescent women who owned a dog or cat had high involvement with their family, which resulted in higher well-being. However, no significant effects were observed among men,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study makes a valuable contribution to understanding the relationships between pet-ownership and mental health. However, the relationships between family involvement and dog/cat ownership were very weak. Also, pairwise association between well-being and dog/cat ownership was negative indicating a bit lower well-being of dog/cat owners compared to non-owners.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1220265">Ownership of dogs and cats leads to higher levels of well-being and general trust through family involvement in late adolescence</a>”, was authored by Hikari Koyasu, Sakura Ogasawara, Takefumi Kikusui, and Miho Nagasawa.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 30, 2023 at 07:00AM
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TITLE:
Harmony in heartbeats: Berlin concert study reveals synchrony in classical music listeners
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/harmony-in-heartbeats-berlin-concert-study-reveals-synchrony-in-classical-music-listeners-214782

<p>Classical music concerts can create a unique harmony not only in sound but also in the heartbeats and movements of the audience, according to new research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41960-2"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a>. This phenomenon, observed in a Berlin concert series, highlights an extraordinary, synchronized connection between music and human physiology.</p>
<p>The quest to understand the deep connection between music and its impact on our minds and bodies is not new. Past research has regularly shown that music can evoke strong emotional reactions and physiological responses, such as chills or an increased heartbeat. Building on this knowledge, researchers from the <a href="https://experimental-concert-research.org/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Experimental Concert Research project</a> aimed to explore this connection further. They were particularly interested in how a live classical music setting could influence the synchronization of physical responses among audience members.</p>
<p>&#8220;I was always interested in processes of interpersonal synchronization, specifically in the interaction of therapist and client in psychotherapy,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://www.embodiment.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wolfgang Tschacher</a>, professor emeritus at the University of Bern. &#8220;Synchrony is a candidate for what happens in the therapeutic alliance. Very soon I became aware that this phenomenon may not be the core of therapy only, but may also arise in other interactions. As I had found ways to quantify synchrony, I applied these tools to conversations and discussions among people, and finally also to how much audiences become entrained by collective music-listening.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, conducted in September 2020 at the Radialsystem concert venue in Berlin, was set against the backdrop of COVID-19 safety measures. This unique situation provided an opportunity to observe the effects of music on audiences under socially distanced conditions. A total of 132 volunteers, aged between 18 and 85 years, participated in the study during three public concerts. Each concert featured the same program of chamber music for string quintet, showcasing pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven, Brett Dean, and Johannes Brahms, representing different musical styles.</p>
<p>Upon arrival at the concert venue, participants completed an &#8216;entrance questionnaire&#8217;, providing information about their personality traits, affective states, and demographic details. During the concerts, their physiological responses, such as heart rate, skin conductance (a measure of emotional arousal), and breathing patterns, were measured using non-invasive sensors. Additionally, the researchers captured the audience’s body movements through overhead cameras, enabling a detailed analysis of physical responses to the music.</p>
<p>The researchers found that the heart rate, skin conductance, and respiration rate of audience members showed a significant level of synchrony during the performances. This means that as the audience listened to the music, their heartbeats and physiological responses tended to rise and fall in unison. Interestingly, this synchrony was observed in all the measured responses except for detailed breathing behavior, like the timing of inhales and exhales, which did not synchronize among the audience members.</p>
<p>&#8220;Synchrony is a natural phenomenon that dominates social life, starting from private interactions between two persons up to what goes on in groups,&#8221; Tschacher told PsyPost. &#8220;Synchrony is prominent in &#8216;body language,&#8217; but also in the physiological activation of the body. Being a concert listener means you become part of a multi-person system, the audience. The more you appreciate and focus on the music, the more you become a part of this system.&#8221;</p>
<p>Furthermore, the study revealed a connection between the audience&#8217;s movements and the music. Despite being seated and maintaining physical distance due to pandemic restrictions, the audience exhibited synchronized body movements, subtly mirroring each other in response to the musical performance.</p>
<p>&#8220;Most studies in music psychology are done in the lab, in experiments with strictly defined recorded music,&#8221; Tschacher said. &#8220;I was not 100% confident that we would find synchrony &#8216;in the wild,&#8217; that is in naturalistic contexts of live concerts open to the public. But we did, and current analyses of further concerts with over 700 participants show that these findings can be replicated.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study also delved into how individual differences among the audience, such as personality traits, could influence this synchrony. It was found that individuals who scored high on &#8216;Openness to Experience&#8217; and &#8216;Agreeableness&#8217; in personality assessments tended to show higher levels of physiological synchrony with the music. Conversely, those with higher &#8216;Neuroticism&#8217; and &#8216;Extraversion&#8217; scores were less likely to synchronize with others in the audience. These findings suggest that certain personality types might be more susceptible to the unifying power of music.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>However, it’s important to note some limitations of the study. One major challenge was the quality of the physiological data collected, which was compromised to some extent by the need for non-invasive, comfortable sensors for the participants. This was particularly true for the heart rate data, where a significant portion of the data was lost due to technical issues. Additionally, the fact that the study was conducted under unique conditions of a socially distanced concert during the pandemic could influence the generalizability of the findings.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, this study opens new avenues for understanding the collective experience of music. Future research could explore how different musical genres or settings (like outdoor festivals or intimate jazz clubs) impact audience synchrony. There is also a scope to improve the technology for monitoring physiological responses to enhance data quality.</p>
<p>&#8220;Concert music moves audiences bodily,&#8221; Tschacher said. &#8220;Music reaches not just the minds (the cognition and experiences of people), but also their bodies. It is an example of &#8217;embodied cognition,&#8217; which I believe is an important development in psychology and cognitive science.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-41960-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Audience synchronies in live concerts illustrate the embodiment of music experience</a>&#8220;, was authored by Wolfgang Tschacher, Steven Greenwood, Sekhar Ramakrishnan, Martin Tröndle, Melanie Wald-Fuhrmann, Christoph Seibert, Christian Weining, and Deborah Meier.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 04:35PM
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TITLE:
New octopus-inspired robot arm enhances human-machine interaction
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/new-octopus-inspired-robot-arm-enhances-human-machine-interaction-214771

<p>In the ever-evolving field of robotics, a new development has been made in the form of E-SOAM, a robot arm inspired by the flexible and dexterous movements of an octopus. This innovation, detailed in a recent study published in <em><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.adh7852" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Science Robotics</a></em>, marks a step forward in the integration of soft robotics with stretchable electronics, enabling unprecedented levels of interaction between humans and robotic systems.</p>
<p>The design of E-SOAM (Electronics-integrated Soft Octopus Arm) is deeply rooted in the study of natural organisms, particularly the octopus. The octopus, known for its highly flexible limbs and intricate muscle control, has been a source of inspiration for scientists and engineers seeking to replicate similar movements in robotics. The challenge, however, has been integrating electronics and circuits into these soft robotic systems while maintaining their deformability.</p>
<p>Developed by Zhexin Xie and colleagues, E-SOAM is a tentacle-like robot arm with 16 pneumatic actuators, offering multiple degrees of freedom. The innovation lies in its ability to integrate sensory, signal processing, and communication components, which has been a major hurdle in the field of soft robotics.</p>
<p>E-SOAM consists of a five-segment continuous soft arm and a distal part functioning as a terminal gripper, embedded with an electronic network. This network includes a liquid metal-based circuit that mimics the octopus nerve, capable of processing bending and sucker sensory information even under highly deformable states. The arm employs a bend propagation strategy, akin to an octopus, to reach and grasp objects, while also being able to detect their temperature.</p>
<p>A notable feature of E-SOAM is its control mechanism &#8211; a wearable finger glove that provides touch-based feedback to its human operator. This glove is equipped with a strain sensor, IMU chip, and Bluetooth chip, allowing the user to control the robot&#8217;s movements with simple gestures. For instance, rotating the wrist or pointing a finger can trigger corresponding movements in the robot arm. This human-robot interaction is further enhanced by the glove&#8217;s ability to generate suction sensations, mimicking the octopus&#8217;s gripping mechanism.</p>
<p>E-SOAM demonstrated its capability in both air and underwater environments, skillfully picking up objects like a toy shark and a smooth metal ball. The robot&#8217;s effectiveness was highlighted in trials where blindfolded operators could guide the arm to grasp objects, emphasizing its intuitive control system.</p>
<p>E-SOAM represents a significant advancement over previous continuous manipulators and soft robotic systems, the researchers said. Unlike earlier models that required external visual feedback or tethered signal transmission, E-SOAM integrates a stretchable, on-body electronic circuit with multiple sensing units. Its six-segment body offers a large workspace with low control complexity, enabling more efficient and versatile movements.</p>
<p>While E-SOAM marks a substantial leap in soft robotics, there are areas for improvement. Currently, the liquid metal sensing network is limited to the distal gripper, but future iterations aim to extend this across the entire arm. Additionally, the current need for an additional vacuum supply for haptic feedback slightly restricts operator movement. Future studies are considering the use of wearable fluidic pumps or vibration systems for a fully wireless interface.</p>
<p>The study also hints at the potential for E-SOAM to perform more complex, octopus-like movements, an area ripe for exploration. This advancement in robotics not only opens new doors for human-machine interaction but also paves the way for a future where robots and humans can collaborate more seamlessly and intuitively in various environments.</p>
<p>The paper, &#8220;<a href="http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.adh7852" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Octopus-inspired sensorized soft arm for environmental interaction</a>&#8220;, was authored by Zhexin Xie, Feiyang Yuan, Jiaqi Liu, Lufeng Tian, Bohan Chen, Zhongqiang Fu, Sizhe Mao, Tongtong Jin, Yun Wang, Xia He, Gang Wang, Yanru Mo, Xilun Ding, Yihui Zhang, Cecilia Laschi, and Li Wen.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 11:36AM
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TITLE:
Psychological Science Can Help Counter Spread of Misinformation
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175431&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231129003934.htm

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Science Daily - Top Society</a></p>Debunking, &quot;prebunking,&quot; nudging, and teaching digital literacy are several of the more effective ways to counter misinformation, according to a new report from the American Psychological Association. Written by a panel of U.S. and international experts on the psychology of misinformation, the report outlines the processes that make people susceptible to misinformation and offers solutions to combat it.</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 11:36AM
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TITLE:
It's Official: Nepal Approves First Same-Sex Marriage
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175439&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-11-29/gay-couple-in-nepal-becomes-the-1st-to-officially-register-same-sex-marriage-in-the-country

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>A gay couple in Nepal on Wednesday became the nation's first to receive official same-sex marriage status. The Himalayan nation is one of the first in Asia to allow it. &quot;After 23 years of struggle we got this historic achievement, and finally Maya and Surendra got their marriage registered,&quot; said Sunil Babu Pant, an openly gay former parliamentarian. Nepal's 2015 constitution bans discrimination based on sexual orientation.</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 11:36AM
.
TITLE:
Climate Change Played Key Role in Dinosaur Extinction, Study Suggests
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175436&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNhbG9uLmNvbS8yMDIzLzExLzI5L21vc3QtZGlub3NhdXJzLXdlcmUtYnktY2xpbWF0ZS1jaGFuZ2Utbm90LWEtbWV0ZW9yaXRlLW5ldy1zdHVkeS1zdWdnZXN0cy_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>One of the most famous things about dinosaurs is the giant comet or asteroid that slammed into earth and seemingly killed them roughly 66 million years ago. The collision was so massive, it reportedly killed about 60 percent of life in the oceans and wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs. Yet the truth may actually be more complex. According to a new study in Science Advances, climate change might also have played a key role in the extinction of the...</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
New study on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sheds light on public attitudes towards interracial relationships
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/new-study-on-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-sheds-light-on-public-attitudes-towards-interracial-relationships-214772

<p>Recent research has revealed how attitudes toward interracial romantic relationships are influenced by societal norms and personal anxieties. Conducted during key moments in the life of a famous interracial couple, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the study offers fresh insights into how people perceive and react to interracial unions. The research has been published in the <i><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.13016">Journal of Applied Social Psychology</a>.</i></p>
<p>Historically, interracial relationships have faced societal resistance, often clouded by stereotypes and prejudices. Past research has shown that these relationships are less likely to receive social support and more likely to be viewed through a lens of skepticism and negativity. Against this backdrop, the researchers aimed to explore the dynamics of interracial relationships in the context of modern society, where such unions, though still rare, are gradually increasing.</p>
<p>&#8220;My work revolves around understanding and alleviating prejudice in all its forms, and I am particularly interested in understanding why people can hate loving relationships,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/p/jenny-paterson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jenny Paterson</a>, an assistant professor of psychology at Northumbria University. &#8220;So, when the media started documenting Harry and Meghan’s interracial relationship – and the racist undertones of many of the associated articles – my colleagues, Prof. Hodson and Prof. Turner, and I thought their relationship may be a good context to examine people’s perceptions and receptivity to interracial relationships.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study was divided into three distinct parts, each aligned with a major event in the lives of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The first study coincided with their wedding, the second with the birth of their child, Archie, and the third with their decision to step back from royal duties, an event often referred to as “Megxit”.</p>
<p>In the first study, 585 White British individuals participated in an online survey conducted at three different times: one month before the royal wedding, on the wedding day, and one month after. This study aimed to measure the participants&#8217; anxiety about interracial dating, their perceptions of societal norms regarding Harry and Meghan&#8217;s relationship, and their receptivity to dating someone from a different racial background.</p>
<p>The researchers found that participants who showed lower anxiety about interracial dating were more receptive to it and had more favorable attitudes toward people of different races. However, the perceived societal approval of Harry and Meghan’s relationship did not significantly predict these outcomes.</p>
<p>The second study focused on the birth of Archie and involved 402 participants. This study expanded the scope to include attitudes toward having biracial children. Similar to the first study, surveys were conducted at three intervals: before the birth, shortly after, and a month later. This time, the researchers found that both reduced anxiety about having biracial children and perceived positive societal norms about biracial children in the royal family significantly predicted a greater openness to interracial relationships and more positive attitudes toward different racial groups.</p>
<p>The third study, involving 507 participants, was conducted in the wake of the couple’s decision to step back from royal duties. Unlike the first two studies, this one was cross-sectional, meaning it was conducted at a single point in time. This study introduced a novel aspect: the perception that Meghan, as an outgroup member, had tainted the Royal Family. The findings were complex. While exposure to Meghan in the media following “Megxit” was associated with positive attitudes towards interracial relationships due to perceived positive societal norms, this was counterbalanced by the belief that Meghan had tainted the Royal Family, which led to more negative attitudes.</p>
<p>These studies collectively highlight several crucial points. Firstly, societal norms and personal anxieties significantly influence attitudes towards interracial relationships. Secondly, the context of these relationships – whether seen in a positive light, as with a wedding or a birth, or a more negative one, like “Megxit” – can profoundly affect public perception.</p>
<p>&#8220;As can be seen from some of the media articles about Harry and Meghan, interracial relationships continue to encounter negative attitudes and discrimination, especially when people think the outgroup member is somehow tainting the ingroup (e.g., how some White participants believed Meghan had tainted the Royal Family),&#8221; Paterson told PsyPost.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;However, as interracial relationships become more common, attitudes towards them become more positive and people become more open to having an interracial relationship themselves. In time, this hopefully means that interracial couples will be able to develop fulfilling relationships free from others’ prejudices.&#8221;</p>
<p>However, it&#8217;s important to note some limitations. The studies primarily focused on White British participants, which might limit the applicability of the findings across different racial and cultural groups. Moreover, the studies relied on participants&#8217; self-reported attitudes, which can sometimes be influenced by a desire to respond in socially acceptable ways.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, the researchers suggest exploring these dynamics in diverse contexts, including different countries and with various racial combinations in relationships. This future research could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing attitudes towards interracial relationships.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jasp.13016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When Harry met Meghan (got married, had a baby, and “Megxited”): Intergroup anxiety, ingroup norms, and racialized categorization as predictors of receptivity to interracial romances</a>&#8220;, was authored by Jenny L. Paterson, Gordon Hodson, and Rhiannon N. Turner.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
Study highlights potential adverse effects of universal school-based mental health programs
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/study-highlights-potential-adverse-effects-of-universal-school-based-mental-health-programs-214778

