#depression — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #depression, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: September 15, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Massive study of over a million people identifies hundreds of genetic variants linked to personality
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.
Personality is typically understood through the framework of the “Big Five” traits. These include extraversion (sociability and energy), agreeableness (compassion and trust), conscientiousness (organization and responsibility), neuroticism (anxiety and volatility), and openness to experience (curiosity and imagination). Decades of research show that these traits are relatively stable over a person’s life and influence major outcomes like physical health, career success, and mental well-being.
Scientists know that genetics play a role in shaping personality. However, the exact genetic mechanisms remain complex, and many previous studies have struggled to pin down how individual variations in our DNA correspond to specific traits. To find these links, researchers use a technique called a genome-wide association study, which scans the entire genetic code of many people to find common single-letter changes in DNA that appear more frequently in individuals with certain traits.
The research team, led by Ted Schwaba of Michigan State University alongside Michel G. Nivard and Elliot M. Tucker-Drob, wanted to test the robustness of these genetic associations. They specifically aimed to determine if the genetic markers linked to personality actually reflect direct biological inheritance. For example, a 2022 study indicated that genetic links for some social behaviors, such as educational achievement, tend to be inflated by the shared environment that parents create for their children. The authors sought to see if personality genetics suffer from this same type of environmental confounding.
The researchers gathered data from 46 different study cohorts spanning multiple countries. The total sample size ranged from roughly 611,000 to over 1.14 million participants for each of the Big Five traits. Participants provided DNA samples and completed validated surveys to assess their personalities.
By pooling this massive amount of data, the researchers identified 1,260 specific locations in the human genome that are associated with the Big Five traits. Of these locations, 824 had never been linked to personality variation before. Individually, each genetic variant has a tiny effect on a person’s character. Altogether, these common variants explain between 4.8 percent and 9.3 percent of the variance in personality across the population.
The genetic signals were highly consistent across different groups. The researchers found similar genetic patterns across populations in the United States, Europe, and Australia, as well as across different age groups. The genetic links also remained stable regardless of the specific survey used to measure personality, and even when a person’s traits were rated by a close friend instead of through self-report.
To test whether family environments were skewing the results, the scientists looked at genetic data from thousands of siblings. Because siblings share the same parents and similar upbringings, comparing siblings isolates the direct effect of their differing genes. The researchers found that the genetic associations for personality barely changed when looking within families. This provides evidence that the genetic architecture of personality is driven mostly by direct biological inheritance rather than the social environments parents create for their children.
The team also looked at whether people choose partners with similar genetics for personality. While a 2023 meta-analysis, a research method that combines data from many different studies to find common results, found that partners often share similar behavioral traits, this new study found only minimal genetic similarity for personality between spouses. This indicates that people do not typically sort themselves into relationships based on genetic profiles associated with the Big Five traits in any major way.
To understand how personality shapes the human experience, the researchers used a statistical technique that relies on genetic data to test for cause-and-effect relationships. They found evidence that personality traits have widespread effects on behaviors and physical health. For example, having genetic variants linked to higher conscientiousness was also associated with a lower body mass index and a reduced likelihood of starting smoking. Similarly, a genetic profile associated with higher neuroticism was linked to a lower chance of healthy aging.
The analysis also identified some effects working in the opposite direction. The results suggest that factors like educational attainment and changes in body mass index might cause shifts in a person’s average levels of certain personality traits. This supports the idea that life experiences and physical health continuously interact with our biology to shape who we are over time.
“To me it is incredibly exciting to see such a huge genome-wide association study of personality,” Jasmin Wertz, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the study, told PsyPost. “Personality traits are some of the most fundamental psychological axes on which people differ, but until now we did not have such a large-scale genomic investigation of these traits, similar to what has already been done for other key traits and behaviors. I think it is also impressive from a team science perspective, because the study brings together so many investigators and cohorts to advance the science.”
“This paper offers a compelling illustration of how complex human traits, like personality, are shaped by many many genes, and each one makes a small contribution to a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors,” said Paul W. Eastwick, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Davis who was not involved in the research. Eastwick, the author of Bonded by Evolution and host of the Love Factually podcast, added, “There is no single ‘gene for’ something as complex as personality; instead, genes play an important role in the aggregate.”
