Psychology News and Research

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Psychology is the study of human mental functions, behavior and processes.

Fat or obese – What’s in a name?

The question of whether the term ‘fat’ is more appropriate than ‘obese’ was raised in an Australian study that confirmed the former is the “lesser of two evils”. The study from University of NSW study which looked at public perceptions surrounding these words has found that, while both are unwelcome, obese was viewed more negatively.

13 Dec 2010

Depression in mothers during pregnancy associated with higher levels of stress hormones in children

The cocktail of hormones cascading through depressed mothers' bodies may play an important role in the development of their unborn children's brains.

13 Dec 2010

Research programs embody the promise of anti-aging medicine.

Sometimes the value of research lies as much in exposing false remedies as in discovering true breakthroughs. Scientists at the country's first school of gerontology and in laboratories around the University of Southern California do both, mindful of their responsibility to a society focused on healthful aging.

13 Dec 2010

New software may help improve major deficiencies in ADHD children

An intensive, five-week working memory training program shows promise in relieving some of the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, a new study suggests.

10 Dec 2010

Divorce: men get fitter women fatter!

Divorce is a stressful experience but according to a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, it can do good to men’s fitness. Women, on the other hand, are likely to become less healthy.

9 Dec 2010

Research looks at early exposure to mobile phone risk

There has been plenty of speculation that mobile phones are not good for pregnant mums but a new study sheds light on the actual connection. It finds that pregnant women who regularly use mobile phones may be more likely to have children with behavioral problems, particularly if their children start using mobile phones in their first seven years. American researchers said that the risk of behavioral problems rose by 30% if such exposure was present. Those exposed before birth and in early childhood were at 50% higher risk than those who were not exposed they said.

9 Dec 2010

Is neuroimaging voodoo, new phrenology, or scientific breakthrough

Neuroimaging-is it voodoo, new phrenology, or scientific breakthrough? See what the experts have to say in this special section on fMRI in Perspectives on Psychological Science.

9 Dec 2010

Focused intervention on core social deficits of ASD in toddlers improves social, communication skills

Targeting the core social deficits of autism spectrum disorders in early intervention programs yielded sustained improvements in social and communication skills even in very young children who have ASD, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study was published online December 8, 2010, in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

9 Dec 2010

Novel treatment strategy for social impairment of people with ASD

Eastern Virginia Medical School researchers have identified a potential novel treatment strategy for the social impairment of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), an aspect of the condition that has a profound impact on quality of life.

9 Dec 2010

Frequent sexual intercourse improves marital satisfaction for neurotic newlyweds

People who are neurotic often have more difficulty with relationships and marriage. But if neurotic newlyweds have frequent sexual relations, their marital satisfaction is every bit as high as their less neurotic counterparts, according to a study in the current Social Psychological and Personality Science (published by SAGE).

8 Dec 2010

New research shows high academic grades in schools lead to better health

The "A" grades that high schoolers earn aren't just good for making the honor roll — they also make them healthier as adults, too.

8 Dec 2010

Mobile phones use during pregnancy linked to behavioural problems in kids: Study

A new study finds that pregnant mums who regularly use mobile phones may be more likely to have children with behavioral problems, especially if these kids themselves start using mobile phones in their first seven years.

7 Dec 2010

Expansion of newborn screening throws some families on a journey of great uncertainty

Mandatory genetic screening of newborns for rare diseases is creating unexpected upheaval for families whose infants test positive for risk factors but show no immediate signs of the diseases, a new UCLA study warns.

7 Dec 2010

Smoking's effect on face induces women to quit the habit

Seeing the effect smoking will have on their faces shocks women into giving up the habit, research from Staffordshire University has revealed.

7 Dec 2010

New study reveals that sick teens are more isolated than other kids

A new study reveals that sick teens are more isolated than other kids, but they do not necessarily realize it and often think their friendships are stronger than they actually are.

7 Dec 2010

Lesbian, gay and bisexual teens punished unfairly: Study

A new study says that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) teens and young adults, especially females are punished more often by school and criminal authorities than are straight youngsters. According to Yale researchers Kathryn Himmelstein and Hanna Bruckner, this increased punishment is not always due to more rule-breaking or law-breaking. Ms. Himmelstein, now a high school math teacher in New York City, began the study after spending time working in the juvenile justice system during a leave of absence from college. She noted this trend during her tenure and started this work as her senior thesis at Yale.

6 Dec 2010

Food outlets sending vouchers to kids in mail-outs

Now fast food outlets are sending direct mailers to kids under the age of 12 as part of online marketing campaigns to pre-teens that include special offers, free food vouchers and competitions. Outlet names like Hungry Jacks and Taco Bill Mexican Restaurants have come up in a submission to a Senate inquiry on privacy laws made by a coalition of some of the country’s peak health bodies.

5 Dec 2010

Robotics and machine-brain interface may benefit paraplegics

A ballet dancer grasps her partner's hand to connect for a pas de deux. Later that night, in the dark, she reaches for her calf to massage a sore spot. Her brain is using different "maps" to plan for each of these movements, according to a new study at UC Santa Barbara.

4 Dec 2010

GoodTherapy.org adds post-graduate therapist training directory, psychology graduate school directory

GoodTherapy.org, an internationally recognized organization which promotes healthy psychotherapy practices and helps people connect with mental health professionals, is pleased to announce the addition of two new features to its comprehensive website.

4 Dec 2010

Relationship-strengthening class for expectant, first-time parents improves family life

Expectant parents who completed a brief relationship-strengthening class around the time their child was born showed lasting effects on each family member's well being and on the family's overall relationships, according to a recent Penn State study.

3 Dec 2010