Author: dispatchtimes news

Researchers from the University of South Florida have reported that women who use hormonal contraceptives tend to rate their own romantic and social qualities more positively than their naturally cycling peers. The pattern emerged across three evaluations and is published in the journal Human Nature. The study centres on mate value, the overall set of traits that make someone attractive as a partner, from fertility cues to social skills, loyalty and parenting potential. People often seek partners whose mate value roughly matches their own. Hormonal contraceptives suppress natural fertility by altering ovarian hormones, which could lower perceived mate value. Yet…

A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour suggests that directing attention to bodily sensations can dampen acute inflammatory responses in humans. The research, led by Nofar Mizrachi and Liron Rozenkrantz of Bar-Ilan University’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, proposes that voluntary cognitive processes can influence immune regulation previously considered automatic. Acute inflammation is the body’s rapid, protective response to injury or irritation, characterised by local heat, swelling and redness. In the laboratory, scientists trigger this process using histamine—a chemical released during allergic reactions that widens blood vessels and causes fluid leakage. The resulting wheal (a raised bump) and flare (the…

A new study by Italian researchers has found that social anxiety and vulnerable narcissism share a deep link to feelings of inadequacy, but diverge in the specific emotional mechanisms that underpin them. In a sample of 400 adults, social anxiety was uniquely tied to internal feelings of defectiveness, while vulnerable narcissism encompassed a broader array of vulnerabilities, including fear of outside judgment and an elevated expectation of rejection. Social anxiety describes distress in situations that carry potential public scrutiny or negative evaluation. Some psychologists view it as an evolutionary mechanism that keeps people connected to a group, by heightening sensitivity…

New research suggests that people who remain unmarried and without a long-term partner maintain high and relatively stable life satisfaction over extended periods, even as their sexual fulfillment and desire for a partner vary. The study traces multiple generations of singles across more than a decade, indicating there is no single path to a fulfilling solo life. Never-married singlehood refers to adults who have not entered a formal marriage and are not currently in a committed romantic partnership. As marriage rates decline globally and solo living becomes more common, researchers have shifted focus from comparing singles to partnered people to…

Loneliness and social isolation are widespread in the United States, with a 2023 report noting that about half of adults experience loneliness and nearly as many are socially isolated. Despite health consequences that can rival other major risk factors, the issues have long been overlooked as urgent public health concerns. Researchers at Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public and Tropical Medicine have now attempted to quantify just how many years of good health might be lost to loneliness and social isolation. Their observational study, published in Nature Communications, found that loneliness and social isolation were associated with the…

A sweeping new synthesis of twin and sibling studies suggests that much of the mental health gap between non-heterosexual and heterosexual people may stem from shared family background rather than social stigma alone. The analysis, led by Péter Przemyslaw Ujma of Semmelweis University, finds that when non-heterosexual individuals are compared with their own heterosexual siblings and twins, the mental health difference shrinks significantly—by about half in general sibling and twin comparisons and by roughly two-thirds among identical twins. The work is published in Psychological Medicine. For decades, researchers have documented higher rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health difficulties…

A two‑part study examining the hidden work that goes into running a relationship finds that the mental and emotional burden women bear at home may matter more to their happiness with a partner than the amount of physical chores they share. Led by Verena Klein of the University of Southampton, the research suggests that the unseen “mental load” predicts women’s relationship and sexual satisfaction more consistently than who cleans or cooks. In contrast, men tended to report greater relationship satisfaction when their female partners carried more of this intangible labour. Traditionally, research on domestic division has focused on visible tasks—washing…

A study published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion finds that a childhood diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is linked to markedly lower attendance at religious services in early midlife, although private religious practices such as prayer appear unaffected. The work was led by sociologists Laura Upenieks and Samuel H. Fishman of Baylor University and relies on data from a large, nationally representative cohort. ADHD is described as a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by persistent difficulties with attention, hyperactivity and impulse control. The researchers note that these traits can extend well into adulthood, shaping educational achievement, physical health and…