To understand how the UW’s transition to online-only classes affected college students’ mental health in the spring of 2020, UW researchers surveyed 147 UW undergraduates over the 2020 spring quarter.
Tag: Stress
Traumatized People with Alcohol Use Disorder Likely Need a Range of Interventions to Address Risky Drinking
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) who are successfully treated for trauma likely need additional interventions addressing persistent drinking patterns, according to a new study.
Young Adults’ Alcohol Use and Cannabis Use Rise and Fall Together Rather than Substituting for Each Other
Young adults’ use of cannabis and alcohol tends to rise and fall together, rather than one substance substituting for the other, according to a new study. Understanding the relationship between cannabis use and alcohol use is critical for informing policy and public health strategies. Legalizing recreational cannabis use has raised the possibility that cannabis may substitute for risky drinking or other substance use, potentially with less severe public health consequences.
New Microchip Sensor Measures Stress Hormones from Drop of Blood
A Rutgers-led team of researchers has developed a microchip that can measure stress hormones in real time from a drop of blood.
Reopening Anxiety? Here’s How to Overcome it According to University of Kentucky Experts
For nearly a year, we relied on masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Now, many are removing the facial coverings, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy to shed the anxiety that accompanies a global pandemic. If you’re having difficulty coping with this added stress, psychology experts at the University of Kentucky say you’re not alone.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption is far from ‘one size fits all’
An ongoing analysis of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol and related outcomes shows that COVID-related stressors experienced by study participants – including work-, financial-, and family-related stressors – are having a varied impact on individuals with and without alcohol use disorders (AUDs). These results will be shared at the 44th annual scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA), which will be held virtually this year from the 19th – 23rd of June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 pandemic drinking: increases among women, Black adults, and people with children
Risky drinking has been a public health concern in the U.S. for decades, but the significant increase in retail alcohol sales following COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home orders in particular raised red flags for alcohol researchers. New research has assessed changes in alcohol drinking patterns from before to after the enactment of stay-at-home orders. These results and others will be shared at the 44th annual scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA), which will be held virtually this year from the 19th – 23rd of June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Story Tips from Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
NEWS STORIES IN THIS ISSUE:
– Stressed About “Returning to Normal”? Here Are Tips to Ease Into the Transition
– Be Your Brother’s Keeper: Steps for Faith-Based Communities to Reopen Safely
Physical activity may curb health care worker burnout
More physical activity programming could mitigate the effects of stress and improve worker mental and emotional health.
Thomas Jefferson University Sends Research into Space
Three projects from Philadelphia will become part of the first-ever private mission to the International Space Station
Stress from 2016 U.S. Presidential Election Associated with Significant Increase in Cardiac Events
A new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association is the first to show that exposure to a stressful political election is strongly associated with an increase in potentially life-threatening cardiac events.
Large Number of Americans Reported Financial Anxiety and Stress Even Before the Pandemic
A substantial number of adults in the United States between the ages of 21 and 62 felt anxiety and stress about their personal finances well before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report published today by the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at the George Washington University.
Can financial stress lead to physical pain in later years?
Financial stress can have an immediate impact on well-being, but can it lead to physical pain nearly 30 years later? The answer is yes, according to new research from University of Georgia scientists.
Rutgers Expert Available to Discuss How Exercise Behaviors Changed During COVID-19 Pandemic
New Brunswick, N.J. (April 14, 2021) – Rutgers expert Brandon L. Alderman, who focuses on the science of exercise and its impact on mental health and cognitive function, is available for interviews on how exercise behaviors have changed during the…
Practicing ‘Mindfulness’ in Summer Camp Benefits Campers and Counselors Alike
A project shows how implementing an evidence-based mindfulness program in a summer camp setting decreases emotional distress in school age children and empowers campers and counselors alike – enhancing camper-counselor relationships. Mindfulness – a state of consciousness that fosters awareness – has the potential to help regulate emotions and behaviors. Mindful breathing, mindful bodies, and mindful listening assisted in bringing awareness to campers in the program and provided skills to address stressful experiences.
Managing the stress of new traumatic events during the pandemic
Keck Medicine of USC experts address how traumatic occurrences affect us even more in the age of COVID-19, and how people can cope with anxiety and fear.
Mount Sinai Scientists Discover an Epigenetic Mechanism Contributing to Lifelong Stress Susceptibility
An epigenetic modification that occurs in a major cell type in the brain’s reward circuitry controls how stress early in life increases susceptibility to additional stress in adulthood, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have learned.
Stress reduction as a path to eating less fast food
Overweight low-income mothers of young kids ate fewer fast-food meals and high-fat snacks after participating in a study – not because researchers told them what not to eat, but because the lifestyle intervention being evaluated helped lower the moms’ stress, research suggests.