<p>A study conducted in Australia found that a mental health protection treatment based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, known as WISE Teens, was ineffective in aiding high school students to improve their emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships. The group that underwent this program experienced deteriorating mental health indicators immediately following the intervention, as opposed to the control group. The study was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2023.104408"><em>Behavior Research and Therapy</em></a>.</p>
<p>Many mental disorders start developing in adolescence. That is the reason why many researchers focus on developing interventions aimed at preventing mental disorders in adolescence and helping adolescents maintain mental health. However, one important topic in this endeavor is that of the method through which such interventions could be delivered. Access to mental health services reaches its lowest point during adolescence and adolescents are often not willing to spend time interacting with mental health service providers.</p>
<p>For this reason, schools are seen by many as an ideal setting for implementing preventative measures. Mental health interventions in schools are generally designed as universal procedures, targeting all students. They focus more on general risk factors for mental illnesses rather than specific mental health symptoms. A common goal of these interventions is to help students enhance their emotion regulation skills. However, the effectiveness of these universal interventions in school settings has yielded mixed results, with some studies even indicating adverse effects.</p>
<p>Study author Lauren J. Harvey and her team aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a universal school-based intervention called WISE Teens, which is grounded in the principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Originally developed for treating individuals with borderline personality disorder, Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a cognitive-behavioral approach now used for various mental health conditions. It aims to foster skills in emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and acceptance of the present moment. The researchers conducted a quasi-experimental study for this purpose.</p>
<p>The study involved 1071 students in the 8th and 9th grades from two independent and two government high schools in the Sydney metropolitan area, Australia. The average age of the participants was 13-14 years, with 51% being male. In each school, 8th-grade students were assigned to one study group, and 9th-grade students to another. Schools decided which group would receive the intervention and which would serve as the control group.</p>
<p>The intervention program, WISE Teens, included eight weekly sessions adapted from the DBT STEPS-A curriculum, a Dialectical Behavior Therapy program tailored for adolescents. It combines skills training and psychoeducation to address emotional dysregulation, interpersonal issues, and self-destructive behaviors. Each session lasted 50-60 minutes and covered modules on mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. While the intervention group participated in this program, the control group continued with their regular classes.</p>
<p>The study&#8217;s authors conducted assessments at three points: before the intervention, immediately afterward, and six months later. Participants completed a comprehensive set of assessments measuring emotional and behavioral characteristics, resilience, emotion regulation difficulties, stress, depression and anxiety symptoms, emotional awareness, quality of life, and beliefs about emotions. Additionally, those in the intervention group kept weekly diary cards, noting their practice of mindfulness techniques, and six months post-intervention, they reported the frequency of practicing skills learned in WISE Teens.</p>
<p>Contrary to expectations, students who completed the WISE Teens program reported increased overall difficulties and worsened relationships with parents. Their depression and anxiety symptoms also rose slightly after the intervention. Compared to the control group, participants in WISE Teens exhibited heightened emotion dysregulation, reduced emotional awareness, and decreased quality of life. No change was observed in academic resilience. Notably, 13% of WISE Teens participants experienced a significant worsening in depression symptoms post-intervention, compared to 7% in the control group.</p>
<p>In the assessment 6 months after the intervention, most of the differences between the WISE Teens and the control group disappeared. However, the WISE teens group still reported poorer relationships with parents compared to the control group.</p>
<p>“Significantly poorer outcomes were observed immediately following participation in the 8-week DBT-based universal intervention (&#8216;WISE Teens&#8217;) compared with curriculum-as-per-usual. Of concern, the current study is the first to show in the universal intervention literature that both in the immediate and short-term (6-months) such a program may foster significantly poorer quality parent-child relationships relative to curriculum-as-per-usual,&#8221; study authors concluded.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;There is great enthusiasm for applications of DBT across contexts. However, the current study is a reminder that present enthusiasm for universal dissemination of short-term DBT-based group skills training within schools, specifically in early adolescence, is ahead of the research evidence.&#8221;</p>
<p>While the study contributes significantly to the evaluation of mental health protection treatments, the authors acknowledge that the exact causes of the observed outcomes are unclear, particularly as session attendance was not recorded. Furthermore, all outcome measures were based on self-reports.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2023.104408">Investigating the efficacy of a Dialectical behaviour therapy-based universal intervention on adolescent social and emotional well-being outcomes</a>”, was authored by Lauren J. Harvey, Fiona A. White, Caroline Hunt, and Maree Abbott.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Scientists raise the alarm about the growing trend of “soft” censorship of research
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/scientists-raise-the-alarm-about-the-growing-trend-of-soft-censorship-of-research-214773

<p>In a recent Perspective piece published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2301642120" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)</a></em>, a group of 38 coauthors raised concerns about scientific censorship and its implications. The authors argue that science, fundamentally driven by evidence rather than authority or tradition, often finds itself at odds with societal norms, leading to various forms of censorship. The article highlights an often-overlooked aspect of modern-day scientific censorship: it is frequently perpetuated by scientists themselves.</p>
<p>In their paper, the authors distinguish between &#8216;hard&#8217; and &#8216;soft&#8217; censorship. Hard censorship involves direct actions to prevent the dissemination of ideas, such as government or institutional restrictions. Soft censorship, on the other hand, includes social punishments or pressures that indirectly hinder the spread of certain scientific ideas.</p>
<p>The authors emphasize that while overt government censorship of science is rare in liberal democracies, more subtle forms of censorship pose a significant threat to scientific openness. This soft censorship can manifest as disguised criticism, rejections under the guise of addressing dangerous or false information, or social pressures leading to self-censorship among scientists.</p>
<p>Far from being external forces, censorship efforts often originate within the scientific community, they argue. Scientists, acting as peer reviewers, editors, or senior researchers, can inadvertently or deliberately suppress ideas that challenge established norms or their own research.</p>
<p>The increasing incidence of scientific censorship, as documented through surveys and reports, is alarming, they write. Actions ranging from disciplinary measures to rejections and retractions motivated by harm concerns are on the rise, indicating a growing trend of censorship in the scientific community.</p>
<p>The authors discuss the psychology behind censorship, suggesting that it can be motivated not only by authoritarian tendencies but also by prosocial concerns.</p>
<p>Self-protection is proposed as a significant factor, where scientists may censor ideas that threaten their reputations or career trajectories. In a highly competitive field, preserving one’s standing can sometimes overshadow the pursuit of unbiased scientific truth.</p>
<p>Benevolence towards peer scholars is another cited motive. Senior scientists or mentors might discourage junior researchers from pursuing certain lines of inquiry to protect them from potential backlash or career harm. This &#8216;benevolent censorship&#8217; is a double-edged sword – while it aims to protect, it also stifles innovative and potentially groundbreaking research.</p>
<p>The third major motive is prosocial concerns for the well-being of human social groups. Scientists may shy away from or suppress research that they fear could harm vulnerable groups or be misused to propagate harmful ideologies. While this reflects a commendable ethical stance, it also raises questions about the limits of self-censorship in the name of social responsibility.</p>
<p>While these motives might be well-intentioned, the article emphasizes that censorship in any form can be a double-edged sword. It raises ethical dilemmas about the responsibility of scientists to share truth and knowledge versus the potential societal impact of their findings. The tension between advancing scientific understanding and safeguarding societal interests poses a significant challenge to the integrity and progress of science.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The authors of the paper advocate for a more balanced approach to handling controversial or sensitive scientific findings. They suggest that the scientific community needs to develop clearer guidelines and ethical frameworks that allow for the responsible dissemination of research while being mindful of its potential societal impact.</p>
<p>The paper, &#8220;<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2301642120" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prosocial motives underlie scientific censorship by scientists: A perspective and research agenda</a>&#8220;, was authored by Cory J. Clark, Lee Jussim, Komi Frey, Sean T. Stevens, Musa al- Gharbi, Karl Aquino, J. Michael Bailey, Nicole Barbaro, Roy F. Baumeister, April Bleske- Rechek, David Buss, Stephen Cecil, Marco Del Giudice, Peter H. Ditton, Joseph P. Forgaso, David C. Geary, Glenn Geher, Sarah Haider, Nathan Honeycutt, Hrishikesh Joshi, Anna I. Krylov, Elizabeth Loftus, Glenn Loury, Louise Lu, Michael Macy, Chris C. Martin, John McWhorter, Geoffrey Miller, Pamela Paresky, Steven Pinker, Wilfred Reilly, Catherine Salmon, Steve Stewart- Williams, Philip E. Tetlock, Wendy M. Williams, Anne E. Wilson, Bo M. Winegard, George Yancey, and William von Hippel.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 06:12AM
.
TITLE:
‘Modern Love Podcast’: Our 34-Year Age Gap Didn’t Matter, Until It Did
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/29/podcasts/modern-love-34-year-age-gap.html

Sonja Falck was happily married to a man 34 years her senior. When their age gap started to test their bond, they had to change their relationship in order to save it.
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 01:43AM
.
TITLE:
Antisemitic Incidents in Germany Rose by 320% After Hamas Attacked Israel
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175405&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-11-28/antisemitic-incidents-in-germany-rose-by-320-after-hamas-attacked-israel-a-monitoring-group-says

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>A group tracking antisemitism in Germany said Tuesday that it documented a drastic increase of antisemitic incidents in the country in the month after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. The RIAS group said it recorded 994 incidents, which is an average of 29 incidents per day and an increase of 320% compared to the same time period in 2022. The group looked at the time period from October 7 to November 9.</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 01:43AM
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TITLE:
Deepfakes of Gaza War Stoke Fears About AI's Power to Mislead
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175410&url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/fake-babies-real-horror-deepfakes-gaza-war-increase-105213071

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Technology" rel="tag" target="_blank">ABC News - Science and Technology</a></p>Among images of the bombed out homes and ravaged streets of Gaza, some stood out for the utter horror: Bloodied, abandoned infants. Viewed millions of times online since the war began, these images are deepfakes created with artificial intelligence. If you look closely you can see clues: fingers that curl oddly, or eyes that shimmer unnaturally&mdash;telltale signs of digital deception. The outrage the images were created to provoke, however, is all...</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 29, 2023 at 01:42AM
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TITLE:
Testosterone Therapy for Transgender Patients May Be Safer Than Thought
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175407&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-11-28/testosterone-therapy-for-transgender-patients-may-be-safer-than-thought

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>Transgender people transitioning to male (transmasculine) identity typically take testosterone therapy as part of the process. There have been worries that the treatment might spur erythrocytosis, an abnormally high concentration of red blood cells in blood that could prove dangerous. But new research should help allay those fears: The largest study on the subject to date finds no significant risk.</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 28, 2023 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
Chronic back pain: Why the fix may reside in your brain — not your back
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/chronic-back-pain-why-the-fix-may-reside-in-your-brain-not-your-back-214765

<p>Most people with chronic back pain naturally think their pain is caused by injuries or other problems in the body such as arthritis or bulging disks. But our research team has found that thinking about the root cause of pain as a process that’s occurring in the brain can help promote recovery. That is a key finding of a study my colleagues and I <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.33846">recently published in JAMA Network Open</a>, a monthly open-access medical journal.</p>
<p>We have been studying a psychological treatment called <a href="https://www.physio-pedia.com/Pain_Reprocessing_Therapy">pain reprocessing therapy</a> that may help “turn off” unhelpful and unnecessary pain signals in the brain. To do this, we carried out a study in which some people were randomly chosen to receive the pain reprocessing therapy treatment, while some got a placebo injection into their backs.</p>
<p>We included 151 adults ages 21 to 70 years old with chronic back pain. We found that 66% of participants reported being pain-free or nearly pain-free after pain reprocessing therapy, compared with 20% of people who received a placebo.</p>
<p>These results were remarkable because previous trials of psychological treatments <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002357">rarely led to people reporting full recoveries</a> from chronic pain. So we needed to better understand how this treatment worked: What changed in people’s thinking that helped them recover from chronic back pain?</p>
<h2>Why it matters</h2>
<p>Chronic pain is one of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6736a2">biggest health problems today</a>. It is the leading cause of disability in the U.S., and it has <a href="https://doi.org/10.17226/13172">an economic cost greater than that of diabetes or cancer</a>.</p>
<p>The most common chronic pain condition is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538173/">back pain</a>. Many patients – and doctors – are focused on identifying different back problems that they suspect may be causing the pain. So they try all sorts of treatments, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(21)00032-1">often to no avail</a>.</p>
<p>A growing number of scientists now believe that many cases of chronic back pain are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00392-5">caused primarily by brain changes</a>. Pain can originate with an injury, but then the pain system can get “stuck” and keep firing <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fbrain%2Fawt211">long after injuries have healed</a>.</p>
<p>Pain is the brain’s alarm system, letting us know about injuries or other threats to our body. Much of the time, the system works well, accurately warning us that a part of our body is injured and needs to be protected. But when a person has been in pain for months, years or even decades, pain processing pathways are more likely to fire, and brain regions that typically are not involved in pain start to be involved. Chronic pain also leads to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nri3621">increased levels of activity in glial cells</a>, which are part of the brain’s immune system. All these changes in the brain then serve to “entrench” the pain, making it persist.</p>
<p>People, very understandably, think that if their back hurts, there must be a problem in the back – even though we researchers <a href="https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A4173">know this is often not the case</a>.</p>
<p>It’s critical to note that just because the signal originates in the brain, the pain is not any less real. The pain is always real, no matter what. But to treat it effectively, one needs to accurately identify the root cause.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<h2>How we do our work</h2>
<p>In our study, we asked people to tell us in their own words what they think is the cause of their chronic back pain. It is a simple question, but few studies have asked their participants to describe the source of their pain.</p>
<p>Participants in our study described injuries, weak muscles, arthritis and other bodily factors as the causes of their pain. Almost no one mentioned anything about the mind or brain.</p>
<p>One of the main goals of pain reprocessing therapy is to help people think differently about the causes of their pain. After we treated participants with pain reprocessing therapy, about half the causes of pain that people described were related to the mind or brain. They said things like “anxiety,” “fear” or “neural pathways” were the causes of their pain.</p>
<p>The more that people shifted to this kind of understanding, the more their back pain went down. We think this shift in understanding reduces fear and avoidance of pain, which can tamp down pain pathways in the brain and promote healthy, pain-reducing behaviors like exercise and socializing.</p>
<p>Ask your health providers, or check out <a href="https://centerforinsightmedicine.com/nsq-explanations/">these online resources</a> that can <a href="https://ppdassociation.org/ppd-self-questionnaire">help you assess</a> whether and when the brain is playing a role in chronic pain.</p>
<p>Accurately identifying the underlying causes of pain is the first step toward healing it.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</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/understanding-that-chronic-back-pain-originates-from-within-the-brain-could-lead-to-quicker-recovery-a-new-study-finds-214210">original article</a>.</em></p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 28, 2023 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Heartbeats and brain activity: Study provides insight into optimal windows for action and perception
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/heartbeats-and-brain-activity-study-provides-insight-into-optimal-windows-for-action-and-perception-214752

