Regardless of one’s religious affiliation, the holiday season often inspires feelings of warmth, joy, and belonging. But for some people, this time of year can evoke feelings of loneliness, stress and anxiety. [Read more…]
What We Know About the Holiday Blues
December 15, 2017 By Leave a Comment
What We Do and Do Not Know About Phones and Driving
December 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Many people will soon travel to visit family and friends to celebrate the holidays, and car travel is the most popular transportation option. But the evidence shows it’s becoming more dangerous. [Read more…]
Giving Is Good For You!
November 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment
If you head out shopping this weekend, you will likely see an iconic bell ringer, standing next to a basket or bucket to collect donations for a local charity.
On the whole, it’s a popular time of year for charitable donations. Some people make donations for tax purposes before the end of the calendar year. Others incorporate giving into Christmas traditions, or make an effort to spread some holiday cheer to those who are less fortunate. [Read more…]
How To Beat The Common Cold
November 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The season has arrived for running noses, sore throats and hacking coughs.
While typically not a life-threatening illness, the common cold is one of the most widespread diseases in the world and a leading cause of doctor visits and absenteeism from school and work. Beyond that, having a cold is just plain uncomfortable. So what does the evidence say about preventing and treating colds? [Read more…]
What To Do About Cyberbullying
November 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Today’s teenagers are growing up with a completely different set of social parameters compared to any other generation before them thanks to advances in technology. [Read more…]
Examining the Link Between Racism and Health
October 30, 2017 By Leave a Comment
When the mind senses a potentially harmful situation, it tells the body to prepare by increasing its heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. This response helped earlier humans outrun or fight predators and enemies. [Read more…]
#MeToo: What We Know About Sexual Harassment
October 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Sexual harassment is nothing new. But when a celebrity is accused of harassment, more people focus on the problem and how to stop it. Earlier this month, accusations that moviemaker Harvey Weinstein harassed dozens of women over the course of decades brought the topic to the forefront of people’s minds again. [Read more…]
The Evidence on Reducing Gun Violence
October 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
As the nation reels from Monday’s horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas, politicians on the left are calling for new regulations on firearms. In our modern society, it’s the standard response that after every major mass shooting, Democrats make the case for passing more stringent laws about what types of firearms are available and who can own them. And people who support gun owners’ rights often make the argument that guns don’t kill people; people kill people. But what does the evidence say? [Read more…]
How to Help Your Kids Succeed in School
October 24, 2017 By Leave a Comment
It’s part of the American ethos that hard work yields results. We apply this philosophy to our sports teams, our careers and, yes, our children’s education.
At many schools, elementary-aged children are assigned an hour or more of homework each night. While many subscribe to the concept that practice makes perfect, there is a counter-argument that says kids need time for free play to develop language, regulate their behavior, and learn about risk-taking. So what does the evidence say about homework? And what can parents do to support their child’s education? [Read more…]
All of the Feelings: Emotional Diversity Linked to Health
September 29, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Joy. Enthusiasm. Pride. Happiness. Gratitude. Interest. Content. Awe. Serenity. Amusement.
Experiencing any one of these emotions would lead most people to feel like they had a good day. Experiencing several of them in a single day would be fantastic.
A growing body of research demonstrates that feeling a wide range of positive emotions in a single day is linked to health and well-being. [Read more…]
When Grandparents Raise Their Grandchildren
September 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
More children are living with their grandparents than ever before in contemporary society. This phenomenon leads to a complex set of issues and outcomes for grandparents and the children for whom they care. [Read more…]
Is Breakfast the Most Important Meal?
September 13, 2017 By 1 Comment
For decades, common wisdom held that how much we eat and exercise determines our weight. As researchers learned more about the human body, they discovered that what people eat plays an important role in weight gain and loss. This led to a wide range of dietary recommendations that changed over time: Don’t eat fats. Avoid sugars. Eat protein at every meal. [Read more…]
