Author: dispatchtimes news

A new study challenges the core assumption behind the world’s most widely used measure of implicit bias, arguing that a participant’s careful, conscious strategy may drive test scores more than automatic associations. The research, published in Nature Human Behaviour, analysed data from more than a hundred thousand test sessions to reach its conclusion, led by Kyle J. LaFollette of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Implicit biases are attitudes or stereotypes that can influence understanding and decisions, often without conscious awareness. The Implicit Association Test, or IAT, is a common tool used to detect these hidden attitudes. In…

Common antidepressants may help lower a stubborn, disease-causing form of cholesterol by boosting liver cells’ ability to absorb it from the bloodstream, a finding that could offer a dual-purpose approach to treating depression and reducing heart-disease risk. The results, published in the Journal of Lipid Research, emerge from laboratory experiments conducted by researchers at the University of Otago and the University of New South Wales, led by Nikita Deo, Sally P. A. McCormick and Gregory M. I. Redpath. lipoprotein(a) is a complex blood particle that ferries fats and cholesterol around the body. It resembles low-density lipoprotein, or “bad cholesterol,” but…

A massive genetic analysis has identified hundreds of specific DNA variations tied to human personality. The findings suggest that the genetic basis of personality is highly consistent across different populations and is not heavily skewed by a person’s family environment. The research was published in Nature. Massive GWAS links hundreds of genetic variants to personality Personality is typically understood through the Big Five framework: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. These traits are relatively stable over a person’s life and shape important outcomes such as health, career success and well-being. Scientists know genetics play a role in shaping…

A new study suggests that a child’s genetic propensity for attention‑deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be linked to an increased risk of their parents dissolving their partnership. Led by researchers from Purdue University and the University of Oslo, the team analysed how a child’s polygenic index for ADHD relates to parental outcomes such as marriage, additional children and separation. The work used data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study, examining about 40,000 genotyped family trios – mother, father and child – with genetic information collected during pregnancy and at birth. The researchers then matched these genetic profiles…

China’s universal two-child policy appears to have coincided with an unexpected rise in depressive symptoms among many married women of reproductive age, a new analysis suggests. The study found that women exposed to the policy faced a higher risk of moderate to severe depression, particularly when confronted with conflicting family pressures or financial constraints, and it was published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. The period between ages 20 and 40 is a time of heightened vulnerability to mental health challenges for women, the researchers note. Biological changes, career development and shifting social identities intersect to shape psychological well-being, making fertility…

A new study has found that a measurement of body fat distribution known as the body roundness index may help identify depression risk in older adults experiencing cognitive decline, particularly among those with dementia. The research shows that dementia patients in the highest quarter of the body roundness index were more than three times as likely to experience depression compared with those in the lowest quarter, with the finding published in the Journal of Health Psychology. Dementia is a major global health concern marked by objective cognitive deficits and functional impairment. The study notes that about 45 per cent of…

A new study suggests that dark personality traits may be linked to real-world creative achievement through a field-independent thinking style, a highly analytical way of processing information. The research, published in Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, identifies field independence as a cognitive bridge between the Dark Triad traits and concrete creative accomplishments. The Dark Triad comprises Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. Machiavellian individuals are described as manipulative and strategic, while psychopathy involves impulsivity and a lack of empathy, and narcissism centres on an inflated sense of self-importance and a craving for attention. Although these traits are viewed negatively, they…

A new study suggests that couples who are on the same page about physical affection report higher relationship well-being, with the effect strongest when they are in private spaces. The research analysed responses from more than 1,800 individuals in romantic relationships and examined both average comfort with touch and perceived differences between partners. Physical touch between romantic partners is linked to a range of physiological and psychological benefits. Activities such as holding hands, hugging and kissing can reduce stress, support immune function and foster a sense of security. Touch is known to improve cardiovascular functioning and trigger the release of…

A small pilot trial in the United States has found that combining a brief form of couples therapy with MDMA can produce substantial improvements in both PTSD symptoms and relationship satisfaction among veterans and their partners. The study delivered two day-long MDMA dosing sessions to the diagnosed veteran, while the partner attended all sessions but did not receive the drug. PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by traumatic experiences, with symptoms including flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety. When PTSD afflicts a veteran, the resulting strain can extend into the intimate relationship, undermining communication and a sense of safety between…