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When it comes to puzzles, there’s no greater conundrum than that of the human mind. Humanity is both capable of tremendous achievements and mastery over our environments, but we’re also capable of falling into the depths of despair and depression of something as stupid as FOMO. And there are hundreds of researchers and studies out there, that are trying to break down exactly why were are who we are, and how we become better people. Whether it’s our addiction to social media, our weakness to peer pressure, or our desire to feel better, there’s someone out there trying to figure out why and how to fix it.
And, as it turns out, 2018 taught us some really cool things about ourselves, that are really worthy of being brought to everyone attention.
Pixabay
Helicopter parenting can harm a child’s ability to control their emotions and impulses
This shouldn’t come as s surprise, but kids that have their parents looking over their shoulders and fighting their battles, aren’t prepared for the world. Over an 8-year study, they found that starting at age 2, kids weren’t able to regulate their emotions and inhibitions/impuses. By the time they hit 5, they had emotional problems and trouble with school. By the time the kids hit 10, they had poor social skills and academic productivity.
The study proved that without their parents advocating for them, doing their work for them, and managing them, these kids are unprepared to cope with stress. They tended to lash out at the other kids and at teachers, causing them problems making friends, solving conflicts, and behaving appropriately. Simply put, your kids need to learn how to manage themselves, regulate their emotions on their own, and fail on their own terms. Parents who do it all and micro-manage their kids are failing as parents.
Pixabay
Attending regular cultural activities can dramatically reduce the risk of depression for people 50+
In a 10-year study, researchers tracked people 50+, to see how many cultural events they attended each month. Those that attending plays, art exhibitions, movies, and other events every few months, had a 32% less chance of depression. Those that went monthly, decreased their risk by 48%.
The study, however, suggests that the two go hand in hand, but aren’t a cause/effect situation i.e. it just happens that those who are heavily involved in cultural activities, are less prone to depression. The study, in no way, suggests that if you go see a movie/play/opera/dance every month, you won’t get depressed. There are still other factors involved.
That said, it’s still a fantastic idea to add in something artsy, on top of a healthy regimen of self care, good eating and exercise.
PIxabay
Your sense of well-being increases, the less you use social media
You can put this in the obvious category, but there’s a direct link between depression, poor self-esteem and social media. For the most part, a causal connection hadn’t been established, but just last year, a study from the University of Pennsylvania proved it. During the experiment, 143 undergrads at the school were randomly asked to limit their Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat use to 10 min a day, while others were told to proceed as normal.
Those who limited their use, reported feeling less loneliness and depression, when they spent less time online, and more time doing other things. The findings strongly suggest that limiting your use of these channels to max 30 min/day, will lead to a significant improvement in your well-being.
Fitwell
Feeling sleepy makes us want to avoid other people
Two researchers at the University of California took a look at the connection between sleep deprivation and loneliness, and found that there was a huge correlation. They looked at both well-rested and sleepy study subjects under a brain scan, while an unfamiliar person approached. The tired participants were more repulsed by the unfamiliar people and wanted them to stay way, as compared to the rested participants. Those sleepy people, as well, admitted that they feel more lonely in general, than well-rested ones.
On the flip side, they also discovered that other people tend to avoid sleepy people, finding them to be too lonely to socially engage with, and found that loneliness was contagious.
As a result, the study determined that getting a good night’s rest makes you feel more empathic, reduces our prejudices and makes us less susceptible to rejection.
Pixabay
Contrary to the old saying, winning the lottery does increase your happiness
Those who’ve said “Money doesn’t buy happiness” and maintain that winning the lottery brings more misfortune than joy, are wrong. This may have been true for older generations, but a recent study shows the opposite today. A Swedish study surveyed the recent winners of the three major lotteries in the country, and tracked their lives over a decade.
What they found was that the money didn’t solve everything, but it did increase their satisfaction with their lives – they were generally happier because of the money. They also didn’t blow all the winnings at once, but spent their wealth over a long period. Nor did they quit their jobs, but just made some fun purchases for themselves, worked less, took extra time off, and retired earlier.
Time to buy some scratchers.
Pixabay
Hanging out with your friends is far more fun, if you put your smartphone away
We all want to snap all of our adventures and make sure that we have pics to prove it happened, but adding the phone as an extra member of your entourage, makes it less fun. This particular study investigated how smartphones influenced in-person interactions by asking 300 people to share a meal at a cafe. Some put their phones away, others just put them on silent beside them. After, they filled out a survey, and it was discovered that those who had their phones out of sight, had a happier experience.
Essentially, without the distraction of your phone, their phone, and the potential FOMO, people could just enjoy the meal and the person they were with, far more intimately and throughly.
