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Political opinions influence our choice of chocolate

Research at Linköping University shows that people distance themselves from neutral products if they are liked by those with opposing political views. This phenomenon affects choices even when irrelevant to politics. The studies also found that people unconsciously behave this way to maintain a consistent self-image.

SourceLinköping University·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·TypeSurvey·DateNov 25, 2024

New study: Digital helpers create more trust

A new study found that interacting with virtual agents designed to resemble people with a migration background can increase trust in the police. The study showed that virtual agents are an effective tool for positive personal interaction with authorities, and their use could be a cost-effective solution for police forces.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2024

Singapore families show high resilience during pandemic

A new study by NUS Medicine reveals that Singaporean families with young children successfully adapted to the pandemic's challenges, with 31% showing economic security and relational strengthening. Families with strong relational factors, such as maternal self-efficacy and quality family time, demonstrated higher relational resilience.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 7, 2024

Public discourse promotes socially responsible behavior

A new study by economists at the University of Zurich finds that engaging in public discourse increases socially responsible market behavior regardless of participants' social norms and values. The researchers conducted three lab experiments with over 2,500 participants and observed a significant increase in trade with fair products wh...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalAmerican Economic Review·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 1, 2024

Women at risk of ‘digital overload’ – new research reveals

A new study by Lancaster University highlights that women are more likely than men to experience 'digital overload' and burnout due to their greater use of digital technologies in both work and family lives. The research emphasizes the need for gender-egalitarian work-from-home arrangements and policies to address this issue.

SourceLancaster University·JournalCommunity Work & Family·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 8, 2024

Boomerang children, bamboccioni, nestlings. Should the law regulate relations between parents and their co-residing children?

A growing number of young adults live with their parents beyond the age of majority, raising questions about economic dependence, self-confidence, and social relations. Dr. Daniela Wybrańczyk argues that legal regulations could provide a practical solution to these issues, potentially changing the trend of delayed adulthood.

SourceSWPS University·JournalFamily & Law·DateApr 3, 2024

It’s not a hookup: Research reveals what college students mean when they say they’re ‘just talking’

Researchers at Binghamton University found that college students' term 'just talking' refers to building intimacy in a stigmatized environment. The study revealed that romance is more important to emerging adults than expected, and people who engage in 'just talking' often communicate via smartphones and social media.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalEmerging Adulthood·DateMar 19, 2024

Study shows background checks don’t always check out

A new study by University of Maryland researchers found that background checks can produce inaccurate results due to flawed data and algorithmic errors. The study showed that over half of participants had false-positive errors and nearly 90% had false-negative errors on both regulated and unregulated background checks.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalCriminology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 15, 2024

SMART researchers pave the way for faster and safer T-cell therapy through novel contamination-detection method

A novel contamination-detection method enables faster and safer T-cell therapy production, reducing the risk for patients and speeding up treatment. The method uses cutting-edge technology to identify harmful microorganisms within 24 hours.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalMicrobiology Spectrum·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 27, 2023

“They yell and I yell back”

A new study by Uppsala University found that pre-school children aged 3–6 years can describe their feelings and family relationships in detail. The research suggests that children seek comfort from others when experiencing conflicts with parents, but also have positive experiences of making up after a fight.

SourceUppsala University·JournalJournal of Child and Family Studies·TypeObservational study·DateOct 5, 2023

Research explores why daughters in Chinese families of son preference fail to break from sustained exploitation

Research reveals Chinese families' strong son preference can lead to daughters' emotional and financial exploitation, causing severe mental health consequences. Daughters are socialized from birth to prioritize their family's needs over their own, resulting in feelings of debt and low self-esteem.

SourceLancaster University·JournalMarketing Theory·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 1, 2023

Attitudes toward minorities with dual social identities appear to be driven more by the positive influence of the shared identity than the potential negative influence of the unshared foreign identity

A new study found that exposure to groups with dual social identities improves intergroup attitudes, especially when individuals identify strongly with both parts of their identity. This suggests that embracing both identities can be beneficial for minorities in terms of intergroup relations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateAug 16, 2023

Focus on state as ‘problem parent’ rather than care-experienced mothers – new research

Mothers with a criminal record and care experience face negative judgements and excessive scrutiny due to their 'known' status. The study emphasizes the need for supportive dialogue across disciplinary boundaries to break cycles of stigma and social care involvement, focusing on safe spaces and trust-building for care-experienced mothers.

SourceLancaster University·JournalThe British Journal of Criminology·TypeCase study·DateJul 10, 2023

Siblings can "pave the way" when they have a similar "Big Five" personality - with introverted siblings being more likely to leave home once their similarly introverted brother or sister has done so

A study found that siblings who share similar 'Big Five' personality traits are more likely to leave home together. Introverted siblings were particularly likely to follow in the footsteps of their similarly introverted sibling, highlighting the role of personality similarity in this transition.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 17, 2023

Assisted reproduction kids grow up just fine – but it may be better to tell them early about biological origins, twenty-year study suggests

A landmark study by University of Cambridge researchers found no difference in psychological wellbeing or quality of family relationships between children born through assisted reproduction and those born naturally. However, mothers who disclosed their child's origins early on reported more positive relationships and lower anxiety and ...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalDevelopmental Psychology·DateApr 12, 2023

Racial stereotypes vary in digital interactions

A recent study found that Black bots were perceived as more competent and human than their White and Asian counterparts in digital interactions. This challenges past research on human-to-human interactions and highlights the importance of understanding how racial stereotypes interact with artificial intelligence.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalJournal of the Association for Consumer Research·DateFeb 23, 2023

Poor coparenting linked to depression in dads

A new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that poor coparenting relationships among fathers are linked to depression. The study suggests that screening fathers for their coparenting status during infancy and toddlerhood could help prevent mental illness in both parents and children.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·DateJan 24, 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

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

"I'll pay later!" – People promise the stars and moon to charities, but donations remain unsent

A new study from the University of Copenhagen found that at least 60 percent of Danes who promised to donate never followed through on their commitments. Digital payment solutions made it easier for people to delay donations, but also led to larger average cash contributions. Social pressure was identified as a key driver of charity gi...

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·DateNov 8, 2022

Horrible bosses cause ‘race to the bottom’ - study

A new study by Anglia Ruskin University found that hostile behavior from leaders can lead to co-workers adopting similar behavior, creating a toxic workplace environment. The research also discovered an association between experiencing hostile behavior and emotional exhaustion, job insecurity, and abusive peer behavior.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateSep 30, 2022

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

The way you talk to your child about math matters

A new study by the University of Georgia found that praising children's personal traits or innate abilities can dampen their math motivation and achievement over time. Parents who focus on strategy use and effort tend to give more process-oriented responses, which are linked to better math adjustment in children.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalChild Development·DateSep 7, 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

When parenting style predicts political leanings

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University found that parenting styles are a strong indicator for how people think about social issues, including education and elder care. The results suggest that helicopter parents tend to prefer paternalistic political policies, while free-range parents tend to lean towards autonomy.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·DateJun 14, 2022

10-minute meditation could help reduce Brexit polarization

A new study found that a brief befriending-themed meditation can reduce affective polarization between Remain and Leave voters in the UK. The meditation increased perceived commonality between sides, suggesting a potential strategy to address polarization.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 11, 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

Finding friends in the Utah State Legislature

A University of Utah-led study examines cooperation networks in the Utah State Legislature, finding that politicians tend to work with colleagues from their own political and gender groups. The researchers discovered a high rate of reciprocation, with members of the same gender increasing the likelihood of future cooperation.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalHuman Nature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 17, 2022