A study finds nearly four percent of US adolescents report PTSD symptoms, while 7.4% experience major depression and 8.2% substance abuse/dependence. Interpersonal violence increases risk for these mental health disorders in adolescents.
A Hong Kong study found that music instruction aids verbal memory, with trained students recalling significantly more words and retaining them longer than untrained peers. Verbal learning performance improved in proportion to musical training duration.
A study of 543 children found that exposure to violence between parents and harsh punishment are significant risk factors for adult partner violence. Child behavior problems, such as conduct disorder, also predict later relationship violence.
A study of 602 college students found that relocation after parents' divorce is associated with negative effects on children's psychological and emotional adjustment, general life satisfaction, and financial support. The researchers warn that the results are correlational and more longitudinal research is needed to confirm the findings.
Researchers found that late-identified reading deficits can manifest differently among students, with some having difficulty comprehending text or identifying printed words. The study highlights the need for schools to use varied assessments and tailored intervention programs to address individual students' strengths and weaknesses.
A study by W. Richard Walker and colleagues found two causes for positively biased recollection of the past: pleasant events outnumber negative ones and memory treats pleasant emotions differently from unpleasant ones. This fading affect bias allows people to cope with tragedies, celebrate joyful moments, and look forward to tomorrow.
A study found that race has a powerful effect on children's perceptions of occupation status, with African American children rating jobs performed by whites as higher in status. This impact was observed even among children from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
A study found that hostility in children is a risk factor for developing metabolic syndrome, a precursor to cardiovascular disease. High scores on hostility measures were associated with increased rates of obesity and insulin resistance in later years.
A large sample of volunteers found changes in personality traits throughout middle adulthood, including increased conscientiousness and agreeableness, and decreased neuroticism. These findings suggest increasing maturity and adaptation with age, challenging the view that personality traits stop changing by early adulthood.
A new study found that violent music lyrics can increase aggressive thoughts and feelings in college students, even when humorous lyrics are used. The research controlled for factors such as individual personality differences and musical style, suggesting a potential link between exposure to violent content and aggression.
Adolescents who viewed religion as meaningful and a way to cope with problems were half as likely to use drugs. The effect was consistent across different ethnic groups, suggesting that religiosity provides a buffering impact against substance use.
Researchers examined how transformational and transactional leadership predicted unit potency, cohesion, and performance. They found that both styles led to improved performance in simulated combat training exercises.
Researchers studied adults whose cognitive abilities were first tested at 11 and found that brain white-matter abnormalities made a significant contribution to general cognitive ability differences in old age. Early IQ scores also played a role, but independently of each other.
A recent study involving over 24,000 participants found that life satisfaction plays a significant role in marital happiness. Most people experience adaptation and return to their initial levels of happiness after marriage or divorce.
The RCCP and PeaceBuilders programs decreased aggressive behaviors in elementary school students, improving social competence and conflict resolution skills. The effects of the programs were consistent across genders, economic backgrounds, and races/ethnicities.
A study found that children who were exposed to violent TV shows at a young age were more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior as adults, including physical fights and crimes. The study suggests that parental co-viewing and content-based ratings can help mitigate the effects of media violence.
A study found that premature babies with mild to moderate oxygen deprivation during or immediately after birth had significantly lower cognitive and language skills compared to those with no such risk. The researchers suggest that even minor risk of hypoxia may be associated with damage to the brain's periventricular white matter.
Studies show that the left hemisphere processes meaningful semantic content automatically, while the right hemisphere is involved in processing emotional prosody. Researchers used Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography to measure blood flow velocity in the brain's middle cerebral arteries when participants identified emotions conveyed th...
A study found that abusive supervisors lead to fewer discretionary actions by subordinates, hurting organizational effectiveness. Abused subordinates may feel obligated to perform extra-role behavior despite supervisor's abuse.
A survey of 51 individuals handling human remains after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing found minimal post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms two years later. Factors such as social support, debriefing, and medical experience were linked to resilience in body handlers.
Regular family routines and rituals are associated with improved marital satisfaction, adolescents' sense of personal identity, children's health, academic achievement, and stronger family relationships. Family mealtimes, in particular, can foster better parenting, healthier children, and improved academic performance.
The American Psychological Association and FBI report highlights the importance of social science techniques in combating terrorism. Three key strategies emerge: information exchange using data mining and decision tree techniques, relationship-building with key communities, and effective interrogation/interviews.
A study of 774 older men found that high hostility was associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease, independent of other risk factors like high cholesterol. The study suggests that mental health interventions may be effective in reducing the risk of CHD for individuals with high hostility levels.
Pre-terms exhibit significantly slower processing speed at recognizing new faces, a skill linked to intelligence and academic achievement. The study suggests pre-terms' slower processing speed is rooted in infancy and may be related to medical risks such as respiratory distress syndrome.
Research found that chronic stress impairs immune function, particularly glucocorticoid sensitivity in parents of children with cancer. Social support mitigated some immunologic consequences, suggesting a novel mechanism for psychological stress's influence on inflammation.
A study using female rats found that long-term estrogen replacement therapy impaired memory performance, especially when combined with chronic brain inflammation. This effect is analogous to the observed decline in cognitive function in postmenopausal women with Alzheimer's disease who receive continuous estrogen therapy.