Wertz noted that the massive sample size and the inclusion of different measurement contexts give the results considerable weight. “The findings appear very robust,” she said. “The authors also add a within-family analysis, which shows that the genetics associated with personality are predictive even within siblings raised in the same family, and this analysis helps rule out many of the possible confounding influences that may be present when analyzing unrelated individuals.”
She also pointed out how the findings on romantic partners build on existing knowledge. “One notable finding was that assortative mating the tendency of people to pick romantic partners they resemble was very low in this study,” Wertz explained. “It doesn’t necessarily challenge previous findings, because the degree of spousal similarity in personality is not that high in other samples either, but it is an interesting extension using this unusually large genetic study.”
As with all research, there are some caveats to consider. The genetic scores used in this study cannot predict an individual person’s personality or future behavior. These genetic associations operate as probabilities across large groups of people, not as deterministic rules for any single individual.
“General readers often think of genetic influences as implying that something is set in stone, and that is certainly not the right takeaway from this, as well as other, genetic studies,” Wertz told PsyPost. “The genetic influences identified here, as well as in previous studies of personality, are far from 100%, leaving much room for non-genetic influences. In addition, even the genetic influences that have been observed likely interact with a person’s environment in shaping their personality.”
Indeed, the 4.8 to 9.3 percent heritability found here, a measure of how much of the differences in a trait between people can be explained by their genes, only accounts for common genetic variants. Previous research using different methods, such as studies involving identical twins, estimates that genetics overall account for roughly 40 to 60 percent of personality differences. This suggests that rare genetic variants and complex interactions between genes likely account for the remaining biological influence.
In the end, while the researchers found that genetic associations for personality are relatively unconfounded by the family environment, a person’s surroundings still play a massive role in their development. Going forward, Wertz is eager to see how these new genetic tools might help untangle that process. She specifically pointed to the potential of polygenic scores, which are single numbers that estimate how likely a person is to have a trait based on thousands of their genetic variants. “I’m excited to see the polygenic scores used from this GWAS in follow-on research, such as in research on how personality traits develop from childhood to adulthood, or in studies that examine why people’s personality traits are so strongly linked with important life outcomes, such as health and employment outcomes,” she said.
The study, “Robust inference and correlates from genetic associations with personality,” was authored by Ted Schwaba, Margaret L. Clapp Sullivan, Wonuola A. Akingbuwa, Kerli Ilves, Peter T. Tanksley, Camille M. Williams, Yavor Dragostinov, Travis T. Mallard, Justin D. Tubbs, Wangjingyi Liao, Lindsay S. Ackerman, Josephine C. M. Fealy, Gibran Hemani, Javier de la Fuente, George Davey Smith, Priya Gupta, Murray B. Stein, Joel Gelernter, Daniel F. Levey, Urmo Võsa, Liisi Ausmees, Anu Realo, the Estonian Biobank Research Team, Mariliis Vaht, Jüri Allik, Tõnu Esko, René Mõttus, Uku Vainik, Gudrun A. Jonsdottir, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Árni Freyr Gunnarsson, Gyda Bjornsdottir, Thorgeir E. Thorgeirsson, Hreinn Stefansson, Kari Stefansson, Rosa Cheesman, Qi Qin, Elizabeth C. Corfield, Helga Ask, Fartein Ask Torvik, Eivind Ystrom, Martin Tesli, Dorret I. Boomsma, Eco J. C. de Geus, Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Dener Cardoso Melo, Harold Snieder, Catharina A. Hartman, Charley Xia, Archie Campbell, Michelle Luciano, Ian J. Deary, W. David Hill, Seon-Kyeong Jang, Scott I. Vrieze, Gonçalo Abecasis, Michelle K. Lupton, Brittany L. Mitchell, Petra V. Viher, Lucía Colodro-Conde, Nicholas G. Martin, Sarah E. Medland, Eske M. Derks, Briar Wormington, Jaakko Kaprio, Karri Silventoinen, Teemu Palviainen, Agnieszka Musial, Kaili Rimfeld, Robert Plomin, Margherita Malanchini, Danielle M. Dick, Fazil Aliev, the COGA Collaborators, The Spit for Science Working Group, Laura W. Wesseldijk, Fredrik Ullén, Miriam A. Mosing, Henry R. Kranzler, Yaira Nunez, Sarah Beck, Renato Polimanti, Tobias Edwards, Alexandros Giannelis, Emily A. Willoughby, James J. Lee, Matt McGue, Antonio Terracciano, Michele Marongiu, Edoardo Fiorillo, Francesco Cucca, Angelina R. Sutin, Peter J. van der Most, Albertine J. Oldehinkel, Tina Kretschmer, Andrey A. Shabalin, Anna R. Docherty, Robert F. Krueger, Colin D. Freilich, Binisha H. Mishra, Terho Lehtimäki, Olli T. Raitakari, Mika Kähönen, Aino Saarinen, Henrik Dobewall, Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen, Klaus Berger, Marisol Herrera-Rivero, Fabian Streit, Swapnil Awasthi, Stephanie H. Witt, Johanna Tuhkanen, Katri Räikkönen, Johan G. Eriksson, Jari Lahti, Gail Davies, Paul Redmond, Adele Taylor, Janie Corley, Tom C. Russ, Marina Ciullo, Teresa Nutile, Jun Ding, Yong Qian, Toshiko Tanaka, Luigi Ferrucci, Lea Zillich, Lea Sirignano, K. Paige Harden, Erhan Genç, Patrick D. Gajewski, Stephan Getzmann, Christoph Fraenz, Javier E. Schneider Peñate, Stefanie Lis, Alisha S. M. Hall, Christian Schmahl, Sabine C. Herpertz, Abdel Abdellaoui, Michel G. Nivard, and Elliot M. Tucker-Drob.