Pixabay
Kids as young as 5, already care about their reputation and self-image
Until recently, no one figured that young kids cared about how they were perceived publicly, and no research was ever done. The most recent research, dates back to 20 years ago, and suggested that it’s only after age 9, that kids start to care. A recent study disproves that.
It was found that by age 5, kids understand the importance of reputation in social situations and are very sophisticated in their impression management. They’ll vary their behaviour based on who’s watching, and will pass judgement on other kids based on what they can or can’t do, and what they wear. While the study isn’t definitive, it does suggest that kids are picking up on social cues and constructs a lot earlier than we expected.
CBC
Watching violence in movies doesn’t make kids violent
This is sure to be controversial, but this recent study indicates that PG-13 rated movies, don’t make your kids violent. Researchers took a look at the films that premiered between 1985-2015, and noted that while violence on film increased, the overall rates of murder and violence actually dropped. While kids might re-enact what they saw in the movie while playing, they don’t tend to actually do it for real.
That said, other researchers have proven that the portrayal of violence in the movies has become so commonplace, that kids are numb to it. In that instance, we should be more worried, as kids are seeing bad things, and not being affected by it. Instead of becoming more violent, kids are becoming more apathetic and detached from appropriate behaviours.
That’s almost worse.
Pixabay
The constant use of Instagram is connected to high rates of depression, low self-esteem and anxiety over their look, in young women
At the moment, Instagram is one of the largest social media platforms out there. But it’s also the worst. This study looked at 119 women, aged 18-35, and analyzed their use of Instagram, self-perception and mental health condition. They found that frequent use, can lead to a lowering of their self esteem, an increase in depressive symptoms and they have anxiety about their physical appearance and body dissatisfaction.
When they took a look at what specific images prompted these results, the surveyed women indicated it was the Insta-famous models, fitness models, and the travel and beauty images that they looked at, that made them feel poorly about their own self worth.
PIxabay
Psilocybin, aka Magic Mushrooms, may soon be used to treat various mental disorders
Simply put, there’s a compound in magic mushrooms that acts on serotonin receptors in the brain; the chemical that makes us happy. In ancient times, up until the 50’s, humans have used the chemical for psychotherapy and the treatment of other disorders. Then, it got classified as a serious drug and all scientific and medical research stopped.
Fortunately, this past decade, scientists have been actively looking at Psilocybin as a tool against treatment-resistant depression, as it helps reset the connections between brain circuits.
If it makes it thorough clinical trials, it can get moved from being a Schedule I drug (meaning no medical potential) to a Schedule IV (prescription drug), and became available as a treatment. Just this past October, the FDA named Psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy” for the treatment of depression, so we’re on the right track.
PIxabay
Being in a settled and stable relationship increases the chances of weight gain
To no one’s surprise, a 10-year study found that couples, in comparison to single people, tend to gain more weight. They found that while couples tend to try to eat better together, they also eat more. They also exercise less than single people do, because they’re off the market.
They also noted that if you have kids, the risk of weight gain is increased, as you’re finishing what they don’t eat, and consuming their snacks.
Habitat for Humanity
Experiencing poverty in childhood may leave lasting effects on future cognitive skills
According to this study, kids who grew up in poverty or were socially and economically disadvantaged, did poorly on cognitive skills test later in life. The study relied on the information of 20,000 seniors, averaging 71-years of age. It found that being poor, not being able to be a free-minded kid, and having toxic stress at a formative age, had a lasting impact.
According to the study, the cognitive delay was about more than just access to schools and resources, it was about having your neural pathways rewired to survive, rather than to learn and be a kid.
HumDrumstick in the Mud
People rely on untrustworthy gossip to form personal opinions
The point of this research was to look at how much gossip and rumours affected people’s opinions, biases, and judgements. The researchers presented moral and immoral information about a stranger, in a verbal manner, to the test subjects. During the first experiment, the information was presented as fact, while in the second, it was presented as speculation and heresay from an untrustworthy source.
The findings proved that people don’t really care where the gossip comes from, trusted or not, and they’ll form opinions based on that information.
PIxabay
Students are better at making friends than adults
This one is pretty obvious, from an anecdotal standpoint, but it’s never been proven until now. At the University of Kansas, a researcher looked at how many hours it takes for an acquaintance to become a friend. He surveyed 112 college students during their first weeks of school, and 355 adults who just moved to a new city in the past 6 months.
The findings revealed that it takes 43 hours for students and 94 hours for adults, for an acquaintance to be considered a casual friend. It’s then an additional 57 hours for students and 164, to make that casual into a friend, and an additional 119/240 hours to make that friend a best friend.
The researcher did go on to conclude, however, that there’s a good chance it takes less time for students to make friends, due to the fact that everyone is living and studying so close together. Plus, they tend to overestimate exactly how deep their friendships are, as they’re still maturing and going through the struggle of higher education.
Psychology to the rescue!
H/T BoredPanda
