Articles tagged with Developmental Psychology
A landmark study by University of Cambridge researchers found no difference in psychological wellbeing or quality of family relationships between children born through assisted reproduction and those born naturally. However, mothers who disclosed their child's origins early on reported more positive relationships and lower anxiety and ...
Four to eleven-year-olds deemed Alexa more human-like, but neither robot deserved to be harmed or yelled at. As kids advanced towards adolescence, the feeling dwindled, and older children reported it was slightly more acceptable to attack technology.
A new study reveals that autistic children have distinct brain activity when viewing complex visual motion patterns as early as 5 months old. This suggests that autistic individuals process visual motion differently from a young age, which may impact their development and learning.
Recent studies have identified key psychological processes, such as repetitive negative thinking and self-reflection, that may impact cognitive aging and dementia prevention. Researchers propose incorporating psychological elements to reduce dementia risk through cognitive-behavioral interventions.
Researchers say parents' well-intentioned efforts to protect children from harm have inadvertently deprived them of independence and opportunities for self-directed play. This decline in 'child's play' is linked to rising anxiety, depression, and suicide rates among school-aged children.
Researchers found broad similarities in how deaf homesigners and hearing adults describe tool-related events, suggesting universal aspects of human thinking. The study suggests that these similarities reflect the extent to which a tool shapes the object it is being used on.
The UCF project, Project CENTRAL, aims to enhance collaboration between special education and school psychology using research-based practices. Scholars will receive enhanced education and preparation in a two-year program, addressing the state's critical shortage of high-quality professionals.
Researchers found that women experiencing prolonged mental health issues after childbirth had genetic evidence of higher immune system defense mechanism activation. The study also identified reduced antiviral immune response genes, which may offer protection from pathogens.
A new study published in Frontiers found that parental methods to help toddlers sleep are related to their behavioral development. The researchers discovered that passive sleep-supporting techniques were associated with lower fussy temperaments and higher sociability scores, while active techniques were linked to more challenging tempe...
Researchers found that experiences of early deprivation, such as parental neglect and financial difficulties, were more closely associated with cognitive and emotional functioning in adolescence. Deprivation was also linked to internalizing and externalizing problems, including lower performance on tests of intelligence.
A recent study found that adolescents who answered more COVID-19 test questions correctly also reported lower levels of loneliness and fear of missing out. Teens with better COVID-19 knowledge were less likely to use social media excessively, which contributed to their lower anxiety levels.
A longitudinal study of 629 first-year college students found COVID-19 negatively affected student mental health, identity development, and academic resilience. The pandemic disrupted critical developmental tasks typical for emerging adults in college.
Research suggests that encouraging girls to roleplay as successful female scientists can increase their persistence in science activities, counteracting negative gender stereotypes. By pretending to be a scientist, girls may psychologically distance themselves from biases and feel more engaged in STEM fields.
A new web app, Healthy-Day-App, links daily schedules with health outcomes for children, revealing associations between screen time, physical activity, and body fat percentage. The app allows users to customize the impact of time allocations on health measures.
A team of researchers from The Mount Sinai Hospital has made a groundbreaking discovery into the genetic and molecular mechanisms that predispose individuals to Alzheimer's disease. They identified 21 candidate risk genes, including SPI1, which regulates microglia and AD risk.
Research finds that pre-teen children in Singapore associate brilliance with men more than women, with the stereotype strengthening as they grow older. This bias can lead girls to doubt their abilities, limiting their interests and career aspirations.
Researchers developed a new scale to capture heterogeneity among violent extremists, revealing distinct archetype dimensions such as 'adventurer' and 'drifter'. The tool has been validated across diverse groups, providing insights into personality traits and behavioral profiles of extremist individuals.
Researchers at University of Zurich found that the presence of parents and caregivers mitigates pandemic's negative effects on social development in infants. Infants born during COVID-19 pandemic exhibit similar social behavior as same-aged infants before pandemic, with no significant behavioral differences detected.
Research by University of Cambridge academics found that children as old as five or six struggle to reconcile inference and perspective, leading to difficulties in conversations. Combining these skills is crucial for understanding 'implicatures' - inferences made in conversation when people mean more than they say.