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #GeneticsOfPersonality #BigFiveTraits #GenomeWideAssociationStudy #PersonalityHeritability #GeneticVariants #TwinSiblingsStudy #PolygenicScores #NeuroticismConscientiousness # PersonalityResearch #NatureJournalStudy
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DATE: September 15, 2026 at 05:02AM
SOURCE:
NEW YORK TIMES PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGISTS FEEDTITLE: 7 Books To Help You Cope With Failure and Move Forward
URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/well/books-failure-experts-reccomendations.html
Psychologists and other experts share the works they recommend to people who are struggling with guilt, shame or questions of what comes next.
URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/well/books-failure-experts-reccomendations.html
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BookRecommendations #CopingWithFailure #MoveForward #OvercomingGuilt #ShameRecovery #MentalHealthReading #PersonalGrowthBooks #ResilienceLiterature #SelfHelpReads #PsychologyBooks
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: A child’s genetic profile for ADHD can predict their parents’ risk of separation
Children with a higher polygenic index for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder tend to see a higher likelihood of their parents separating or divorcing, according to new research. The findings suggest that families are dynamic systems where a child’s inherited characteristics can actively shape the life trajectories of their parents. The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Family research often focuses on how parents shape their children. A 2017 study demonstrated that parents’ genetic traits indirectly shape the home environment they create for their children. This progression in the literature has led scientists to ask whether the influence might operate in the opposite direction.
A polygenic index is a statistical construct scientists use to estimate the likelihood of a specific trait or condition. It is calculated by adding up the effects of many small genetic variations across a person’s DNA, weighted by how strongly they associate with a trait in large population samples. Rather than measuring an internal biological mechanism or an absolute predisposition waiting to be realized, a polygenic index is a risk estimate that depends heavily on the specific population and environment it was derived from. Evocative gene-environment correlation is the related concept that a person’s genetically influenced tendencies can provoke specific reactions from the people around them.
Researchers have started applying this concept to family dynamics. A 2024 study of adoptees indicated that children’s inherited traits can actively shape how warmly their parents treat them, providing evidence that children influence their own caregiving environment. This builds on research covered by PsyPost in early 2025, which found that early childhood traits related to attention and hyperactivity can alter family dynamics by increasing the likelihood of experiencing childhood maltreatment.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. To understand how children might shape broader family structures, a research team led by Evelina T. Akimova at Purdue University and Torkild Hovde Lyngstad at the University of Oslo examined whether children’s polygenic indices predict major parental decisions. They set out to determine if a child’s statistical genetic risk estimates were associated with parental outcomes like having another baby, getting married, or ending a relationship.
The researchers analyzed data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. They looked at genetic and administrative data from 40,000 genotyped family trios, consisting of a mother, a father, and a child. The data included genetic information derived from blood samples taken during pregnancy and at birth.
The team tracked family demographic changes through Norwegian administrative registers, which provided objective records of marriage, separation, and childbirth. By comparing the child’s polygenic indices for various physical and mental health traits against these family outcomes, the researchers could look for patterns. Importantly, they controlled for the polygenic indices of both parents, allowing them to isolate the specific influence of the child’s genetic associations on the family environment.
