Researchers found that patients with higher cognitive adaptation scores were less likely to experience a new heart attack or other coronary event six months after their angioplasty. Patients' ability to cope positively with their illness and take better care of themselves may play a key role in reducing the risk of future heart attacks.
Researchers found that long-term Transcendental Meditation practitioners experience reduced systolic blood pressure and vasoconstriction during meditation. This study suggests that Transcendental Meditation may help prevent high blood pressure in African American youth by reducing risk factors for heart disease.
A study found that patients with chronic nonmalignant back pain who received higher levels of economic and social rewards experienced increased disability, depression, and anxiety. Those with fewer rewards reported lower levels of these conditions.
New research reveals that uncontrollable stresses can severely affect the immune system by disrupting cytokine function and producing high levels of cortisol. In contrast, controlled stress responses result in brief, insignificant changes to immune activity.
A new study found that patients with higher levels of conscientiousness are less likely to die suddenly from cardiovascular disease. Patients who faithfully take their prescribed medication, such as amiodarone, are also more likely to engage in healthy behaviors like eating a heart-healthy diet and socializing.
A recent study found that caregivers of mentally ill individuals are at a high risk of physical illness, with the severity of symptoms predicting burden and infections. Social support played a crucial role in reducing caregiver burden and infections.
A new study found that workplace cancer control programs can improve the nutritional environment and eating habits of employees. The Working Well Trial showed significant improvements in healthy food options, fruit and vegetable access, and reduced fat and added sugars.
A study of 729 low-income urban older patients found limited confidence in physical exercise abilities due to environmental and physiological barriers. Encouragement from family, friends, or doctors increased confidence in exercising, while fear of crime actually boosted it.
A new study found that women at high risk for breast cancer who are also anxious and lack self-control are less likely to get a mammogram. Researchers suggest problem-solving training may help address this issue among the most distressed women.
Phobic disorder significantly affects individuals with chronic diseases, hindering ongoing medical care. A study reveals that nearly half of those without regular medical care have active psychiatric disorders.
A study found that reducing hostility in coronary heart disease patients leads to improved blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease. The intervention, which included listening skills and techniques to avoid cynicism and anger, resulted in lower diastolic blood pressures among participants.
Daily contact from weight counselors can help dieters maintain consistency in tracking food intake, leading to better weight loss outcomes. The study found that increased therapist contact significantly improved participants' ability to avoid gaining weight during the holidays.
A new study by researchers at UCLA found that pregnant women with positive psychological resources tend to have healthy-weight infants. The study, which analyzed data from 230 pregnant women, suggests that a woman's ability to adapt to the challenges of pregnancy is crucial to the outcome.
A new study suggests that hope plays a vital role in maintaining the health of HIV-positive men who have lost a loved one to AIDS. The researchers found that optimistic expectations and feelings of control over the disease are associated with a slower rate of progression of HIV-related illness.
A study of 1,504 pairs of parents and children found that enjoyment of physical education classes and family support were key factors in influencing levels of physical activity. The research highlights the need for schools to develop programs that maintain high participation and enjoyment throughout the school career.
A new study found that women have limited knowledge of their mortality risks, particularly regarding heart disease and lung cancer. Women aged 55-74 were unaware of the deadliest cancer in this age group, while older women knew less about what kills them than other age groups.
Researchers discovered that healthy young men with a family history of heart disease react to stress with elevated blood levels of cholesterol and other lipids. These findings suggest that lipid reactivity to stress may have implications for the development and progression of cardiovascular disease.
A new study found that nicotine alters activity levels and exploratory behaviors in male rats but not female rats. Female rats who lived in groups showed increased time spent in the center of an open arena after nicotine administration, suggesting reduced anxiety. The findings may reflect human sex differences in reasons for smoking.
A smoke-free home is strongly associated with lower cigarette consumption, longer duration of smoking cessation attempts, and increased likelihood of quitting. Family pressure and complete home smoking bans are found to be crucial factors in changing smokers' behavior.
A new study by researchers from the University of Washington reveals that depression significantly impairs heart disease patients' ability to work and perform daily activities. Patients with both major and minor depression were found to function less well than nondepressed patients, reporting more heart disease symptoms.
A new study found that support groups for substance abuse significantly improve active coping responses, friendship quality, and social networks. Individuals who participate in these groups are less likely to use drugs and alcohol after treatment and report better stress management.
A new study by Oregon Research Institute shows that dental hygienists can help patients quit chewing tobacco by providing cessation intervention. Quit rates tripled among those who received the intervention compared to usual care.
A study found that breast cancer patients experiencing estrogen deficiency during treatment are at a higher risk of developing depression. Eight women (38 percent) developed major depression, most in the first six months of treatment.
A new study by University of Iowa sociologists demonstrates that differences in people's beliefs about marriage are pivotal in explaining the mental health impact of transitions into marriage, divorce and separation. Beliefs in the permanence and desirability of marriage influence both negative and positive effects on depression.
Researchers found that stress and coping measures can affect blood sugar control in people with diabetes. The study's biopsychosocial model suggests that psychological factors interact with biological factors to regulate blood sugar levels.
