Psychology News and Research

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

New psychological scales measure personal attitudes toward cosmetic procedures

As non-surgical cosmetic procedures grow in popularity, accessibility and affordability, new Griffith University research has created two new measures to assess people's attitudes and motivations towards cosmetic procedures.

22 May 2026

How screen time, stress, and nicotine trap young adults in poor sleep

Among the younger part of the population, sleep problems, anxiety, and depression are widespread and growing issues.

22 May 2026

Scientists link schizophrenia risk gene to early cortical neuron changes

Researchers at King's College London have identified the biological nature and timing of changes in human cortical neurons caused by altering activity of a schizophrenia-associated gene in developing human neurons.

20 May 2026

Real-time memory tests identify alcohol-induced blackouts as they happen

It's not surprising if someone experiences memory loss, or a 'blackout,' while drinking alcohol. While common, blackouts are considered a public health concern linked to injury, arrest, assault and overdose.

20 May 2026

Anxiety and depression linked to mirror opposite sides of the brain's emotional center

A longitudinal study tracking children over a period of seven years identified distinct brain-wave patterns emerging from age 9 can forecast a child's vulnerability to anxiety or depression by age 13.

20 May 2026

UniSC study identifies two distinct psychological belief patterns that predict stealthing intent

Men with a strong sense of entitlement are three times more likely to commit "stealthing" during sex, according to a new University of the Sunshine Coast study.

20 May 2026

Facial micromovements may help doctors measure pain more accurately

Researchers at Rutgers University-New Brunswick are working to measure pain more accurately beyond the single, subjective question patients are often asked: "On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is your pain?"

19 May 2026

Risk-taking during play may strengthen children’s real-world safety skills

Children who take more risks on the playground make safe decisions more quickly when crossing a busy street.

19 May 2026

Psychologist debunks myth that sexual desire disappears with age

Sexuality is an important part of life - even when we grow old. The idea that desire disappears with age is a myth that needs to be debunked, argues a psychologist who has researched older adults' sex lives.

19 May 2026

Psychology professor calls for more thorough diagnostic assessments for ADHD

An increasing number of people are being diagnosed with ADHD, without researchers knowing exactly why. Greater awareness of ADHD and changes in diagnostic criteria may be one reason.

19 May 2026

Loneliness increased significantly over the past four decades in Japan

Despite widespread claims that social changes have intensified loneliness, no study has yet examined how loneliness has changed over time in Japan.

19 May 2026

Childhood abuse may increase vulnerability to abusive adult relationships

Experiencing abuse or neglect as a child can increase the risk of being victimised by a romantic partner in adulthood, by impacting personality and mental health development, finds a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

18 May 2026

Sleep complaints highlight Alzheimer's risk in genetically predisposed women

Sleep complaints may be an important Alzheimer's disease risk factor in older women with a higher genetic predisposition to the disease, according to a new study from researchers at the University of California San Diego.

18 May 2026

Time in nature may improve disadvantaged children’s mental health

Growing up in disadvantaged communities can take a toll on children, with greater stress leading to mental health issues and delays in psychological development.

17 May 2026

A comprehensive longitudinal study reveals dreams are shaped by personality

A study that analyzed, over four years, thousands of reports of dreams and waking experiences reports that what we dream is shaped by stable individual traits, such as attitudes toward dreaming, the tendency for mind-wandering, and subjective sleep quality.

14 May 2026

Study reveals hidden struggles faced by unaccompanied child refugees

From relentless cycles of intrusive memories to loneliness and physical pain - a new study form the University of East Anglia reveals the struggles of refugees who entered the UK as unaccompanied minors.

13 May 2026

Why experts say PCOS needs a new name

A Lancet Health Policy paper reports an international consensus process that selected polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) as the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The change aims to shift the focus away from ovarian cysts and better reflect the condition’s endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian features.

13 May 2026

Genetic schizophrenia risk linked to neurodevelopmental changes during early adolescence

Research has found that children with higher genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia show decreases in frontal cortical surface area during early adolescence, in contrast to the regional expansion observed in children with low genetic susceptibility.

13 May 2026

Study identifies genetic pathways linking cannabis use and psychosis

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London has highlighted the distinct and shared molecular pathways linking cannabis use disorder (CUD) and psychosis, offering the potential for identifying those at risk, as well as targeted interventions for cannabis related psychosis.

13 May 2026