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Friendly teasing or traumatic bullying? Homophobic name-calling leaves scars

A new study found that homophobic name-calling, even from friends, has a negative impact on teenagers' mental health, including depressive symptoms and decreased sense of belonging. The research highlights the importance of clear anti-bullying policies, teacher education, and supportive interventions to prevent such behavior.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalJournal of School Violence·TypeSurvey·DateJul 5, 2023

People in power who are guilt-prone are less likely to be corrupt

A study by UC Santa Barbara psychology professor Hongbo Yu found that individuals prone to guilt in their everyday lives are less likely to take bribes. The research suggests that anticipatory guilt may make people think twice before engaging in corrupt behavior, particularly when they can see the potential harm to others.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateJun 26, 2023

Walkable neighborhoods help adults socialize, increase community

A study published in Health & Place found that walkable neighborhoods foster social interactions with neighbors, promoting a sense of community. Researchers analyzed data from 1,745 adults living in Seattle, Baltimore, and Washington D.C., revealing that these environments encourage active behaviors like walking and socializing.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalHealth & Place·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 20, 2023

The evolution of societal cooperation

Researchers developed a model that considers multiple coexisting social norms and studied how these norms might compete as individuals learn from one another. Key findings include the success of 'stern judging' in promoting cooperation, particularly in situations where individuals show a preference for interacting within their own group.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 8, 2023

Couples’ social networks took long-lasting hit during COVID

The study found that COVID-19 lockdowns led to significant declines in face-to-face and virtual interactions among couples, particularly among lower-income and Latino/Black couples. These declines persisted even after vaccines became available and restrictions were lifted. The researchers highlight the need for public health measures t...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateJun 2, 2023

Discovery of neurons that recognize others

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science have identified specific neurons in the hippocampus that allow us to recognize individual social counterparts and update their value through interactions. The dorsal CA1 region plays a crucial role in this process, enabling long-term memories of individuals to be formed.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 1, 2023

Adult friendships can triumph over childhood trauma, even in baboons

A new study of nearly 200 baboons in southern Kenya found that adversity early in life can take years off their lifespan, but strong social bonds with other baboons in adulthood can help get them back. Baboons who formed stronger social connections added 2.2 years to their lives, no matter what they had faced when they were younger.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 17, 2023

The most tenuous group query

The study develops three exact algorithms and one approximation algorithm to identify tenuous groups, outperforming existing metrics in efficiency and accuracy. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods on real datasets.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Computer Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2023

The science of attraction: why do we fall for certain people?

A Boston University-led study discovered that self-essentialist reasoning plays a crucial role in attraction. When individuals assume others share an underlying essence, they're more likely to form connections with them. However, this flawed thinking can restrict who we find attractive, as it's based on superficial similarities.

SourceBoston University·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 11, 2023

“Concerning” anxiety levels among women in farming linked with isolation, financial worries and workload

A recent study found concerning levels of anxiety among female farmers in England and Wales, with factors including financial pressures, workload, and isolation contributing to moderate to severe anxiety. The research also highlights the need for greater support and social connections to improve mental health in this group.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Agromedicine·DateMay 3, 2023

What happens when teens privately ask for help on Instagram?

A study by Drexel University and Vanderbilt University analyzed 82 relevant conversations on Instagram direct messages where teens asked for help, revealing that most disclosures were about mental health concerns. Support was offered in most cases, but specific sets of circumstances led to denial.

SourceDrexel University·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 26, 2023

Better social drinkers don’t earn more

A study of working men in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea found that alcohol-tolerant individuals do not earn more than their intolerant colleagues. Despite the cultural pressure to drink, better social drinkers did not experience a wage premium in terms of working hours or earnings.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalHealth Economics·TypeSurvey·DateApr 25, 2023

Study shows human tendency to help others is universal

A new study found that people of diverse cultures, including those from England, Italy, Poland, and Russia, tend to help others in everyday life. The researchers analyzed video recordings of social interactions in 350 individuals from eight languages and cultures and found that the human tendency to help others is a universal principle.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateApr 19, 2023

Wellbeing-related factors linked with EU economic growth

A new study reveals that certain wellbeing-related factors, such as household income, internet access, and air pollution levels, are associated with economic growth in European Union countries. Western Europe's strong link to economic growth is attributed to disposable household income, inter-regional mobility, and housing, whereas Cen...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateApr 19, 2023

Study finds disparate gender differences in victims of child sex trafficking

The study reveals that female youth charged with prostitution had significantly higher prevalence rates of physical abuse and lower likelihood of living with parents, while males were more likely to live with their parents. Education and training are crucial for professionals to identify sex trafficking victimization and reduce misiden...

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalVictims & Offenders·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 11, 2023

Teens who trust online information find it less stressful

Cornell University researchers found that teens' trust in COVID-19 news on social media is key to their well-being. Higher levels of trust are linked to a positive sense of social well-being and lower levels can lead to stress. News literacy programs are crucial for young people to discern fact-based sources from misinformation.

