Bridging the gap between research and real life
An estimated one in 11 U.S. adults will experience post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, in their lifetimes.
PTSD occurs when people have intense and disturbing thoughts and feelings related to a previous traumatic experience. These can arrive in the form of nightmares or flashbacks and often make them feel like they are reliving a terrifying event. PTSD affects a person’s ability to function in everyday life, and it can persist for years. [Read more…]
When out and about, you may have heard parents shouting at their children. In fact, few people make it all the way through parenthood without ever yelling. But a new systematic review finds that regular verbal abuse—including shouting, threatening, belittling, humiliating, and name-calling—has negative consequences for children that can last a lifetime. [Read more…]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 2.6 million Americans identify as transgender, meaning their gender identity is different from the sex assigned to them at birth.
When transgender people seek medical therapy, they most commonly receive gender-affirming hormone therapy, which involves taking hormones to develop physical characteristics that better match their gender identity. Feminizing hormone therapy can trigger the development of breasts, help redistribute body fat to the hips and thighs, and lead to thinning of facial and body hair. Masculinizing hormone therapy can lead to a deeper voice, the redistribution of body fat away from hips and thighs, increased body and facial hair, increased muscle mass, and changes to the menstrual cycle.
For many people, hearing familiar Christmas jingles and seeing decorations galore in stores inspires happiness and excitement. But for others, the arrival of the holiday season can trigger feelings of apprehension, anxiety, and sometimes dread. [Read more…]
If you aren’t already convinced that exercise is the best way to improve health outcomes as you age, there is now even more evidence to bolster that case. [Read more…]
Advice on how to cultivate happiness is hard to avoid. Magazines, online news outlets, and television news tout the best ways to improve your mood and boost contentment. Often making the list: exercise, smiling (even when you don’t feel happy), and meditation. [Read more…]
Heat waves have rippled across North America this summer, leading to an increase in heat-related illness and deaths.
Unfortunately, the data gathered on heat illnesses and deaths in the U.S. are incomplete. But we know that last year, extreme heat killed more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, floods, lightning, or tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. This year, we’re on track to exceed the number of deaths due to heat. [Read more…]
Nearly 70% of Americans identify with a specific religion, and another 25-to-30% consider themselves spiritual.
It turns out, that’s a good thing. A large and growing body of evidence demonstrates that spirituality is good for our mental health. [Read more…]
It’s well-established that youth mental health has suffered in recent years—with wide-ranging factors contributing to the problem including the proliferation of social media among young people and the isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more…]
You likely know from experience that human perceptions of time are not accurate. During a long, boring task, time feels like it plods along slowly; when we are experiencing excitement or joy, time flies by. [Read more…]
A broad new analysis published in the journal Nature Human Behavior demonstrates that social isolation and loneliness can lead to premature death. [Read more…]
Singing is nearly ubiquitous in American society. From church choirs to America’s Got Talent, people love hearing voices singing in unison. Nearly 54 million Americans – including one in six adults – participate in choral groups, according to research funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. [Read more…]
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
