Articles tagged with Developmental Psychology
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.
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.
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.
Researchers at Brown University introduce 'dignity neuroscience,' arguing that universal rights are rooted in human brain science. The concept posits five core elements - agency, autonomy, and self-determination; freedom from want and fear; uniqueness; and unconditionality - which reflect fundamental features of the human brain.
Researchers investigated how to measure joint attention in young infants who cannot yet talk. The study revealed low agreement among raters in assigning looks from infants to their mothers, challenging the idea that quality of infant looks can be reliably distinguished as a marker of joint attention.
Researchers developed a smart electronic platform to monitor mental wellbeing between doctor visits, using facial cues, voice patterns, and vital signs sensors. The technology provides continuous access to patient variables and status, enabling care teams to reach out to patients in need.
An international team found a link between subtle differences in adolescent brain shape and psychosis development, with those at high risk showing widespread lower cortical thickness. This discovery could contribute to earlier detection and treatment of psychosis.
Researchers found continuous declines in positive emotions among astronauts at two Antarctic stations, without a bounce-back effect after returning home. Positive emotions such as satisfaction and enthusiasm are crucial for thriving in high-pressure settings, and interventions targeting these may reduce psychological risk.
Research by Orygen found that young 'night owls' have significantly higher negative psychotic symptoms. The study suggests a link between sleep disturbance, chronotype, and psychotic symptoms, highlighting the importance of early identification and intervention.
Researchers at RCSI will use the grant to confirm their previous findings and study markers in other people at high risk of psychosis. The goal is to develop a commercially-available test to identify individuals most at risk and prevent psychotic disorders.
A recent study published in Psychological Science found that marriage to a spouse with a history of parental alcohol misuse increases the likelihood of developing alcohol use disorder. The research suggests that it's not the spouse's genetic makeup but rather their upbringing by an AUD-affected parent that influences this risk.
Researchers identified reduced functional connectivity between the cerebellum and extrastriate cortex in FMR1 premutation carriers, which may serve as an early emerging indicator of FXTAS. This biomarker could help predict who among FMR1 carriers will develop characteristic symptoms before they appear.
Psychologists at University of Münster developed a model of psychological factors that hinder or aid refugee integration. The PARI model considers both refugees' subjective experiences and host society's reactions to migration.
A new analysis found little evidence of negative impacts on parenting from smartphone use. At low levels of displacing family time, more smartphone use was associated with better parenting.
A study found that early marriage can exacerbate risky alcohol use among individuals with a high genetic predisposition, contradicting the traditional view of marriage as a protective factor. The research suggests that early life events may not be as protective against poor mental and physical health outcomes as previously thought.
A novel imaging marker has been developed to help diagnose and treat schizophrenia, using abnormal striatal function as a promising biomarker. The study, published in Nature Medicine, shows that this biomarker can distinguish between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, while also predicting treatment response.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that hemp plants' propensity to become unusable due to high THC levels is determined by genetics, not environmental factors. The team discovered a correlation between the plants' genetics and chemical production, providing new insights into breeding low-THC hemp varieties.
New research at La Trobe University has identified genetic variations that determine the effects of methamphetamine in the brain. These findings may lead to new therapies for people affected by long-term methamphetamine use, which can cause psychosis similar to schizophrenia.
A recent study has concluded that the Micro-Expressions Training Tool (METT), used to train airport personnel, fails to improve lie detection rates. METT-trained individuals performed no better than those who received bogus or no training, and even worse than chance, suggesting that its effectiveness is limited.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that refugees may be at higher risk of developing nonaffective psychosis, including several types of schizophrenia, compared to natives or nonrefugee migrants in host countries. The study analyzed data from over 540,000 refugees in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Canada.
Researchers developed a machine-learning method to quantify semantic richness of conversational language, predicting psychosis with high accuracy. They analyzed sound-related words and low semantic density, detecting hidden patterns in people's language predictive of psychosis.
A longitudinal study by psychologists at the University of Jena found that proximity to emotionally important people is crucial for creating a strong regional identity. The research suggests that moving away from such social contacts can lead to dissatisfaction and a loss of sense of belonging.
A team of researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München conducted a study on human perception and behavior towards robots. They found that when robots are humanized through anthropomorphic features, participants are less likely to sacrifice them to save human lives.
A research team studied how children draw themselves and found that their expressiveness varies based on the audience's authority and familiarity. The study involved 175 children aged eight and nine, who were asked to draw three pictures of themselves - a baseline, happy, and sad drawing.