Articles tagged with Developmental Psychology
A new study reveals that young adults look and feel older on stressful days, especially when they lack control over their lives. Researchers found a significant correlation between stress levels and subjective age in younger adults.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that guided parent-child discussions addressing subtle racism significantly reduced anti-Black bias in both parents and children. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of 'color conscious' conversations in mitigating racial prejudice.
A new study found that genetic factors contribute around 33% to the variation in levels of trust among individuals, while life circumstances such as age, health, and relationship status also increase trust. The research used twin studies to disentangle genetic and environmental influences on trust.
A new UK study provides insight into the diversity of neurodivergent experiences among adults. The research found significant overlap in characteristics between different neurodevelopmental conditions, as well as distinctive traits associated with each condition. This study offers a framework for examining neurodiversity across the who...
A new report from the Association for Psychological Science finds that youth who receive therapy, life-skills training, and other rehabilitative help are less likely to reoffend than those who face legal punishment. The study suggests that minimizing formal processing and expanding diversion programs can improve community safety.
A study found that younger children trust an inaccurate human informant more than an inaccurate robot informant, while older kids distrust both. Children's selective trust strategies evolve as they get older.
A study by Dr Lixin Ren found that extracurricular activities have a limited impact on math skills in preschool children, with effects dependent on behavioral regulation and approaches to learning. For children with poor self-regulation skills, structured activities can improve early math skills.
Research from the University of East Anglia found that children who are too short for their age can suffer reduced cognitive ability due to differences in brain function as early as six months. The study discovered a link between stunted growth and disrupted visual working memory, making them more easily distracted.
Children diagnosed with ADHD at a young age are just as likely to retain the diagnosis in adulthood as their older peers, according to a new study. The research, which examined data from over 6,500 patients globally, suggests that the youngest children in class are not more likely to lose the diagnosis over time.
A new study by Uppsala University found that pre-school children aged 3–6 years can describe their feelings and family relationships in detail. The research suggests that children seek comfort from others when experiencing conflicts with parents, but also have positive experiences of making up after a fight.
A recent study found that Black adolescents are underrepresented in suicide research, with only 13% inclusion rate. Another study suggests cultural consensus modeling can elevate Black youth's voices and improve prevention strategies.
A study of over 460,000 participants found life satisfaction decreases between puberty and old age, but remains stable until 70. Positive emotional states decrease from childhood to late adulthood, while negative emotional states fluctuate less.
Researchers at UCSF Health found a way to help teens adjust to their natural sleep-cycle rhythms while fulfilling school responsibilities. The Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention showed significant improvements in depression symptoms, especially among night-owl adolescents.
A new study examines the association between impulsivity and suicidal risk in Black emerging adults, finding that mindfulness may be a key buffer against negative consequences. The research suggests that mindfulness can help mitigate suicidal ideation by reducing impulsivity, offering hope for improved mental health outcomes.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that child language development and language evolution share a common cognitive foundation, based on a core knowledge base. The team built a computational model that predicts word meaning extension patterns across languages and time scales, highlighting the role of visual, associative,...
Research by the American Psychological Association found that high-quality child care in early childhood is associated with better school readiness and later STEM achievement. Children from low-income backgrounds who received sensitive and responsive caregiving did better in STEM subjects in high school.
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 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...
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.
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.