<p>A new study published in <em><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002393" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PLOS Biology</a></em> suggests that our heartbeat plays a crucial role in determining our brain&#8217;s ability to perceive and react to the world around us. Researchers have discovered that during the 0.8 seconds of a heartbeat, there are optimal windows for action and perception, potentially impacting treatments for conditions like depression and stroke.</p>
<p>Previous research has shown that various bodily systems, including respiratory, digestive, and cardiac systems, influence our brain&#8217;s perception and action capabilities. Specifically, cardiac activity has been found to affect visual and auditory perception. However, the understanding of how cardiac activity, particularly the phases of the cardiac cycle, influences cortical and corticospinal excitability — the brain&#8217;s responsiveness — was limited. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap.</p>
<p>The new study, conducted by Esra Al and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Germany, involved 37 healthy human volunteers aged 18 to 40. These individuals, free from neurological, cognitive, or cardiac health issues, underwent a series of non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pulses. These pulses were administered to the right side of the brain to stimulate nerve cells. The team measured the participants&#8217; motor and cortical responses, as well as heartbeats, during the stimulation.</p>
<p>The researchers found that the timing of our heartbeat affects the brain&#8217;s responsiveness. They discovered that both the brain&#8217;s direct responses and muscle activities were more pronounced during the heart&#8217;s contracting phase.</p>
<p>Specifically, the study found that motor evoked potentials (MEPs), which are indicators of corticospinal excitability, varied significantly with the cardiac cycle. Specifically, MEP amplitudes were higher during the systole phase (when the heart muscle contracts) compared to the diastole phase (when the heart muscle relaxes). This suggests that our brain&#8217;s responsiveness to stimuli is not constant but fluctuates with our heartbeat. It indicates that the heart&#8217;s pumping action might influence how effectively the brain can signal to the rest of the body.</p>
<p>TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs), which measure cortical excitability, were observed to be stronger during systole. This indicates that the brain&#8217;s cortical areas are more excitable during certain phases of the heart cycle and provides insight into how internal bodily processes like heartbeats can modulate brain activity at a cortical level.</p>
<p>The researchers observed that muscle activity and sensorimotor oscillations (brain waves related to movement) were stronger when participants initiated a pinch movement during systole. This suggests that the timing of a heartbeat could influence motor functions and coordination. It points to a potential synchronization between cardiac activity and muscle responses, which could be crucial for tasks requiring precise timing and coordination.</p>
<p>Heart rate was found to change depending on when the TMS was administered in the cardiac cycle, with notable deceleration during systole, suggesting a direct influence of brain stimulation on heart rate, depending on the cardiac phase.</p>
<p>Finally, higher heartbeat-evoked potential (HEP) amplitudes were associated with stronger motor excitability levels. This suggests a correlation between the brain&#8217;s response to heartbeats and its readiness for motor action.</p>
<p>Together, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how the brain and body interact, emphasizing that physiological processes like heartbeats are not isolated from brain functions. The study also has potential implications for treatments involving brain stimulation, like those for depression and stroke recovery. Understanding the optimal timing in the cardiac cycle for such interventions could enhance their effectiveness.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;Using simultaneous recordings of brain activity, heart activity, and muscle activity, this study discovered that the timing of heartbeats and their neural processing were linked to changes in the excitability of the motor system,&#8221; the researchers wrote. &#8220;Our study sheds light on the existence of distinct time windows across the cardiac cycle that potentially optimize perception and action.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pbio.3002393" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cardiac activity impacts cortical motor excitability</a>&#8220;, was authored by Esra Al, Tilman Stephani, Melina Engelhardt, Saskia Haegens, Arno Villringer, and Vadim V. Nikulin.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 28, 2023 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
New study highlights the crucial role of parental engagement on teen development
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/new-study-highlights-the-crucial-role-of-parental-engagement-on-teen-development-214755

<p>In a recent study involving Swiss adolescents, researchers discovered that parental involvement significantly increases prosocial behavior in teens but does not necessarily decrease internalizing problems. The study, published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316231210250" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Early Adolescence</a></em>, also found an unexpected two-way relationship between prosocial behavior and internalizing problems, challenging previous assumptions about adolescent development.</p>
<p>To understand the complexities of adolescent development, researchers have long been interested in how factors like self-control and parental involvement impact young people&#8217;s social behavior and emotional well-being. Previous studies have suggested that self-control and positive parental involvement might play crucial roles in promoting prosocial behavior (acts that benefit others) and reducing internalizing problems like anxiety and depression.</p>
<p>However, these earlier studies often had limitations, such as small sample sizes or a narrow focus on short periods of adolescence. The new study aimed to fill these gaps by exploring these relationships over a longer period, from early to late adolescence.</p>
<p>&#8220;Early adolescence, as marked by the confluence of biological, psychological, and social challenges, may be a pivotal developmental period for the onset of both positive and negative outcomes in later years, such as prosociality and internalizing problems (including anxiety and depression),&#8221; said study author <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiolasilletti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fabiola Silletti</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/fabiolasilletti?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@FabiolaSilletti</a>), a Ph.D.candidate at the University of Bari Aldo Moro who also currently serves as a research scholar at the <a href="https://www.ucd.ie/psychology/research/researchcentresandlaboratories/resiliencehealthlaboratory/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Resilience and Health Laboratory</a> and the <a href="https://www.drcrlab.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Developmental Risk and Cultural Resilience Laboratory</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;Prosociality is related to both health and psychological well-being. Internalizing problems in adolescence can have negative impacts on social-emotional development and health with possible repercussions in later years, including the likelihood that internalizing problems persist into adulthood.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Hence, identifying those factors (e.g., self-control and parental involvement) that, as research on risk and resilience postulates, may promote prosociality and hinder internalizing problems during adolescence is of great value in promoting youth adjustment in both the short and long term.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study drew upon data from the <a href="https://www.jacobscenter.uzh.ch/en/research/zproso.html">Zurich Project on the Social Development of Children and Youths</a>, an ongoing multi-rater longitudinal study that began in 2004. The researchers focused on data collected during four waves when the participants were approximately 11, 13, 15, and 17 years old. A substantial number of adolescents, totaling 1,523, were part of this detailed analysis.</p>
<p>One of the most significant revelations was the role of parental involvement. The researchers found that when parents were more involved in their adolescents&#8217; lives – through activities like open communication, support, and showing interest in their children&#8217;s activities – the youths tended to exhibit more prosocial behavior as they grew older. This positive influence of parental involvement was consistent from early to mid-to-late adolescence.</p>
<p>The data showed that higher levels of parental involvement at ages 11, 13, and 15 predicted an increase in prosocial behavior two years later. This finding underscores the importance of parents staying actively engaged in their children’s lives throughout adolescence, not just during early childhood.</p>
<p>Another interesting outcome was the connection between parental involvement and self-control. The study found that greater parental involvement predicted improvements in self-control over time, indicating that parents play a crucial role in helping their children develop self-regulation skills.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;The findings of this study emphasize the relevance of parental involvement as a resource that may promote prosociality and self-control during adolescence,&#8221; Silletti told PsyPost.</p>
<p>Contrary to some expectations, the study found that higher self-control in early adolescence did not necessarily lead to increased prosocial behavior or decreased internalizing problems later on. Internalizing problems refer to a broad category of emotional and psychological difficulties that are primarily experienced internally, such as anxiety and depression. This challenges the traditionally held view that self-control is a primary driver of positive development during these years.</p>
<p>Another intriguing aspect of the study was the relationship between prosocial behavior and internalizing problems. The researchers found that adolescents who were more prosocial were also more likely to experience internalizing problems, and vice versa.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our findings reveal that high prosociality is developmentally positively associated with increased internalizing problems and vice versa, which seems to suggest a need for a healthy balance between self-interest and concern for others,&#8221; Silletti said.</p>
<p>While these findings offer valuable insights into adolescent development, it&#8217;s important to recognize the study&#8217;s limitations. The research was conducted in Zurich, a city with its unique cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, which might not be representative of all adolescent experiences.</p>
<p>Additionally, the reliance on self-reported data from the adolescents raises questions about potential biases in their responses. Future research could benefit from a more diverse cultural representation and the inclusion of different methods of data collection, such as parental reports or observational studies.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02724316231210250" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Do Self-Control and Parental Involvement Promote Prosociality and Hinder Internalizing Problems? A Four-Wave Longitudinal Study From Early to Mid-To-Late Adolescence</a>&#8220;, was authored by Fabiola Silletti, Nicolò M. Iannello, Sonia Ingoglia, Cristiano Inguglia, Rosalinda Cassibba, Manuel Eisner, Denis Ribeaud, and Pasquale Musso.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 28, 2023 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Narcissistic individuals are more afraid of being without their phones
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/narcissistic-individuals-are-more-afraid-of-being-without-their-phones-214759

<p>A study conducted among post-secondary school and university students in Romania has revealed that individuals exhibiting pronounced narcissistic traits are more likely to experience elevated levels of nomophobia, which is the discomfort or annoyance experienced when without a mobile phone or when unable to use it. These individuals also showed a higher tendency towards social media addiction, and this addiction played a mediating role in the relationship between narcissism and stress symptoms. The study was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2023.2256453"><em>Journal of Psychology</em></a>.</p>
<p>Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success or power, a belief in one&#8217;s own unique and special qualities, a constant need for excessive admiration, a lack of empathy for others, and a sense of entitlement. Individuals with narcissistic traits often display a strong desire for attention and admiration, seeking to be the center of attention in social situations.</p>
<p>Narcissism can be said to consist of two components – grandiosity and vulnerability. Narcissistic grandiosity refers to an inflated and exaggerated sense of self-importance and superiority, while narcissistic vulnerability pertains to an underlying fragility, hypersensitivity to criticism, and fear of inadequacy beneath the surface bravado of individuals with narcissistic traits.</p>
<p>Recent studies have identified a correlation between narcissistic grandiosity and problematic social media use. Social media platforms offer distinctive opportunities for narcissistic individuals to satisfy their need for attention, motivating them to dedicate more time and effort to their online presence and activities.</p>
<p>With these findings in mind, study authors Alexandra Maftei and Acnana-Maria Pătrăușanu aimed to investigate the connections between narcissism, stress, nomophobia, and social media addiction. They hypothesized that individuals with more pronounced narcissistic traits would exhibit more symptoms of social media addiction and nomophobia, experiencing discomfort or annoyance when without their phones or unable to use them. They also posited that higher levels of social media addiction and nomophobia would correlate with increased stress levels.</p>
<p>The study&#8217;s participants included 394 post-secondary school students and 165 university students from Eastern Romania. Recruited through in-class announcements, they were invited to partake in an online survey. The final sample comprised 559 participants aged between 18 and 45 years.</p>
<p>The participants completed assessments measuring narcissism (using the Narcissistic Personality Inventory), stress (using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale), symptoms of social media addiction (using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, for example, “How often during the last year have you used social media so much that it has had a negative impact on your job/studies?”), and nomophobia (using the Nomophobia Questionnaire, for instance, “I would feel uncomfortable without constant access to information through my smartphone”).</p>
<p>Results showed that individuals with more pronounced narcissism tended to have greater social media addiction symptoms and higher nomophobia. Individuals with more pronounced social media addiction and higher nomophobia also tended to report higher stress levels.</p>
<p>The study authors tested a statistical model suggesting that the relationship between narcissism and stress is mediated through social media addiction and nomophobia. The findings supported this model, indicating that the connection between narcissism and stress is explained by these two factors. The study also found that younger individuals were more likely to exhibit heightened levels of nomophobia and narcissism.</p>
<p>“The most important finding of the present study is related to the mediating roles of social media addiction and nomophobia on the link between narcissism and stress. As hypothesized, individuals high in narcissism might be more prone to develop these behavioral addictions, which would further lead to increased stress levels,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>While the study contributes valuable insights into the connections between narcissism, social media use, and stress, it also has limitations that must be acknowledged. Notably, the study&#8217;s design precludes drawing any cause-and-effect conclusions from the data. Furthermore, since the majority of the participants were young, the results may not be generalizable to different age groups and demographics.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2023.2256453">Digital Reflections: Narcissism, Stress, Social Media Addiction, and Nomophobia</a>”, was authored by Alexandra Maftei and Acnana-Maria Pătrăușanu.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 28, 2023 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Mindfulness meditation shows promise in reducing problematic pornography use
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/mindfulness-meditation-shows-promise-in-reducing-problematic-pornography-use-214756

<p>A recent study provides initial evidence that mindfulness meditation could reduce problematic pornography use among young adults. This intriguing finding opens a new avenue for addressing a growing concern in the digital age. The study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/26929953.2023.2270620" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sexual Health &amp; Compulsivity.</a></em></p>
<p>The consumption of pornography, facilitated by the ease of access through internet-enabled devices, has become a widespread phenomenon globally. While many people view pornography without significant issues, a subset of users develop problematic patterns. These patterns can lead to a range of negative outcomes, such as risky sexual behaviors and mental health issues.</p>
<p>Prior research has hinted at the potential of mindfulness-based interventions in treating various forms of addiction. However, the specific application of these techniques to problematic pornography use remained largely unexplored. This gap led researchers to conduct the current study, aiming to understand the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation in this context.</p>
<p>&#8220;Nowadays excessive porn consumption among young adults is a big worry. There is a substantial increase in the number of people watch pornography both globally and in India in last several years,&#8221; said study author Gagan Jain, an assistant professor at Manipal University Jaipur.</p>
<p>&#8220;The societal costs of pornography are staggering but the human toll, particularly among youth and in families, is far greater. Research shows that pornography hinders the development of a healthy sexuality, and among adults, it distorts sexual attitudes and social realities. In families, pornography use leads to marital dissatisfaction, infidelity, separation, and divorce.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;As a young psychologist and college professor, I also come across such cases where problematic porn consumption creates havoc in the people’s lives. I am also deeply interested in mindfulness meditation and wanted to know whether the practice of it has any effect on porn watching behavior. This study is the result of that curiosity.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study involved 76 male participants, all in their early to mid-twenties and from similar socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, who were initially recruited from a university department. After initial assessments, the researchers focused on 14 individuals who scored high on a specialized scale measuring problematic pornography use (the Problematic<br />
Pornography Consumption Scale). This scale assessed factors like the importance of pornography in an individual’s life, the mood-changing effects of watching pornography, and symptoms such as tolerance, relapse, and withdrawal.</p>
<p>However, not all 14 participants proceeded with the study. Several declined due to personal reasons, such as time constraints or ongoing participation in other therapeutic interventions. In the end, eight individuals participated in the mindfulness-based intervention. It&#8217;s important to note that none of these participants had a regular practice of mindfulness or meditation in their daily lives, although a few were familiar with the concept.</p>
<p>The intervention was straightforward. Participants engaged in a form of Buddhist Vipassana meditation, where they were instructed to sit comfortably and focus on their breathing. They were asked to observe their breath — the inhalation and exhalation — without trying to control or alter it.</p>
<p>The key aspect of this meditation was nonjudgmental awareness, a cornerstone of mindfulness practice. This meant participants were encouraged to notice any sensations or urges without judgment or reaction. Each session lasted for about 20 minutes, followed by five minutes of relaxation music. This routine was followed daily for two weeks.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The results were noteworthy. The average score of problematic pornography use among participants decreased significantly over the course of the intervention. Initially, the average score was around 84.75, which then dropped to 72.38 in the middle of the treatment and further down to 63.37 by the end. This decrease was observed not just in the overall score but across all individual factors of the problematic pornography use scale, such as the significance of pornography in the participants’ lives, the mood-altering effects, and symptoms like tolerance and withdrawal.</p>
<p>&#8220;I hypothesized that mindfulness would help in dealing with various psychological ailments but the fact that mindfulness proved to be effective in such a short span of time surprised me,&#8221; Jain told PsyPost. He added that the responses from some of the participants was also surprising. &#8220;Initially, some of them were reluctant about the practice and found it hard to complete the single session. But as the practice continued, they found it to be quite interesting. Mindfulness meditation not only provided relief from porn watching but also improved their overall life satisfaction.&#8221;</p>
<p>These findings suggest that regular mindfulness practice could effectively decrease the adverse effects of problematic pornography use. Specifically, the study found that mindfulness helped reduce the importance of pornography in participants&#8217; lives and moderated its mood-modifying effects. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in tolerance, relapse, and withdrawal symptoms, indicating an improvement in emotional regulation.</p>
<p>However, &#8220;the findings are very preliminary and require the support of other studies for practical validation,&#8221; Jain said. &#8220;But it can be said that like other beneficial effects of mindfulness meditation practice, it also has therapeutic value in dealing with pornography addiction.&#8221;</p>
<p>Despite these promising results, the study is not without limitations. First and foremost, the small number of participants limits the ability to generalize these findings to a larger population. The participants were also quite homogeneous in terms of age, gender, and cultural background, which raises questions about the applicability of the results to more diverse groups.</p>
<p>Looking forward, the research opens up possibilities for future studies. To build on these findings, researchers suggest expanding the study to include a more diverse group of participants and incorporating other behavioral therapy techniques alongside mindfulness. This could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the efficacy of mindfulness meditation in treating problematic pornography use and potentially other behavioral addictions.</p>
<p>&#8220;I think, still our mental health care model is treatment based rather than prevention based. My understanding is that if we can widely adopt this practice of meditation, it can work as shield for us not to fall into the trap of various kind of mental ailments at the first place itself.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/26929953.2023.2270620" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Efficacy of Mindfulness Meditation as a Therapeutic Tool in Problematic Pornography Consumption</a>&#8220;, was authored by Samridhi Pareek, Gagan Jain, and Rajnish Kumar Gupta.</p>
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psychbot , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 27, 2023 at 05:17AM
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TITLE:
MRI Study Spotlights Impact of Long COVID on the Brain
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175300&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiUGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNpZHJhcC51bW4uZWR1L2NvdmlkLTE5L21yaS1zdHVkeS1zcG90bGlnaHRzLWltcGFjdC1sb25nLWNvdmlkLWJyYWlu0gEA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News</a></p>A new study comparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of patients with long COVID, fully recovered COVID survivors, and healthy controls shows microstructural changes in in the brains of long-COVID patients. The findings will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. The research is the first to use diffusion microstructure imaging (DMI), which looks at the movement of water molecules in...</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 27, 2023 at 05:17AM
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TITLE:
U.N. Chief Gives Interview From Melting Antarctica on Eve of Summit
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175332&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-11-24/un-chief-gives-interview-from-melting-antarctica-on-eve-of-global-climate-summit

