Researchers are combining psychological principles with innovative virtual reality technology to create a new immersive therapy for people with substance use disorders.
Tag: Psychology
Forgetting is natural, but learning how to learn can slow it down
After reviewing more than 100 years of research on learning, authors of a new paper say combining two strategies – spacing and retrieval practice – is key to success.
More than a quarter of U.S. adults say they’re so stressed they can’t function
Americans are struggling with multiple external stressors that are out of their personal control, with 27% reporting that most days they are so stressed they cannot function, according to a poll conducted for the American Psychological Association.
Ochsner Health psychologists available to discuss anxiety screening for kids
The U.S. The Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended that primary care physicians screen all children ages 8-18 for anxiety – even if they have no symptoms. Dr. Adair Parr and Dr. Yelena Johnson, psychologists at Ochsner Health, can discuss what parents…
Statewide pandemic restrictions not related to psychological distress
Despite concerns that stay-at-home orders and other government efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic would cause lasting harm to people’s mental health, research published by the American Psychological Association found that state restrictions in the first six months of the pandemic were not related to worse mental health.
What other storms can teach us about looming mental health impacts of Hurricane Ian
As residents of southwest Florida begin the arduous process of rebuilding their lives in the wake of Hurricane Ian, Tulane University experts who have studied long-term impacts of storms in New Orleans have one piece of advice: don’t ignore your…
NUS study discovers a class of meditative practices that produces different effects from mindfulness-related meditation
Mindfulness studies have long dominated our understanding of the neurobiology of meditation, with practitioners of mindfulness-related meditation taught to be vigilant of the content of their thoughts so as to experience relaxation and stress reduction to improve attention and focus. A recent study led by Associate Professor Maria Kozhevnikov from the Department of Psychology at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, has discovered a different class of meditative practices that seeks to employ and regulate the state of stress that an individual experiences – rather than to reduce it – to achieve an even more heightened state of focus and attention.
WHEN ENDINGS APPROACH, PEOPLE CHOOSE THE FAMILIAR OVER THE NOVEL
When people believe that a door is closing — that they have a limited amount of time left to enjoy something, such as dining out or traveling — they gravitate to the comfort of something familiar rather than the excitement of something new, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Continual, clear, factual texting is key to first responder team success, UAH professor finds
First responder teams better grasp an emergency situation when they use continual, clear texting communication of factual information in a way that all members can understand, and that is key to a successful team response, according to new research at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).
Anxiety during pregnancy can lead to earlier births, study finds
Women who experience anxiety about their pregnancies give birth earlier on average than those who don’t, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Completes 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment to Help Understand and Strengthen Its Neighborhood
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) completed the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), part of the hospital’s continual commitment to better understand the health of its primary “neighborhood” – Los Angeles County – and the people who live there. The CHNA takes a deep dive into the community’s health and social needs enabling the hospital to implement strategies to address the key areas of the report’s findings.
Female Managers Pay Fairer
There are two levels of reference for the elementary question of an appropriate remuneration of work: the markets with their structure of supply, demand, and productivity as well as the needs of the employees. Operationally decisive, however, is also what managers are guided by when assessing wages. A study recently published in PLOS ONE by researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) provides new insights into this issue.
Increase Positivity in Life by Building Up your Self-esteem
Low self-esteem is one cause of depression says a lecturer of Chula’s Faculty of Psychology who also provides easy steps one can follow to increase self-esteem, and provide one’s solutions to the various problems we all face.
Smartphones push consumers to prefer unique, tailored products
Using our smartphone — but not a borrowed phone — makes us more likely to choose products tailored to our style.
A person’s true feelings can be revealed in language patterns
What someone says out loud about a group of people and how they actually feel about them aren’t always the same thing, but a person’s true sentiments about other groups of people can be revealed by the language patterns they use in describing their feelings.
That’s one of the key findings from a new study by David Markowitz, an assistant professor in the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication.
