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Walk then sit: A scientific recipe that helps babies stop crying

A new study published in Current Biology found that carrying crying infants for 5 minutes can promote sleep and reduce crying. The technique, known as the Transport Response, involves steady walking followed by sitting before laying the baby down to sleep. This method offers an immediate solution for parents of newborns struggling with...

SourceRIKEN·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 13, 2022

Understanding the full picture of child poverty

A study by Duke University researchers reveals that net worth poverty has a significant impact on child development, affecting cognitive scores and behavior. The research highlights the importance of considering both income and wealth when designing programs to address child wellbeing.

SourceDuke University·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 6, 2022

New pediatric investigation study explores how active parent participation can improve neonatal health and reduce parental stress

A new study explores how active parent participation can improve neonatal health and reduce parental stress. The study found that cultural attitudes, collaboration between medical staff and parents, and availability of equipment are key factors in enabling parent-infant closeness.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalPediatric Investigation·TypeSurvey·DateAug 18, 2022

Loneliness, shame and other effects on people with disabilities at mealtimes

Researchers found four large groups of social and emotional effects resulting from difficulty eating in groups among people with disabilities. Difficulty eating can lead to feelings of loneliness, shame, and reduced self-esteem, emphasizing the importance of considering these issues in healthcare.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·TypeCase study·DateJun 13, 2022

Family structure associated with delinquency for adolescents

A new study finds that asymmetrical family structures, such as single-father or single-mother households, are associated with higher delinquency rates among adolescents. In contrast, symmetrical arrangements like mother-stepfather families show lower rates of delinquent behavior.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateApr 13, 2022

PSU study challenges idea that college degree is still the great equalizer

A Portland State University study suggests that rising tuition and debt burdens limit higher education's power to reduce socioeconomic disparities. College graduates from lower-income families are more likely to hold large educational debt, which can negatively impact their financial investment and savings.

SourcePortland State University·JournalSocius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 7, 2022

Boundaries between work and family life disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic – Increased childcare responsibilities often shouldered by mothers

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted work-life boundaries, particularly for mothers, who took on more childcare responsibilities. Research in Finland found that mothers' flexibility was key to managing multiple roles, while the absence of support services highlighted gendered practices.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalGender Work and Organization·TypeSurvey·DateDec 20, 2021

Study finds parental stress as a contributing factor linking maternal depression to child anxiety and depressive symptoms

A secondary analysis found a bi-directional relationship between mother's mental health symptoms and child's mental health symptoms, with parental stress as the mediating factor. The study suggests that lowering parental stress is vital for families where mothers and children exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 1, 2021

Almost all asylum-seeking children and parents who had been forced to separate at the US-Mexico border were subsequently diagnosed with PTSD, depressive and/or anxiety disorders, even after reunification

Forced family separation on the US-Mexico border led to a high incidence of PTSD, depressive, and anxiety disorders in asylum-seeking children and parents. Reunification did not alleviate these symptoms, highlighting the need for continued support and intervention.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 24, 2021

COVID-19 lockdowns deepened struggle for work-family balance

A new study by McGill University researchers found that COVID-19 lockdowns disproportionately affected graduate students' mental health, particularly among women. Women reported more stress related to remote teaching and caregiving responsibilities, leading to increased depressive symptoms.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPreventive Medicine Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 10, 2021

Study outlines factors that help engage nonresident fathers in child welfare efforts

A recent study by North Carolina State University highlights key factors that facilitate engaging nonresident fathers in child welfare efforts. The study found that social service providers who work with male social workers and incorporate specific values and mindsets into their practice can effectively engage fathers.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalResearch on Social Work Practice·TypeSurvey·DateAug 9, 2021

Ensuring healthy family mealtimes is important - and complicated

A new study from the University of Illinois highlights the complexities of healthy family mealtimes, identifying three distinct family profiles with varying levels of food security and mealtime organization. The research emphasizes the importance of addressing multiple aspects of family risk patterns to promote healthy eating habits.

A third of US families face a different kind of poverty

A third of US households with children are 'net worth poor,' lacking enough financial resources to sustain their families for three months at a poverty level. The study found that Black and Latino families were twice as likely to experience net worth poverty than have poverty-level incomes.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateJan 6, 2021

Squirrels need good neighbours

A study on North American red squirrels found that keeping the same neighbors boosts survival rates and breeding success, even for solitary species. Familiarity with neighbors reduces aggression and increases territory defense efficiency, benefiting overall fitness.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 17, 2020

Study hopes to encourage use of new technology to reduce errors in DNA testing

A study by Dr. Jianye Ge and colleagues suggests that millions of DNA testing cases may be incorrectly interpreted due to limited genetic information. The new technology has been shown to substantially reduce the chance of mistakes in kinship relationship testing, which could have serious consequences for individuals and families.

How human social structures emerge

Researchers developed mathematical models to understand what conditions produced traditional community structures and conventions around the world. Simulated family groups with shared traits naturally grouped together into distinct cultural groups, leading to the emergence of incest taboos and direct or generalized exchange kinship str...

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020

One among many

Researchers Korbut observed crowds in metro-mobs to understand how they move and coordinate actions, finding that individuals follow free space minimization rules and rely on others' movements for direction. The study highlights the importance of speed control, stopping signals, and joining methods in mob organization.

Higher workloads can make freelance workers happier

A new study found that freelance workers are calmer and more enthusiastic when their hours are higher than normal, but this is at the expense of their work-life balance and wellbeing. The researchers suggest that 'enchantment-based work-family/non-work interference' occurs when long hours generate enthusiasm.

SourceSAGE·JournalHuman Relations·DateDec 11, 2015

The Tree of Life may be a bush

A new study by Uppsala University researchers has found that evolution is more complex than the traditional Tree of Life model suggests. Incomplete lineage sorting, a phenomenon where genetic variation passes from one species to another, has been documented and quantified for the first time in evolutionary research.

SourceUppsala University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 18, 2015

Lifting families out of poverty -- with dignity

A new study by Jennifer Sykes and colleagues found that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program bolsters recipients' self-respect by emphasizing their role as working parents and providers. The EITC has lifted approximately 7 million people out of poverty every year, about half of those children.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·DateApr 1, 2015

Another scientific proof of the difference in social perception between men and women

A recent study found that oxytocin improves social interaction interpretation in both men and women, but with distinct effects on kinship vs. competition for each sex. Men's competitive relationships improved with oxytocin, while women's kinship identification enhanced, highlighting the hormone's impact on sex-specific social behaviors.

SourceUniversity of Haifa·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateJul 31, 2013

MIT and Northwestern economists find kinship networks play key role to access credit

A new study by MIT and Northwestern economists reveals that kinship networks are crucial for accessing credit, smoothing consumption, and financing large investments. The research suggests that indirect access to banks is as effective as a direct connection, highlighting the importance of social safety nets in reducing financial vulner...

SourceConsortium on Financial Systems & Poverty·JournalAmerican Economic Review·DateNov 1, 2012