The researchers found that for most behavioral and physical health traits, the child’s genetic profile had no statistically significant impact on family demographic events. Traits like asthma, body mass index, and cognitive performance did not reliably predict whether parents would have another child, marry, or separate. The notable exception was the polygenic index for ADHD.
An increase in a child’s polygenic index for ADHD was reliably associated with an increased risk of parental partnership dissolution. Specifically, a one standard deviation increase in the child’s ADHD polygenic index predicted a 7 percent relative increase in the odds that their parents would separate or divorce. When the researchers broke the data down further, they found that this effect was highly specific to certain types of families.
The association between a child’s ADHD genetic index and parental separation was driven primarily by families with daughters. For girls, a one standard deviation increase in the ADHD polygenic index was associated with an 11 percent increase in the odds of parental dissolution. For boys, the increase was less than 4 percent, and the result was not statistically significant. The authors propose that because ADHD in girls often presents as issues with attention and emotion regulation rather than overt hyperactivity, it may be underdiagnosed, leading to unaddressed behavioral challenges that strain family relationships.
Socioeconomic status also played a moderating role. In families with above-average educational attainment, a one standard deviation increase in the child’s ADHD polygenic index was associated with a 15 percent increase in the odds of partnership dissolution. In families with below-average socioeconomic status, the effect was not statistically significant. The researchers suggest that behavioral difficulties might conflict more intensely with the rigid academic and developmental expectations often present in higher-status households.
Maternal age at the time of the first birth also altered the outcomes. In families where the mother was older than the median age at her first birth, an increase in the child’s ADHD genetic index predicted a 10 percent increase in the odds of parental separation. In these same older-mother families, the researchers also noted a separate effect regarding anxiety. A higher polygenic index for anxiety in the child was associated with a 10 percent increase in the odds that the parents would marry after the child’s birth, suggesting that older parents might respond to an anxious child with stabilizing commitments.
As with all research, there are some caveats to consider. The study is based entirely on data from Norway, a country with a universal welfare state, high levels of gender equality, and robust family support systems. The ways in which child traits evoke parental responses might look different in countries with less institutional support or different cultural norms regarding marriage and divorce.
There are a few other things to keep in mind regarding the data. The Norwegian cohort study relied on voluntary participation, which resulted in a sample that slightly overrepresents families with higher socioeconomic status. Families experiencing multiple extreme adversities are likely underrepresented, which could affect the prevalence estimates of certain family events.
The genetic measures themselves also have limits. Because polygenic indices are statistical models rather than direct biological pathways, their predictive accuracy heavily depends on the reference populations used to create them. The polygenic indices used in this study were derived from genetic studies of populations with European ancestry, meaning the findings may not generalize to people of other ancestral backgrounds. Additionally, current polygenic indices only capture a small fraction of the total genetic influence on a complex condition like ADHD.
The study, “When children shape their families: Evocative effects analysis of 40,000 trios from the Norwegian Mother-Father-and-Child Study,” was authored by Evelina T. Akimova, Agnes Fauske, Ruth Eva Jørgensen, Alexandra Havdahl, Elizabeth C. Corfield, Melinda C. Mills, and Torkild Hovde Lyngstad.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ADHDgenetics #polygenicindex #familydynamics #parentaldivorce #childinfluence #evocativegeneenvironment #ADHDawareness #Norwaystudy #psychogenetics #familyresearch
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: A child’s genetic profile for ADHD can predict their parents’ risk of separation
Children with a higher polygenic index for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder tend to see a higher likelihood of their parents separating or divorcing, according to new research. The findings suggest that families are dynamic systems where a child’s inherited characteristics can actively shape the life trajectories of their parents. The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Family research often focuses on how parents shape their children. A 2017 study demonstrated that parents’ genetic traits indirectly shape the home environment they create for their children. This progression in the literature has led scientists to ask whether the influence might operate in the opposite direction.
A polygenic index is a statistical construct scientists use to estimate the likelihood of a specific trait or condition. It is calculated by adding up the effects of many small genetic variations across a person’s DNA, weighted by how strongly they associate with a trait in large population samples. Rather than measuring an internal biological mechanism or an absolute predisposition waiting to be realized, a polygenic index is a risk estimate that depends heavily on the specific population and environment it was derived from. Evocative gene-environment correlation is the related concept that a person’s genetically influenced tendencies can provoke specific reactions from the people around them.