Reframe the pain: reducing needle anxiety in children
New research from the University of South Australia shows that children’s vaccination and needle fear can be lessened when nurses spend additional time supporting children in the vaccination process.
Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests
People consistently underestimate how much they would enjoy spending time alone with their own thoughts, without anything to distract them, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
1 in 2 Black adolescents faced online racial discrimination at least once in 2020: study
Against the backdrop of racial tensions across America in late 2020, online platforms became a place of discussion, discourse and even protest. Through this time period, Black adolescents experienced a different effect than their white peers; they more distinctly suffered mental health issues after being confronted with online racial discrimination, according to a University of Pittsburgh study.
Higher voice pitch lets female faces appear younger
Psychologists and biologists around Christina Krumpholz and Helmut Leder from the University of Vienna investigated whether voice pitch can influence how female faces are evaluated. Their conclusion: a higher voice does indeed influence how the corresponding face is evaluated. However, this does not apply to all ratings. Faces with a higher voice were rated as younger, but other assumptions that the faces are also rated as more attractive, more feminine or healthier do not apply. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
Inaugural Pitt report finds caregivers with disabilities face poverty, health issues – need policy support
Caregivers with their own disabilities face a litany of complications while trying to tend to aging or ailing spouses and partners: health problems, mental health difficulties, work issues, even financial and healthcare strains, according to the inaugural white paper from a University of Pittsburgh center studying caregiving.
Cooperation among strangers has increased since the 1950s
Despite common concerns that the social fabric is fraying, cooperation among strangers has gradually increased in the U.S. since the 1950s, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
APA poll shows employees plan to seek workplaces with mental health supports
Eight in 10 U.S. workers say that how employers support their employees’ mental health will be an important consideration when they seek future job opportunities, while 71% believe their employer is more concerned about the mental health of employees now than in the past, according to a survey from the American Psychological Association.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Names Ashish Buttan Vice President, Physician Partnerships
Ashish Buttan, BDS, MBA, has been promoted to Vice President, Physician Partnerships at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).
Friends enjoy being reached out to more than we think
People consistently underestimate how much others in their social circle might appreciate an unexpected phone call, text or email just to say hello, and the more surprising the connection, the greater the appreciation, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Gardening can cultivate better mental health
University of Florida scientists found that gardening activities lowered stress, anxiety and depression in healthy women who attended twice-weekly gardening classes.
Hunger really can make us feel ‘hangry’ – study
New research finds hunger is associated with increased anger and irritability.
Seat Assignments Drive Friendships Among Elementary School Children
Most teachers focus on academic considerations when assigning seats. A new study is the first to show that these classroom seat assignments also have important implications for children’s friendships and the enormous influence that teachers wield over the interpersonal lives of children.
People less outraged by gender discrimination caused by algorithms
People are less morally outraged when gender discrimination occurs because of an algorithm rather than direct human involvement, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Fewer youth attempt suicide in states with hate crime laws
When states enact hate crime laws that protect LGBTQ populations, the rate of suicide attempts among high school students drops significantly, and not just among sexual and gender minority students, but among heterosexual students as well, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Who benefits from brain training, and why?
Irvine, Calif., June 21, 2022 — If you are skilled at playing puzzles on your smartphone or tablet, what does it say about how fast you learn new puzzles, or more broadly, how well can you focus in school or at work? In the language of psychologists, does “near transfer” predict “far transfer”? A team of psychologists from the University of California, Irvine and the University of California, Riverside reports in Nature Human Behavior that people who show near transfer are more likely to show far transfer.
New book aims to help people “get unstuck and be happier”
Weaving psychological science with Buddhist philosophy and anecdotes, “Finding the Freedom to Get Unstuck and Be Happier” aims to help people break out of negative patterns, engage more fully with the present and trust that whatever comes next is truly workable.
Diversity messages may backfire when companies focus on diversity’s benefits for the bottom line
Companies that justify their diversity efforts by saying that a diverse workforce will improve their bottom line risk alienating the diverse employees that they hope to attract, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
A Surprising Way to Tamper Ugly ‘Dark Triad’ Personality Traits
Want to be less selfish, manipulative or impulsive?
