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Managing stress with food and alcohol consumption connected with faster lifelong weight gain

A 30-year follow-up study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare found that eating as a means of stress management is correlated with higher body weight, while alcohol consumption is associated with higher weight in middle age. Stress-induced eating is more common among women due to cultural pressures to reduce weight.

SourceFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare·JournalPsychology and Health·TypeObservational study·DateApr 17, 2023

Teachers who struggle to cope with stress report far lower job satisfaction, MU study finds

A new study found that teachers who struggle to cope with stress report far lower job satisfaction compared to those who manage their pressure effectively. The research highlights the importance of identifying and adopting healthy coping mechanisms to prevent teacher burnout, which contributes to many teachers leaving the profession.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalPsychology in the Schools·TypeSurvey·DateApr 10, 2023

Latinx students reported higher depression and anxiety symptoms than other students during the pandemic

A new study finds that Latinx students experienced higher rates of depression and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a risk of 1.5 to 2 times more likely than their peers. The study highlights the need for practical and efficacious programs to address the mental health needs of adolescents in school settings.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology·DateMar 31, 2023

Positive experiences in close relationships are associated with better physical health, new research suggests

A new study suggests that positive experiences in close relationships are associated with lower stress, better coping, and lower systolic blood pressure reactivity. The findings also indicate that variability in negative relationship experiences can predict outcomes like stress and physiological functioning.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeSurvey·DateMar 27, 2023

Debunking pain myths could help teens recover faster

A world-first study from the University of South Australia is providing valuable insights into how young people understand chronic pain, potentially helping thousands of sufferers to better manage their symptoms and long-term wellbeing. Researchers found that young people tend to make sense of chronic pain by explaining it as a softwar...

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalEuropean Journal of Pain·TypeCase study·DateMar 15, 2023

Home-based cardiac rehabilitation may help people live longer

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that participating in home-based cardiac rehabilitation was associated with a 36% lower likelihood of death from heart-related complications among US military veterans within four years. The study analyzed data from 1,120 veterans who enrolled in a 12-week hom...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMar 1, 2023

Psychedelics may help people reinvent themselves

Researchers found that psychedelics combined with talk therapy can help people see themselves as nonsmokers, leading to a higher success rate in quitting smoking. The study suggests that psychedelics can reshape self-perceptions to help break free from old habits and addictions.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalKennedy Institute of Ethics Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 24, 2023

Self-help metacognitive therapy – which aims to reduce rumination – significantly reduces anxiety and depression symptoms in recovering heart disease patients, according to new randomized controlled trial

A new randomized controlled trial found that self-help metacognitive therapy significantly reduces anxiety and depression symptoms in recovering heart disease patients. The study suggests this treatment approach may be beneficial for individuals with cardiovascular disease who struggle with rumination.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 31, 2023

More thankful, less stressed?

Researchers found that state gratitude predicts lower systolic blood pressure responses throughout the stress-testing period, indicating a unique stress-buffering effect. Affect balance amplifies the effects of state gratitude, suggesting its clinical utility in improving cardiovascular health.

SourceBIAL Foundation·JournalInternational Journal of Psychophysiology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2023

Why silly distractions at work can actually be good for you

A new study from Trinity College Dublin and WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management found that brief positive interventions, such as watching a funny video, can help employees overcome daily challenges like annoying emails or unloved tasks. This leads to increased effectiveness at work, including better engagement, creativity, and beh...

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalWork & Stress·TypeSurvey·DateNov 28, 2022

Tracking mental health over the COVID-19 pandemic

A new study found that psychological factors such as coping abilities play a significant role in individuals' risk or resilience to mental health disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brain connectivity within specific brain networks also predicted individual vulnerability to anxiety and depression symptoms.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 26, 2022

Storytelling helps college students relieve stress, improve confidence during the COVID-19 pandemic

A study by University of Missouri researchers found that storytelling can help college students make sense of the pandemic and reduce stress. The study involved first-year college students who used stories to express personal growth during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting less stress and more confidence in their schoo...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalPsychological Science·DateOct 10, 2022

Study with military suggests ‘blended’ individual and team mindfulness is at least as effective as standard mindfulness training

A study suggests that combining individual mindfulness practice with team-based stress management skills can offer more benefits than individual mindfulness alone. The 'blended' approach showed improved individual resilience and working memory, as well as increased collective mindfulness in the team atmosphere.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 23, 2022

Many older adults look beyond conventional medicine for help, but few talk to their doctors about it

According to a new poll, nearly 40% of older adults (50-80) use at least one integrative medicine strategy to alleviate symptoms or relax. However, only 18% discuss these strategies with their healthcare providers. The poll highlights the importance of primary care clinicians discussing integrative approaches with patients.

