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Life’s stresses can make people focus more on their romantic partner’s negative behavior

A new study found that individuals experiencing stressful life events are more likely to notice their spouse's negative behavior, such as breaking promises or showing anger. This shift in focus can have a toll on the relationship, even during the 'honeymoon' phase.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 26, 2022

An engaging leadership style may boost employee engagement

A longitudinal study found that supervisors perceived as engaged leaders enhanced employee engagement via boosted personal psychological resources and team effectiveness. Engaged leaders also fostered a shared perception of available resources, leading to improved job performance.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateJun 29, 2022

The yin and yang of empathy

A team of researchers at Kyoto University found that social ties can have a bipolar effect on relationships, with positive interactions strengthened by negative ones. Cognitive flexibility may help mitigate the dark side of social ties, such as empathic distress and stigma-related anxiety.

SourceKyoto University·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 24, 2022

Relationships are best between people of similar desirability, study finds

A new study from the University of Missouri found that Himba pastoralists in Namibia are more likely to form long-lasting relationships with others who share similar desirable traits. This suggests that people's actual preferences may differ from their stated desires, and that similarity in desirability is key to successful relationships.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalScience Advances·TypeSurvey·DateJun 21, 2022

Physicists unify sociological theories that explain social stability

Researchers from the Complexity Science Hub Vienna propose that homophily, or interacting with like-minded individuals, automatically leads to social balance and stability. They demonstrate this using data from the Massive Multiplayer Online Game Pardus, where players tend to form friendships with those who share similar characteristics.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 3, 2022

Perceived fragile masculinity stifles sexual satisfaction and honest communication, study finds

A new study finds that when women perceive their partner's sense of masculinity as fragile, they are more likely to fake orgasms and experience lower sexual satisfaction. This phenomenon is linked to anxiety and poorer communication in relationships. Women may prioritize protecting their partners' manhood over their own needs.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 31, 2022

The health of homeless people improves with socialisation

A new study from the University of the Basque Country found that social interaction and contact with family members have a significant positive impact on homeless people's perception of their health. Conversely, longer periods of homelessness and reduced social connections are associated with poorer health perceptions.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateDec 3, 2021

Appearance fixation linked to dating anxiety

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.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalBody Image·DateNov 4, 2021

How a natural disaster can bring couples closer

A new study found that couples in the Houston area experienced a significant increase in relationship satisfaction after Hurricane Harvey, despite previous research suggesting stress spillover would decrease satisfaction. The researchers discovered that those who were unhappy before the hurricane saw the largest jumps in satisfaction.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalPsychological Science·TypeSurvey·DateOct 26, 2021

Relational mobility may influence your interpersonal behaviors

A large-scale analysis found higher relational mobility in North America, Europe, and Latin America compared to Asia and the Middle East, associated with increased personal self-esteem, closeness in friendship, and proactive behavior. Societal threats and subsistence style also influenced relational mobility scores.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2018

Psychology research offers 20 strategies for staying upbeat, coping with stress during holidays, everyday life

Psychology research offers 20 strategies for managing negative emotions, including reminding oneself of positive aspects, helping others, and focusing on happiness through a ratio of positive to negative emotions. Researchers like Randy Larsen emphasize the importance of looking beyond negative mental health topics.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalPsychological Inquiry·DateDec 17, 2000

Marriage, alcohol and violence

Research from the Buffalo Newlywed Study suggests that excessive alcohol use can lead to marital aggression, but only within a specific context. The study found that different drinking patterns by husband and wife can be an additional source of conflict. Verbal aggression in the first year of marriage often develops into physically agg...

Accuracy of adult memories of childhood is no greater than chance

Researchers at Northwestern University found that adult memories of childhood events and relationships are no more accurate than chance, contradicting the idea that memory is a continuous tape. The study's findings have important implications for psychiatrists and mental health professionals who rely on patient reports.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateMay 31, 2000

No association between the serotonin transporter gene regulatory region polymorphism and the tridimensional personality questionaire (TPQ) of harm avoidance

Researchers found no association between a serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and the tridimensional personality questionnaire's harm avoidance dimension. The study included 120 normal adult volunteers and explored relationships between the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and various personality dimensions, including novel...

Childhood Sex Abuse Impacts Adult Relationships

A new study from Cornell University finds that college women who experienced childhood sexual abuse tend to have less secure and trusting relationships with their partners. The researchers also found that the quality of a girl's childhood attachment to her primary caregivers plays a significant role in mitigating the long-term negative...