Board-Certified Dermatologist/Pigmentary Disease Expert: Can Stress Trigger or Exacerbate Vitiligo?
Increased stress over the last year has taken its toll on everyone, but for the millions of people worldwide living with vitiligo — a skin disease that causes the skin to lose its natural color — new research suggests that…
Meal prep can mean healthier meal plans in face of stress
Meal prepping the night before can help parents stick to healthy meal plans, even when they’re stressed. That’s according to new research from the University of Georgia.
Research News Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins Medicine
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins Medicine Media Relations is focused on disseminating current, accurate and useful information to the public via the media. As part of that effort, we are distributing our “COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins” every other Wednesday.
Find Your Way Back From Burnout: McLean Hospital Webinar Series
February 18 @ 11am EST Dr. Lisa Coyne Reveals the Effects of Chronic Stress Not only is burnout an actual syndrome, but it’s everywhere. Chronic stress can be detrimental to physical health and mental health—and impacts the person experiencing the…
U.S. Adults Report Highest Stress Level Since Early Days of the Covid-19 Pandemic
As the U.S. confronts a bitter election season, political unrest and violence, a shaky economy, and a soaring death toll due to COVID-19, 84% of U.S. adults say the country has serious societal issues that we need to address, according to a new poll.
Under Pressure: Uncertain Times Take Their Toll on Teeth and Jaws
The COVID-19 pandemic may be exacerbating teeth grinding and clenching, behaviors that are often signs of stress. Leopoldo Correa, director of the Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, answers common questions about bruxism and provides tips on what you can do about it.
More Than Half of COVID-19 Health Care Workers at Risk for Mental Health Problems
A new study, led by University of Utah Health scientists, suggests more than half of doctors, nurses, and emergency responders involved in COVID-19 care could be at risk for one or more mental health problems, including acute traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, problematic alcohol use, and insomnia.
McLean Hospital Webinar Series: Mental Wellness for Kids and Teens
January 7 @ 11am EST Dr. Lisa W. Coyne Addresses the Challenges of Youth Mental Health Growing up is difficult—it always has been. But more recently, the challenges that kids and teens face seem even more daunting. From cyberbullying to…
McLean Hospital Webinar Series: Your Everyday Guide to Stress Management
January 6 @ 12pm EST Q&A With Dr. Chris Palmer on Getting Stress Under Control There’s no denying that we all experience stress in our day-to-day lives. While small doses of stress are good for us, it can cause big…
How and why microbes promote and protect against stress
The bacteria, yeast and viruses that make up the human microbiome affect physical health, behavior and emotions. Some microbes in the human microbiome prosper when the body is under stress, while other microbes contribute to buffering the body against stress. Evolutionary theory suggests reciprocal relationships between microbes in the human body and stress; these relationships can possibly be harnessed to promote physical and mental health.
McLean Hospital Webinar Series: Everything You Want to Know About Anxiety
December 3 @ 11am EST Dr. Lisa Coyne Answers Burning Questions About Anxiety Anxiety can be our friend—or foe. All of us experience anxiety, but it can be worse during stressful events, like public speaking, social events, relationship problems, stress…
Smiling sincerely or grimacing can significantly reduce the pain of needle injection
Irvine, Calif., Dec. 1, 2020 — The coming of winter means cooler temperatures, shorter days and flu shots. While no one looks forward to a vaccination, a study led by the University of California, Irvine, has found that either a sincere smile or a grimace can reduce the pain of a needle injection by as much as 40 percent. A genuine, or Duchenne, smile – one that elevates the corners of the mouth and creates crow’s feet around the eyes – can also significantly blunt the stressful, needle-related physiological response by lowering the heart rate.
UCI professor’s life skills course is expanded to all 10 UC campuses
Irvine, Calif., Nov. 30, 2020 — Long successful at the University of California, Irvine, Mahtab Jafari’s Life 101 course will be available across the 10 UC campuses during the upcoming winter quarter. The class teaches healthy lifestyle choices, promotes students’ well-being, and helps them to recognize and manage their stress.
Experts: How to Navigate the Holiday Season During COVID-19
ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 24, 2020) – The 2020 holiday season will be like no other. With COVID-19 cases surging around the country and officials fearing further increases due to anticipated group gatherings around the holidays, the University at Albany has…
It’s okay to turn on your holiday lights before Thanksgiving!
