All posts tagged: tend

Masculine lesbians tend to have higher testosterone levels, study finds

Masculine lesbians tend to have higher testosterone levels, study finds

A new study from Brazil has uncovered differences in adult hormone levels between subgroups of lesbian women and heterosexual women. The research, published in Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, found that lesbian women who described themselves as having a more masculine style had higher levels of free testosterone in their saliva compared to both feminine lesbian women and heterosexual women. At the same time, the study did not find differences in the ratio of the lengths of the index finger to the ring finger—a measurement thought to reflect early hormone exposure—across these groups. Previous studies have suggested that the amount of certain hormones, such as testosterone, during early development may help shape the brain in ways that could influence sexual attraction later in life. Other work has noted that testosterone in adulthood can vary among women and might be associated with differences in behavior or self-expression. However, earlier research has often treated lesbian women as a single, undifferentiated group, even though some identify with a more masculine style while others lean toward a feminine presentation. …

Intelligent individuals tend to value self-directedness and benevolence, study finds

Intelligent individuals tend to value self-directedness and benevolence, study finds

A study of over 15,000 Australian adults found that individuals with higher intelligence were more likely to endorse self-direction, benevolence, and universalism values, and less likely to value security, tradition, and conformity. Personal values were more strongly associated with intelligence than with personality traits. The research was published in Social Psychological and Personality Science. Personal, or basic, values are fundamental beliefs and principles that guide an individual’s behaviors, decisions, and attitudes toward life. They represent what a person considers important—such as honesty, achievement, or compassion—and influence how they interact with others and prioritize their goals. One prominent theory of basic values is the one proposed by the Israeli social psychologist Shalom Schwartz. Schwartz’s theory of basic human values (or personal values) identifies 10 universal values recognized across cultures. These values are: Self-Direction (independence, creativity), Stimulation (novelty, excitement), Hedonism (pleasure, enjoyment), Achievement (success, competence), Power (status, control), Security (safety, stability), Conformity (obedience, adherence to norms), Tradition (respect for customs), Benevolence (helping others), and Universalism (understanding, tolerance). These 10 values can be grouped into two broader dimensions: …

You probably don’t need me to tell you that modern people tend to spend copious amounts of time in front of screens.

You probably don’t need me to tell you that modern people tend to spend copious amounts of time in front of screens.

Whether it’s the monitor setup at a desk job, a laptop on the couch, or a flatscreen TV with the latest NFL game playing, more and more of our daily lives are being consumed by technologies that mediate the world for us. One writer, the historian and social critic Christine Rosen, has asked the question bubbling beneath the surface of our mediated lives in her new book The Extinction of Experience: What do we lose when we offload our relationships, work, and skillsets to the screen? Rosen is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a prominent think tank based in Washington, D.C., and is an editor for Commentary magazine. She also helped found The New Atlantis, a journal that explores technology and culture from a perspective that advocates for humanism. Rosen has thought about modern technology’s impact on our lives for a long time. In 2008, she wrote an article called “People of the Screen” in which she discusses what we lose in the transition from paper to pixel regarding reading and attention spans. …

Adolescents addicted to short-form videos tend to have more sleep problems and social anxiety

Adolescents addicted to short-form videos tend to have more sleep problems and social anxiety

A study in China found that adolescents with more severe addiction to short-form videos tend to have worse sleep quality and higher levels of social anxiety. The paper was published in BMC Psychology. Short-form videos are brief, engaging videos that typically last between 15 seconds and a few minutes. They are designed to capture attention quickly, often featuring fast-paced edits, catchy music, or trending topics. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have popularized this format, making it a key tool for digital content creators. These videos are ideal for mobile viewing and are often widely shared. Short-form videos have become extremely popular among adolescents. Statistics from China indicate that there were 934 million users of such videos in December 2021. However, researchers believe that many individuals exhibit signs of addiction to these videos, considering it a new form of video addiction. The researchers define short-form video addiction as “a chronic or periodic obsession characterized by the repeated use of short-form video apps (such as TikTok, Kwai, etc.), resulting in strong and continuous craving …

People who spend more time gardening tend to have fewer sleep problems

People who spend more time gardening tend to have fewer sleep problems

A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has found that individuals who engage in gardening are less likely to suffer from multiple sleep complaints compared to those who do not exercise. The research highlights gardening as a beneficial activity potentially leading to better sleep quality, including fewer instances of insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and sleep apnea. The interest in sleep health has grown significantly due to its crucial role in overall wellbeing. Previous research has connected poor sleep with an array of serious health issues, such as heart diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and even an increased risk of death. Recognizing the need for effective strategies to combat sleep-related problems, researchers turned their attention to gardening—previously noted for its low injury risk and beneficial impacts on health—as a potential aid to improve sleep patterns. “According to the Physical Activity Guideline for Americans (2nd edition), gardening is a muscle-strengthening and multicomponent physical activity with one of the lowest injury risks, which is appropriate and recommended for older adults,” said study author Xiang Gao, a dean and …

