Older people are more likely to be emotionally stable, study suggests
Older people were also, on average, more successful than younger adults at resisting desires that were in conflict with their personal goals, researchers found.
Susan Perry
Susan Perry writes Second Opinion for MinnPost, covering consumer health. She has written several health-related books, and her articles have appeared in a wide variety of publications.
Hotter weather linked to increased stress and other psychological problems
Global warming has given a new impetus to research on the impact of ambient temperatures on mental health.
The diets of most U.S. children remain nutritionally ‘poor,’ despite improvements
The study found that young people are drinking less sugary beverages and consuming slightly more fruit and whole grains than they were in 1999.
More daily steps — but not speed — is linked to lower risk of early death
Compared to people who walked 4,000 steps per day (the equivalent of about 2 miles), those who walked 8,000 steps per day were half as likely to die within the decade, a study found.
Screen time and kids: Focus on quality and limit quantity, say the experts
The AAP’s recommendations are strictest for younger children: No screen exposure before age 18 months, and no more than an hour for children aged 1 to 5 years.
Musicians and audiences ‘sync’ their brain activity during performances, study finds
The synchronization — or “inter-brain coherence” — is even stronger when the listener enjoys the music, the study found.
Media coverage of celebrity suicides linked to ‘meaningful’ rise in suicide rates
The upsurge in such “copycat” suicides is particularly strong when news stories describe the suicide method used by the celebrity, the review found.
Loss of smell and taste are possible symptoms of coronavirus, and a sign that you should self-isolate, experts say
Medical personnel who are treating people with anosmia should use personal protective gear and avoid doing nonessential procedures, the specialists add.
Social distancing: Specific advice on practicing it (and, yes, it can be hard)
There are a lot of things that people are either overlooking or misunderstanding about social distancing.
1 in 5 Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 are young adults, CDC study finds
Although older people are at greatest risk of dying from COVID-19, younger adults make up a significant proportion of coronavirus-related hospitalizations in the U.S., according to a new report.
To change people’s behavior, we need to frame coronavirus as a collective rather than an individual threat
Framing COVID-19 as a collective rather than an individual threat will give us our best chance at getting people to change their risky behavior during the crisis, argue two British social psychologists.
Many alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths involve drivers who could pass a blood alcohol test, study finds
More than half of the people who died in those crashes were someone other than the drinking driver, and they were more likely to be young (under the age of 21) and female, the study also found.
Cutting Facebook time by just 20 minutes a day increases well-being, study suggests
The findings align with previous research that has shown extensive Facebook use can contribute to lower psychological well-being and the development of a compulsion to continually check social media.
The psychology behind panic buying (and what we can do to resist it)
Some of that buying is rational, such as making sure you have enough medication to treat chronic medical conditions, for example. But much of it is irrational.
Spending on experiences rather than things is associated with greater immediate happiness, study finds
Our experiential purchases bring us greater pleasure in terms of anticipation and remembrance than do our material purchases, but they also bring us greater in-the-moment enjoyment, the study found.
Gratitude exercises do not reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression, study finds
Researchers recommend that people seek out treatments with a proven track record, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
Watch out for peddlers of bogus coronavirus ‘cures’
Many bogus products are being marketed for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. Some of them are harmless, but some aren’t. All are a waste of money.
Colorectal cancer is increasing among younger adults
The report also found “striking” racial and ethnic disparities in both the incidence and death rates for colorectal cancer.
An egg a day is OK for cardiovascular health, study finds
The study, which involved both a large cohort study and a meta-analysis, found no evidence that people who consume an egg daily are at any greater risk of heart attacks and stroke than people who never or rarely eat eggs — that is, after their overall diet and lifestyle are considered.
Thirdhand smoke from smokers’ clothes can contaminate a theater with toxic chemicals, study finds
Researchers tracked and measured traces of cigarette smoke in an environment where no smoking had occurred for many years — a German movie theater.
