Articles tagged with Social Relationships
A new study on rhesus macaques reveals a strong link between social connections and the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria. Monkeys with more sociable behavior have a higher presence of microbes like Faecalibacterium, which has anti-inflammatory properties.
A study of 104 domestic pigs found that a bystander pig can intervene to reduce aggressor attacks or victim anxiety after conflict. Reconciliation behavior was more common among distantly related pigs, indicating they may prioritize social support over family ties.
A new study at Carnegie Mellon University found that group cohesion reduces whistleblowing tendencies within an organization but increases them outside of the group. This challenges prevailing views on whistleblowing and highlights the importance of considering relational dynamics in organizational interventions.
Researchers found that marital stress among younger adults (ages 18–55 years) is associated with poorer recovery after a heart attack. The study of over 1,593 participants showed that higher levels of marital stress were linked to reduced physical and mental health outcomes.
Researchers propose experience cocreation to transform shared coupons into a tool for relationship building, suggesting it can boost social goals and alleviate norm conflict. The study recommends three steps for managers to utilize social influence, including sending reminder messages that emphasize economic and social value.
A study of 16 cats found they can differentiate their owner's voice from a stranger's, even when tone is changed. This suggests that cats form strong bonds with their owners based on experience of the speaker's voice.
A study published in Body Image found that social media use is associated with lower appearance satisfaction. Engaging with content from friends and family was found to have a significantly stronger negative impact on appearance satisfaction compared to celebrities or influencers.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that high-status individuals in medieval Norway had higher bone mineral density and were taller than those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This suggests that socioeconomic status may have played a role in shaping health outcomes over time.
A new free guide, 'Cultivating Contact', offers insights on how people from different groups experience contact with each other and how social attitudes and behaviors can be transformed through these experiences. The 24-page booklet describes how to foster greater trust and belonging between people from different backgrounds.
A new study from the University of Surrey found that individuals who diet or use food as a tool for emotional management are more likely to display 'feeder behaviour' within relationships. This behaviour, where one person encourages their partner to overeat, can lead to weight gain and other health issues.
A recent study by the University of New Hampshire's Crimes against Children Research Center found that 16% of young adults in the US have experienced online sexual abuse before the age of 18. The study also revealed that 62% of perpetrators were acquaintances from their offline life, including current or former intimate partners.
Research shows that children learning to navigate complex social situations are often given mixed messages about honesty and dishonesty by their adult caregivers. The study found that adults judge blunt truth-tellers more harshly when they lie to be polite, but reward subtle truths that protect others.
Collaborations between firms with the same partner can hurt company success, but help employees develop social capital and advance their careers. Employees often benefit from these connections, which can lead to better job opportunities and skill development.
A new study found that babies born below the 25th percentile for birthweight are at a higher risk of developmental concerns compared to those born in the middle range. The researchers suggest that better birthweight surveillance and support during childhood may help reduce these risks.
Researchers aim to shift policing focus from law enforcement to building strong communities through situational policing. The approach considers connections within the community and collaboratively builds resources.
Researchers found that individuals with high allostatic load, a measure of chronic stress, were 2.4 times more likely to die from cancer than those with low loads. Adjusting for age, sex, and race, the risk increased to 28% for those with high allostatic load.
A decades-long study found that cash changed the Ju/’hoansi economy, allowing individuals to keep their earnings and fill their own needs. The study also revealed a decline in the traditional system of gifting and sharing, which had previously distributed possessions throughout communities.
Researchers captured mothers' experiences using documentary photography, revealing disempowerment, incongruent systems, and the need for relational support to aid recovery. Positive relationships with others in the recovery community were noted sources of support.
Researchers documented social ties between individual chimpanzees and gorillas that persisted over years and across different contexts. The study found enhanced foraging opportunities to be a key benefit of interspecies social interactions, with apes sharing knowledge of diverse plant species.
A study by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the Technical University of Dresden investigates why many people choose not to read their Stasi files. The researchers found that the majority of reasons for deliberate ignorance include concerns about social relationships, mistrust in information accuracy, and a desire to a...
Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University identified a novel neural pathway in the brain that processes touch information, which plays a crucial role in social behavior. The thalamo-hypothalamic neural pathway uses PTH2 as a neurotransmitter and facilitates friendly social interactions between rats.
A new study by St. Edward’s University, University of Mississippi, and University of Texas at Austin finds that female executives focus on customer relationships to a greater degree than their male counterparts, leading to more customer-oriented discussions in the C-suite. The researchers examine 389 Fortune 500 firms over six years an...
A majority of early career scientists from underrepresented backgrounds experience psychological distress due to social unrest caused by systemic racism. However, the study found that mentoring relationships have a positive impact on their well-being.
A study of 641 participants found that midlife and older Hispanic/Latinx adults were more likely to experience prolonged loneliness, with 16% persistently lonely. The researchers suggest that culturally important familism was disrupted by social distancing, and reduced access to transportation and community activities may contribute to...
A study by University of Eastern Finland explores the role of self-disclosure in forging long-term B2B customer relationships. Sales professionals disclose personal and company information, leading to deeper relationships with increased trust, communication, and shared goals.
A study from the Alpha Generation Lab found that hyperactive children are more likely to use digital devices, while fidgety children may be more prone to social problems. The researchers suggest a two-way street where digital devices and behavior problems influence each other.
Researchers found that adult female capuchin monkeys who are well-integrated into social networks with other females survive longer. In contrast, heterosexual relationships showed no survival-related benefits to females, but may still provide benefits for some individuals in specific circumstances. The study also reveals complex behavi...
A recent study highlights uncomfortable social situations people with blindness face, as well as strategies they use to navigate them. Researchers found techniques for avoiding awkward encounters, recovering from them, and even constructive ways allies can support individuals with visual impairment.
A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association finds that social isolation and loneliness are associated with a 30% increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Younger adults, including Gen Z, experience increased social isolation and loneliness due to higher social media use and less in-person engagement.
Researchers found that while short-term success is linked to narcissism and psychopathy, Machiavellianism leads to long-term benefits. High network reach efficiency also enhances performance for dark salespeople.
A study by the OPik group found that job insecurity is significantly associated with poor mental health in both men and women. The study's findings suggest that wage level and vulnerability are key factors in this relationship.
A new study found that experiencing the death of a spouse due to COVID-19 may be worse for mental health than deaths from other causes. People who lost a spouse to COVID-19 were more likely to report symptoms of depression and loneliness. The study underscores the ongoing health risks posed by the pandemic, even to those who have not b...
Newborn marmosets practice face and mouth movements needed to call for help before birth. Human-like crying movements have been observed in the womb, suggesting a potential link between primate and human vocal development.
A new curriculum called Relationships Decoded shows promise in teaching adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities about healthy romantic relationships and preventing sexual abuse. The program, tested with diverse professionals from California, improves knowledge and understanding of social-sexual relationships.
Researchers at University of Essex found no benefit from oxytocin administration on healthy men's ability to recognize emotions. Computer-based emotional training programs proved more effective in improving emotion recognition and mental health.
Researchers found that mere exposure to a human-like robot is not enough to make people believe it is capable of thoughts and emotions. Human-like behavior is crucial for being perceived as an intentional agent. The study aims to inform the design of social robots in the future.
A new theory suggests that lack of perceived safety in marginalized communities can have a direct impact on physical and mental health. This concept challenges decades-old thinking that minority stress is the primary cause of health disparities in the LGBTQ community.
Researchers found no association between social behavior and parasite infection in Asian elephants, despite studying three key aspects of their social life. The study suggests that social benefits may outweigh the costs of sociality for these animals.
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.
A new study suggests that losing a grandmother may have a significant impact on adolescent boys, leading to a 50% increase in depressive symptoms. The researchers also found that the loss of a grandparent can be a risk factor for teen depression and other negative outcomes.
