All posts tagged: study

Narcissism linked to aggression in daily social interactions, study finds

Narcissism linked to aggression in daily social interactions, study finds

Published by José

[ad_1] Recent work published in the Journal of Personality found that grandiose narcissism and interpersonal antagonism were linked to increased aggression in real-life interactions, especially when combined with negative emotional states. While studies have shown that narcissistic traits correlate with aggression, traditional research often relies on retrospective self-reports or laboratory settings, which may not capture real-time, situational dynamics. In this work, researchers Tianwei V. Du and colleagues used an experience-sampling method to examine how specific dimensions of narcissism influence aggressive behaviors during everyday interactions. This study recruited 477 undergraduate students from a large public university who received four daily prompts via a mobile application to report on their most intense interactions since the last prompt for a duration of 10 days. At the baseline, narcissistic traits were assessed using the Five Factor Narcissism Inventory Short Form (FFNI-SF), which measures various facets of narcissism, including entitlement, exploitativeness, and self-sufficiency. Participants also completed measures of verbal and physical aggression (e.g., “Since the last prompt… I felt like I wanted to hurt someone; I said something offensive to …

Eating mixed nuts for 16 weeks might improve insulin sensitivity in the brain, study suggests

Eating mixed nuts for 16 weeks might improve insulin sensitivity in the brain, study suggests

Published by José

[ad_1] A recent study involving overweight or obese older adults found that consuming 60 grams of a mixture of walnuts, pistachios, cashews, and hazelnuts daily for 16 weeks improved insulin sensitivity in five distinct regions of the brain. However, there were no significant changes in body weight, body composition, or peripheral insulin sensitivity. The research was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells for energy production and storage. It helps cells in the body absorb glucose from the bloodstream to use for energy or store as glycogen in the liver and muscle tissues. When blood sugar levels rise, such as after eating, the pancreas releases insulin to help maintain a balanced and healthy sugar level. Dysfunction in insulin production or its activity can lead to metabolic disorders such as diabetes, characterized by insufficient insulin production or ineffective use of insulin by the body. This dysfunction also extends to brain cells, known as brain …

Online abuse silences women in Ethiopia, study finds

Online abuse silences women in Ethiopia, study finds

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia —  Research into online abuse and hate speech reveals most women in Ethiopia face gender-targeted attacks across Facebook, Telegram and X. The abuse and hate speech are prompting many Ethiopian women to withdraw from public life, online and off, according to the recent research. The Center for Information Resilience, a U.K.-based nonprofit organization, spearheaded the study. The CIR report, released Wednesday, says that women in Ethiopia are on the receiving end of abuse and hate speech across all three social media platforms, with Facebook cited as the worst. Over 2,000 inflammatory keywords were found in the research, which looked at three Ethiopian languages — Amharic, Afan Oromo and Tigrigna — as well as English. The list is the most comprehensive inflammatory word lexicon in Ethiopia, according to the researchers. Over 78% of the women interviewed reported feelings of fear or anxiety after experiencing online abuse. It is highly likely similar problems exist in areas of society that have not been analyzed yet, said Felicity Mulford, editor and researcher at CIR. “This …

New study sheds light what really influences nightmares and their psychological impact

New study sheds light what really influences nightmares and their psychological impact

Published by José

[ad_1] Recent research published in the journal Dreaming has provided new insights into what influences nightmares and the distress they cause. The study found that an individual’s long-standing personality traits, rather than their momentary emotional state, play a more critical role in both the occurrence of nightmares and the distress experienced from them. Nightmares affect between 2.4% and 12% of adults, and their impact extends beyond unpleasant dreams. They have been linked to heightened emotional distress, symptoms of post-traumatic stress, paranoia, and even an increased risk of suicide. While previous research explored both nightmare frequency (how often they occur) and nightmare distress (how bothersome they are), there has been an ongoing debate about the roles of personality traits (long-term characteristics) versus states (temporary experiences). The new study aimed to clarify how these factors interact and to investigate recently identified traits such as ego strength and emotional regulation. “I’ve always been interested in understanding why we dream, especially why we have bad dreams or nightmares. The reasons seem both complex and elusive. Since I like a …

Common sleeping pill could stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, study finds

Common sleeping pill could stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, study finds

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] Individuals who develop Alzheimer’s often encounter difficulty falling and remaining asleep long before cognitive issues surface. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) Alzheimer’s disease may manifest as sleep disturbances in its early stages. Individuals who develop Alzheimer’s often encounter difficulty falling and remaining asleep long before cognitive issues such as memory loss and confusion surface. A harmful cycle occurs where Alzheimer’s-induced changes to the brain disrupt sleep, and poor sleep exacerbates detrimental changes to the brain. In an attempt to break this cycle, researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered a possible solution. In a small two-night study, participants who ingested a sleeping pill before bed displayed reduced levels of crucial Alzheimer’s proteins. This is a positive sign because elevated levels of such proteins are indicative of a worsening disease. The study utilized a sleeping aid named suvorexant, which has already been sanctioned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for insomnia. Although the results imply that sleep medications might decelerate or halt the progression of Alzheimer’s, significantly more research is necessary …

