Articles tagged with Social Relationships
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.
Researchers measured brain activity of freely interacting Egyptian fruit bats to understand how they process group communication. They found that 'friendlier' bats induced higher correlations across the brains of group members, suggesting a connection between social behavior and neural activity.
A new study found that changes in children's facial expressions of emotion after sleep restriction predict more social problems concurrently and over time. Emotional expression plays a crucial role in social communication, and poor sleep quality takes a toll on this aspect.
Researchers found that Disney films combine entertainment with life lessons about love, friendship, and social values. The study suggests using Disney movies as tools for parents to improve communication with children about difficult topics, such as death, loss, and acceptance of differences.
LSU Health has been awarded funding to support community health workers in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana, enabling them to serve as liaisons between healthcare services and under-resourced communities. The grants will promote health equity and provide essential public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A study published in Royal Society Open Science found that 10-year-old children follow social norms and reciprocate consideration from adults. Children of this age tend to behave more like adults, giving weight to adults' opinions if they are credited, whereas younger children trust their own decisions independently of adult behavior.
A study published in The Journal of Sex Research found that higher testosterone levels are associated with having multiple partners in men and solitary sexual activity in women. The research, which analyzed data from nearly 4,000 adults, highlights the complex relationship between hormones and human sexuality.
A Dartmouth study found that individuals who experienced higher levels of stress on a given day had lower social interaction the following day. The research used mobile phone sensing data from 99 undergraduate students and showed that stress predicted less social interaction, but not the other way around.
Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 women who dated or were married to incarcerated partners, analyzing the impact of courtesy stigma and women's coping strategies. The study found that despite disapproval from loved ones, women chose to remain in their relationships, highlighting benefits such as deeper communicat...
Research suggests that fostering positive workplace social relationships between men and women can improve gender equity and inclusion in STEM. Even small gestures of social inclusion, such as chatting with female teammates during breaks, can reduce stereotypes and increase feelings of engagement.
A new study suggests that COVID-19 transmission in Italy was more closely tied to the number of social contacts individuals had with people of all ages. Researchers found that Italian social networks were characterized by a higher average number of face-to-face interactions than those in Germany and the UK.
A team of researchers led by Christian Rabeling has discovered the origins and evolution of social parasitism in ants. The study reveals that social parasites evolved from an ancestor that lost the ability to establish new colonies independently, and that highly specialized parasites can evolve from less complex social parasite syndromes.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that Asian elephants successfully cooperated in 80% of trials, using strategies like fighting back or moving sides to prevent cheating. However, cooperation quickly broke down when one partner could monopolize the reward, revealing a complex dynamic in their social behavior.
A new study reveals that male giraffes have higher social connectedness than females, with males forming more acquaintances and older males having shorter social paths. This complexity could impact conservation efforts for endangered giraffes.
Researchers tracked 50 vampire bats, including those with social relationships, to find that they hunt together and coordinate their efforts. The study suggests that forming friendships in the roost can create more interdependence among socially bonded bats, increasing their success at obtaining blood meals.
A new study reveals evidence of beer drinking 9,000 years ago in southern China, with ancient pots found at a burial site containing residues consistent with beer fermentation. The discovery suggests that ritualized drinking played a significant role in forging social relationships and cooperation among ancient communities.
Researchers analyzed social media connections of over 4 million users across 10 countries, finding common characteristics and behaviors, including follow ratios and profile length. These findings can help tailor data analysis to cultural differences, improving marketing and information sharing.
A new study shows that having someone available to listen can improve cognitive resilience and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. The study found that individuals with higher listener availability had better cognitive function despite similar physical aging or disease-related changes.
New research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science reveals that men who express support for gender equality can significantly reduce women's anticipation of workplace harassment and hostility. The presence of an ally also increases feelings of identity-safety, such as a sense of belonging and trust in the group.
Research found that members of low-status groups endorse hierarchy-enhancing ideologies as an in-group status-enhancement strategy. This challenges previous assumptions on the motivations of disadvantaged groups.