Researchers have started applying this concept to family dynamics. A 2024 study of adoptees indicated that children’s inherited traits can actively shape how warmly their parents treat them, providing evidence that children influence their own caregiving environment. This builds on research covered by PsyPost in early 2025, which found that early childhood traits related to attention and hyperactivity can alter family dynamics by increasing the likelihood of experiencing childhood maltreatment.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. To understand how children might shape broader family structures, a research team led by Evelina T. Akimova at Purdue University and Torkild Hovde Lyngstad at the University of Oslo examined whether children’s polygenic indices predict major parental decisions. They set out to determine if a child’s statistical genetic risk estimates were associated with parental outcomes like having another baby, getting married, or ending a relationship.
The researchers analyzed data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. They looked at genetic and administrative data from 40,000 genotyped family trios, consisting of a mother, a father, and a child. The data included genetic information derived from blood samples taken during pregnancy and at birth.
The team tracked family demographic changes through Norwegian administrative registers, which provided objective records of marriage, separation, and childbirth. By comparing the child’s polygenic indices for various physical and mental health traits against these family outcomes, the researchers could look for patterns. Importantly, they controlled for the polygenic indices of both parents, allowing them to isolate the specific influence of the child’s genetic associations on the family environment.
The researchers found that for most behavioral and physical health traits, the child’s genetic profile had no statistically significant impact on family demographic events. Traits like asthma, body mass index, and cognitive performance did not reliably predict whether parents would have another child, marry, or separate. The notable exception was the polygenic index for ADHD.
An increase in a child’s polygenic index for ADHD was reliably associated with an increased risk of parental partnership dissolution. Specifically, a one standard deviation increase in the child’s ADHD polygenic index predicted a 7 percent relative increase in the odds that their parents would separate or divorce. When the researchers broke the data down further, they found that this effect was highly specific to certain types of families.
The association between a child’s ADHD genetic index and parental separation was driven primarily by families with daughters. For girls, a one standard deviation increase in the ADHD polygenic index was associated with an 11 percent increase in the odds of parental dissolution. For boys, the increase was less than 4 percent, and the result was not statistically significant. The authors propose that because ADHD in girls often presents as issues with attention and emotion regulation rather than overt hyperactivity, it may be underdiagnosed, leading to unaddressed behavioral challenges that strain family relationships.
Socioeconomic status also played a moderating role. In families with above-average educational attainment, a one standard deviation increase in the child’s ADHD polygenic index was associated with a 15 percent increase in the odds of partnership dissolution. In families with below-average socioeconomic status, the effect was not statistically significant. The researchers suggest that behavioral difficulties might conflict more intensely with the rigid academic and developmental expectations often present in higher-status households.
Maternal age at the time of the first birth also altered the outcomes. In families where the mother was older than the median age at her first birth, an increase in the child’s ADHD genetic index predicted a 10 percent increase in the odds of parental separation. In these same older-mother families, the researchers also noted a separate effect regarding anxiety. A higher polygenic index for anxiety in the child was associated with a 10 percent increase in the odds that the parents would marry after the child’s birth, suggesting that older parents might respond to an anxious child with stabilizing commitments.
As with all research, there are some caveats to consider. The study is based entirely on data from Norway, a country with a universal welfare state, high levels of gender equality, and robust family support systems. The ways in which child traits evoke parental responses might look different in countries with less institutional support or different cultural norms regarding marriage and divorce.
There are a few other things to keep in mind regarding the data. The Norwegian cohort study relied on voluntary participation, which resulted in a sample that slightly overrepresents families with higher socioeconomic status. Families experiencing multiple extreme adversities are likely underrepresented, which could affect the prevalence estimates of certain family events.
The genetic measures themselves also have limits. Because polygenic indices are statistical models rather than direct biological pathways, their predictive accuracy heavily depends on the reference populations used to create them. The polygenic indices used in this study were derived from genetic studies of populations with European ancestry, meaning the findings may not generalize to people of other ancestral backgrounds. Additionally, current polygenic indices only capture a small fraction of the total genetic influence on a complex condition like ADHD.