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>Ahead of international climate talks, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited globally-important Antarctica, where ice that's been frozen for millions of years is melting due to human-caused global warming, to underscore the need for immediate action. &quot;What happens in Antarctica doesn't stay in Antarctica,&quot; he said. At the annual Conference of the Parties, or COP, nations are supposed to curb climate change but so far have failed to do...</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 27, 2023 at 05:15AM
.
TITLE:
Real News: "Authentic" Reigns As Merriam-Webster's 2023 Word of Year
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175379&url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/11/27/Authentic-Word-of-Year/2041701110985/

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.upi.com/Science_News/" rel="tag" target="_blank">United Press International - Science News</a></p>Authentic, a word that has shown up everywhere from discussions on identity to artificial intelligence, is the Merriam-Webster Word of the Year for 2023, the publisher said on Monday. The word, which has several dictionary definitions, outpaced other candidates such as rizz, deepfake, and coronation as the most-searched word, driven by stories and conversations about artificial intelligence, celebrity culture, identity, and social media.</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 27, 2023 at 05:07AM
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TITLE:
UAE Plotted to Use COP28 to Push for Oil and Gas Deals, Leaked Docs Show
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175373&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnBvbGl0aWNvLmV1L2FydGljbGUvdWFlLWNvcDI4LWNsaW1hdGUtb2lsLWdhcy1kZWFsLWxlYWstc3VsdGFuLWFobWVkLWFsLWphYmVyL9IBAA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/?ned=us&topic=m" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News - Health</a></p>The world's top climate summit has become mired in a hypocrisy scandal, days before the start of key talks. The United Arab Emirates schemed to use its position as host country of the upcoming COP28 United Nations climate talks to discuss oil and gas deals with more than a dozen countries, leaked documents show. Briefing notes include talking points from Emirati energy companies, according to documents published Monday by the Centre for Climate...</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 , 7 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 27, 2023 at 05:06AM
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TITLE:
March Against Antisemitism Draws 50,000 in London
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=175353&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-11-26/former-uk-leader-boris-johnson-joins-a-march-against-antisemitism-in-london

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>Tens of thousands of people, including former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, gathered in London on Sunday for a march against antisemitism, a day after large crowds turned out for a pro-Palestinian rally. Johnson was joined by U.K. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and other senior government officials at the march to express solidarity with the Jewish community. Organizers billed it as the largest gathering against antisemitism in London for...</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 , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 27, 2023 at 01:00PM
.
TITLE:
Mentally-passive sedentary activities linked to 43% higher depression risk
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/mentally-passive-sedentary-activities-linked-to-43-higher-depression-risk-214749

<p>Some sitting activities may be more harmful than others. A new study suggests that mentally-passive sedentary behavior such as watching TV may increase the risk of developing depression, while mentally-active sedentary behavior such as sitting at work does not have the same effect. Published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016503272300887X"><em>Journal of Affective Disorders</em></a>, the research also provides new insights into how waist size and inflammation may partly explain the link between mentally-passive sedentary behavior and depression.</p>
<p>Sedentary behavior refers to the time spent awake and sitting, reclining or lying, with low energy expenditure. Some activities include watching movies, reading, or driving. Researchers have observed that less mentally-demanding activity during sedentary behavior induces a higher risk of depression.</p>
<p>However the study team, led by André Werneck from the University of São Paulo in Brazil, aimed to delve further into potential mechanisms, or mediators, that explain how sedentary behavior and depression are associated. In particular, reduced sedentary behavior levels have been associated with lower inflammation, blood sugar levels, and body fat.</p>
<p>Werneck and colleagues hence sought to examine these biological mediators in relation to sedentary behavior and depression. These included measurements of C-reactive protein (produced by the liver when there is inflammation in the body), glycated hemoglobin levels (indicative of sugar levels in the blood), and also weight circumference.</p>
<p>Data was collected from the 1958 National Child Development Study, a study in the United Kingdom of individuals born in a specific week of 1958. A total of 4607 participants were analyzed, 2320 of whom were women.</p>
<p>Participants reported time spent in TV viewing (mentally-passive sedentary behavior) and sitting during work or driving (mentally-active sedentary behavior) at age 44. Waist circumference, C-reactive protein, and glycated hemoglobin were also measured at age 44. Depression diagnosis was self-reported at ages 44, 46, 50, and 55.</p>
<p>Following data analyses, the researchers discovered that mentally-passive sedentary behavior was associated with 43% higher risk of depression, while mentally-active sedentary behavior was not associated with incident depression.</p>
<p>Waist circumference (9.2%) and C-reactive protein (8.3%) partly explained the association of mentally-passive sedentary behavior with depression, suggesting that activities like TV viewing may increase depression risk by promoting obesity and inflammation. On the other hand, glycated hemoglobin did not mediate this relationship, indicating that blood glucose may not play a role in this context.</p>
<p>“While physical activity guidelines recommend reducing and breaking up sedentary time, our findings suggest that recommendations specific to mental health could emphasize reducing mentally-passive sedentary time.&#8221;</p>
<p>“Our findings also suggest that those at risk for depression and with high levels of mentally-passive sedentary behaviors could benefit from assistance to reduce waist circumference and C-reactive protein via increased levels of physical activity,” the authors concluded.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Some limitations are to be recognized. For example, sedentary behavior and depression were self-reported, leading to potential bias and underestimation. Additionally, due to technological advances since 2002 (when the first measurements were taken at 44 years of age), patterns of sedentary behavior in the workplace and leisure may have changed, and findings may be different in today’s age.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016503272300887X">Mentally-passive sedentary behavior and incident depression: Mediation by inflammatory markers</a>,” was authored by André O. Werneck, Neville Owen, Raphael H. O. Araujo, Danilo R. Silva, and Mats Hallgren.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 27, 2023 at 11:00AM
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TITLE:
New study sheds light on ADHD’s impact on motivation and the efficacy of amphetamine-based meds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/new-study-sheds-light-on-adhds-impact-on-motivation-and-the-efficacy-of-amphetamine-based-meds-214742

<p>In a recent study published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0982-23.2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Neuroscience</a></em>, researchers found that individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) show reduced motivation to engage in effortful activities, both cognitive and physical, which can be significantly improved with amphetamine-based medications.</p>
<p>ADHD, a common behavioral disorder, is often associated with difficulty in maintaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Traditionally, ADHD has been viewed primarily through the lens of these symptoms. However, recent research suggests that motivation, particularly the willingness to exert effort, plays a crucial role in ADHD. This new study was conducted to explore how individuals with ADHD differ in their motivation for effortful tasks compared to those without the disorder, and to assess the effectiveness of commonly prescribed ADHD medications in addressing these differences.</p>
<p>&#8220;A hallmark of ADHD is thought to be reduced levels of motivation &#8211; in particular, a lower willingness to invest effort,&#8221; said study author Trevor Chong, an Australian Research Council Future Fellow, head of the <a href="http://cogneuro.com.au/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cognitive Neurology Laboratory</a>, and an associate professor at Monash University.</p>
<p>&#8220;Effort can be experienced across multiple domains &#8211; for example, it can be perceived cognitively (such as when studying for an exam), or physically (such as when training for a race). Importantly, despite the importance of motivation to current frameworks of ADHD, very few studies have examined the willingness of individuals with ADHD to exert cognitively or physically effortful behaviour. We therefore designed a task to specifically test whether motivation is indeed lower in ADHD and, if so, whether amphetamine-based medications that are commonly used to treat ADHD can restore it.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study involved 44 participants: 20 individuals diagnosed with ADHD and 24 without the condition (referred to as the control group). The ADHD group included individuals who were being treated with amphetamine-based drugs like dexamfetamine or its prodrug, lisdexamfetamine. The participants with ADHD were tested twice – once when they were on their regular medication and once after a 72-hour period without medication, to understand the effect of these drugs on their motivation levels.</p>
<p>To measure motivation, the researchers developed a unique experiment divided into two main parts: a training (or reinforcement) phase and a choice phase. In the reinforcement phase, participants were trained in tasks that required either cognitive (mental) or physical effort.</p>
<p>For instance, the cognitive task involved detecting specific letters in rapidly changing sequences, which increased in difficulty. The physical task required participants to exert varying levels of force using a hand-held device. After training, the choice phase measured the participants&#8217; willingness to engage in these effortful tasks by offering them a choice between a low-effort/low-reward option and a variable high-effort/high-reward option.</p>
<p>In the cognitive effort task, the researchers found no significant performance differences between the ADHD participants and the control group, or within the ADHD group when on or off medication. This implies that ADHD does not inherently affect the ability to perform cognitive tasks. However, in the physical effort task, those with ADHD showed a greater ability to sustain effort when on medication compared to off medication. Despite this, there was no significant difference in the ability to obtain rewards, suggesting that the medication did not simply make the task easier to perform.</p>
<p>The choice phase results were particularly striking. When off their medication, individuals with ADHD showed less motivation to invest effort in both cognitive and physical tasks compared to the control group. This effect was especially pronounced at higher levels of cognitive effort and lower levels of physical effort. On the other hand, when on medication, the motivation of the ADHD group increased significantly, aligning closely with the motivation levels of the control group.</p>
<p>&#8220;Some authors have postulated that the cognitive symptoms of ADHD may be driven by a lower willingness to engage in cognitively effortful behavior,&#8221; Chong said. &#8220;Our data confirmed that cognitive motivation is indeed lower in ADHD relative to controls, but also showed that ADHD was associated with lower levels of motivation in the physical domain.&#8221;</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>These results provide concrete evidence that motivation, particularly the willingness to exert effort, is a key component of ADHD, and not merely a side effect of other symptoms. Furthermore, it demonstrates that amphetamine-based medications, commonly prescribed for ADHD, are effective in enhancing motivation in these individuals.</p>
<p>&#8220;The motivation to invest cognitive and physical effort is lower in individuals with ADHD relative to those without the condition,&#8221; Chong told PsyPost. &#8220;Reassuringly, this reduction in motivation can be improved with currently available stimulant medications.&#8221;</p>
<p>However, it&#8217;s important to note certain limitations of the study. First, the sample size was relatively small, and larger studies are needed to confirm these findings. Additionally, the study primarily focused on the effects of amphetamine-based medications, and it&#8217;s unclear if similar results would be observed with other types of ADHD medications. The study also did not delve deeply into the psychological aspects of motivation, such as the role of personal interests or the impact of long-term goals, which could be important factors in understanding motivation in ADHD.</p>
<p>&#8220;Amphetamines are stimulant medications that increase the activity of dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain,&#8221; Chong explained. &#8220;The fact that amphetamines improve the willingness to invest effort is evidence that these neurotransmitters play an important role in motivated behaviour. However, motivation is a complex neurobiological process, and the role of other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, remains to be clarified.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/43/41/6898" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amphetamines Improve the Motivation to Invest Effort in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder</a>&#8220;, was authored by Trevor T.-J. Chong, Erika Fortunato, and Mark A. Bellgrove.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 26, 2023 at 09:10AM
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TITLE:
Not Everything Has to Be Meaningful
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/25/opinion/grief-meaning-life.html

Sometimes painful experiences are just painful. And that’s ok, too.
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 27, 2023 at 09:00AM
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TITLE:
Playing “Beat Saber” virtual reality game might help improve cognitive abilities, study suggests
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/playing-beat-saber-virtual-reality-game-might-help-improve-cognitive-abilities-study-suggests-214746

