Tag: Mental health

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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Counting blessings versus burdens: an experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life

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Author: Emmons, Robert A.; McCullough, Michael E. Description: The effect of a grateful outlook on psychological and physical well-being was examined. In Studies 1 and 2, participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 experimental conditions (hassles, gratitude listing, and either neutral life events or social comparison); they then kept weekly (Study 1) or daily (Study 2) records of their moods, coping behaviors, health behaviors, physical symptoms, and overall life appraisals. In a 3rd study, persons with neuromuscular disease were randomly assigned to either the gratitude condition or to a…

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Symptomatic and Functional Outcomes Among Individuals at High Risk for Psychosis Participating in Step-Based Care

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Author: Hamilton, Sarah A.; Wastler, Heather M.; Moe, Aubrey M.; Cowan, Henry R.; Lundin, Nancy B.; Guirgis, Hossam H.; Parris, Craig J.; Stearns, Walter H.; Manges, Margaret E.; Holmes, Anne C.; Blouin, Alexandra M.; Breitborde, Nicholas J. K. Description: Validated, multicomponent treatments designed to address symptoms and functioning of individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis are currently lacking. The authors report findings of a study with such individuals participating in step-based care-a program designed to provide low-intensity, non-psychosis-specific interventions and advancement to higher-intensity, psychosis-specific interventions only if an individual…

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Yoga in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders: A review

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Author: da Silva, T.L.; Ravindran, L.N.; Ravindran, A.V. Description: BACKGROUND: Patient use of complementary and alternative treatments, including yoga, to manage mood and anxiety disorders, has been well documented. Despite research interest, there are few recent reviews of the evidence of the benefit of yoga in these conditions. METHOD: The PubMed, Medline and PsycInfo databases were searched for literature published up to July 2008, relating to yoga and depressive and anxiety disorders. RESULTS: The paucity of reported studies and several methodological constraints limit data interpretation. In depressive disorders, yoga may…

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Translational developmental studies of stress on brain and behavior: implications for adolescent mental health and illness?

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Author: Malter Cohen, M.; Tottenham, N.; Casey, B.J. Description: Adolescence is the transition from childhood to adulthood, with onset marked by puberty and the offset by relative independence from parents. Across species, it is a time of incredible change that carries increased risks and rewards. The ability of the individual to respond adequately to the mental, physical and emotional stresses of life during this time is a function of both their early environment and their present state. In this article, we focus on the effects that acute threat and chronic…

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