A study of 510 preschool children found that those sleeping less than 10 hours a day are at risk for increased behavioral problems, such as oppositional behavior and aggression. The relationship between sleep and behavior problems is complex, with possible interaction effects between variables like temperament and parenting.
Researchers found depressed smokers had lower natural killer cell activity than non-smokers, while moderate smoking contributed to increased white blood cell counts and reduced NK activity. The study suggests that even moderate cigarette smoking can impact the immune system adversely.
A study by Dr. Ulrich Schweiger and colleagues found that severely depressed men have lower testosterone concentrations during the day and night, as well as higher cortisol levels. This disturbance of gonadal function may impair sexual function and increase the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.
A recent study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that 39% of women with naturally low cholesterol levels scored high on a depression scale, while 35% scored similarly high on an anxiety scale. The study also linked low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations to depression and anxiety.
A 5.5-year study found that stressful events and low social support accelerate HIV progression to AIDS, with men who developed AIDS twice as likely to have experienced major depressions before onset.
Research found depressed mothers' flat-pitched speech hampers infant learning, leading to delays in acquiring language and cognitive milestones. Infants who heard low- or moderate-depression voices spent more time observing a checkerboard pattern.
A longitudinal study found that impulsive children are more prone to injuries, with those who overestimate their physical abilities experiencing more medical attention. The research suggests targeting vulnerable temperaments in injury prevention programs.
Research by Hirokazu Yoshikawa found that welfare recipients who received high levels of educational, job training, and center-based child-care assistance had higher earnings and better math and verbal achievement scores. The long-term support service approach also benefited the children themselves.
Research finds that nurturing and emotionally responsive parents, consistent discipline, and positive expectations for children's future are key factors in helping kids thrive in poor urban environments. Parents of resilient children reported better mental health and more support from friends and family.
A new study published in Health Education & Behavior found that children benefit most from sun safety interventions due to high lifetime exposure during childhood. Parents' sun safety habits strongly influence their children's behaviors, while recreation programs' policies are not significantly associated with parents' practices.
Smokers who abstain from cigarettes experience increased cravings but show improved reasoning skills upon resuming smoking. The study found that abstinence impairs certain mental tasks, such as letter search, while leaving others unchanged.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that writing about stressful experiences improved symptoms for nearly half of patients with asthma and arthritis. After four months, the patients who wrote down their feelings showed significant clinical improvement compared to those who wrote about their daily ...
Research shows that boys tend to overestimate their school performance, but girls often underestimate it, with girls' underestimation linked to depression and anxiety. The study found a strong correlation between children's self-estimations and emotional problems, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues.
Research found associations between anxiety and depression in adolescent mothers and their use of negative control tactics, leading to higher levels of disruptive behavior in their children. The study showed that frequent yelling, threatening, and spanking by mothers during conflict did not lead to a decrease in child behavior problems.
A recent study found that women's social support is more effective than men's in reducing both men's and women's blood pressure under stress. The researchers discovered that female listeners provided a modest systolic blood pressure increase of 25mmHg, while male listeners caused an average increase of 32mmHg.
Researchers found that stressed caregivers caring for Alzheimer's patients have impaired immune function, including reduced lymphocyte production and elevated stress hormone levels. This vulnerability can lead to increased illness duration and severity.
Researchers discovered that Mexican women who saw a PMS video experienced severe symptoms, including moderate and severe pain, after viewing the videotape. The study suggests that being aware of the syndrome may exacerbate premenstrual stress syndrome in women with higher levels of education.
Researchers found that psychological stress increases levels of IL-6, a cytokine linked to immune system response, making the body more susceptible to developing infection and symptoms of respiratory illness.
A study found that breast cancer patients' top concerns after surgery are mortality, pain, and financial burdens, not previously thought to be the primary worries. The survey involved 223 women from diverse ethnic backgrounds and highlighted the importance of addressing these issues in counseling.
A recent study found that excessively frequent breast self-examinations may reduce detection efficacy and increase false-positive findings. Women with a family history of breast cancer who examine themselves daily or weekly showed the highest levels of general anxiety.
Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds exhibit greater cardiovascular responses to stress, leading to larger left ventricles and increased heart disease risk. The study found differing pathways for African American and white children and adolescents, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.
A recent study found that women who use oral contraceptives and smoke have significantly greater cardiovascular reactivity to stress, as well as increased lipid and fibrinogen levels. This can lead to a higher risk of heart disease.
Researchers found that employed husbands and wives should each do less than half of the household chores to keep their personal distress levels at a minimum. A more equitable division of household work could reduce women's distress without increasing men's distress levels.
A recent study by Peggy McDonough and colleagues found no difference in the effects of men's and women's socioeconomic status on mortality risk. However, they discovered a new wrinkle: increasing one spouse's income affects the other's mortality risk differently for men and women.
A study involving 1,500 pairs of Swedish and British twins found that aggressive behavior can be inherited, while social environment plays a crucial role in non-aggressive antisocial behavior. The research revealed different etiologies for aggressive and non-aggressive behaviors in boys and girls.