<p>A new study has examined the effects of the virtual reality game &#8220;Beat Saber&#8221; on cognitive functioning and fine motor skills. The results showed that participants improved their selective attention and observation skills after VR training. In contrast, no changes in cognitive functions were observed after physical training sessions in which participants followed instructions from a video. The study was published in <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1111/cogs.13278"><em>Cognitive Science</em></a>.</p>
<p>Virtual reality is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment that users can interact with using specialized equipment, such as headsets with motion sensors and controllers. VR is designed to immerse users in a realistic and interactive experience that simulates physical presence in an artificial environment. Virtual reality games leverage this technology to create engaging and immersive gaming experiences. Players can be transported to fantastical worlds, explore new environments, and interact with virtual objects, offering a heightened sense of presence and interactivity compared to traditional video games.</p>
<p>Virtual reality, in general, and specific types of virtual reality games, have been proposed as promising alternatives to traditional physical training in both rehabilitation and sports training. A significant advantage of virtual reality games is their greater accessibility to the general public compared to specialized training facilities. Their interfaces are more intuitive, and the VR devices themselves are often more affordable than traditional specialized training equipment.</p>
<p>In this context, a specific type of VR gaming, known as exergaming, has gained prominence. Exergaming is a form of physical activity that combines exercise with video gaming. It typically involves interactive games that require body movement, offering a more active and engaging approach to fitness. Study author Sidney Grosprêtre and colleagues aimed to examine whether VR exergaming might enhance specific cognitive functions such as observation capacity and attention. They hypothesized that VR exergaming would produce stronger effects than pre-established physical training through videos.</p>
<p>The study participants included 11 young, healthy individuals with an average age of 23 years, of which two were women. Upon agreeing to participate in the study, they also consented not to engage in any unusual physical activities during the study duration. This was necessary to prevent confounding the results with changes stemming from exercises outside the scope of the study.</p>
<p>At the beginning and end of the study, participants completed a series of cognitive tests. These tests included reaction time tests (go/no-go), a trail-making test, a letter cancellation test, a change blindness test (to assess observation capacity), the Stroop test, mental calculus, and an instant recall test (for testing short-term memory). Researchers also assessed participants’ fine motor control skills (a circular Fitts’ task).</p>
<p>Participants underwent two training programs, each consisting of 15-minute training sessions carried out over five consecutive days. The order of the two programs was randomized, with a one-month interval between them.</p>
<p>In one program, participants engaged in physical training using shadow boxing fitness videos (following instructions on the videos). In the second program, participants played the VR game &#8220;Beat Saber&#8221; in which they had to cut moving cubes with virtual swords held in each hand. Before the training, participants had a familiarization session to assess their tolerance of the VR apparatus and to familiarize themselves with the cognitive tests, minimizing the effects of learning the tests on the results before and after the training.</p>
<p>The results showed no changes in any of the cognitive functions following the training program based on shadow boxing videos. However, after the VR training, participants exhibited better performance in selective attention and observation tests, as well as in tests assessing inhibitory processes – the Stroop test and the go/no-go test.</p>
<p>&#8220;Gamified physical training with VR seems to be a great combination for enhancing cognitive functions for a similar or even a lower training load as compared to a traditional physical training. The added value of VR and gaming to simple physical exercise is undoubtable here, whether it is related to an increased adhesion of the participants to the training or a greater allocation of cognitive resources to the training. It should be mentioned that VR exergame training-induced cognitive adaptation seems specific to the task virtually simulated and does not lead to a global cognitive arousal,&#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 makes an important contribution to the scientific understanding of the potentials of VR training. However, it also has limitations that need to be taken into account. Notably, the study sample was extremely small, consisted solely of young people who were overwhelmingly male, and the training sessions were also extremely short and few. Very few real-life physical training programs consist solely of five 15-minute exercises. Longer training programs, studies on larger samples and individuals with more diverse demographics might not yield equal results.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1111/cogs.13278">How Exergaming with Virtual Reality Enhances Specific Cognitive and Visuo-Motor Abilities: An Explorative Study</a>”, was authored by Sidney Grosprêtre, Philémon Marcel-Millet, Pauline Eon, and Bettina Wollesen.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 27, 2023 at 07:00AM
.
TITLE:
Trump supporters became more likely to express dehumanizing views of Black people after his 2016 victory, study finds
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/trump-supporters-became-more-likely-to-express-dehumanizing-views-of-black-people-after-his-2016-victory-study-finds-214736

<p>A new study suggests that Donald Trump&#8217;s presidential campaign and subsequent victory in 2016 had a polarizing effect on the racial attitudes of white Americans, particularly in their views towards Black people. Those who viewed Trump favorably before the election were found to rate Black people as less &#8220;evolved&#8221; in the post-election survey. Conversely, those who had unfavorable views of Trump rated Black people as more evolved after the election.</p>
<p>Political campaigns, especially presidential ones, are often thought to shape public opinion. However, the extent to which they influence deeply ingrained attitudes, such as views on race, is a complex area of study. Trump&#8217;s 2016 presidential campaign was particularly noteworthy for its divisive and often racially charged rhetoric. This provided a unique opportunity for researchers to investigate whether and how such a campaign could impact the racial attitudes of white Americans.</p>
<p>To explore the potential influence of Trump&#8217;s presidential campaign, a team of researchers conducted a two-wave panel study involving 600 non-Hispanic white adult citizens of the United States. The study was facilitated by the survey firm YouGov in 2016. The participants, 54% of whom were female, had a mean age of 48 years and predominantly had some college education without obtaining a Bachelor’s degree.</p>
<p>The study was conducted in two phases: the first wave of surveys was carried out between October 10 and October 12, 2016, and the second wave occurred between November 14 and November 15, 2016. These dates were strategically chosen to capture the participants&#8217; attitudes before and after the presidential election.</p>
<p>To measure the dehumanizing attitudes, participants were asked to rate, on a scale from 0 to 100, how evolved they believed Black people to be, using the &#8220;ascent of man&#8221; scale &#8211; a visual depiction showing the evolution of humans from ape-like figures to modern humans. Additionally, participants&#8217; feelings of warmth towards Trump and Hillary Clinton were gauged using a feeling thermometer. Control variables such as party identification, education, age, and gender were also included in the survey to ensure a comprehensive analysis.</p>
<p>Initially, the researchers found no significant overall change in the dehumanizing attitudes towards Black people before and after the election. The mean rating barely fluctuated, from 82.6 before the election to 82.3 after.</p>
<p>But a deeper dive into the data showed a clear polarizing effect based on the participants&#8217; attitudes towards Trump. Those who viewed Trump favorably before the election were found to rate Black people as less evolved post-election. In contrast, those with unfavorable views towards Trump rated Black people as more evolved post-election.</p>
<p>Specifically, at the high end of the Trump support scale, where respondents showed the warmest feelings towards Trump, there was a decrease of about 2 points in the evolutionary ratings of Black people on average from before to after the election. On the other hand, those who viewed Trump unfavorably (at the extreme low end of the Trump thermometer) showed an increase of about 4 points in the evolutionary ratings of Black people in the same period.</p>
<p>&#8220;To be clear, these effects are not enormous,&#8221; the researchers wrote, adding that the &#8220;observed changes are nonetheless meaningful. When it comes to evolutionary ratings of racial groups, even a difference that appears quantitatively small can reflect a qualitatively meaningful distinction.&#8221;</p>
<p>Interestingly, this change was not mirrored in the ratings of white people, nor was it influenced by general political partisanship – it was specifically tied to views about Trump.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>These findings suggest a polarization of racial attitudes as a result of Trump&#8217;s election, with supporters tending towards more dehumanizing views of Black people and opponents showing a move in the opposite direction. The study provides evidence that political leaders, through their rhetoric and behavior, can significantly influence public attitudes on sensitive issues like race.</p>
<p>The researchers concluded that their study provides evidence &#8220;that Trump&#8217;s election had a polarizing effect on the expression of dehumanizing racial attitudes. We find that Trump supporters became, on average, more willing to report dehumanizing attitudes about Black people. At the same time, we also find that this trend was countered by the fact that Trump&#8217;s opponents became less likely to endorse dehumanizing portrayals of Black people.&#8221;</p>
<p>While the study provides valuable insights, it&#8217;s crucial to recognize its limitations and the need for further research. One of the primary limitations is the study&#8217;s reliance on self-reported measures. People&#8217;s responses in surveys can sometimes be influenced by what they think is socially acceptable, rather than their true beliefs.</p>
<p>Additionally, the study focused specifically on dehumanizing attitudes towards Black people. Future research could broaden this scope to include other racial or ethnic groups that were the subject of Trump&#8217;s campaign rhetoric, such as Muslims and Latino immigrants.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622723000710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trickle-down racism: Trump&#8217;s effect on whites’ racist dehumanizing attitudes</a>&#8220;, was authored by Ashley Jardina and Spencer Piston.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 26, 2023 at 09:00AM
.
TITLE:
Testosterone fluctuations predict mood changes of girls in puberty
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/testosterone-fluctuations-predict-mood-changes-of-girls-in-puberty-214733

<p>A study spanning eight weeks, focusing on girls aged 11 to 14, found that weekly fluctuations in testosterone levels could predict mood changes. However, the strength and nature of this correlation varied based on theta wave activity in the frontal lobe, cortisol reactivity, and other factors. The study was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423000937"><em>Development and Psychopathology</em></a>.</p>
<p>Puberty is a natural and gradual process of physical and sexual maturation that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood in humans. It is typically initiated by hormonal changes, including increased production of sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Secondary sexual characteristics like breast in girls and facial hair in boys develop during this period. Body composition and voice change. Reproductive organs become fully functional.</p>
<p>Adolescents undergoing puberty often experience frequent mood swings, heightened sensitivity, and increased vulnerability to stress. Factors such as self-identity development, social pressures, and evolving relationships contribute to these mood changes. Moreover, research indicates that these mood swings might be linked to hormonal fluctuations. The increase in testosterone and estrogen levels, characteristic of puberty, affects brain chemistry and emotional states.</p>
<p>Elizabeth Andersen and her team at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill aimed to investigate how frontal lobe activity and stress reactivity influence the relationship between weekly hormonal fluctuations and mood changes during puberty. They hypothesized that specific brain activity profiles, such as theta wave activity in the frontal lobe, cortisol reactivity, and vagus nerve response efficiency to psychosocial stress, would correlate with a stronger link between hormonal changes and mood. Cortisol reactivity refers to the rate and magnitude of cortisol increase in response to stress-inducing events.</p>
<p>The study involved 46 girls aged between 11 and 14. These participants were either pre-menarche or had experienced their first menstrual period within the year preceding the study. Recruitment occurred through flyers, online outreach to parents at local middle schools, and mass emails to university staff. Most participants came from highly educated and affluent backgrounds.</p>
<p>At the start of the study, the researchers took height and weight measurement of participants and collected data on their pubertal development (the Pubertal Development Scale), behavioral activation and inhibition (the Behavioral Inhibition and Behavioral Activation Systems scale), and medical history.</p>
<p>Over the subsequent eight weeks, participants provided saliva samples during weekly lab visits. These samples were analyzed to estimate levels of estrone (one of the three main estrogens) and testosterone. Additionally, participants completed mood assessments, focusing on dysphoric moods such as depression, anxiety, and general unhappiness, using the Daily Record Severity of Problems and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children. These assessments helped researchers determine the direction and strength of the relationship between hormone levels and mood.</p>
<p>Following the eight-week period, participants revisited the lab to perform a go/no-go task, during which researchers recorded their brain activity via electroencephalography. They also underwent the Trier Social Stress Test for Children. Saliva samples were collected before, during, and after this test to monitor cortisol level changes, thus assessing cortisol reactivity. Additionally, participants completed mood and stress assessments before and after the test, using the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.</p>
<p>Results showed that mood changes were associated with changes in both testosterone and estrone, but the strength and direction of these associations (whether the mood improves or worsens when hormone levels increase or decrease) differed greatly between participants.</p>
<p>The association between testosterone level and mood tended to be stronger in participants who had greater theta wave reactivity in frontal lobes of their brains during the go-no go task. This activity is believed to be indicative of strength of emotional reactions. The link between testosterone and mood was also stronger in individuals who showed lower cortisol reactivity and lower efficiency of the vagus nerve during the stress task, but also stronger negative affect after the stress test.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>“The present study expanded previous findings demonstrating that hormone fluctuation precipitates mood symptoms in peripubertal female adolescents and identified distinct profiles in neurocognitive and behavioral tendencies that are associated with mood sensitivity to testosterone change. Consistent with a novel diathesis-stress model, stress-related modifications of frontal and limbic circuitry may make the brain more vulnerable to abrupt changes in peripubertal hormones,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study makes an important contribution to the scientific understanding of links between hormonal changes and emotional experiences. However, it also has limitations that need to be taken into account. Notably, the study sample was very small and researchers used two different electroencephalography recording systems for collecting brain activity data. This prevented them from comparing brain activity results of different study participants.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423000937">Biobehavioral mechanisms underlying testosterone and mood relationships in peripubertal female adolescents</a>”, was authored by Elizabeth Andersen, Julianna Prim, Alana Campbell, Crystal Schiller, Kayla Baresich, and Susan Girdler.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 26, 2023 at 07:00AM
.
TITLE:
New research links dietary nutrient intake with cognitive health in older adults
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/new-research-links-dietary-nutrient-intake-with-cognitive-health-in-older-adults-214730

<p>Recent research has found a connection between higher intake of certain dietary nutrients and a lower risk of cognitive impairment in older adults. This large-scale study, involving thousands of participants, suggests that what we eat might play a crucial role in maintaining our cognitive health as we age. The findings have been published in the journal <em><a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/alz.13033" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alzheimer’s &amp; Dementia</a></em>.</p>
<p>The motivation behind the study stemmed from a growing concern about dementia and cognitive decline, particularly as the global population ages. Dementia, including its most common form, Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, poses significant challenges not only to those affected but also to healthcare systems and societies at large. Recognizing that approximately one-third of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease cases may be linked to modifiable risk factors, the researchers focused on diet as a crucial, alterable aspect.</p>
<p>As <a href="https://www.nei.nih.gov/research/research-labs-and-branches/we-are-nei-intramural/tiarnan- keenan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tiarnán Keenan</a>, the study&#8217;s lead author and Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator at the National Eye Institute, explained: &#8220;In Western medicine, we are starting to rediscover the enormous impact that diet can have on health: &#8216;In food, excellent medicine can be found; in food, bad medicine can be found&#8217; (Hippocrates, De Alimento). Indeed, nutrition is a critical part of public health: &#8216;La destinée des nations dépend de la manière dont elles se nourrissent&#8217; (Brillat-Savarin, Physiologie du Goût). This may be particularly true for chronic diseases of aging, such as dementia and age-related macular degeneration.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;We had previously demonstrated very strong links between a healthy diet and decreased risk of age-related macular degeneration. The natural next step was to examine the same question for cognitive impairment and dementia, since we had two excellent datasets with the unusual combination of comprehensive cognitive function testing and detailed dietary information in a large population of study participants followed for at least five years.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study analyzed data from two significant research projects conducted in the United States (known as <a href="https://www.nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials/age-related-eye-disease-studies-aredsareds2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies</a>). The first project enrolled 4,757 participants aged between 55 and 80 years, while the second involved 4,203 individuals aged 50 to 85 years. These participants were initially part of research focusing on eye health but also underwent detailed cognitive function testing. Researchers looked closely at the participants&#8217; diets, using comprehensive questionnaires to assess the intake of various nutrients. They then explored how these dietary patterns related to the participants&#8217; cognitive abilities.</p>
<p>The researchers found that certain nutrients were linked to a lower risk of cognitive impairment. These included several vitamins, minerals, and specific types of fats found in fish (DHA and EPA). On the flip side, some dietary components seemed to increase the risk. Notably, diets high in saturated fats and foods that cause high blood sugar levels (high glycemic index/load) were associated with a greater risk of cognitive decline.</p>
<p>&#8220;The main message is that a diet of foods rich in particular nutrients is very strongly linked to decreased risk of cognitive impairment and therefore likely dementia,&#8221; Keenan told PsyPost. &#8220;The nutrients with these protective associations include vitamins (e.g., A, B, C, and E), minerals (e.g., copper, magnesium, selenium, and zinc), carotenoids (e.g., lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, and lycopene), lipids (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids), and fiber.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;By contrast, a diet of foods with high levels of particular fats (e.g., monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids) and diets with high glycemic index are strongly associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Overall, this supports the idea that a Mediterranean-like diet pattern is strongly associated with decreased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia,&#8221; Keenan said. &#8220;Important aspects of the Mediterranean diet pattern include frequent consumption of plant-based foods and infrequent consumption of saturated/monounsaturated fats (e.g., red meat) or foods with high glycemic index (e.g., refined sugars). These nutrients may maximize cognitive reserve against impairment and dementia and could be suitable candidates for randomized trials.&#8221;</p>
<p>While certain dietary choices seemed to influence the risk of cognitive impairment at one point in time, they did not significantly alter the rate of cognitive decline over time. But this lack of a longitudinal relationship might be a result of methodological limitations.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;Despite the significant results for risk of cognitive impairment in many cases, we did not observe slower levels of decline in cognitive function for any of these nutrients,&#8221; Keenan explained. &#8220;The distinction between significant results for cross-sectional but not longitudinal differences may seem surprising. However, this is likely related either to insufficient power to detect longitudinal differences or to a genuine distinction.&#8221;</p>
<p>While the study offers valuable insights, it&#8217;s important to note that the findings are based on observational data, meaning they can show associations but not cause-and-effect relationships.</p>
<p>&#8220;The caveats to this study include the possibility of residual confounding, i.e., that the associations observed might be related partially to factors other than dietary intake of each nutrient itself,&#8221; Keenan said. &#8220;However, we took all steps possible to minimize confounding (e.g., by adjusting for total calorie intake, body mass index, smoking status, and other factors). Similarly, since these are observational data, it is not possible to know definitely that nutrient intake is causally linked to altered risk of cognitive impairment. Ultimately, the highest level of evidence would come from a randomized controlled trial.&#8221;</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the study offers an important stepping stone in our understanding of diet&#8217;s role in cognitive health. It highlights the potential of certain nutrients in maintaining cognitive function and underscores the need for further research in this vital area of public health.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13033">Dietary nutrient intake and cognitive function in the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies 1 and 2</a>&#8220;, was authored by Tiarnan D. L. Keenan, Elvira Agrón, Emily Y. Chew, and the AREDS and AREDS2 Research Groups.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 25, 2023 at 11:00AM
.
TITLE:
The brain can exhibit signs of consciousness long after the heart stops, study finds
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/the-brain-can-exhibit-signs-of-consciousness-long-after-the-heart-stops-study-finds-214722

