Tag: Mental health

Climate Change, Pollution, Deforestation, and Mental Health: Research Trends, Gaps, and Ethical Considerations

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Author: Wigand, ME; Timmermann, C; Scherp, A; Becker, T; Steger, F Description: Climate change, pollution, and deforestation have a negative impact on global mental health. There is an environmental justice dimension to this challenge as wealthy people and high-income countries are major contributors to climate change and pollution, while poor people and low-income countries are heavily affected by the consequences. Using state-of-the art data mining, we analyzed and visualized the global research landscape on mental health, climate change, pollution and deforestation over a 15-year period. Metadata of papers were exported…

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Ordinary Magic in Extraordinary Circumstances: Factors Associated with Positive Mental Health Outcomes for Early Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Author: Ashworth, E; Putwain, DW; McLoughlin, S; Saini, P; Chopra, J; Rosser, B; Eames, C Description: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions have had a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many people worldwide, but this may have been particularly challenging for adolescents. However, there is a paucity of research examining the factors associated with good mental health during this time. The aim of the current study was to identify the protective factors amongst early adolescents in the UK that were associated with better mental health outcomes…

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Shared reading interventions to promote psychosocial well-being in older adults: a systematic review

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Author: Milani, Chiara; Biagi, Claudia; Palmieri, Ester; Rosi, Claudia; Buresta, Diletta; Iocca, Francesco; Wetzell Cabrera, Fiorenza; Zanobini, Patrizio; Lorini, Chiara; Bonaccorsi, Guglielmo Description: Participatory interventions, such as art therapy and group activities, have been shown to promote healthy aging. However, the effectiveness of shared reading among older adults requires further evidence. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the impact and effectiveness of shared reading groups in slowing cognitive impairment, improving social interaction, promoting psychosocial well-being, and enhancing functional aspects among older adults living in the community. The…

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Motivations for Active and Passive Social Media Use and Their Relation to Wellbeing

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Author: Seidman, Gwendolyn; Hudak, Lauren M.; Langlais, Michael Description: The present research examined if active and passive social media uses are determined by different motivations and the extent to which these uses and motivations predict wellbeing. Two online surveys (total N = 480), one using a sample of adults and the other using an undergraduate sample, showed that active use has two components: self-presentational and other-oriented. In both studies, active self-presentational use was primarily motivated by attention seeking, whereas boredom and fear of missing out (FoMO) were the main motivators…

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For the love of reading: Recreational reading reduces psychological distress in college students and autonomous motivation is the key

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Author: Levine, S. L.; Cherrier, S.; Holding, A. C.; Koestner, R. Description: OBJECTIVE: Reading is often cited as beneficial for one’s mental health, but the research on this topic is limited. The goal of the present research was to examine whether recreational reading is beneficial for mental health during college, and to determine what motivates recreational reading. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 231 university students from a large Canadian University. METHODS: A longitudinal design was employed and students completed online surveys on recreational reading, motivation, psychological distress and need frustration at the…

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Politics is making us sick: The negative impact of political engagement on public health during the Trump administration

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Author: Smith, Kevin B. Description: Objectives: To quantify the effect of politics on the physical, psychological, and social health of American adults during the four-year span of the Trump administration. Methods: A previously validated politics and health scale was used to compare health markers in nationally representative surveys administered to separate samples in March 2017 (N = 800) and October 2020 (N = 700). Participants in the 2020 survey were re-sampled approximately two weeks after the 2020 election and health markers were compared to their pre-election baselines. Results: Large numbers…

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Ways to play with cats (in this study)

Effects of the characteristic temperament of cats on the emotions and hemodynamic responses of humans

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Author: Nagasawa, Takumi; Ohta, Mitsuaki; Uchiyama, Hidehiko Description: Cats positive effects on their owners’ physiological and psychological health, including improved mood and activation of the human prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus in the brain. However, the association between the health benefits provided by cat ownership and the characteristic behaviors and reactions of cats is unclear. We recruited 29 participants to measure human prefrontal cortex activity, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, during interactions with a cat. After the experiments, participants subjectively responded to a questionnaire regarding success rates for interactions with…

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Cat-human activities related to human well-being

Cat-human related activities associated with human well-being

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Author: Ravenscroft, Samantha J.; Barcelos, Ana Maria; Mills, Daniel S. Description: Besides inconsistent evidence relating to the mental health benefits of pet ownership, there is a specific lack of data in relation to cat ownership. Research in this field frequently fails to consider the effect of specific cat-human relationships or activities that might impact owner well-being. This study aimed to identify and address this gap by examining the activities associated with owning a cat that were perceived by owners to impact on their well-being. Twenty cat owners (18 to 74…

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A consensus statement on potential negative impacts of smartphone and social media use on adolescent mental health

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Author: Capraro, V., Globig, L., Rausch, Z., Rathje, S., Wormley, A. S., Olson, J., et al. Description: The impact of smartphones and social media use on adolescent mental health remains widely debated. To clarify expert opinion, we convened over 120 international researchers from 11 disciplines, representing a broad range of views. Using a Delphi method, the panel evaluated 26 claims covering international trends in adolescent mental health, causal links to smartphones and social media, and policy recommendations. The experts suggested 1,400 references and produced a consensus statement for each claim….

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Gratitude as a Human Strength: Appraising the Evidence

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Author: Emmons, Robert A.; Crumpler, Cheryl A. Description: Gratitude is an emotional state and an attitude toward life that is a source of human strength in enhancing one’s personal and relational well-being. In this article, we first explore the theological origins of gratitude as a virtue to be cultivated in the major monotheistic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Each tradition emphasizes the development of gratitude as a path to a good life, and prescribes approaches for practicing. Gratitude is explored further in the context of psychological theory and research….

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