Children who excel at playing well with others in pre-school tend to enjoy better mental health as adults. Research analyzing data from over 1,700 children found a clear link between peer play ability and reduced signs of poor mental health.
Researchers found that infants can punish antisocial behavior exhibited by a third party, indicating an intrinsic motivation for morality. The study's findings suggest that humans may have acquired behavioral tendencies toward moral behavior during evolution.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences offers fresh insights into infant word learning. Researchers found that infants between 7 and 11 months old learn words by building up memory representations over time, rather than through repeated connections between words and objects.
A recent study published in the journal Body Image found that young Black girls experience high levels of verbal teasing and unwanted hair touching due to their natural hair. The research highlights the need for greater awareness and understanding of these issues to promote positive body image and self-acceptance among young Black girls.
A straightforward questionnaire, called the Attentional Failure during Driving Questionnaire (AFDQ), has been developed to assess older drivers' ability to drive safely. The study found that repeated attentional challenges were a key predictor of crashes among older drivers.
A small study suggests that maternal psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with changes in the brain of developing fetuses. The study found decreased brain structure and volumetric measures in fetuses from the pandemic cohort compared to the pre-pandemic cohort.
Research found that children who spend more time playing outside had fewer internalizing problems and were more positive during the first Covid-19 lockdown. The effects of adventurous play on mental health were consistent even after controlling for demographic variables, with a greater impact on children from lower-income families.
A new study published in BMC Psychiatry found that negative metacognitions and brooding are key factors in persistent depressive symptoms among young people. Metacognitive therapy can help individuals control these patterns and overcome self-reinforcing thought processes.
Scientists found that colour-coded CO2 labels and changed default options on restaurant menus nudged guests to more climate-friendly dish choices, resulting in an average of 300g less CO2 per meal. Participants chose veggie burgers more often when presented as standard options.
A new study by researchers at the University of Birmingham has identified two distinct brain structure patterns associated with poor outcomes in patients with recent onset psychosis and depression. The study used MRI scans to analyze grey matter volume and found that lower volumes were linked to poorer outcomes, while higher volumes we...
A new study found that napping can positively affect preschool children's learning of letter-sound mappings and transfer this knowledge to reading unfamiliar words. The research suggests that naps may facilitate the acquisition and application of these fundamental literacy skills.
A recent study found that child abuse investigations by Child Protective Services (CPS) do not necessarily prevent poor sexual health outcomes in adolescent girls. In fact, the researchers discovered that girls who underwent investigation were more likely to experience adverse sexual health outcomes, including STIs and pregnancy, befor...
Adults conceived via IVF show improved social relationships and environment quality of life, according to a new study. The research also found associations between positive psychosocial factors, such as family financial situation and relationship with parents, on adult quality of life.
A recent study found that individuals with a history of neurological or psychiatric conditions are at increased risk of developing a second condition. Women and men differ in their risk, with women being more likely to develop dementia after experiencing an earlier stroke.
A study by the University of Otago found that 15-year-olds who had conversed with their mothers about everyday past events reported fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. These adolescents also narrated difficult events from their lives with more insight.
A study by Brandi Rollins and Lori Francis found that early positive interactions with caregivers can reduce the risk of childhood obesity. The researchers analyzed data from over 1,000 mother-child pairs and discovered that children's early exposures to family psychosocial assets protect against obesity.
Research finds that read-to-infants activities boost vocabulary growth during lockdown, while screen time is linked to fewer words; children learn more words than expected despite increased screen time.
Research shows that couples who took Family Foundations classes 10 years ago had more positive family relationships during the pandemic. They reported lower levels of negative mood, behavior problems, and sibling conflict in their children.
The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded pre-existing inequalities among refugee adolescents in Jordan, leading to increased stress and high rates of depression. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to support these vulnerable populations.
A new study found that COVID-19 disruptions in homes with two or more children lead to higher levels of mental health struggles for one sibling, causing negative parenting and a feedback loop. Researchers suggest family therapy could be helpful for households adjusting to the pandemic.
A new study found that children and adolescents with persistent high levels of anxiety are more likely to develop psychosis in their early 20s. Treating early anxiety by targeting stress hormones and non-resolving inflammation during childhood and teenage years could help prevent young adults from developing psychosis.