<p>A study examining individuals who survived cardiac arrest revealed that approximately one-third reported memories and perceptions during this period, suggesting consciousness. Some recounted regaining consciousness during or after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while others described dream-like or transcendent experiences related to death. Importantly, the research team also found that the brain can exhibit signs of activity even after the heart has ceased to beat. The study was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.109903"><em>Resuscitation</em></a>.</p>
<p>Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating. It is typically caused by an electrical disturbance in the heart that disrupts its normal pumping rhythm. When this happens, the blood flow to vital organs, including the brain, stops. This can result in unconsciousness and death if not promptly treated. Cardiac arrest differs from a heart attack, which is caused by a blockage in the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle.</p>
<p>In the United States, between 350,000 and 750,000 people experience cardiac arrest annually, with only about 10% surviving. Although individuals in cardiac arrest typically appear unconscious, about one-third of survivors report conscious experiences during this period. Previous studies have been inconclusive in determining whether these experiences reflect actual awareness of their surroundings.</p>
<p>Study authors Sam Parnia and his colleagues wanted to examine the cognitive experiences of survivors of cardiac arrest. They wanted to categorize the types of experiences reported, but also establish electroencephalography biomarkers that would show whether and when a person in cardiac arrest is emerging from coma and becoming conscious. The authors of this study hoped that this would help them determine when such a person is experiencing lucid cognitive activity as well.</p>
<p>The research team identified 567 patients who suffered cardiac arrest in 25 hospitals. During resuscitation, they placed a tablet computer and headphones on the patients, displaying images and playing sounds (e.g., words for fruits like apple, pear, and banana), to test for post-arrest memory recall.</p>
<p>Of these individuals, medical staff were able to restore circulation in 213 of them, but only 53 or a bit over 9% survived long enough to be discharged from the hospital. Survivors of cardiac arrest were more often male than female and younger. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation lasted 26 minutes on average, but individual duration varied a lot.</p>
<p>Interviews were conducted with 28 survivors about their conscious experiences during cardiac arrest. Eleven reported memories and perceptions indicative of consciousness, despite showing no external signs of consciousness like groaning or moving. These experiences included emerging from coma during or after resuscitation, and dream-like or transcendent experiences.</p>
<p>The experiences reported by these 11 individuals could be grouped into four categories: 1.) emerging from coma during or 2.) after resuscitation, 3.) dream-like experiences, and 4.) recollections of death. An additional 126 survivors were interviewed, revealing similar experiences, plus delusional misinterpretations of medical events. For instance, the sensation from an intravenous line was misinterpreted as burning in hell.</p>
<p>Participants who emerged from coma during resuscitation typically described the impact of the procedure on their bodies. They talked about feeling electrodes, pain, pressure, bouncing from chest compressions or hearing conversations by clinicians during this period. Those who emerged from coma after resuscitation typically talked about memories from the intensive care unit.</p>
<p>Individuals who recalled experiences of death talked about perceptions of separation from the body, often with a recognition that they have died, having visual awareness of the situation from the perspective of people doing the resuscitation, doing a purposeful and educational reevaluation of their life and returning to a place like home. These experiences were typically completed with a decision to return to their bodies.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Dreamlike experiences included visions of rainbows, fish, igloo, humanoid beings, wooden houses and other themes. However, researchers could not identify commonalities in these experiences and they did not seem to follow a story arc.</p>
<p>The researchers also conducted a substudy involving brain monitoring using EEG, or electroencephalography, a method used to record the electrical activity of the brain. EEG data were collected from 85 subjects during CPR, but only 53 of these had interpretable EEG data due to issues like electrical interference and motion artifact.</p>
<p>The EEG data showed various patterns. Predominantly, there was an absence of cortical brain activity (suppressed EEG) in 47% of the data/images. Seizure-like (epileptiform) activity was observed in about 5% of the data/images. Importantly, signs of near-normal or physiological EEG activity consistent with consciousness were also observed, including delta and theta activity in 22% and 12% of the data/images respectively, alpha activity in 6%, and beta activity in 1%.</p>
<p>In a subset of patients, brain activity returned to normal, or nearly normal, from a flatline state during CPR, as indicated by the presence of gamma, delta, theta, alpha, and beta waves associated with higher mental function. This occurred in nearly 40% of the patients and was observed up to 35–60 minutes into CPR. This is the first report of such biomarkers of consciousness during cardiac arrest and CPR.</p>
<p>&#8220;While unrecognized, people undergoing cardiac arrest may have consciousness, awareness and cognitive experiences despite absent visible signs of consciousness. Although systematic studies have not been able to absolutely prove the reality or meaning of patients’ experiences and claims of awareness in relation to death, it has been impossible to disclaim them either. The recalled experience surrounding death now merits further genuine empirical investigation without prejudice,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on possible conscious experiences of individuals undergoing cardiac arrest. However, it should be noted that the results are based only on experiences of individuals who survived cardiac arrest while remaining in sufficiently good health to give interviews. In addition, none of the 28 interviewed survivors recalled the images presented during cardiac arrest, and only one recalled the sounds.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.109903">AWAreness during REsuscitation &#8211; II: A multicenter study of consciousness and awareness in cardiac arrest</a>”, was authored by Sam Parnia, Tara Keshavarz Shirazi, Jignesh Patel, Linh Tran, Niraj Sinha, Caitlin O’Neill, Emma Roellke, Amanda Mengotto, Shannon Findlay, Michael McBrine, Rebecca Spiegel, Thaddeus Tarpey, Elise Huppert, Ian Jaffe, Anelly M. Gonzales, Jing Xu, Emmeline Koopman, Gavin D. Perkins, Alain Vuylsteke, Benjamin M. Bloom, Heather Jarman, Hiu Nam Tong, Louisa Chan, Michael Lyaker, Matthew Thomas, Veselin Velchev, Charles B. Cairns, Rahul Sharma, Erik Kulstad, Elizabeth Scherer, Terence O’Keeffe, Mahtab Foroozesh, Olumayowa Abe, Chinwe Ogedegbe, Amira Girgis, Deepak Pradhan, and Charles D. Deakin.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 25, 2023 at 07:00AM
.
TITLE:
New neuroscience breakthrough: Noninvasive stimulation technique modulates deep brain structures
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/new-neuroscience-breakthrough-noninvasive-stimulation-technique-modulates-deep-brain-structures-214717

<p>In a groundbreaking study, scientists have successfully used a new noninvasive brain stimulation technique to modulate deep brain activity, leading to enhanced motor learning, especially in older adults. This finding, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01457-7"><em>Nature Neuroscience</em></a>, has significant implications for understanding brain function and could pave the way for new treatments for various brain disorders.</p>
<p>Before this study, scientists primarily used invasive methods or less targeted noninvasive techniques to study deep brain structures like the striatum, crucial for motor learning. These traditional methods either required surgical procedures or could not specifically target deeper brain regions without affecting the areas above them. Recognizing these limitations, researchers sought a noninvasive yet precise way to stimulate these deep-seated brain areas to better understand and potentially improve motor learning processes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Mental disorders impose a personal and financial burden on society, affecting patients and their families, and costing nearly 1 trillion Euros annually in the EU,&#8221; explained study author <a href="https://www.epfl.ch/labs/hummel-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Friedhelm Hummel</a>, who holds the Defitchech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering at EPFL’s School of Life Sciences.</p>
<p>&#8220;Developing effective therapies for these diseases remains challenging due to the complexity of the brain and mental symptoms. Current treatment approaches, for example, psychotropic drugs, are not based on recent advances in neuroscience and neurotechnology, have limited efficacy, and come with side effects. A particular concern is symptoms that resist currently available treatment approaches, which occur in up to half of the patients with a major mental disorder such as schizophrenia, stroke, dementia, addiction or depression.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Addressing this unmet need requires a fresh perspective and innovative solutions,&#8221; Hummel said. &#8220;These disorders and the respective symptoms are represented by pathological brain network interactions with core structures of these networks deep in the brain such as the striatum or the hippocampus. Thus, these structures are potentially promising targets for interventional strategies based on neuromodulation.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Current neurotechnology allows us to target these areas only <em>invasively</em> due to limitations of current non-invasive approaches, like TMS. However, invasive approaches bare several risks of side-effects and suffer from acceptability especially in mental health disorders. Thus, it is critically important to develop novel <em>non—invasive</em> neurotechnologies to target specifically these deep brain regions to pave the way to novel treatment strategies for these unmet symptoms in mental health disorders.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;The present concept of transcranial temporal interference electrical stimulation (tTIS) might allow us to address this mentioned gap and shortcomings, therefore we addressed this topic in a series of studies,&#8221; Hummel told PsyPost. &#8220;To this end, we selected as a target the striatum as it is a core area involved in the pathophysiology of and recovery from several neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as stroke, addiction, anxiety, depression or neurodegenerative disorders like the Parkinson spectrum.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study involved 45 healthy participants, split into two experiments. The first experiment included 15 young adults who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing a sequential finger tapping task. The researchers used tTIS during this task to modulate striatal activity, utilizing a sequence of electrical pulses, known as &#8220;theta burst,&#8221; to alter brain activity in their human participants.</p>
<p>In the second experiment, the research team included both older (average age 66 years) and younger adults (average age 26 years). They performed similar tasks under tTIS, but with longer task blocks and shorter overall training duration, to test if the technique&#8217;s effects were consistent across different ages and training protocols.</p>
<p>In the first experiment, the researchers found that the brain stimulation led to increased activity in the putamen, a region of the brain involved in motor learning, during the finger-tapping task. This effect was more pronounced in the putamen than in another part of the striatum, the caudate. Notably, the increased activity in the putamen was associated with improved performance in the motor task. Furthermore, they observed that the stimulation influenced the brain&#8217;s motor network, including regions such as the thalamus and supplementary motor area.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;There is now first proof of concept that deep brain structures can be neuromodulated, i.e. brain activity changed and behavior enhanced in a non-invasive fashion,&#8221; Hummel explained. &#8220;This might pave the way to completely novel interventional strategies for mental health disorders where deep brain structures, such as the striatum or the hippocampus play a core role, like in Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, depression, addiction, anxiety or in movement disorders. Furthermore, it provides means to better understand brain functioning and especially the role of deep brain structures in humans.&#8221;</p>
<p>In the second experiment, the impact of brain stimulation was particularly significant among older adults. The older group showed a more substantial improvement in the motor task during brain stimulation compared to younger participants. This finding suggests that the technique could be especially beneficial for older individuals, who typically have a reduced capacity for motor learning.</p>
<p>&#8220;The effects we found in healthy older were surprisingly strong,&#8221; Hummel told PsyPost. &#8220;The stimulation during a short training period of less than 30 minutes led to an improvement of more than 30% compared to the placebo condition.&#8221;</p>
<p>However, it&#8217;s important to note some caveats. The technique&#8217;s success depended on the presence of task-related brain activity. In other words, the stimulation didn&#8217;t induce changes during rest periods. This specificity implies that the brain stimulation works best in conjunction with active learning processes. Moreover, the study primarily focused on short-term effects, and long-term impacts remain unclear.</p>
<p>&#8220;There are still several open questions to address in upcoming studies, such as better understanding of the underlying mechanism, personalization of the stimulation to the individual, better topographic resolution of the stimulation, biomarkers that allow to predict the treatment response, most importantly clinical translation (in this regard studies are ongoing),&#8221; Hummel said.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01457-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation of the human striatum enhances striatal activity and motor skill learning</a>&#8220;, was authored by Maximilian J. Wessel, Elena Beanato, Traian Popa, Fabienne Windel, Pierre Vassiliadis, Pauline Menoud, Valeriia Beliaeva, Ines R. Violante, Hedjoudje Abderrahmane, Patrycja Dzialecka, Chang-Hyun Park, Pablo Maceira-Elvira, Takuya Morishita, Antonino M. Cassara, Melanie Steiner, Nir Grossman, Esra Neufeld, and Friedhelm C. Hummel.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 24, 2023 at 03:30PM
.
TITLE:
New research raises questions about caffeine’s impact on brain plasticity
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/new-research-raises-questions-about-caffeines-impact-on-brain-plasticity-214694