Childhood loneliness linked to stress and problem drinking in young adults

A new study from Arizona State University found that childhood loneliness is strongly linked to increased stress levels and problem drinking in young adults. The research suggests that mitigating childhood loneliness could be a key strategy for reducing the risk of alcohol use disorders in adulthood, particularly among women.

SourceArizona State University·JournalAddictive Behaviors Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 18, 2022

Gardening can cultivate better mental health

A study by University of Florida researchers found that gardening lowered stress, anxiety, and depression in healthy women attending twice-weekly gardening classes. The participants experienced similar improvements in mental health as those in art-making sessions, with gardeners reporting slightly less anxiety.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 6, 2022

Dog-assisted interventions lead to lower stress levels in children

A new study published in PLOS ONE found that dog-assisted interventions can significantly reduce stress levels in elementary school children, both with and without special needs. The research used salivary cortisol levels to track the effects of dog interactions on stress levels, revealing a decrease in cortisol levels after dog sessions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 15, 2022

The mindful way to manage stress among elite athletes

A new study from the University of South Australia found that dispositional mindfulness can significantly reduce and protect elite athletes from stress. Athletes who demonstrated greater mindfulness had lower levels of stress, both immediately after a COVID-19-related shutdown and at the end of their competitive season.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalPerceptual and Motor Skills·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 1, 2022

Community-engagement preventive intervention promotes mental health of Bhutanese families in Western Massachusetts

A peer-led, family-centered preventive intervention is being tested to reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among Bhutanese immigrants. The program, developed by Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, uses problem management plus (PMP) and addresses multiple stressors, resulting in improved coping skills and social networking.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalBMJ Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 1, 2022

Eye-movement tracking glasses are used to evaluate mental stress in first naturalistic study of critical care nurses

A naturalistic study using eye-tracking technology found that intensive care unit nurses experience a higher level of mental workload, especially during the start of shifts, with shorter fixation and more sporadic gaze behavior in stressed nurses.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalHuman Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society·DateMay 31, 2022

Where the mind is without fear: Scientists discover mechanism behind the chemically induced suppression of fearful memories

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science identify brain regions and signaling pathways involved in fear extinction via delta receptor activation. The study suggests a potential therapeutic agent for post-traumatic stress disorders by suppressing fearful memories.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalFrontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 25, 2022

Study shows memory is formed through rewiring of global network among pre-existing local neuronal ensembles

Researchers found that neuronal ensembles in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex existed before memory acquisition, but developed through experience in the hippocampus. The study also revealed that ensemble synchrony across brain regions was particularly strong during transient bursts of activity, suggesting a role in memory consolidation.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 14, 2022

Integrating behavioral health in community-based primary care improves access and treatment for racially and ethnically diverse children

A new study found that integrating behavioral health into pediatric primary care at federally qualified health centers increases access, timeliness of care, and diagnostic rates of ADHD among diverse children. The model resulted in higher follow-up rates with behavioral health clinicians and reduced polypharmacy.

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateMar 29, 2022

Are e-cigarettes a “gateway” to cannabis use among adolescents? It depends on mental health status

A new study found that e-cigarette use significantly increases adolescents' risk of cannabis use, especially among those with externalizing mental health problems. However, for those with internalizing mental health issues, the relationship is reversed, and they are less likely to begin using cannabis.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 17, 2022

Self-​motivation helped pro­fes­sional mu­si­cians main­tain their prac­tice dur­ing the COVID-​19 pan­demic

A study found that self-motivated musicians were more resilient to pandemic threats and maintained their practicing routines, while externally motivated musicians experienced a reduction in dedicated practice time. The research suggests that professional support can help musicians develop coping strategies and redirect focus towards in...

SourceUniversity of the Arts Helsinki·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 7, 2022