Beth Ellwood
PsyPost.org
Montreal, QC, Canada
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Past articles by Beth:
Wearing an eye mask while sleeping improves memory encoding and makes you more alert the next day
A recent study published in the journal Sleep suggests that the simple act of wearing an eye mask to block out light while sleeping can improve cognitive function the next day. In two experiments, the researchers found that participants who slept with an eye mask showed enhanced episodic memory encoding and alertness the following day. ... → Read More
Remote work increases recruiters' focus on competence over warmth when making hiring decisions
Remote work may be diminishing the importance of social skills at work, according to findings published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. A pair of studies found that, when making hypothetical hiring decisions for a remote position, people favor candidates that are highly competent (although less warm). ... → Read More
Childhood executive function deficits can predict psychopathology symptoms in adulthood
Results from a new study suggest that childhood executive dysfunction has a long-term impact on psychopathology in emerging adulthood. The findings, published in Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, suggest that interventions that target executive function in children may lead to improved outcomes in adulthood. ... → Read More
Exercising in nature produces psychological benefits and measurable changes in brain activity
An experimental study found that exercising in the presence of nature — even virtual nature — offers psychological benefits compared to exercising without. The study, published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, further pinpointed areas of the brain that may be responsible for these effects. ... → Read More
Study of U.S. football coaches finds the more White you look, the more likely you are to be head coach
A recent study found that not only are White football coaches more likely to be in head coach positions, but the more White they look, the truer this is. The study, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, further uncovered causal evidence that looking more White makes a person more likely to be perceived as a suitable leader. ... → Read More
People who use dating apps are more likely to engage in disordered eating, study finds
The emphasis on physical appearance within dating apps may contribute to disordered eating among users, according to findings published in the Journal of Eating Disorders. The study found that the use of dating apps — and the motivations for using them — were tied to higher levels of disordered eating. ... → Read More
A high number of adolescents experience changes in their sexual attractions and orientation, study suggests
A study of U.S. young adults suggests that sexual fluidity is relatively common — about one in six youth reported a change in sexual orientation identity and about one-third reported a change in attractions. Changes in sexual orientation identity were especially common among adolescents aged 14–17. The findings were published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. ... → Read More
A driver’s training that teaches focused attention reduces collision rates among teens with ADHD
A simulated driving program that teaches focused attention can improve road safety among teens with ADHD, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Teens who completed the program showed fewer long glances away from the roadway, less variation in lane position, and lower collision rates on the road. ... → Read More
Greedy people have more money but are less satisfied with their lives, according to new study
A Dutch study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin suggests that greed may be good for our pockets but comes at a psychological cost. The findings revealed that greedy people tended to have higher household incomes but lower life satisfaction. ... → Read More
Listening in silence to someone with depression might increase their social anxiety, study suggests
Good listening is thought to be a positive quality that makes a speaker feel safe and accepted. But a study published in the Journal of Social Psychology suggests that for some personalities, listening quietly to them actually makes them feel anxious. The experiment found that listening without interruption reduces social anxiety when speakers are high in narcissism yet increases social anxiety… → Read More
People are more inclined to get COVID-19 booster after reading tweets that target regret, study finds
The desire to avoid regret may be powerful enough to sway people to change their health behaviors, according to recent findings published in Computers in Human Behavior. The study revealed that people were more inclined to get the COVID-19 booster shot after reading a tweet about a couple who skipped the vaccine and regretted it. ... → Read More
Study finds that poor sleep quality increases aggression, possibly by affecting emotional cognition
A lack of quality sleep can cause aggressive behavior, according to recent longitudinal findings published in the journal Biological Psychology. Brain imaging data revealed that the effect may be related to reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex and increased activity in the limbic regions. ... → Read More
Study on military personnel shows that even the most fit individuals need to sleep well to perform well
Findings from the journal Sleep Health shed light on the importance of good sleep for people working in operational settings such as the military. Using a protocol to simulate military operational stress, the study found that military personnel performed better on physical tasks when they reported less daytime sleepiness and exhibited lower slow wave activity during sleep. ... → Read More
Longitudinal study of kindergarteners suggests spanking is harmful for children’s social competence
A longitudinal study published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect presents compelling evidence that spanking is detrimental to children’s social development. Children who were exposed to spanking had higher externalizing behavior, lower self-control, and lower interpersonal skills compared to children who had never been spanked. ... → Read More
Zest and hope are key character strengths for better health and a sense of purpose in life, large study finds
Findings from a massive psychology study suggest that character strengths have a positive influence on many aspects of our health. Zest, hope, and self-regulation were the qualities most consistently associated with positive health outcomes. The study was published in the Journal of Research in Personality. ... → Read More
Nightmare distress is more strongly influenced by the emotional appraisal of a dream than its content
Bad dreams can be distressing — and the severity of this distress partly depends on the way you appraise them, according to recent findings published in the Journal of Sleep Research. The study found that the emotional appraisal of a dream had a greater influence on nightmare distress than violent content. ... → Read More
Researchers uncover socio-cultural factors associated with parental estrangement in the United States
A study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family sheds new light on the sociodemographic factors that make someone more likely to be estranged from a parent. Compared to heterosexual respondents, gay, lesbian, and bisexual respondents were more likely to be estranged from fathers. White respondents were more likely than participants of other races to be estranged from their mothers but… → Read More
Owning a pet may have helped people with low resilience cope during the pandemic
A study published in the journal Anthrozoös suggests that pet ownership is tied to improved well-being during the pandemic, but only among people with low resilience. For people with high levels of resilience, owning a pet was actually linked to lower well-being during the pandemic. ... → Read More
Brain connectivity patterns can predict autistic trait expression in typically-developing children
A neuroimaging study published in the journal Biological Psychology has found evidence that measures of brain connectivity can predict autistic trait expression in typically-developing children. Children with a greater degree of autistic traits showed increased theta connectivity in right anterior brain regions. ... → Read More
Study explores how the facial expressions we send to others influence our interpretation of social cues
An experimental study published in Biological Psychology explored how the facial expressions we direct at others influence the way we feel about the expressions we receive back. Participants rated smiling virtual agents as most pleasant after they themselves had initially smiled at the agent (versus frowned). ... → Read More