<p>A recent study has raised questions about the impact of chronic caffeine consumption on our brain&#8217;s ability to adapt and learn. In a new study published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1137681" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frontiers in Psychiatry</a></em>, scientists found that long-term caffeine users may exhibit decreased brain plasticity, a critical factor in the processes of learning and memory, when subjected to a brain stimulation protocol.</p>
<p>Caffeine is a common stimulant found in coffee, tea, soda, and other beverages. It&#8217;s known to help with alertness and concentration, but its effects on the brain&#8217;s ability to change and adapt over time, a process called plasticity, have been less clear.</p>
<p>Previous studies have shown mixed results when it comes to caffeine&#8217;s influence on brain plasticity. Some studies hinted that caffeine might hinder the brain&#8217;s ability to learn and adapt, while others suggested potential benefits. The researchers conducted this study to investigate the effects of caffeine on human brain plasticity, specifically focusing on its impact on long-term potentiation (LTP) and its potential interaction with a neuromodulation technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).</p>
<p>LTP is a fundamental neurophysiological process related to synaptic plasticity. It refers to the long-lasting increase in the strength of synaptic connections between neurons in response to repeated and persistent stimulation. rTMS is a non-invasive neurostimulation technique used in neuropsychiatry and neuroscience. It involves the use of a special device that generates magnetic fields to induce electrical currents in specific regions of the brain.</p>
<p>rTMS is often used in research to investigate and modulate brain plasticity, including LTP-like effects. By applying repetitive magnetic pulses to specific brain regions, rTMS can induce changes in neural activity and potentially mimic the processes associated with LTP.</p>
<p>&#8220;While researchers have looked at acute caffeine effects on rTMS-induced plasticity, chronic caffeine use as we see in the real world had not yet been explored,&#8221; explained study authors Joshua C. Brown (director of <a href="https://brainstimlab.mclean.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Brain Stimulation Mechanisms Laboratory</a> at McLean Hospital) and <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganvigne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Megan Vigne</a> (a neuromodulation research assistant at Butler Hospital).</p>
<p>&#8220;More generally, we are always interested in better understanding treatment moderators in clinical rTMS. Our research has the potential to prompt a new wave of research evaluating chronic caffeine use in patients undergoing rTMS therapy.&#8221;</p>
<p>In this study, researchers analyzed data from two previously conducted experiments involving a total of 20 healthy participants. Out of these, 16 were regular caffeine consumers, while 4 were not. All participants underwent rTMS paired with a partial agonist of the NMDA receptor called d-cycloserine (DCS). This protocol is thought to induce a process similar to long-term potentiation, which is crucial for learning and memory.</p>
<p>Before and after this stimulation, the researchers measured the participants&#8217; brain responses using a method called motor evoked potentials (MEPs). These MEPs are like windows into the brain&#8217;s plasticity, allowing scientists to observe how the brain changes in response to the stimulation.</p>
<p>The researchers found that participants who regularly consumed caffeine had different brain responses compared to those who didn&#8217;t. In the group that didn&#8217;t regularly consume caffeine, the brain showed robust facilitation in response to the stimulation protocol involving DCS and rTMS. However, in the group of caffeine users, this facilitation was significantly reduced, resembling the brain&#8217;s response in the placebo group.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>In simpler terms, it means that chronic caffeine users appeared to have a diminished capacity for the type of brain plasticity linked to learning and memory, even though they were subjected to the same stimulation as non-caffeine users.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our data suggest that chronic caffeine use may blunt synaptic plasticity, which is accepted as the cellular basis of learning and memory,&#8221; Brown and Vigne told PsyPost. &#8220;Since rTMS may exert its long-term effects through synaptic plasticity, chronic caffeine use may also diminish clinical rTMS effectiveness, though this has not been looked at directly. It is very important to remember that our findings came from a small sample and really need to be replicated before reaching conclusions.&#8221;</p>
<p>The researchers initially hypothesized that chronic caffeine use might enhance brain plasticity. This expectation was based on previous research suggesting that caffeine could have positive effects on memory and synaptic strengthening.</p>
<p>&#8220;Acute caffeine use increases plasticity (as measured by motor evoked potentials) following rTMS,&#8221; the researchers explained. &#8220;It also seems to be conventional wisdom that caffeine enhances our cognitive abilities, and it does recover plasticity when a deficit exists. So, we were particularly surprised to see that chronic caffeine use blunted plasticity responses in our motor plasticity assay – which is probably the most commonly used plasticity assay in non-invasive brain stimulation.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;However, once we thought about it more, we see this pattern all the time in the brain. With chronic exogenous excitation or inhibition, the brain will respond in kind to counteract those effects to remain scalable. This process is called homeostatic plasticity.&#8221;</p>
<p>While these findings are intriguing, it&#8217;s important to note some limitations. The study had a relatively small number of participants who didn&#8217;t consume caffeine regularly compared to the caffeine users, which could have skewed the results. Additionally, this research relied on self-reported caffeine consumption and did not consider the actual caffeine levels in the participants&#8217; bloodstreams.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is very important to remember that our findings came from a small sample and really need to be replicated before reaching conclusions,&#8221; Brown and Vigne said. &#8220;We are currently asking patients in our TMS clinic about caffeine use to see if there is a correlation between caffeine use and clinical responsiveness to TMS. Because caffeine use is so pervasive, more research on its relationship with plasticity is warranted.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1137681/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chronic caffeine consumption curbs rTMS-induced plasticity</a>&#8220;, was authored by Megan Vigne, Jamie Kweon, Prayushi Sharma, Benjamin D. Greenberg, Linda L. Carpenter, and Joshua C. Brown.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 24, 2023 at 01:00PM
.
TITLE:
Advanced glycation end products: How chemicals in cooked foods might increase hunger and overeating
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/advanced-glycation-end-products-how-chemicals-in-cooked-foods-might-increase-hunger-and-overeating-214693

<p>In a new study published in <em><a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/82446" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eLife</a></em>, researchers at Buck Institute have shed light on why some chemicals found in cooked or processed foods can lead to increased hunger and a reduced ability to make healthy dietary choices. These chemicals, known as advanced glycation end products, have been linked to overeating and obesity. This research is particularly important as it offers insights into the factors contributing to the global obesity epidemic and could help inform strategies for healthier eating habits.</p>
<p>Advanced glycation end products, often referred to as AGEs, are a group of complex compounds formed when sugars (carbohydrates) chemically react with proteins, lipids (fats), or nucleic acids (like DNA) in a process known as glycation. This reaction typically occurs slowly within our bodies as a natural part of aging and metabolism.</p>
<p>However, AGEs can also be formed much more rapidly when food is cooked or processed at high temperatures, such as when grilling, frying, or baking. This more advanced stage of glycation is known as the Maillard reaction, which is responsible for the browning and development of desirable flavors in cooked and processed foods.</p>
<p>AGEs are responsible for the appealing color, taste, and aroma of cooked or processed foods. Think about the crispy crust on bread, the sear on a steak, or the golden-brown color of baked goods &#8211; all of these are due, in part, to AGE formation.</p>
<p>&#8220;This research, done in tiny nematode worms, has immense implications for human dietary choices and the propensity to overeat certain foods,&#8221; said Pankaj Kapahi, the senior author of the study and founder of <a href="https://juvifyhealth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Juvify Health</a>. &#8220;Processed modern diets enriched with AGEs are tempting to eat but we know very little about their long-term consequences on our health.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Humans evolved certain mechanisms that encourage us to eat as much food as possible during times of plenty. We store the excess calories as fat that we use to survive times of fasting,&#8221; explained Muniesh Muthaiyan Shanmugam, a postdoctoral research fellow in <a href="https://www.buckinstitute.org/lab/kapahi-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Kapahi laboratory</a>, and the lead author of the study. &#8220;Natural selection favored genes that makes us preferentially consume flavorful food, especially those with higher sugar content. But what is the mechanism that makes it so hard to say &#8216;no&#8217; to them?&#8221;</p>
<p>To investigate the impact of AGEs on feeding behavior and its potential link to obesity, the researchers conducted experiments using the nematode worm, <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em>, as a model organism. These tiny worms, despite their simplicity, share important biological pathways with humans, making them a valuable research tool.</p>
<p>The study involved analyzing the behavior of C. elegans when exposed to AGEs, specifically one type of AGE called MG-H1. The researchers found that both genetically engineered worms lacking a system to detoxify AGEs and worms exposed to MG-H1 exhibited increased feeding behavior. This suggests that the accumulation of AGEs, either due to genetic factors or dietary intake, can lead to overeating.</p>
<p>Kapahi told PsyPost he was surprised by &#8220;the fact that the AGE is sufficient to increase food consumption &#8211; which explains why we cook our food so much.&#8221;</p>
<p>Additionally, worms lacking the glyoxalase system, which detoxifies compounds like MG-H1, had significantly shorter lifespans. This highlights the potential long-term consequences of AGEs on health, even in small organisms like C. elegans.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The researchers delved deeper to understand the mechanism behind this increased feeding behavior. They identified a specific signaling pathway involving the elt-3 GATA transcription factor, which regulates the expression of the tdc-1 gene (tyramine decarboxylase) and tyramine receptors (tyra-2 and ser-2). This pathway is responsible for mediating the adverse effects of AGEs, such as increased feeding, reduced lifespan, and neuronal damage.</p>
<p>Importantly, this study is the first to identify this specific signaling pathway mediated by MG-H1, an AGE, and its impact on feeding and neurodegeneration. These findings highlight the harmful effects of AGEs and their contribution to diseases like obesity and neurodegeneration.</p>
<p>&#8220;Understanding this signaling pathway may help us to understand overeating due to modern AGEs-rich diets,&#8221; said Kapahi. &#8220;Our study emphasizes that AGEs accumulation is involved in diseases, including obesity and neurodegeneration. We think that overall, limiting AGEs accumulation is relevant to the global increase in obesity and other age-associated diseases.&#8221;</p>
<p>This research helps us understand why certain foods can be hard to resist, leading to overeating and weight gain. It also highlights the harmful effects of AGEs in our diet, not only on our weight but also on our health, including our brain.</p>
<p>The findings indicate that &#8220;that glycation due to sugar is a major culprit behind the detrimental effects of sugar,&#8221; Kapahi told PsyPost. &#8220;It also means one should boil and stem food rather than cook on dry heat which creates AGEs. Everytime you make toast, 50+ new AGEs are generated.&#8221;</p>
<p>While this study provides valuable insights into how AGEs can influence feeding behavior and health, it&#8217;s important to note that C. elegans is a simple organism, and findings in these worms may not directly translate to humans.</p>
<p>&#8220;We need to measure more carefully that this is relevant in humans,&#8221; Kapahi said. &#8220;However, several studies support that indirectly as reducing food with AGEs is better for health.&#8221;</p>
<p>As AGEs are associated with various age-related diseases, including obesity and neurodegeneration, limiting their accumulation may have significant relevance for improving public health. The study&#8217;s findings suggest that mindful dietary choices, such as cooking methods and food selection, can help reduce the impact of AGEs on our health and well-being.</p>
<p>&#8220;My lab has also generated a supplement we call GLYLO which reduces the formation of AGEs. We find that this supplement can help slow aging and improve glucose metabolism in mice.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/82446" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone, MG-H1, increases food intake by altering tyramine signaling via the GATA transcription factor ELT-3 in Caenorhabditis elegans</a>&#8220;, was published by Muniesh Muthaiyan Shanmugam, Jyotiska Chaudhuri, Durai SellegounderAmit Kumar Sahu, Sanjib Guha, Manish Chamoli, Brian Hodge, Neelanjan Bose, Charis Roberts, Dominique O. Farrera, Gordon Lithgow, Richmond Sarpong, James J Galligan, and Pankaj Kapahi.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 24, 2023 at 11:00AM
.
TITLE:
There Are Better Ways to Talk With Your Kids About Santa Claus
.
URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/24/opinion/santa-claus-parenting-advice.html

New psychological studies shed light on the matter.
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
November 24, 2023 at 11:00AM
.
TITLE:
Newfound Hybrid Brain Cells Send Signals like Neurons Do
.
URL:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/newfound-hybrid-brain-cells-send-signals-like-neurons-do/

<p>Some astrocytes, thought to play only a supportive role in the brain, can communicate with neurons</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 24, 2023 at 11:00AM
.
TITLE:
Individuals with ADHD tend to be more sexually adventurous but less satisfied with their partners, study finds
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/individuals-with-adhd-tend-to-be-more-sexually-adventurous-but-less-satisfied-with-their-partners-study-finds-214711

<p>A study comparing the sexual interests and practices of individuals with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) found that individuals with ADHD are more likely to engage in a variety of sexual activities, including riskier behaviors, and have higher rates of homosexuality or bisexuality. Females with ADHD especially tend to have more sexual partners and lower satisfaction in romantic relationships. The study was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032037"><em>International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health</em></a>.</p>
<p>Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can significantly impact daily functioning. Individuals with ADHD often struggle to sustain attention on tasks, make careless mistakes, have difficulty organizing activities, and may be forgetful in daily life. Hyperactivity symptoms manifest as excessive fidgeting, restlessness, and difficulty remaining seated. Impulsivity can lead to challenges in self-control, resulting in hasty decision-making and difficulty waiting one&#8217;s turn.</p>
<p>ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood but can persist into adolescence and adulthood, affecting academic, occupational, and social aspects of life. Most studies of this disorder focused on children, but studies on adults with ADHD indicated that difficulties in social functioning might be present in adulthood as well. These studies reported that adults with ADHD tend to be much less satisfied with their romantic relationships, they divorce more often, and tend to have more risky sexual behavior as young adults. Individuals with ADHD were also found to masturbate more often, to have more sexual interests, but also more sexual dysfunctions compared to the general population.</p>
<p>Study author Susan Young and her colleagues wanted to further explore the specificities of sexual interests and behaviors of adults with ADHD. They wanted to know whether ADHD is associated with sexual orientation, practices and interests, but also proneness to risky sexual behavior, extra-partner affairs, or relationship satisfaction and how. They conducted a survey.</p>
<p>The study involved 1,466 adults, primarily from Canada (619) and the UK (556), as well as from the USA, Denmark, Turkey, and other countries. The participant group was 62% female, with 5% reporting a gender identity different from their sex assigned at birth. The study excluded participants identifying as non-binary and focused on those who identified clearly as male or female. The average age of female participants was 38 years, and for males, it was 41 years.</p>
<p>Participants reported on any psychiatric disorders they were diagnosed with and on their sexual activity, romantic relationships, sexual history, sexual interests and practices. Overall, the survey consisted of 34 questions prepared by the authors of the study. It was designed and administered using Survey Monkey.</p>
<p>Results showed that 39% of participants were diagnosed with ADHD. These individuals also had higher incidences of depression or anxiety disorders compared to those without ADHD. Other psychiatric disorders were more common among ADHD participants. Younger participants tended to have more severe ADHD symptoms, with females exhibiting more pronounced symptoms than males. Twenty-one percent of participants reported taking medications for ADHD.</p>
<p>Participants with ADHD more frequently identified as homosexual or bisexual compared to those without ADHD, regardless of gender. These individuals were less likely to be in romantic relationships and reported lower satisfaction with their romantic and sexual relationships. Females with ADHD experienced their first consensual sexual encounter at an average age of 16, compared to 17 in the non-ADHD group. No significant differences were noted in the age of the first sexual experience between males with and without ADHD.</p>
<p>The median number of lifetime sexual partners for females with ADHD was 12, compared to 8 for those without ADHD. Females with ADHD were also more likely to engage in extra-partner sexual activities and sex without contraception, differences not observed in males. Individuals with ADHD, both males and females, reported higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, more frequent involvement in electronic sexual exchanges, and a greater interest in various sexual activities (e.g., sex with strangers, group sex, open sexual relationships, sex clubs/parties, BDSM, etc).</p>
<p>&#8220;The findings suggest that both sexes engage in risky sexual behaviors,&#8221; the study authors conclude. &#8220;However, the risk appears to be substantially greater for females with ADHD. Thus, these findings underscore the need for greater recognition and support for females who present with ADHD symptoms clinically. Using a harm-reduction model, early assessment and intervention of ADHD symptoms may extenuate the noted risks associated with impulse control and psychosexuality. Protective factors such as the education system may also play an important role through regular psychometric screening of ADHD symptoms in youth.&#8221;</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The study sheds light on specificities of sexual activities and preferences of individuals with ADHD. However, it should be noted that all data came from self-reports that could not be verified and could thus be subject to bias. Given the private nature of sexual activities, it remains insufficiently clear to what extent the observed differences reflect real differences in sexual behavior and to what extent they are simply differences in what participants are willing to report.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032037">Let’s Talk about Sex&#8230; and ADHD: Findings from an Anonymous Online Survey</a>”, was authored by Susan Young, Larry J. Klassen, Shayne D. Reitmeier, Jake D. Matheson, and Gisli H. Gudjonsson.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 24, 2023 at 07:00AM
.
TITLE:
Scientists just debunked a common belief about left-handedness in a gargantuan study
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/scientists-just-debunked-a-common-belief-about-left-handedness-in-a-gargantuan-study-214700

