All posts tagged "Mentalhealth"

New research published in PLOS One suggests that meditation may enhance certain aspects of psychological well-being in older adults. The study, which is the longest randomized meditation trial to date, suggests that specific meditation practices can improve awareness and insight, although the impact on overall psychological well-being is more nuanced. The study stemmed from a growing awareness of the challenges faced by an ageing population in today’s rapidly evolving society. Researchers were particularly interested in exploring non-pharmacological methods to enhance mental health among older......

New research published in Europe’s Journal of Psychology has found connections between different types of humor and mental health. The study indicates that while benevolent humor, characterized by kind-hearted jokes and good-natured teasing, is linked to lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, darker forms of humor, such as cynicism and irony, are linked to aspects of emotional distress. Over the past 40 years, the academic community has increasingly recognized humor as a crucial element in coping strategies, helping individuals to distance themselves from their problems, and thereby ......

A study of more than 1,000 runners found that these individuals use more negative self-talk after a race when they perceive a higher level of stress. Negative self-talk was less common in runners with better emotional intelligence. The study was published in Psychology of Sport & Exercise. Negative self-talk refers to the habit of engaging in internal dialogue that is critical, self-deprecating, or pessimistic, undermining one’s self-esteem and overall mental well-being. It involves repetitive thoughts or statements that focus on perceived shortcomings, failures, or inadequacies. This can resu......

A recent study explored the enduring challenges individuals face after using psychedelic substances like psilocybin and LSD, finding that emotional difficulties, such as anxiety and fear, were the most common, along with self-perception and cognitive issues. The study, published in PLOS One, also identified factors that could contribute to these difficulties. The motivation behind this study lies in the growing interest and use of psychedelic substances like psilocybin and LSD for various purposes, including therapy and personal growth. These substances have shown potential in treating conditi......

For the first time, people worried about their risk of Alzheimer’s disease can go online, order a blood test, and receive results in the privacy of their homes. This might seem appealing on the surface, but the development has Alzheimer’s researchers and clinicians up in arms. The Quest Diagnostics blood test, AD-Detect, measures elevated levels of amyloid-beta proteins, a signature characteristic of Alzheimer’s. Introduced in late July, the test is targeted primarily at people 50 and older who suspect their memory and thinking might be impaired and people with a family history of Alzheimer’s ......

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California continues to burnish its reputation as a progressive state for health policy as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bills expanding paid sick leave, adding bereavement leave for miscarriages, and boosting wages for health workers. Newsom blessed a rare agreement between labor and the health industry to gradually phase in a nation-leading $25-an-hour statewide minimum wage for health workers. Estimates based on earlier versions of the bill found it would increase health care costs by billions of dollars each year and put pressure on the state’s Medicaid program to raise rei......