The Mental Health Cost of Racism

It’s well-documented that racial minorities experience psychosis at consistently higher rates compared to the general population. This mental health condition involves hallucinations, delusions, confused thinking, and disorganized behavior; it is one of the most severe mental health disorders because it affects a person’s ability to perceive and interpret reality. [Read more…]

New Evidence Links Pollution to Dementia Risk

As the baby boomers age and the global population grows older, dementia rates are rising. Increasingly, we hear wellness advice focused on protecting cognitive health, including eating brain-healthy foods, exercising, managing stress, and engaging with others. [Read more…]

Can We Train Students’ Brains to Be Less Biased?

Everyone employs bias—otherwise known as cognitive shortcuts—in their lives every day. Imagine you’re scrolling through your social media feed and immediately dismiss a news article because it comes from a source you don’t typically trust. Or maybe you’re convinced your favorite restaurant is the best in town, remembering all the great meals you’ve eaten there while forgetting that mediocre dinner last month. [Read more…]

What’s Driving Suicidal Thoughts in Young People?

It’s well-established that mental health among adolescents has declined over the past two decades, and researchers have been working to understand why more young people are dying by suicide. [Read more…]

How Childhood Resources Affect Risk-Taking Later in Life

It’s no surprise that individual families provide different types of resources to their children; for example, some are able to provide more financial resources, while others offer more robust social supports. [Read more…]

What We Know About Self-Regulation and Technology Among Kids

Nearly half of teenagers report being online nearly constantly, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. And “screen-time” is pervasive among younger children, surveys show.

There’s no question that today’s youth are growing up in a culture ruled by digital technology. This phenomenon affects almost every aspect of their lives, including educational opportunities, social interactions, and personal development. Self-regulation—the ability to control impulses, organize behavior, and problem-solve constructively—is an important aspect that affects how young people interact with digital technology. [Read more…]

Diet, Not Activity Level, Leads to Obesity

Despite diet fads, exercise trends, and health and fitness influencers across social media, obesity rates continue to grow among adults in Westernized countries. In the U.S. alone, more than 40 percent of U.S. adults were considered obese in 2023, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Read more…]

Are Left-Handed People Really More Creative?

left handed man holding a pen and writing in a notebook on the tableHave you heard the common trope that left-handed people are more successful in creative endeavors? There are plenty of anecdotal examples to make the case: Michelangelo, Albert Einstein, Paul McCartney, and Lady Gaga, to name a few. [Read more…]

How to Improve Sleep Among Long-Term Care Residents

Elderly woman peacefully sleeping in hospital bed during daytimeApproximately 1.2 million Americans live in certified nursing homes, and another 1 million live in assisted living facilities. It’s common for residents in these facilities to have roommates, 24/7 medical devices, and round-the-clock nursing care. Not surprisingly, people living in these environments frequently experience sleep disturbances. [Read more…]

A Sense of Purpose Promotes Cognitive Health

The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050—a 41 percent increase. As the U.S. population grows older, cognitive decline is a significant concern. [Read more…]

How Cultural Norms May Influence Sleep and Health

Sleep is foundational to our health. A large body of data links poor sleep to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. There’s also evidence that unhealthy sleeping habits may lead to sexual dysfunction and that sleep quality is associated with mood. [Read more…]

Black Students Still Receive More Punishment in Schools

In 2018, a ground-breaking analysis of federal education data clearly established that Black students are disproportionately disciplined in public schools.

Since then, researchers have documented the negative effects of this disparity—encouraging defiance; harming academic achievement, school climate, and mental health; and accelerating exposure to the juvenile justice system. In response, some schools have implemented new policies and practices designed to reduce racial disparities in punishment. [Read more…]

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