The study, “When children shape their families: Evocative effects analysis of 40,000 trios from the Norwegian Mother-Father-and-Child Study,” was authored by Evelina T. Akimova, Agnes Fauske, Ruth Eva Jørgensen, Alexandra Havdahl, Elizabeth C. Corfield, Melinda C. Mills, and Torkild Hovde Lyngstad.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ADHDgenetics #polygenicindex #familydynamics #parentaldivorce #childinfluence #evocativegeneenvironment #ADHDawareness #Norwaystudy #psychogenetics #familyresearch
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: A child’s genetic profile for ADHD can predict their parents’ risk of separation
Children with a higher polygenic index for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder tend to see a higher likelihood of their parents separating or divorcing, according to new research. The findings suggest that families are dynamic systems where a child’s inherited characteristics can actively shape the life trajectories of their parents. The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Family research often focuses on how parents shape their children. A 2017 study demonstrated that parents’ genetic traits indirectly shape the home environment they create for their children. This progression in the literature has led scientists to ask whether the influence might operate in the opposite direction.
A polygenic index is a statistical construct scientists use to estimate the likelihood of a specific trait or condition. It is calculated by adding up the effects of many small genetic variations across a person’s DNA, weighted by how strongly they associate with a trait in large population samples. Rather than measuring an internal biological mechanism or an absolute predisposition waiting to be realized, a polygenic index is a risk estimate that depends heavily on the specific population and environment it was derived from. Evocative gene-environment correlation is the related concept that a person’s genetically influenced tendencies can provoke specific reactions from the people around them.
Researchers have started applying this concept to family dynamics. A 2024 study of adoptees indicated that children’s inherited traits can actively shape how warmly their parents treat them, providing evidence that children influence their own caregiving environment. This builds on research covered by PsyPost in early 2025, which found that early childhood traits related to attention and hyperactivity can alter family dynamics by increasing the likelihood of experiencing childhood maltreatment.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. To understand how children might shape broader family structures, a research team led by Evelina T. Akimova at Purdue University and Torkild Hovde Lyngstad at the University of Oslo examined whether children’s polygenic indices predict major parental decisions. They set out to determine if a child’s statistical genetic risk estimates were associated with parental outcomes like having another baby, getting married, or ending a relationship.
The researchers analyzed data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. They looked at genetic and administrative data from 40,000 genotyped family trios, consisting of a mother, a father, and a child. The data included genetic information derived from blood samples taken during pregnancy and at birth.
The team tracked family demographic changes through Norwegian administrative registers, which provided objective records of marriage, separation, and childbirth. By comparing the child’s polygenic indices for various physical and mental health traits against these family outcomes, the researchers could look for patterns. Importantly, they controlled for the polygenic indices of both parents, allowing them to isolate the specific influence of the child’s genetic associations on the family environment.
The researchers found that for most behavioral and physical health traits, the child’s genetic profile had no statistically significant impact on family demographic events. Traits like asthma, body mass index, and cognitive performance did not reliably predict whether parents would have another child, marry, or separate. The notable exception was the polygenic index for ADHD.
An increase in a child’s polygenic index for ADHD was reliably associated with an increased risk of parental partnership dissolution. Specifically, a one standard deviation increase in the child’s ADHD polygenic index predicted a 7 percent relative increase in the odds that their parents would separate or divorce. When the researchers broke the data down further, they found that this effect was highly specific to certain types of families.
The association between a child’s ADHD genetic index and parental separation was driven primarily by families with daughters. For girls, a one standard deviation increase in the ADHD polygenic index was associated with an 11 percent increase in the odds of parental dissolution. For boys, the increase was less than 4 percent, and the result was not statistically significant. The authors propose that because ADHD in girls often presents as issues with attention and emotion regulation rather than overt hyperactivity, it may be underdiagnosed, leading to unaddressed behavioral challenges that strain family relationships.
Socioeconomic status also played a moderating role. In families with above-average educational attainment, a one standard deviation increase in the child’s ADHD polygenic index was associated with a 15 percent increase in the odds of partnership dissolution. In families with below-average socioeconomic status, the effect was not statistically significant. The researchers suggest that behavioral difficulties might conflict more intensely with the rigid academic and developmental expectations often present in higher-status households.
Maternal age at the time of the first birth also altered the outcomes. In families where the mother was older than the median age at her first birth, an increase in the child’s ADHD genetic index predicted a 10 percent increase in the odds of parental separation. In these same older-mother families, the researchers also noted a separate effect regarding anxiety. A higher polygenic index for anxiety in the child was associated with a 10 percent increase in the odds that the parents would marry after the child’s birth, suggesting that older parents might respond to an anxious child with stabilizing commitments.
