Social Media News and Research

Latest Social Media News and Research

COVID-19 pandemic has worsened pre-existing mental health conditions

With over 6.26 million cases and 375,000 deaths in just five months, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused great fear and devastation in many parts of the world. Many studies show that, generally, there has been an accompanying increase in fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms during this period. Now, a new study published on the online preprint server medRxiv in May 2020 shows that patients with a history of mental ill-health often underwent a worsening of their symptoms with the onset of the pandemic.

1 Jun 2020

COVID-19 negatively impacts people with eating disorders

A study analyzing the early impact that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is having on people with eating disorders has identified areas where their treatment needs could be better addressed.

1 Jun 2020

Pod-based e-cigarettes have higher potential to foster addiction than other devices

JUUL and similar pod-based e-cigarettes have been popular with teenagers and young adults since they came on the market in 2015, but little has been known about their health effects.

1 Jun 2020

Is vitamin D really linked to excess COVID-19 mortality?

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused many deaths, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, over many different countries. However, the reasons for the differential mortality from region to region are far from clear, despite intensive research.

27 May 2020

How India's lockdown has affected mental health

India’s public landscape has transformed dramatically over the last couple of months, with the most prolonged lockdown that the present generation can remember. Declared on March 24, 2020, the lockdown ensured that hundreds of millions of people were effectively confined to home, except when they ventured out, armed with a self-attested affidavit, to stock up on essentials.

27 May 2020

Yale study finds bullying as common factor in LGBTQ youth suicides

Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health have found that death records of LGBTQ youth who died by suicide were substantially more likely to mention bullying as a factor than their non-LGBTQ peers.

26 May 2020

Researchers to use digital technologies to help tackle chronic disease

Sedentary behaviours, poor sleep and questionable food choices are major contributors of chronic disease, including diabetes, anxiety, heart disease and many cancers.

22 May 2020

ACR warns about the economic impact of COVID-19 on rheumatology practices

In virtual meetings with lawmakers and on Twitter tomorrow, physician and health professional leaders from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) are sounding the alarm about the economic impact of COVID-19 on rheumatology practices and the urgent need for more targeted relief that will help specialty practices remain solvent and continue to serve patients.

22 May 2020

New study provides valuable insight into health and wellbeing of children in Ireland

A new report, Spotlight on Adolescent Health and Well-being, published today by WHO Regional Office for Europe, compiles extensive data on the physical health, social relationships and mental well-being of 227 441 schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15, from 45 countries.

21 May 2020

New collection of mobile apps reduces anxiety and depression during COVID-19

Terrified you will contract COVID-19? Feeling down, lonely and wondering when you'll be able to safely see your friends in person again?

20 May 2020

Loss of smell added to the UK's official list of Covid-19 symptoms

The UK has joined the US, Europe and the World Health Organisation by including loss of smell or taste as an officially recognized symptom of Covid-19 – thanks in part to an international research project involving Professor Carl Philpott at the University of East Anglia.

20 May 2020

Gene mutation linked to MEF2C haploinsufficiency syndrome

A collaboration between scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina and clinicians at the Greenwood Genetic Center has yielded new findings about how a particular gene might regulate brain development.

19 May 2020

Schools can create predictable screen-free time for children

The latest screen-time related research from Dr. Pooja Tandon, a child health and development expert at Seattle Children's Research Institute, was inspired by her oldest son.

18 May 2020

Evidence shows Obama team left a pandemic ‘game plan’ for Trump administration

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell alleged that the Obama administration did not provide the Trump administration with any information about the threat of a possible pandemic during a May 11 Team Trump Facebook Live discussion with Lara Trump.

15 May 2020

Remote consulting practices should be adopted during COVID-19 pandemic, say researchers

Remote consulting practices should be adopted widely during the COVID-19 pandemic to help low and middle income countries to help combat the virus and to provide quality healthcare to patients in the long-term, argue a team of researchers at the University of Warwick.

15 May 2020

New map shows that distrust in health expertise could dominate online conversations

Communities on Facebook that distrust establishment health guidance are more effective than government health agencies and other reliable health groups at reaching and engaging "undecided" individuals, according to a study published today in the journal Nature.

14 May 2020

Racial status and the pandemic: A combustible mixture

In early March, Madalynn Rucker, then 69, agonized over whether to close her Sacramento consultancy office.

13 May 2020

Social media influencers could promote social distancing behaviors amongst adolescents

Public health bodies should consider incentivizing social media influencers to encourage adolescents to follow social distancing guidelines, say researchers.

13 May 2020

‘An Arm and a Leg’: Health care takes a financial hit in the midst of pandemic

You've probably noticed that the U.S. economy is crashing. What you might not expect is that almost half of the economic devastation comes from just one sector — health care.

11 May 2020

Gum Health Day 2020 to be celebrated worldwide on 12 May

"Say NO to bleeding gums" is the slogan for Gum Health Day 2020, to be celebrated worldwide on 12 May. Its goal is to raise public awareness about bleeding gums, which are usually a sign of a gum disease that will require treatment at the dental practice.

11 May 2020