The holidays are going to look different this year, and the last thing you should do is worry about what your neighbors think about your holiday decorations. Binghamton University Health and Wellness Studies Lecturer Jennifer Wegmann recommends bucking tradition and…
10 tips from a health and wellness expert to make the most of the holidays during COVID-19
People are craving a little holiday joy after many months of navigating the upside-down world that COVID-19 has created. Looking forward to the holidays and positive emotions many experience around this time are important, but it may be time to re-envision what our holidays are going to look like. Here are some tips to make the most of an unusual holiday season for you and your loved ones from Binghamton University Health and Wellness Studies Lecturer Jennifer Wegmann.
McLean Hospital Webinar Series: Juggling Stress and Self-Care in Dire Times
Strategies to Handle Day-to-Day Stress at Work and at Home November 19 @ 12:30-2pm EST On a good day, managing stress is like using a fire extinguisher—you can put out the big stuff and take care of anything that seems…
Cynical Hostility Presents a Potential Pathway to Cardiovascular Disease
Cynical hostility is a potential pathway to cardiovascular disease by preventing a healthy response to stress over time, according to a Baylor University study. Hostility generally is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. But this research explored three types of hostility — emotional, behavioral and cognitive — to see whether one is more predictive of risk factors. Cynical hostility, which is cognitive, poses the greatest risk, based on stress responses.
Mediterranean Diet Helps Reduce Effects of Stress in Animal Model, Study Shows
Even before the pandemic and the presidential election, Americans reported some of the highest perceived levels of stress in the world, according to the American Psychological Association.
Be mindful: Study shows mindfulness might not work as you expect
Research from the University at Buffalo that measured participants’ cardiovascular responses to stressful tasks suggests that mindfulness doesn’t help to manage stress as it’s happening
Rutgers Expert Available to Discuss Stress Reduction Benefits of Exercise and Being Outdoors Following Election
New Brunswick, N.J. (Nov. 6, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick Professor Brandon L. Alderman is available for interviews on how being outdoors and exercise can reduce stress following the 2020 election and during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Time spent outdoors and…
Election stress can hurt your heart
Election stress is in full effect and it can take a heavy toll on our heart health. Like the death of a loved one or a natural disaster, the election is on par with other traumatic episodes that can trigger heart stress and exacerbate pre-existing heart conditions.
Roswell Park Sees Suggestion of Benefit in First Clinical Trial to Combine Beta-Blocker and Checkpoint Inhibitor
The same biochemical triggers that spur a “fight or flight” response when we encounter threats may help tumor cells to thrive. A team of researchers from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is looking at ways to disrupt that dynamic so that cancer treatments can be more effective. Their latest work, published today in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, suggests that a drug widely prescribed to control blood pressure may improve patients’ response to cancer immunotherapy.
CHOP Genomic Study Reveals Role for Hypothalamus in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Using sophisticated 3D genomic mapping and integrating with public data resulting from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have found significant genetic correlations between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and stress and depression. The researchers went on to implicate new genes involved in IBD risk that are enriched in both derived hypothalamic neurons, from a part of the brain that has a vital role in controlling stress and depression, and organoids derived from colon cells, a region more commonly studied in the context of IBD.
How to Handle Election Stress in an Exceptionally Stressful Year
When you tune into election coverage or think about the upcoming Election Day, do you feel your heart pounding loudly in your chest, or your face feeling hot, or experience a wave of negative emotions? You may be experiencing election…
UCLA expert available to offer advice on how to navigate emotions on Election Day
Emanuel Maidenberg is a clinical professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He can comment on how to navigate emotions on Election Day and how to devise a mental health plan to help…
Divide and conquer: a new formula to minimise ‘mathemaphobia’
Maths – it’s the subject some kids love to hate, yet despite its lack of popularity, mathematics is critical for a STEM-capable workforce and vital for Australia’s current and future productivity. Now, new research shows that boosting student confidence is pivotal to greater engagement with the subject.
Pandemic-related stress leads to less employee engagement
As COVID-19 cases surged this spring, the pandemic led some people more than others to ponder their own mortality. A new study in China and the United States suggests that these people were the ones who showed the highest levels of stress and the least engagement at work.
New research links conflict resolution, long-term health
A recent study from the University of Georgia found that the way couples approach conflict is associated with a key biomarker of physical health.
Smartphone Surveys Find a Connection Between Daily Spiritual Experiences and Well-being
Using smartphone check-ins twice a day for two weeks, sociologists in a national study have found a link between individuals’ daily spiritual experiences and overall well-being, say researchers from Baylor University and Harvard University.
Strict parenting may cause adolescents to act out
The next time you’re yelling at your defiant teen, you might consider that you may be doing more harm than good, according to new research from the University of Georgia.
Expert Available to Speak About Work-From-Home Injuries; October is National Chiropractic Health Month
After months of sheltering in place, many people are still practicing lifestyle changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce their potential exposure: steering clear of crowded public spaces and working from home, forgoing air travel for car trips, ordering…