SourceCornell University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 5, 2023

The past and future of gender research in marketing – and its relevance to contemporary societies

A new study examines how socialization impacts gender-based research in marketing, finding that most studies focus on differences between men and women, with few exploring social construction of gender experiences and identities. Researchers recommend more diverse and inclusive methods to reflect current gender expressions.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateApr 4, 2023

Research shows link between child emotional difficulties and family strain during coronavirus lockdowns

A new study found that coronavirus lockdowns led to increased emotional and behavioral difficulties in children, particularly those with families experiencing co-habitation issues. Caregivers in Turkey reported higher levels of worry about COVID-19 infection, yet showed lower family co-existence difficulties.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPsychological Reports·TypeSurvey·DateMar 22, 2023

Attending live sport improves wellbeing – study

New research by Anglia Ruskin University found that attending live sporting events boosts life satisfaction and sense of life being worthwhile, while reducing loneliness. The study used data from over 7,200 adults living in England and suggests that watching live sport can be an effective public health tool.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·DateMar 17, 2023

Sexual minority families fare as well as, and in some ways better than, ‘traditional’ ones

A pooled data analysis of 16 studies found that most family outcomes were similar between sexual minority and different sex parent families, with some advantages in child psychological adjustment and child-parent relationships. However, risk factors such as stigma and discrimination can negatively impact family outcomes.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Global Health·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 6, 2023

Targeting wealth managers would cripple Russia's oligarchs

A new study by Dartmouth College researchers finds that sanctions on wealth managers would be more effective than asset seizure in crippling Russia's oligarchs. The research uses network science to map the connections between wealthy individuals and their financial experts, revealing a vulnerable network that can be disrupted with targ...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 28, 2023

Satisfying mid-life relationships linked to lower multiple chronic disease risk in older age

Research published in General Psychiatry found that satisfying mid-life relationships are linked to a lower risk of accumulating multiple long-term conditions in older age. The study, which included 13,714 Australian women, suggests that stronger social connections and higher relationship satisfaction are associated with a lower risk o...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalGeneral Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 21, 2023

Out with the old, in with the new? Exploring differences in elite mobility during the Meiji Restoration

A new study by Tokyo University of Science researchers examines the connection between political regime changes and social mobility during the Meiji Restoration. The results show that social mobility increased before the consolidation of a new political power, with meritocracy playing a key role in this period.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalBritish Journal of Sociology·TypeLiterature review·DateFeb 13, 2023

ChatGPT can (almost) pass the US Medical Licensing Exam

A study published in PLOS Digital Health found that ChatGPT scored between 52.4% and 75.0% on the USMLE exams, exceeding the passing threshold of approximately 60%. The model demonstrated high concordance rates and produced significant insights for most responses.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Digital Health·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 9, 2023

Copy-cat? Youth with few friends conform to stay in a friend’s ‘good graces’

Researchers found that children with fewer friends are more susceptible to influence from partners who have more friends, promoting compatibility and reducing dissimilarity. Conformity helps preserve existing friendships by strengthening similarities and reducing potential sources of conflict.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 7, 2023

Being married may help people maintain lower blood sugar levels

A study published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care found that married individuals tend to have lower average glycemic levels compared to those without a partner. The researchers also discovered that marital transitions, such as divorce, can significantly impact blood glucose levels and the risk of pre-diabetes.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 6, 2023

Tracking online hate speech that follows real-world events

A machine-learning analysis of 59 million online posts reveals associations between real-world events and various types of hate speech, including anti-immigration and LGBTQ-related slurs. The study suggests a complex relationship between triggering events and online hate speech, with potential implications for mitigating such speech.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateJan 25, 2023

Reading project which pairs old and young boosts wellbeing among children and the elderly, analysis shows

A reading project that pairs school-age children with older adults has been found to boost wellbeing among both groups. The Silver Stories programme built relationships between generations and helped children develop social skills and confidence, while also fighting loneliness for listeners.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalCambridge Journal of Education·TypeObservational study·DateJan 16, 2023

Adult children get less support in separated families

A recent study by North Carolina State University found that adult children in separated families receive substantially less emotional, material, and instrumental support from their parents. This often results in disadvantages for these children due to limited access to resources. The study also highlights the importance of providing a...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Family Research·TypeObservational study·DateJan 10, 2023

The value of people’s values: Study shows how relational values contribute towards sustainability

A new study from Ritsumeikan University reveals the essential role of relational values in people's readiness to participate in and support sustainable social-ecological system (SES) management. The research shows that integrating relational values into SES management plans can promote pro-SES behavior among people.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeSurvey·DateDec 15, 2022

Children and young people need lessons in building strong relationships to counteract negative role models and “Disneyfied” portrayals of love, experts say

A new study suggests that schools should incorporate relationship education to promote good health and wellbeing. Experts argue that children need to learn how to build and sustain strong partnerships, managing expectations and conflict, to prevent public health problems such as alcohol misuse and poor mental health.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBMC Public Health·TypeSurvey·DateDec 15, 2022

Female monkeys ‘actively reduce’ social network as they age

Researchers found that female rhesus macaques become increasingly selective in their social interactions as they get older, focusing on relatives and established friendships. This trend suggests that females play an active role in shaping their social networks, rather than being shunned by society.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateNov 30, 2022

Guess Who? Chimpanzee faces reveal family relationships

Researchers discovered that wild chimpanzees exhibit facial similarities with their family members, especially as they age. The study found that adult chimpanzees were the easiest to match, while younger infants and males were more challenging, suggesting different pressures on biological family resemblance in these species.

SourceUniversity of St. Andrews·JournalJournal of Comparative Psychology·DateNov 24, 2022

Feeling lonely? What we want from our relationships can change with age

Researchers discovered that older adults have specific relationship expectations, such as feeling respected and contributing to their community. Failing to account for these expectations can lead to loneliness in later life. The study aims to better understand the factors driving loneliness to address it effectively.

SourceDuke University·JournalPerspectives on Psychological Science·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 14, 2022