Denial of structural racism linked to anti-Black prejudice
People who deny the existence of structural racism are more likely to exhibit anti-Black prejudice and less likely to show racial empathy or openness to diversity, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Mindfulness as a key to success in psychotherapy
Mindfulness is the ability to focus one’s attention on the present moment and to approach the resulting impressions, thoughts, and feelings with curiosity, openness, and acceptance.
The numbers don’t lie: Australia is failing at maths
Australia has suffered a significant drop in teenage maths proficiency in the past 20 years – sliding from 11th in the OECD rankings to 29th place out of 38 countries, prompting widespread debate over potential curriculum changes. One University of South Australia researcher says hand gestures could stop the slide.
Mental health assessments often fail to identify suicidal ideation with gun owners
More people are willing to talk about their mental health struggles, including thoughts of suicide. Now, a new study by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine aims to ensure medical professionals are asking the right questions to prevent a tragedy.
Graduating senior Marissa Ouverson is a world champion griller
When the pandemic sent students online, Marissa Ouverson decided to try her hand at competitive steak grilling, traveling around the country and ultimately becoming a world champion.
COVID-19 pandemic led to increase in loneliness around the world
People around the world experienced an increase in loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, although small, could have implications for people’s long-term mental and physical health, longevity, and well-being, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Mentioning ‘white privilege’ increases online polarization
If there’s an online discussion about race, using the term “white privilege” can create a polarized situation, say University of Michigan researchers.
NIH awards Joseph Mikels $2.6 million to research motivation and health
Tapping into positive emotions and social connections may be key to motivating older adults to exercise. DePaul University psychology professor Joseph Mikels has been awarded a $2.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue his work on emotion, aging and decision-making throughout the life span.
For cooperative teams, modesty leaves the best impression
People may forgo displaying luxury brands and other signals of status when they want to convince others that they will collaborate well with a team, as people who signal their wealth and social status could be perceived as uncooperative, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Both Mothers and Friends Shape Adolescent Self-esteem
A new longitudinal study takes a deep dive into adolescent self-esteem and the role that parents – specifically mothers – and friends play in shaping how youth feel about themselves.
Gay, Bisexual Men Have Lower Suicide Risk in More Tolerant Countries
Gay and bisexual men who move from a country with high stigma toward LGBTQ people to one more accepting of LGBTQ rights experience a significantly lower risk of suicide and depression, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Conflicting Health Information Compromises Patients’ Attention and Health Decisions
The 24-hour news cycle and social media bombardment often resulting in conflicting messages about health issues might be making it harder than ever for people to make critical decisions, according to a Rutgers-led study.
Barbershop Program Helps Reduce Violence in Philadelphia
A coping-skills program with young Black men in Philadelphia barbershops helped reduce reported violent behavior for up to three months, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Urgent Need to Address Mental Health Effects of Climate Change, Says Report
With a large majority of Americans concerned about climate change and an increasing number expressing alarm and distress, it is past time to address this burgeoning public health crisis at the individual, community and societal levels, according to a report from the American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica.
It’s true: Be nice and others are more likely to be nice to you
When two people meet for the first time, they tend to see the other person as having a similar personality to their own. A friendly and sociable person will tend to see others as friendly and sociable. Someone who is shy and reserved will see those characteristics in others. In the world of psychology, this is known as the “assumed similarity effect.” Psychologists have theorized people use their own personalities to fill in the blanks with someone they don’t know well. Now University of Oregon psychologists have proposed, tested and found support for another contributing factor: people tend to reciprocate each other’s behavior. A person who acts friendly and sociable is more likely get the same in return.
Navigating Holiday Family Gatherings in Tense Times
Rush psychologist offers help handling some tricky situations that may come up this holiday season
Mechanisms of addiction: Psychology professor receives NIH grant for brain research
A five-year, $2.59 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will allow a psychology professor at Binghamton University, State University of New York to study the mechanisms of addiction.