Research in Sweden, Bhutan, and Turkey finds that low maternal mental health affects children's attentiveness, social understanding, and decision-making skills. Small community support and social networks can mitigate this impact.
Research reveals that American middle-aged adults experience worse mental health than their peers in other countries, while the protective effect of education wanes. Education previously shielded against depression and memory difficulties, but its benefits are now diminishing.
A recent study by North Carolina State University suggests that teaching children to understand others' perspectives can make it easier for them to forgive. Children are more likely to forgive someone who has apologized and is part of their in-group. The study also highlights the importance of helping kids develop Theory of Mind skills...
Recent research shows differences in Russian and US approaches to emotion, with Russian parents reading stories featuring negative emotions to their children. This highlights cultural nuances in socializing emotions before school age.
Researchers analyzed historical data on games played by 25 cultures and found that cooperative games are more common in socially hierarchical cultures, while competitive games are prevalent in cultures with internal conflicts. The study suggests that games may mimic real-world behavior and help learn group norms.
A recent study reveals that child maltreatment is associated with altered oxytocin gene methylation, leading to atypical brain structures and function. This finding suggests a potential biological mechanism for targeting during adolescence to improve the lives of victims of childhood abuse.
A new study by Anglia Ruskin University found that individuals focused on their appearance are more prone to social physique anxiety, which leads to fear of negative evaluations and social distress in dating contexts. The research involved 501 young adults and discovered associations between body image attitudes and dating anxiety.
Researchers developed a new tool, PerCEIVED Task, to measure people's accuracy in recognizing emotion in elementary school-aged children. The study highlights the existence of emotional biases, such as incorrectly perceiving Black children as angry, and emphasizes the importance of asking children what they're feeling.
A five-year follow-up study found that alexithymia levels decrease significantly from adolescence to young adulthood. Consistency of alexithymia is associated with symptoms of depression and dissociation, while age-related decline in externally oriented thinking is also notable.
Adding more fruit and veggie side dishes resulted in a 24% increase in veggies and 33% more fruit, while substituting produce for other foods led to a 41% boost in veggies and 38% more fruit. The study suggests ways parents and caregivers can encourage healthy eating by experimenting with different fruits and vegetables.
Research finds that at-risk teen girls who have experienced sexual abuse are more likely to be cyberbullied and experience heightened offline sexual activities. Targeted intervention strategies using algorithm-based approaches could help these teens navigate the Internet safely.
A new study aims to reduce diabetes-related distress in young adults with T1D using telemedicine-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy. The study will recruit 150 participants aged 18-30 and evaluate its effectiveness in improving blood-sugar control.
A study published in Communications Biology reveals that chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes impairs working memory performance by altering the connection between key brain regions. Researchers found that areas critical for forming and retrieving memories were over-connected, leading to errors in remembering correct information.
A new study explores how young people who have attempted suicide use alcohol and other substances as a coping mechanism for emotional distress. The research highlights the 'double-edged sword' effect of these substances, contributing to both negative mental health outcomes and suicidal thoughts.
Researchers found that people expect good agents to be sensitive to intentions behind requests, while evil individuals are expected to be relatively insensitive. This study suggests that people's views of ordinary humans influence their expectations of supernatural characters.
A new study led by UCL researchers confirms that genetic inheritance has a significant impact on educational outcomes. However, the study also reveals that parent genes that aren't directly inherited can shape parents' education levels and subsequently influence their children's learning environment, affecting their academic success.
A new study by University of Houston researchers suggests that maximizing sleep can offer psychological benefit to adolescents in this at-risk group. The study found that experiences of neglect in childhood were associated with mental health symptoms, but this relation was weakened in the presence of high sleep duration.
New research published in eNeuro found that premature babies' brain connections at birth can predict their future emotional and social development. The study discovered a link between the strength of the uncinate fasciculus, a white matter tract involved in emotional regulation, and emotion moderation skills in preschoolers.
A new study found that depression and anxiety symptoms have doubled in children and adolescents globally during the pandemic. The study recommends prioritizing recovery planning now to mitigate sustained mental health effects.
A recent study reveals that colleges struggle to provide adequate mental health support to Asian and Latino students due to interdependent cultural values and shame. The study suggests that culturally tailored treatment services addressing these issues can improve help-seeking behaviors.