Researchers found three distinct clusters of patients with different memory and brain profile patterns, suggesting multiple disease mechanisms. The 'cortical' subtype showed temporal lobe pathology, while the 'subcortical' subtype featured frontal-striatal region issues.
A controlled study found that memory training improved recalling people's names among participants with mild to minimal Alzheimer's Disease. Those who were more aware of their failing memories showed the most improvement.
Studies suggest that attention can be broken down into three distinct processes: maintaining readiness, setting response thresholds, and filtering out distractions. The researchers' findings provide a more specific understanding of attentional disorders and their relation to frontal lobe injuries.
Unemployment can start a vicious cycle of depression, loss of personal control, decreased emotional functioning, and poorer physical health. After re-employment, 71% of job seekers still reported negative effects, highlighting the need for mental health support to improve re-employment chances.
A meta-analysis of 31 studies found the California Verbal Learning Test to be the most accurate predictor of Alzheimer's type dementia. Researchers also discovered that odor identification tests can identify preclinical Alzheimer's in individuals with the ApoE gene more effectively than neuroimaging measures.
A group-based stress management training program has been found to lower blood glucose levels and improve health outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes. After one year, 32% of participants showed a reduction in hemoglobin A1C levels, while only 12% of those receiving no stress management training did so.
A recent study found that women with cardiac disease experience lower quality of life scores than men, regardless of diagnosis or treatment. Social support plays a crucial role in mitigating this disparity, particularly for physical health composite scores among men.
A recent study by American Psychological Association found that ecstasy users scored high in most of the coping strategies, including social support networks and increased activities, to cope with loneliness. This suggests that the drug may be used as a temporary solution for young adults struggling with feelings of isolation.
A study of 660 participants aged 50 and older found that negative stereotypes about aging can decrease life expectancy, while positive self-perceptions can increase it. Positive attitudes towards aging are associated with a higher will to live and lower cardiovascular response to stress.
Researchers found that cardiopulmonary bypass surgery can cause impaired memory and attention, which persist beyond the first couple of weeks. The study suggests that brain systems supporting attention may be particularly vulnerable during major surgeries.
A meta-analysis of 88 studies found strong associations between corporal punishment and child behaviors, including aggression, antisocial behavior, and physical abuse. The research suggests that corporal punishment may actually cause negative outcomes for children, such as increased aggression and mental health issues.
The article highlights the significant impact of behavioral factors on various diseases, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and asthma. Research shows that negative emotions can lower immunity, while stress and depression can provoke the release of hormones that affect immune function.
A study found that participants who watched TV programs with sex or violence had impaired memory for advertised products compared to those who watched neutral programs. The results suggest that sex and violence can impair commercial memory, potentially deterring advertisers from sponsoring such content.
Research reveals that family history of hypertension is associated with exaggerated physiological responses to stress and learned maladaptive behavioral patterns. Offspring of hypertensive parents exhibit higher resting heart rates, increased blood pressure, and more negative verbal and nonverbal behaviors during stressful tasks.
A study by European psychologists found that people remember natural scenes significantly better when they're in color rather than black and white. The researchers also discovered that unnatural colors do not strengthen memory, suggesting that the brain is tuned to the color structure of the world.
Researchers investigate subtle cognitive changes and brain asymmetry as potential precursors to Alzheimer's Disease, using neuropsychological tests to track changes in cognition over time. The studies aim to identify individuals at high risk of developing the disease, enabling earlier intervention and minimizing brain damage.
Children in joint custody arrangements exhibit less behavior and emotional problems, have higher self-esteem, and better family relations compared to those in sole custody. This is partly due to the ongoing contact with both parents, which helps children adjust better.
A new study found that classrooms where students used fewer avoidance strategies were more likely to have teachers who emphasized understanding, effort, and enjoyment. Teachers in these 'mastery-oriented' classrooms helped students build understanding, provided motivational support, and modeled their own thinking processes.
A recent study found that nearly 11% of participants with internet gambling experience were classified as problem or pathological gamblers, compared to only 22% without internet gambling. Internet gamblers tended to be younger, unmarried, and have lower education and income levels than non-internet gamblers.
Researchers found that people with and without visual impairments can reach target locations similarly using either spatial language or 3-D sound stimuli. Spatial updating skills may not require visual experience, suggesting a potential alternative to traditional GPS systems for the visually impaired.
A new study by Samuel Gosling and colleagues found that people can accurately assess certain personality traits based on office and bedroom environments, particularly openness and conscientiousness. The researchers used personal items, decorating style, neatness, and organization as cues to evaluate personalities.
A study of 78 older adults found that chronic, sub-clinical mild depression can suppress immune systems, leading to poorer responses to infections and diseases. The findings suggest that early detection and treatment of even mild depression may be crucial for better health in older adults.
A new study found that Vietnam veterans with greater intellectual resources were significantly less likely to develop PTSD, and had less-severe symptoms if they did. The study suggests that verbal skills may help soldiers process their experience and establish social support networks.
A new study found that brain-injured children from less stressed and more supportive families had significantly higher achievement and behavior scores than their peers. The authors speculate that severe traumatic brain injury exacerbates the effects of unfavorable family circumstances, leading to worse academic and behavioral outcomes.