Researchers studied how dominant and tolerant primate species communicate vocally. They found that more tolerant species use communication to achieve goals, while despotic species rely on aggression. The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, provides insights into the evolution of vocal communication in primates.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that a county's moral values, particularly binding values, can predict the prevalence of hate groups and extreme behavioral expressions of prejudice. The research used geospatial modeling and psychological experimentation to analyze data from over 3,100 US counties.
Hazem Abbas, a Ph.D. student at Tohoku University, Japan, received the IADR Lion Dental Research Award for his research on social determinants of health and their relation to oral health outcomes. The award aims to support improvements in oral health sciences through innovative research.
A new study reveals that inherited social networks passed from mothers to offspring are essential to spotted hyena life and survival. The strength of the maternal relationship affects social inheritance and is positively correlated with long-term survival for both mother and offspring.
A new study found that nearly 75 percent of research on relationship beginnings focused on romance between strangers, while only eight percent examined friendships-to-romance transitions. The study analyzed data from over 1,900 university students and crowdsourced adults, finding a strong correlation between friends-first initiation an...
A study by Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg found that relationship quality is associated with the subjective feeling of power, rather than a balanced distribution of positional power. Couples where both partners reported high personal power were more satisfied with their relationships.
A Washington State University study of over 700 young adults aged 18-25 found that those casually dating drank more than those in serious relationships or not interested in dating. This contrasts with previous research showing young adults in relationships tend to drink less.
Research found that captive pelicans bred successfully on repeated occasions when they were free to choose their own friendships. The flock formed a social structure, with sub-adults spending more time with each other than adults.
Research finds that supporting social hierarchies is associated with increased police use of force by White officers. Non-White officers show no significant correlation between social hierarchy support and force use.
Researchers are investigating how oxytocin and dopamine act in the brain's reward circuits to make social interactions rewarding for males and females. The project has the potential to provide new mechanisms for understanding well-known sex differences in neuropsychiatric disorders and spur the development of gender-specific treatments.
After Hurricane Maria, rhesus macaques in Puerto Rico expanded their social networks and became more tolerant of other individuals. The animals formed new connections, resulting in a more tolerant society as a whole.
A study by Jesús Bas and Núria Sebastián found that children recognize power and social hierarchies at a young age, with older children (18 months) exhibiting surprise when the person who yielded control sat in the chair. This suggests that children can infer social status without witnessing physical dominance.
Researchers observed a rare event in vampire bats, where a female bat adopted an unrelated orphan after her mate's death. The adoption demonstrated the importance of social relationships in these animals.
A study of over 2,700 women found that social support does not moderate the impact of stressful events on menopause symptoms. Women who experienced stressful events had a significant increase in symptoms, regardless of their level of social support.
Strong social bonds increase willingness to join others in battle, according to a study by Max Planck Institute researchers. The study found that males and females participate in battles, and that three factors – group size, maternal kin involvement, and non-kin social bond partners – increase the likelihood of participation.
A study by the University of Kent and Oxford found that fans of less successful Premier League teams have a stronger social bond with fellow fans, expressing greater willingness to sacrifice themselves for others. This loyalty is attributed to shared experiences of defeats and emotional difficulty, fusing fans to their club.
A 22-year study of red squirrels in the Yukon found that living near familiar neighbors increases survival and reproductive success. The benefits were especially pronounced in older squirrels, who could offset aging by maintaining all their neighbors.
Empathy and perspective-taking are two essential social skills that enable us to form connections with others. A recent study reveals that both abilities are processed in the brain by a 'main network' specialized in empathy or changing perspective, which is activated in every social situation.
A University of Illinois study found that rituals in dating relationships can magnify normative experiences and provide a preview into family life and couple life. Rituals have the power to bond individuals and serve as diagnostic tools for where the relationship is going.
A new UC Riverside study found that same-gender couples have higher-quality interactions both inside and outside their relationships compared to heterosexual couples. The study also showed that women in male-dominated relationships tend to have the largest social networks, while men with men have smaller ones.
