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…]

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…]

4 Proven Steps to Better Brain Health

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Its network of electrical systems modulates the entire human experience—breathing, heart rate, movement, feelings, memory, cognition, and more! [Read more…]

Technology Use May Slow Cognitive Decline

The baby boomers are the first generation that has navigated adulthood using digital technology. The oldest baby boomers were around 25 when the first e-mail was sent; they were the first generation to have home computers and personal smartphones. [Read more…]

Yoga Supports Wellness at the Molecular Level

Yoga is growing in popularity. In 2022, nearly 17 percent of adults in America reported practicing yoga, a significant increase compared to 10 years earlier, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Read more…]

Does Online Therapy Work For Kids?

Approximately 20% of teens in the U.S. experience depression by age 17. And data shows that among youth across the globe, the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms has doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more…]

Does Inflammation Lead to Depression?

For decades, we’ve heard that depression is related to imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. But a growing body of research suggests depression may also be connected to a more prevalent biological process: inflammation. [Read more…]

How Harsh Parenting Harms Kids

You’ve probably been out in public and heard a parent shouting, swearing, or calling a child names. Or maybe you’ve found yourself in the position of losing your temper with your own children.

Harsh parenting is defined as regularly engaging in negative coercive behaviors; it can include yelling, name-calling, hitting, criticizing, shaming, and isolating children. A large body of research demonstrates that harsh parenting is bad for kids. [Read more…]

How to Cultivate Purpose in Teens

A sense of purpose—a feeling that your life has direction and your actions are meaningful—is fundamental to human well-being.

Now, researchers are learning that finding a sense of purpose is a crucial stage in adolescence, and they are evaluating programs designed to help teens cultivate purpose. [Read more…]

The Gender Gap in Online Reviews

Americans are shopping online in record numbers this holiday season, according to an analysis by Adobe Analytics. Online shopping certainly comes with added convenience: No traffic, no long lines, and a larger selection of available items—not to mention you can shop while wearing pajamas from the comfort of your sofa. But it can also be tricky to figure out exactly what you’re getting: How will that sweater fit? What do those sheets actually feel like? And do those sneakers really run small? [Read more…]

Use The Holidays To Promote Social Connection

Millions of people will gather with family and friends this week to celebrate what may be one of the most quintessential American holidays, Thanksgiving. For most people, the holiday revolves around turkey, football, and the start of the holiday shopping season. More Americans are also focusing on gratitude – the “thanks” part of Thanksgiving – which is demonstrated to promote physical, mental, and social well-being.

But there’s another aspect of Thanksgiving that is worth focusing on: gathering. [Read more…]

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