<p>A large new study has challenged long-held beliefs about the relationship between handedness (being left- or right-handed) and spatial navigation abilities. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the study, which recruited millions of participants from around the world, found no significant difference in spatial skills between left-handers and right-handers. The research was recently published in <em><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.1514" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences</a>.</em></p>
<p>For years, scientists have been intrigued by the idea that our dominant hand might be linked to our spatial abilities. Some theorized that brain lateralization, the phenomenon where specific cognitive functions are predominantly localized in one hemisphere of the brain, might play a role in the relationship between handedness and spatial abilities.</p>
<p>Some studies had previously suggested that left-handers might have an advantage in spatial tasks. However, these studies were often limited in size and scope, leaving room for doubt. This new study sought to address these gaps by using a vast dataset collected through a mobile video game to investigate whether handedness truly influences spatial skills.</p>
<p>&#8220;The initial push for exploring this research question really came from my collaborators Hope Oloye, Antoine Coutrot, and Hugo Spiers. Regarding my own personal interest, cognitive differences between left-handers and right-handers is a topic that is quite big in the popular imagination, so I guess it has always been in the back of my mind,&#8221; explained study author <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0bZ0iTgAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Pablo Fernandez-Velasco</a>, a British Academy postdoctoral fellow at the University of York.</p>
<p>&#8220;From a more scientific perspective, there is a connection between handedness and patterns of lateralization in the brain. That is, functions (e.g. language comprehension) that tend to be preferentially located on one hemisphere rather than the other. So learning about the connection between handedness and function (in this case spatial cognition) can also tell us, indirectly, about the connection between lateralization and function.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Testing the connection between handedness and navigation ability is quite difficult, because you need a large cross-cultural sample. Using big data, we were finally able to establish that, in fact, there is no association between handedness and navigation ability.&#8221;</p>
<p>The researchers embarked on an ambitious endeavor to collect data from millions of participants worldwide. To do this, they employed a mobile app called Sea Hero Quest. Participants downloaded and played the game, with the motivation being to contribute to research by having fun and playing a game. Notably, there was no financial compensation involved.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn_bnX_UHaA">advertising campaign</a> for the project was extensive, involving partnerships with organizations like Saatchi and Saatchi Ltd., Deutsche Telekom, and Alzheimer&#8217;s Research UK. Social media, press releases, and media coverage contributed to making Sea Hero Quest the most downloaded app on the Apple App store for a brief period. This strategic approach allowed the researchers to recruit over 4 million participants from around the world.</p>
<p>From this vast pool of participants, the researchers carefully selected a subset for their analysis. They excluded those who had not provided all their demographics and participants over 70 years old due to potential selection bias. They also limited the analysis to countries with at least 1,000 players. Finally, they excluded participants who had not completed the first 11 levels of the game. This resulted in a final sample of 422,772 participants, across 41 different countries.</p>
<p>To assess spatial navigation abilities, the researchers focused on specific levels within the Sea Hero Quest game. Participants had to navigate a virtual boat to reach designated goal locations on a map. By analyzing the participants&#8217; trajectories and performance on these levels, the researchers calculated a wayfinding performance metric for each individual, serving as a measure of their spatial navigation ability.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Contrary to earlier suggestions that left-handed individuals might have a spatial advantage, the study&#8217;s findings showed no significant difference in spatial navigation ability between left-handers and right-handers.</p>
<p>Fernandez-Velasco outlined two important takeaways from the research: &#8220;The first one is the potential of big data and gamefied experiments in psychological research. Particularly when it comes to questions that involve a lot of variables, such as demographics, gender effects, cultural effects, etc. The second one is the one in the title [&#8216;No link between handedness and spatial navigation&#8217;]. Whether or not you are left-handed makes no difference about how good you are at finding your way!&#8221;</p>
<p>Additionally, the study uncovered variations in the prevalence of left-handedness among countries. For example, the Netherlands had the highest rate of left-handedness, while China had the lowest. Interestingly, the effect of handedness on spatial abilities did not vary significantly across countries, suggesting that this finding was consistent on a global scale. Furthermore, task difficulty did not appear to influence the relationship between handedness and spatial performance.</p>
<p>Fernandez-Velasco told PsyPost he was surprised &#8220;how consistent the finding was across cultures. Even when you add potential mediating factors to the analysis, you get no effect. For instance, is there maybe an interaction between task difficulty and handedness that affects navigation performance? Maybe left-handers are a bit better than right-handers when faced with more difficult navigation challenges? As it turns out, even then, there is no effect.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study&#8217;s strength lies in its massive and diverse sample size, which allowed for robust conclusions. But like all research, there are some limitations. The study relied on self-reported dominant hand information, which might not capture the full spectrum of an individual&#8217;s handedness. Future research could explore more comprehensive measures of handedness.</p>
<p>&#8220;There are a few caveats,&#8221; Fernandez-Velasco said. &#8220;The main one is that one could explore the same question using more detailed questionnaires about handedness that explore things like degree of left-handedness. There are also people who are left-handed when it comes to playing guitar, but right-handed to writing. We use a single, fairly straightforward question to measure handedness, but one could look at more fine-grained differences and see if there is some connection to spatial cognition there. Future work that explores this in more detail would be very valuable.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Make sure to download Sea Hero Quest and give it a try!&#8221; the researcher added. &#8220;It is a fun video game, and it helps advance really important research.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.1514">No link between handedness and spatial navigation: evidence from over 400 000 participants in 41 countries</a>&#8220;, was authored by P. Fernandez-Velasco, A. Coutrot†, H. Oloye, J. M. Wiener, R. C. Dalton, C. Holscher, E. Manley, M. Hornberger, and H. J. Spiers.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
November 23, 2023 at 01:00PM
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TITLE:
New study highlights humor’s vital role in maintaining love and connection in romantic relationships
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/new-study-highlights-humors-vital-role-in-maintaining-love-and-connection-in-romantic-relationships-214689

<p>New research sheds light on the role humor plays in maintaining and strengthening romantic relationships. The findings, which appear in the journal <em><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976231203139" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Psychological Science</a></em>, indicate that humor is not just a pleasant addition to a relationship; it&#8217;s a powerful tool that couples use to signal continued interest and improve relationship quality.</p>
<p>Humor has long been recognized as a desirable trait in potential romantic partners, but researchers wanted to delve deeper into its role within established relationships. Previous studies mainly focused on humor&#8217;s importance during the early stages of courtship, leaving a gap in our understanding of how humor continues to affect relationships over time.</p>
<p>&#8220;My co-authors and I have been investigating humor in relationships, but from a relationship initiation perspective. Typically, humor is seen to precede attraction, where humorous individuals are seen to be more attractive,&#8221; explained study author <a href="https://faculty.smu.edu.sg/profile/kenneth-tan-1696" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kenneth Tan</a>, an assistant professor of psychology at Singapore Management University.</p>
<p>&#8220;However, it could also be the case that when you are attracted to someone, you start finding them attractive (Li et al., 2009). We also heard anecdotally that when you are happy in the relationship, you find your partner funny, even if they are objectively not that funny in the first place. Hence, we wanted to examine the association between humor and relationship quality in the case of established relationships.&#8221;</p>
<p>The researchers conducted a unique study involving 108 couples from a large university in Singapore. These couples were romantically involved, with an average relationship duration of 18.27 months. The researchers used a daily-diary approach, asking participants to complete daily assessments for seven consecutive evenings. They collected a total of 1,227 daily assessments from the couples, ensuring a comprehensive dataset for analysis.</p>
<p>Each day, participants reported their perceptions of humor within their relationships and their levels of relationship satisfaction, commitment, and perceived partner commitment. This allowed the researchers to examine the day-to-day fluctuations in humor and relationship quality within established romantic relationships.</p>
<p>Tan and his colleagues found strong support for the interest-indicator model of humor. According to this model, humor serves as a tool for signaling and maintaining interest in a romantic relationship. On days when individuals reported higher levels of satisfaction, commitment, or perceived partner commitment, they also reported greater engagement in humor with their partners. This suggests that humor is used to express and gauge continued interest in an ongoing relationship.</p>
<p>The researchers also examined lagged effects to understand the directionality of the relationship between humor and relationship quality over time. They found that positive relationship quality on one day predicted increased humor production and perception the next day. This indicates that relationship quality positively influences the use of humor in subsequent interactions.</p>
<p>&#8220;We found consistent evidence of the &#8216;interest indicator perspective&#8217; in established relationships. On days where you were more satisfied and committed with the relationship, you found your romantic partner more humorous both on the same day as well as the next. On days where you were less satisfied and committed with your relationship, you found your partner less humorous both on the same day as well as the next. On the other hand, we did not find consistent evidence of the reverse. On days where you perceived and initiated more humour, it was not associated with greater commitment the next day, only satisfaction.&#8221;</p>
<p>Contrary to some theories that suggested males may use humor more to attract mates, the study did not find significant gender differences in the relationship between humor and relationship quality. Both men and women in established relationships used humor similarly to maintain interest and strengthen their bonds.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>&#8220;Men reported producing more humor in the relationship, but there were no gender effects regarding our focal hypotheses,&#8221; Tan said. &#8220;It was also not the case that humor had stronger effects in relationships that were shorter in length, since it typically is thought that humor might be important in the early phase of relationships to establish attraction.&#8221;</p>
<p>While this study offers valuable insights into the role of humor in established relationships, it&#8217;s essential to acknowledge its limitations. The participants were college students in dating relationships, so the findings may not directly apply to older adults or long-term marriages. Future research could explore these relationships to determine if similar patterns emerge.</p>
<p>&#8220;We found our results with a college sample in Singapore, but believe that the results should generalize to married, older couples from Western cultures as well,&#8221; Tan noted. &#8220;Regarding future questions, we would like to examine such bi-directional associations of humor in different relationships such as work or parent-child relationships too.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Finally, we would like to examine the psychological indicators/traits that couples think of their partner when there is humor. For example, do couples in established relationships also find their partner creative, intelligent and warm when their partners are humorous, just like when relationships are just starting out?&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976231203139" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Role of Humor Production and Perception in the Daily Life of Couples: An Interest-Indicator Perspective</a>&#8220;, was authored by Kenneth Tan, Bryan K. C. Choy, and Norman P. Li.</p>
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 23, 2023 at 03:00PM
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TITLE:
Rumination’s neural correlates: New insights from brain imaging
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/ruminations-neural-correlates-new-insights-from-brain-imaging-214699

<p>In a recent study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-39142-9"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>, researchers aimed to develop a model of rumination, a mental process characterized by persistent negative self-reflective thoughts that can lead to depression and anxiety. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) &#8212; a technique that captures brain activity when a person is at rest &#8212; they identified a specific region of the brain, the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), as playing a pivotal role in these ruminative thoughts.</p>
<p>Recognizing that rumination can be an early risk factor for depression, the researchers aimed to develop methods for subclinical detection and intervention before clinical episodes of depression occur. Early detection and intervention can be crucial for preventing the development of more severe mental health conditions.</p>
<p>The default mode network (DMN), a large-scale resting-state network, had been consistently linked to rumination in previous research. But the precise brain regions responsible for variations in individual levels of rumination have remained elusive. The researchers wanted to investigate the specific role of the DMN and its subsystems in rumination, as it is involved in various processes related to self-referential thought, autobiographical memory, emotional experience, and more.</p>
<p>The researchers employed dynamic connectivity-based predictive models, which track and analyze how different brain regions interact over time, across three independent datasets (193 participants in total). They sought to identify which functional connections significantly predict rumination. The ultimate goal was to provide insight into rumination&#8217;s neural underpinnings, potentially guiding future interventions and treatments for related mental health disorders.</p>
<p>Their results revealed that the dmPFC interacts with other brain regions, especially the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and right temporoparietal junction (TPJ). These interactions are crucial in understanding rumination, as the IFG connection indicates that rumination might be verbal or language-based; while the TPJ connection suggests that ruminators might continuously evaluate social scenarios, especially in relation to themselves.</p>
<p>Additionally, the discovery of a consistent connection between the dmPFC and visual areas suggests that those who ruminate more might be diverting their attention away from the external world, becoming more absorbed in their inner thoughts.</p>
<p>The model was also successful in predicting depression levels in patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), indicating overlapping brain activity patterns in rumination and clinical depression.</p>
<p>“The dynamic patterns of natural thought streams greatly influence our mood and emotional states,&#8221; <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/994146">said</a> corresponding author Choong-Wan Woo of the Institute for Basic Science. &#8220;Rumination is one of the most important thought patterns, and this study shows that the tendency to ruminate could be decoded from brain connectivity measured with fMRI. We hope that this research will continue to advance and that in the future, neuroimaging can be used to monitor and manage mental health.”</p>
<p>While further studies are essential, the current study offers a comprehensive brain-based model of rumination, shedding light on the neural pathways that might lead to depression and anxiety. It&#8217;s a promising step toward understanding, predicting, and ultimately treating these persistent negative thought patterns and the mental disorders they can precipitate.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-39142-9">A dorsomedial prefrontal cortex-based dynamic functional connectivity model of rumination</a>&#8220;, was authored by Jungwoo Kim, Jessica R. Andrews-Hanna, Hedwig Eisenbarth, Byeol Kim Lux, Hong Ji Kim, Eunjin Lee, Martin A. Lindquist, Elizabeth A. Reynolds Losin, Tor D. Wager, and Choong-Wan Woo.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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psychbot , 8 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
November 23, 2023 at 11:00AM
.
TITLE:
Nurses who own pets show somewhat higher self-compassion and self-kindness, study reports
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/nurses-who-own-pets-show-somewhat-higher-self-compassion-and-self-kindness-study-reports-214695

<p>An online survey in China found that nurses who own pets have, on average, somewhat higher scores on self-compassion and self-kindness but somewhat lower scores on common humanity, compared to nurses who do not own pets. Nurses who owned pets also had a very slightly higher average mindfulness score. The study was published in <a href="http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15288"><em>PeerJ</em></a>.</p>
<p>Nurses are healthcare professionals who play a vital role in providing direct patient care, promoting health, and assisting in the coordination of medical services. Nursing career requires a combination of clinical expertise, compassion, and strong communication skills. It is highly stressful. A recent study in China indicated that over 68% of nurses report high levels of occupational stress.</p>
<p>High stress levels among nurses can lead to burnout, depression, anxiety, and compassion fatigue. This can, in turn, reduce their compassionate practice, lead to poor patient outcomes, and increase the risk that the nurse will abandon the nursing career. Researchers have proposed a wide variety of strategies to manage nurses’ stress. Among these, self-care and social support are the most significant. Self-compassion, the practice of treating oneself with kindness and understanding during times of struggle or failure, is an important form of self-care.</p>
<p>Studies have also indicated that people are better able to deal with stress when they have pets as social support. Attachment to pets has been shown to alleviate job insecurity and stress. With this in mind, study authors Hu Jiang and his colleagues set out to investigate the current status of pet ownership among Chinese nurses and to explore the relationship between pet ownership and self-compassion.</p>
<p>Study participants were 1,309 nurses from China. Their age ranged between 18 and 59 years. The average age was 32 years. 87% of the nurses were female. 73% were married. 59% worked between 6-15 years. 55% had a monthly income between 3,001 and 6,000 yuan ($412-$823). Researchers recruited them via posters, links and QR codes for the web survey distributed via WeChat. The online survey was conducted via the survey platform Wenjuanxing.</p>
<p>Participants completed an assessment of various aspects of self-compassion (the Self-Compassion Scale) and a general information questionnaire asking about participants’ demographic data, ownership of pets, and types of pets owned.</p>
<p>Results showed that 16.9% of nurses owned pets. Dogs and cats were the most common types of pets, with 56% of participants owning dogs and 53% owning cats (some participants owned multiple pets). 76% of participants reported having their animal for longer than a year.</p>
<p>Comparisons showed that nurses who owned pets had somewhat higher average scores on the overall self-compassion and self-kindness, and a tiny bit higher average score on mindfulness compared to nurses who did not own pets. However, nurses who did not own pets had somewhat higher average score on common humanity. All the differences between the two groups were very low. This was particularly the case with mindfulness.</p>
<p>Self-kindness is the ability to be understanding and supportive toward oneself in times of difficulty, rather than being overly self-critical or harsh. Common humanity Involves recognizing that personal struggles and challenges are part of the shared human experience, fostering a sense of connection rather than isolation. Mindfulness involves maintaining a balanced awareness of one&#8217;s emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them, encouraging a non-judgmental and present-focused approach to one&#8217;s experiences.</p>
<p>“We found that 16.9% of nurses owned at least one pet, which revealed that nurses actually own pets as part of their modern lifestyle, providing them with social support and potentially also enhancing their self-compassion,&#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 makes a contribution to the scientific understanding of the links between pet ownership and self-compassion. However, it also has limitations that need to be taken into account. Notably, the study design does not allow any cause-and-effect inferences to be made from the results. Additionally, the study was based solely on self-reports and it is possible that methodology used to recruit participants attracted a group of nurses not very representative of the general population of nurses in China.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15288">The influence of pet ownership on self-compassion among nurses: a cross-sectional study</a>”, was authored by Hu Jiang, Yongxia Mei, Xiaoxuan Wang, Wenna Wang, Beilei Lin, Zhixin Zhao, and Zhenxiang Zhang.</p>
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