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Financial education may need to move beyond knowledge alone in the digital age

A Hiroshima University study finds that practical digital skills, positive financial attitudes, and self-protection are more consistently associated with lower old-age anxiety than traditional financial knowledge alone. The study suggests that financial education may need to move beyond knowledge alone in the digital age.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalInternational Journal of Financial Studies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 22, 2026

Gaming for well-being: New study links open-world games to lower loneliness and greater resilience

A new study published in JMIR Serious Games suggests that playing open-world adventure games can lower loneliness levels and increase stoicism in adults. The research found that specific types of games, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Yoshi's Crafted World, provide a 'digital diet' for emotional well-being.

SourceJMIR Publications·JournalJMIR Serious Games·TypeSurvey·DateJun 18, 2026

Cuddling cats might make us feel worse when under stress

Researchers found that interacting with pets during stressful moments does not reduce negative emotions and can even intensify them in cat owners. On the other hand, dog owners experienced improved emotional well-being when interacting with their dogs.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2026

CBT can help after a broken heart

A new study by Uppsala University researchers shows that internet-based CBT can significantly reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety in women with broken-heart syndrome, a condition often triggered by extreme stress. The treatment also helps patients better cope with emotions related to their illness.

SourceUppsala University·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 15, 2026

Youth-designed “blue-green” spaces boost resilience and mental wellness for Appalachian adolescents

A new study from Georgetown University's Berkley School of Nursing found that youth-led environmental design can foster a unique form of 'Situated Strength' among high school students in rural Appalachia. The project transformed an unused concrete pad into a multifunctional wellness space, supporting emotional regulation and resilience.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalProgress in Community Health Partnerships Research Education and Action·DateJun 15, 2026

How gun violence exposure drives racial health disparities

Researchers at Rutgers University found that higher exposure to gun violence among Black and Hispanic Americans explains persistent racial disparities in both general health and chronic health diagnoses. The study suggests that reducing gun violence exposure may be an important pathway for improving health equity in the US.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 15, 2026

Women with HIV are more likely to die from trauma than the virus

A new study by UC San Francisco found that women with HIV are more likely to die from preventable trauma-related conditions like substance use and mental illness. The researchers say these causes are largely missing from official death records, highlighting the need for broader goals in HIV care beyond just controlling the virus.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalJournal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes & Human Retrovirology·DateJun 12, 2026

Social media use linked to poorer mental health in early adolescence

Adolescents who spend at least two hours a day on social media are more likely to experience depressive symptoms and poorer wellbeing, with the strongest effects seen in girls aged 12–13 years. The study, which followed almost 1,200 children from age nine to 19, highlights the need for policies that reduce excessive screentime.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalThe Medical Journal of Australia·TypeObservational study·DateJun 11, 2026

Canada faces surge in social anxiety

A new Canadian study reveals that social anxiety disorder now affects nearly 1 in 7 adults, up from 8% in 2002. Young people are most at risk, and early life experiences, such as childhood trauma, and lack of social support play a significant role.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPsychiatry Research·TypeSurvey·DateJun 10, 2026

Girls are biggest consumers of anxiolytic and sedative drugs among adolescents in most European countries

A recent study published by the University of the Basque Country found that girls are the biggest consumers of psychotropic drugs among adolescents in most European countries. The research team analyzed data from 32 European countries and discovered a significant link between consumption rates, gender equality, and economic level.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalEuropean Journal of Public Health·DateJun 10, 2026

New Frontiers in Psychology study flips mental health paradigm: Proactive brain training builds community resilience before crisis hits

A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology reveals that proactive brain training can strengthen the human mind before mental health challenges take root. The research found that a five-minute daily training program delivered digitally can lower stress, lift mental health metrics, and improve cognitive clarity among adults with an...

SourceCenter for BrainHealth·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateJun 9, 2026

New bipartisan report finds that Americans share the same struggles despite deep political divides

A new bipartisan report from Tulane University's State of the Nation Project analyzes 4,000 indicators to provide a long-term progress report for each state. The report finds significant regional divides, with Southern states ranking low on trust in institutions and Mountain states having high levels of trust but low personal well-being.

SourceTulane University·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 6, 2026

Screens are rewriting childhood: a new framework says the developing brain integrates experience until age 25, with profound stakes for mental illness

A new framework, criticome, integrates experience until age 25, reframing autism, schizophrenia, depression, and trauma as developmental disorders. The study suggests that screen-saturated childhoods may produce adult dysfunction, highlighting the importance of early experience in brain development.

SourceGenomic Press·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 2, 2026

Addressing anxiety and depression in women

Women experience anxiety and depression at higher rates due to factors such as hormonal imbalances, violence, and discrimination. The authors advocate for evidence-based solutions like group therapy, telehealth, and policy changes to reduce women's stress, including paid maternal leave and financial support.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateJun 2, 2026

Poor sleep in middle-aged women is associated with lower psychological well-being nearly a decade later

A new study found that middle-aged women who experienced poor sleep problems had lower psychological well-being nine years later. The association remained significant even after adjusting for other health and lifestyle factors, suggesting that sleep may play an outsized role in how women feel and function later in life.

SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine·JournalSLEEP·TypeObservational study·DateJun 2, 2026

Study links childhood trauma and simultaneous substance use to higher rates of depression in college students

A study from Texas A&M University found a strong link between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms among college students. The study revealed that using multiple substances, particularly cannabis and stimulants, increases health risks and makes substance use disorders harder to treat.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalInternational Journal of Mental Health and Addiction·TypeSurvey·DateJun 2, 2026

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sufficient sleep protect mental health in middle age

A recent study published in Depression and Anxiety found that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sufficient sleep are crucial for protecting mental health in middle age. Replacing sedentary behavior with light activity produced smaller benefits compared to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, highlighting the importance of i...

SourceUniversity of Oulu, Finland·JournalDepression and Anxiety·DateJun 1, 2026

‘We cannot ban our way out of a youth mental health crisis’: social media bans for teenagers lack evidence and pose risks, scientists say

A study found that no social media restriction experiments have included people under the age of 16, making it impossible to know how bans will affect young people. Bans may also backfire by invading privacy, hurting marginalized people, and forcing teens to circumvent the ban.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Developmental Psychology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 29, 2026

Mount Sinai opens Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, a new model of coordinated care across the lifespan

The Mount Sinai Health System has opened the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, which brings together multidisciplinary clinical expertise, structured care pathways, and leading-edge research to deliver personalized, comprehensive care for women. The Center offers guided multi-visit experiences and coordinated care o...