In a study involving over 1,000 mom/teen pairs, researchers observed that children were more likely to successfully complete a task when their mothers gave instructions using a supportive tone. The authors of the study write, “If parents want conversations with their teens to have the most benefit, it’s important to remember to use supportive tones…

Researchers tracked the earnings and heart health of nearly 9,000 adults in the United States for thirty years and found that those who experienced a drop in their income in the first decade of the study had an elevated risk for heart attack, fatal coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke over the following twenty…

Among a group of 4,800 cardiac rehabilitation patients, researchers observed that those with moderate depression or anxiety were significantly more likely to quit cardiac rehabilitation than patients who experienced mild symptoms of the same disorders or those who didn’t have any symptoms. The findings suggest that clinicians should screen for depression and anxiety at the…

Researchers monitored 11,553 seniors for four years and observed that 22.3% developed depressive symptoms during this time. Further analysis identified the following late-life risk factors for depression: inadequate sleep, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, arthritis, and chronic digestive disorders. The risk for depression was also slightly higher among women and those living in rural areas. BMJ…

The results of a recent study involving military personnel suggest there’s a link between vitamin D deficiency and an elevated risk for depression, particularly for those stationed at higher latitudes. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, September 2019

In this study, college students were asked to rate the Instagram profiles of students from another university. The participants rated those who posted posed photos taken by someone else as more likeable, more successful, having greater self-esteem, and being more outgoing. However, students who posted a lot of selfies were regarded as less likeable, less…

Postpartum depression affects about one in five new mothers. A review of data from sixteen published studies found that women who exercise before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and following the birth of their child had a lower risk for postpartum depression than new moms with poor fitness levels. Medicine (Lithuania), September 2019

New research that looked at the mental health status of 4,000 Canadian teenagers suggests that adolescents who spend an aboveaverage amount of time on either social media or watching TV are more likely to experience depressive symptoms. JAMA Pediatrics, July 2019

Questionnaires completed by nearly 47,000 citydwelling adults revealed that living in a neighborhood with more tree cover is associated with less psychological distress and better general health. JAMA Network Open, July 2019

The results of a new study involving over two million people from five countries suggest that autism spectrum disorder is 80% contingent on inherited genes. Dr. Andrew Adesman, director of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York notes, “Although families are often most concerned about environmental risk…