Psychopathic women tend to move their heads very little when talking to other people

Psychopathic women tend to move their heads very little when talking to other people

A recent study of incarcerated women found that those with pronounced psychopathic traits tended to hold their head more rigidly during a clinical interview. The study used an automated detection algorithm to assess head position and dynamics. The research was published in Personality and Individual Differences. Psychopathic traits are a specific cluster of personality characteristics that include a profound lack of empathy and remorse resulting in indifferent or callous attitudes towards others. Individuals with high levels of psychopathic traits tend to display shallow emotional responses and have difficulty forming genuine emotional attachments with others. They tend to be deceitful and manipulative, using charm or deceit to achieve their goals. A strong sense of egocentricity and a grandiose sense of self-worth are also common, making them overconfident and disdainful of others. Furthermore, individuals with pronounced psychopathic traits tend to be impulsive and thrill-seeking, showing poor behavior controls and a disregard for social norms and the law. These traits make such individuals a challenge in social and professional settings and pose risks for antisocial behavior. Scientists have …

People who read a lot of fiction tend to have better cognitive skills, study finds

People who read a lot of fiction tend to have better cognitive skills, study finds

New research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General suggests reading fiction offers small but meaningful cognitive benefits, particularly for verbal skills, empathy, and the ability to understand others’ perspectives. Despite the longstanding popularity of fiction, its cognitive benefits have remained a topic of debate among educators, psychologists, and the general public. Fiction is often seen primarily as a source of entertainment, but there’s a growing body of research suggesting it might also play an important role in enhancing cognitive abilities. The new study aimed to clarify these potential benefits by systematically reviewing and synthesizing the existing evidence, thus providing a clearer picture of how engagement with fiction relates to cognitive processes. “Over the last decades, scholars from several disciplines have claimed far-reaching benefits – but also potential disadvantages – of reading fiction for cognition in the real world. I wanted to get an objective, quantitative overview of the relevant empirical evidence in order to decide whether any of these assumptions is supported by empirical studies,” said study author Lena Wimmer, a postdoctoral researcher …

Couples with similar drinking habits tend to live longer

Couples with similar drinking habits tend to live longer

Recent research has found an intriguing connection between the drinking habits of couples and longevity. The study, published in The Gerontologist, suggests that couples with similar alcohol consumption habits tend to live longer compared to couples with discordant drinking behaviors, where one drinks and the other does not. However, it’s important to note that this finding is not an endorsement for increased alcohol consumption, but rather highlights the complex interactions between marital behaviors and health outcomes. Past studies have extensively explored how the drinking behaviors of couples affect their marital satisfaction, often showing that similar drinking habits can lead to better relationship outcomes, such as reduced conflict and lower divorce rates. However, the implications of these drinking patterns on physical health have remained less understood. Motivated by a theory known as “the drinking partnership,” which suggests that couples with aligned drinking habits experience better marital outcomes, Kira Birditt and her team at the University of Michigan aimed to investigate whether these patterns also correlate with increased longevity. The study utilized data from the Health and …

Maltreated children tend to have lower brain volumes

Maltreated children tend to have lower brain volumes

A neuroimaging study of toddlers exposed to physical or emotional abuse within the past 6 months reported that children who suffered more severe maltreatment tended to have lower total brain volume. This was primarily due to smaller gray matter volume and was associated with lower cognitive abilities. The paper was published in Neurobiology of Stress. Childhood maltreatment refers to various forms of abuse and neglect experienced by children under the age of 18. It encompasses physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as physical and emotional neglect. Physical abuse involves inflicting physical harm through actions like hitting or burning. Emotional abuse includes behaviors that harm a child’s self-esteem or emotional well-being, such as verbal abuse or excessive criticism. Sexual abuse entails any sexual activity with a child, including molestation, rape, or exploitation. Neglect, on the other hand, occurs when a caregiver fails to provide for a child’s basic needs, including food, shelter, medical care, and emotional nurturing. Childhood maltreatment can have long-lasting effects on a person’s mental and physical health. Studies have indicated that it …

Retired fighters with better win-loss ratios tend to be more impulsive and to have slower cognitive processing speed

Retired fighters with better win-loss ratios tend to be more impulsive and to have slower cognitive processing speed

A neuroimaging study of retired professional fighters has revealed that those with better win-loss ratios tend to exhibit greater impulsiveness and slower cognitive processing speeds. Furthermore, these individuals typically have reduced volumes in several brain regions. The paper was published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. High-impact sports, such as football, rugby, and boxing, pose a significant risk of traumatic head injuries for professional athletes due to the intense physical contact and collisions involved. These injuries are most often concussions, a type of traumatic brain injury that happens when a bump, blow, or a jolt to the head, or a hit to the body cause the brain to move rapidly inside the skull, leading to temporary disruption of normal brain function. Repeated concussions or severe traumatic brain injuries can lead to chronic conditions, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disorder with symptoms that include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, and mood swings. On the biochemical level, this condition involves widespread accumulation of a protein called hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the brain. …