A study found that social similarity reduces individual risk of suicide for those under 45 living with others who share similar characteristics, such as employment status and ethnicity. However, high ethnic homogeneity in isolated areas may increase suicide risk among specific populations.
The Raphael Project, a social incubator at Bar-Ilan University, has successfully addressed the most pressing health needs in Israel's Galilee region. Through academic-community partnerships, it has implemented various health-promoting activities, resulting in tangible improvements in health for disadvantaged populations.
Researchers found that early adversity in wild female baboons elevated glucocorticoid levels by up to 14% in adulthood. The study suggests that early experiences of adversity and social relationships have independent effects on adult stress responses.
A study of wild female baboons found that early life trauma had a significant negative impact on adult glucocorticoid concentrations, which are a measure of health. Despite having strong social relationships as adults, the stress hormone levels were still significantly higher in those who experienced trauma in early life.
The study reveals that human presence disrupts the complex social structures of Masai giraffe populations, leading to weaker relationship strengths and exclusive social associations. Giraffes living near humans have reduced social interactions and are more likely to encounter livestock and predators.
Researchers found that making the chase harder increased a potential mate's desirability, as those who are selective in their partner choices are perceived as more valued. Participants who exerted efforts to see a potential partner were also rated as more sexually desirable than those with little effort.
A German study found that social isolation is associated with a 44% increased risk of cardiovascular events and a 47% increased risk of death from all causes. Financial support is also linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events, highlighting the importance of social relationships for heart health.
A study in Scientific Reports suggests western gorillas may be territorial, with groups defending the centers of their home ranges against neighboring groups. The authors monitored eight groups across a 60 km2 area and found that gorillas tend to avoid feeding areas visited by other groups the previous day.
A new study found that vampire bats' social relationships change differently depending on the type of behavior and relationship. The lead author injected the bats with a bacterial extract to make them feel sick without harming their health, observing how it affected their social interactions.
Florida Scrub-Jays' social lives reveal that maintaining relationships is crucial for both breeders and helpers, reducing costs of territory defense and predation risk. The study shows that helpers associate with many more individuals than breeders, increasing the importance of connecting individuals in the social network.
A new study by University of Michigan researchers found that men who receive caregiving from their spouses are more prone to feeling guilty and depressed due to negative spousal exchanges. In contrast, wives in caregiving relationships show less susceptibility to these effects, suggesting a difference in gender dynamics.
A study by researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute found that vampire bats form lasting social bonds, even when released back into the wild. The bats' social networks were tracked using miniaturized computers weighing less than a penny, showing daily changes in their relationships.
Researchers found that vampire bats who shared food and groomed each other in captivity were more likely to stick together in the wild. The bonds made in captivity weren't just a byproduct of confinement, but rather a reflection of social preferences and environmental influences.
A meta-analysis of over two decades of research found a robust reciprocal link between positive relationships and self-esteem across the lifespan. The study analyzed 52 studies involving over 47,000 participants and found that both positive relationships and high self-esteem shape each other's development.
Children between 3-4 years old value generosity and benevolence as a general norm, while older children (5-6) develop a more complex concept of fairness that includes reciprocity. The study suggests that reciprocity norms are not fully developed until around age 5.
Young Asian elephant females are more likely to reproduce when living near a maternal sister, according to a study by the University of Turku. The presence of a maternal sister also improves annual female reproduction rates.
Research links poor social relationships to bone loss in postmenopausal women, suggesting that reducing negative interactions may limit bone loss and reduce fractures. High levels of psychosocial stress were associated with lower bone mineral density over six years.
A study of 34,776 Finnish vocational school students found that having a close friend or being involved in bullying behavior increased the likelihood of smoking. Adolescents with moderate or poor self-rated health were also more likely to smoke daily.
A new study by New York University researchers found that five-month-old infants can differentiate between laughter from friends and strangers. The ability to detect the nature of social relationships is thought to be an early emerging tool in human infancy, possibly due to a detection system using vocal cues.
A study of over 970 participants found that perceiving personal goals as attainable is crucial for later cognitive and affective well-being. Life goals also hold predictive power for specific domains, such as social relationships and health.