PsyPost (CA)

Free newspaper subscriptions were offered to thousands. The results were stunningly bleak.

In a recent study published in the American Journal of Political Science, researchers investigated whether online interventions could enhance state and local news consumption among Pennsylvanians in today’s highly polarized and national-focused media landscape. But despite offering free online newspaper subscriptions to more than 2,000 individuals, only 44 people in total signed up. Local newspapers have played a crucial role in informing residents about regional politics, providing in-depth coverage essential for making informed decisions at the polls. However, over recent decades, there has ...

Untangling the complex relationship between anxiety and right-wing populism

A new study published in American Behavioral Scientist sheds light on the relationship between anxiety and support for right-wing populist parties. The findings highlight that anxiety plays a significant role in shaping contradictory attitudes, driving both authoritarian submission and anti-elitism in different contexts. Previous research has shown conflicting evidence regarding the link between anxiety and support for right-wing populist parties. The new study aimed to clarify this relationship by examining how two seemingly opposing subdimensions of right-wing ideology — authoritarian submis...

“TikTok has me in a chokehold”: 4-week intervention shows promise in reducing social media addiction

Many people have compared the addictive nature of social media to cigarettes. Checking your likes, they say, is the new smoke break. Others say the unease over social media is just the next round of moral panic about new technologies. We are a pair of researchers who investigate how social media affects the mental health of young people. More than 75% of teens check their phone hourly, and half say they feel like they’re addicted to their devices. Here are some of the things they’ve told us: “TikTok has me in a chokehold.” “I would 1,000% say I am addicted.” “I feel completely aware that it is...

How do dogs anticipate actions? Scientists find notable differences from primates

New eye-tracking research sheds light on how dogs process and predict the actions of both human and non-human agents, demonstrating that they prioritize the location of an action over the identity of the object involved. This suggests a unique aspect of canine social cognition, where spatial information plays a crucial role in their understanding of others’ behaviors. The findings were published in the journal Animal Cognition. Previous research has suggested that humans use their own motor experiences to interpret other people’s movements. This ability develops early in life and is seen in in...

Amphetamine addicts show signs of impaired dopamine function

A study of individuals with amphetamine use disorder has found that they have altered neural response patterns when anticipating rewards or losses compared to individuals without this disorder. This potentially reflects an impairment in dopamine function, which may influence their decision-making. The research was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Amphetamines are potent stimulant drugs that affect the central nervous system. Some amphetamines are prescribed by medical professionals to treat conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (uncont...

Study explores women’s voices in online pornography abstinence forums

A new study published in Archives of Sexual Behavior examined how women in pornography abstinence forums, particularly r/pornfreewomen, use their experiences of abstaining from pornography to challenge societal norms and support each other. Online forums like Porn Free Women provide spaces for women to discuss their challenges and experiences with pornography abstinence. The current research shifts focus from the more commonly researched male perspectives to highlight the unique experiences of women in these online communities. This research adopted sexual script theory, a perspective suggesti...

Researchers identify genetic factors that help some reach 100 years with sharp minds

Researchers have discovered that individuals who live to be 100 years old and remain cognitively healthy possess genetic variations that may protect against Alzheimer’s disease. These “protective alleles” are significantly more prevalent among centenarians compared to Alzheimer’s patients and even middle-aged individuals without the disease. This finding could pave the way for new approaches in preventing and treating Alzheimer’s, particularly by focusing on enhancing these protective genetic mechanisms. The new findings have been published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Alzheimer’s di...

Depression, anorexia, and gut microbiota: A new link uncovered by researchers

A recent study published in BMC Psychiatry has discovered that individuals with major depressive disorder and anorexia exhibit distinct patterns in their gut microbiota compared to healthy individuals. The researchers found that a specific gut bacterium called Blautia was more prevalent in patients with both conditions and correlated with inflammation and symptom severity. The groundbreaking research offers new insights into the potential role of gut bacteria in mental health conditions. Depression, known formally as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), is a common mental health condition characte...

Men who spend fewer hours sleeping might be worse in wayfinding tasks, study suggests

A study using the mobile video game Sea Hero Quest found that men, but not women, who reported shorter sleep durations tended to perform worse on wayfinding tasks in the game. The association disappeared when men who reported sleeping fewer than 6 or more than 9 hours per night were excluded from the analysis. The findings were published in Scientific Reports. Sleep quality refers to how well a person sleeps. It encompasses aspects such as how long it takes to fall asleep, the amount of time spent in different sleep stages, the number of awakenings during a night, and how rested a person feels...

Consistent social routines linked to better emotional well-being in older adults

Recent research published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B has found that that maintaining a routine in social interactions is associated with enhanced emotional well-being of older adults. The study suggests that not just the frequency or setting of these interactions, but their regular timing can independently contribute to an increase in well-being among the elderly. “Although it is commonly agreed that social interactions are good for older adults’ health and well-being, it is unclear how older adults should engage in social interactions to maintain or improve their health and well...