Cutting-edge cancer vaccine both kills and prevents brain cancer, study finds

Cutting-edge cancer vaccine both kills and prevents brain cancer, study finds

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] Scientists are converging on an ingenious approach: morphing cancer cells into potent anti-cancer soldiers. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) In an audacious bid to rewrite the narrative of cancer treatment, scientists are converging on an ingenious approach: morphing cancer cells into potent anti-cancer soldiers. Spearheading this revolutionary endeavor is Dr. Khalid Shah, MS, PhD, and his stellar team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, under the aegis of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system. According to their research published in the esteemed journal, Science Translational Medicine, this cell therapy not only eliminates established tumors but also kickstarts long-term immunity, effectively educating the immune system to thwart any potential resurgence of the disease. Dr. Khalid Shah, who helms the Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy (CSTI) and is also the vice chair of research in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Brigham, elucidates, “Our team has pursued a simple idea: to take cancer cells and transform them into cancer killers and vaccines.” Scientists developed a bifunctional therapeutic strategy by transforming living tumor cells into a therapeutic. (CREDIT: …

The air inside all personal vehicles is heavily contaminated with carcinogens, study finds

The air inside all personal vehicles is heavily contaminated with carcinogens, study finds

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] This discovery raises significant concerns about daily exposure to these chemicals. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) In a recent study published in Environmental Science & Technology, researchers from Duke University have found that the air inside modern personal vehicles is heavily contaminated with flame retardants, some of which are linked to cancer and other health issues. This discovery raises significant concerns about daily exposure to these chemicals, especially given that the average person spends about an hour each day in their car. Lead researcher Rebecca Hoehn highlighted the public health implications of their findings, noting, “Considering the average driver spends about an hour in the car every day, this is a significant public health issue. It’s particularly concerning for drivers with longer commutes as well as child passengers, who breathe more air pound for pound than adults.” The study examined the interiors of 101 cars (model years 2015 or newer) from various locations across the U.S., revealing that 99 percent of them contained tris (1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), a flame retardant currently under scrutiny by the U.S. …

Social media has a counterintuitive effect on teen socialization, study suggests

Social media has a counterintuitive effect on teen socialization, study suggests

Published by José

[ad_1] Recent research published in Computers in Human Behavior explores how adolescent social media usage is related to social skills and time spent with friends offline. The study finds that increased social media activity does not adversely affect social skills and is associated with more offline interactions with friends. This challenges the common concern that digital platforms might hinder adolescents’ social development. “Socializing with peers outside of the family is crucial to adolescents’ (socioemotional) development and well-being,” said study author Silje Steinsbekk, a professor of clinical child and adolescent psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. “Therefore, as young people have increasingly turned to social media for interpersonal interactions, concerns have been raised that social media use may displace time adolescents spend with friends offline and may negatively impact the development of social skills. If so, their mental health and psychosocial functioning could be harmed. Knowledge is needed on how this new social landscape affect adolescents.” For their study, the researchers analyzed data from the Trondheim Early Secure Study (TESS). TESS is a …

Income inequality a key factor, study suggests

Income inequality a key factor, study suggests

Published by José

[ad_1] An analysis of selfies shared publicly on Twitter and Instagram found that women living in environments with higher equal inequality and where people are preoccupied with their relative social standing are more likely to publish sexy self-photos. These areas also had higher sales of goods and services related to female physical appearance enhancement. The research was published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Cultural sexualization of women refers to the process in which women’s bodies and identities are treated primarily as objects of sexual desire through cultural practices, media representations, and everyday interactions. In this phenomenon, women are portrayed in ways that emphasize their sexual attributes over their capabilities, intelligence, or character. Such representations can perpetuate widespread stereotypes that predominantly value women for their physical appearance and sexual availability. The sexualization of women not only affects how they are perceived by others but also impacts their self-perception and self-esteem. It can create pressure to conform to unrealistic and narrow beauty and sexuality standards that dictate how women should look, behave, and …

Study reveals “widespread, bipartisan aversion” to neighbors owning AR-15 rifles

Study reveals “widespread, bipartisan aversion” to neighbors owning AR-15 rifles

Published by José

[ad_1] A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that across all political and social groups in the United States, there is a strong preference against living near AR-15 rifle owners and neighbors who store guns outside of locked safes. This surprising consensus suggests that when it comes to immediate living environments, Americans’ views on gun control may be less divided than the polarized national debate suggests. The research was conducted against a backdrop of increasing gun violence and polarization on gun policy in the United States. The United States has over 350 million civilian firearms and gun-related incidents, including accidents and mass shootings, have become a leading cause of death in the country. Despite political divides, the new study aimed to explore whether there’s common ground among Americans in their immediate living environments, focusing on neighborhood preferences related to gun ownership and storage. “We lived in a highly polarized point in time. Gun rights advocates claim that guns benefit the community (e.g., ‘an armed society is a polite …