Researchers developed an algorithm to improve matching efficiency, considering user preferences and behavior. The new algorithm shows improved results in field experiments, with at least 27% more matches than the current one.
A new study found that teaching affirmative sexual consent and validating anxieties around consent communication improves relationships and wellbeing. Researchers identified barriers such as shame and guilt, but also found that discussing consent can enhance the relationship, create a safe context, and clarify expectations.
A new study found a bi-directional relationship between gastrointestinal issues and internalized symptoms in children with autism, highlighting the importance of the gut-brain axis. The research aims to develop personalized treatments for individuals with autism experiencing gastrointestinal problems.
A UTD professor's study found that men's rudeness toward others, including women, can obscure the recognition of sexism. The study suggests that a perception of gender blindness can lead observers to view the perpetrator as not sexist, even when they are displaying sexist behavior.
Researchers found that rhesus macaques with more grooming partners had larger brain areas for social decision-making and empathy, specifically the mid–superior temporal sulcus (STS) and ventral-dysgranular insula. The study suggests that social connections influence brain structure in nonhuman primates, with possible implications for h...
A new study by Penn State researchers found that engaging in meaningful and challenging activities during free time can significantly reduce people's loneliness and increase their positive feelings. The researchers identified that flow, a state of being fully engaged and focused on an activity, is crucial to reducing loneliness.
Research by the University of Bath found that weaver birds eating seeds live in colonies and have polygamous breeding, while those eating insects are solitary and monogamous. The study statistically supports an ecological hypothesis on social behavior first proposed 58 years ago.
Researchers found that forced proximity increased social grooming in random pairs of vampire bats, which persisted for over two months. The study suggests a causal relationship between being forced into close proximity and forming preferences for each other, echoing the human experience of college roommates.
A new study found associations between older adults' personality traits and their satisfaction with life, income, and leisure after exiting the workforce. Conscientiousness was linked to increased satisfaction with leisure time, while extraversion was associated with lower satisfaction in some cases.
Researchers at the University of Bristol found that male bottlenose dolphins rely on vocal exchanges, including whistling, to maintain weaker yet vital social relationships. This study supports the social bonding hypothesis and suggests that vocal exchanges can serve a bonding function.
A new study by MIT scholars confirms that physical proximity plays a crucial role in workplace collaboration. The study found that email exchanges occur more often among researchers whose workspaces are connected through indoor halls rather than outdoor paths.
Couples who pool their finances exhibit better connections and more positive interactions, according to Cornell University research. Low-income couples tend to benefit most from combining bank accounts, aligning financial interests and goals.
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 study found that Asian elephant males experience increased stress when alone or in male-dominated groups, while females show lower stress when accompanied by babies. The researchers also discovered that social bonds play a crucial role in regulating stress hormone levels in these animals.
A study found that adolescents with insecure toddler-mother attachment overestimate the trustworthiness of strangers and have reduced brain activity when viewing untrustworthy faces. Securely attached youth, on the other hand, are more open to processing negative social cues.
A new study by Bar-Ilan University researchers found that choosing to be with others is more consequential to well-being than choosing to be alone. Participants reported higher satisfaction and happiness when with others, but also experienced lower well-being in situations not chosen by themselves.
A recent survey of British academics reveals that significant political transformations like Brexit can negatively affect employee wellbeing, particularly when perceived as threatening rather than challenging. The study emphasizes the importance of job security and quality of co-worker relationships in maintaining personal wellbeing.
Researchers found that mindfulness meditation can reduce feelings of guilt and lead to less generous behavior in social situations. However, it may also cause individuals to focus outward on others rather than inwardly considering their own emotions.
A Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare study found that people's ability to lead their lives, strive for important things, and make decisions supporting well-being is linked to manageable life circumstances, financial resources, sense of belonging, equal opportunities, and experiencing meaning. Social security provides faith in the...
An analysis of over 11,000 older Japanese adults found that current dog owners were approximately half as likely to have a disability. Regular exercise among dog owners further reduced the risk. In contrast, cat ownership showed no association with increased or decreased disability risk.