As with all research, there are some caveats to consider. The study is based entirely on data from Norway, a country with a universal welfare state, high levels of gender equality, and robust family support systems. The ways in which child traits evoke parental responses might look different in countries with less institutional support or different cultural norms regarding marriage and divorce.
There are a few other things to keep in mind regarding the data. The Norwegian cohort study relied on voluntary participation, which resulted in a sample that slightly overrepresents families with higher socioeconomic status. Families experiencing multiple extreme adversities are likely underrepresented, which could affect the prevalence estimates of certain family events.
The genetic measures themselves also have limits. Because polygenic indices are statistical models rather than direct biological pathways, their predictive accuracy heavily depends on the reference populations used to create them. The polygenic indices used in this study were derived from genetic studies of populations with European ancestry, meaning the findings may not generalize to people of other ancestral backgrounds. Additionally, current polygenic indices only capture a small fraction of the total genetic influence on a complex condition like ADHD.
The study, “When children shape their families: Evocative effects analysis of 40,000 trios from the Norwegian Mother-Father-and-Child Study,” was authored by Evelina T. Akimova, Agnes Fauske, Ruth Eva Jørgensen, Alexandra Havdahl, Elizabeth C. Corfield, Melinda C. Mills, and Torkild Hovde Lyngstad.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ADHDgenetics #polygenicindex #familydynamics #parentaldivorce #childinfluence #evocativegeneenvironment #ADHDawareness #Norwaystudy #psychogenetics #familyresearch
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:46AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: What to Know About Recent Dire AI Predictions and Calls for Safeguards
Source: PBS News Hour
New warnings from within the artificial intelligence industry have revived a long-running debate over whether advanced AI could threaten humanity's survival. Dario Amodei, CEO of AI company Anthropic, outlined a plan for companies and governments to ensure that increasingly capable AI models have fortified guardrails after two former Anthropic safety researchers publicly aired concerns about the existential threats AI might pose to humanity.
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:46AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Anthropic CEO Says "For Too Long the Industry Lied" About AI Risks
Source: CBS News - U.S. News
Speaking about about the development of artificial intelligence, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said in an interview on Sunday, "I think for too long the industry lied to people about the fact that this technology had risks." And the biggest risk could be the end of humanity, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon warned on social media last Tuesday, saying Anthropic and OpenAI are "gambling with our lives" by developing self-improving...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:46AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Anthropic CEO Says "For Too Long the Industry Lied" About AI Risks
Source: CBS News - U.S. News
Speaking about about the development of artificial intelligence, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said in an interview on Sunday, "I think for too long the industry lied to people about the fact that this technology had risks." And the biggest risk could be the end of humanity, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon warned on social media last Tuesday, saying Anthropic and OpenAI are "gambling with our lives" by developing self-improving...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:46AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Anthropic CEO Says "For Too Long the Industry Lied" About AI Risks
Source: CBS News - U.S. News
Speaking about about the development of artificial intelligence, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said in an interview on Sunday, "I think for too long the industry lied to people about the fact that this technology had risks." And the biggest risk could be the end of humanity, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon warned on social media last Tuesday, saying Anthropic and OpenAI are "gambling with our lives" by developing self-improving...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:46AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Donald Trump Dismisses Concerns About Dangers of AI
Source: DW- top stories
U.S. President Donald Trump has called concerns that artificial intelligence is progressing too quickly a "SICK conspiracy." His statement followed calls by tech leaders for more governmental regulation of AI following incidents showing that AI agents could go rogue. In response, Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social account: "The only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:46AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Donald Trump Dismisses Concerns About Dangers of AI
Source: DW- top stories
U.S. President Donald Trump has called concerns that artificial intelligence is progressing too quickly a "SICK conspiracy." His statement followed calls by tech leaders for more governmental regulation of AI following incidents showing that AI agents could go rogue. In response, Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social account: "The only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:46AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Donald Trump Dismisses Concerns About Dangers of AI
Source: DW- top stories
U.S. President Donald Trump has called concerns that artificial intelligence is progressing too quickly a "SICK conspiracy." His statement followed calls by tech leaders for more governmental regulation of AI following incidents showing that AI agents could go rogue. In response, Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social account: "The only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in...
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:46AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: What to Know About Recent Dire AI Predictions and Calls for Safeguards
Source: PBS News Hour
New warnings from within the artificial intelligence industry have revived a long-running debate over whether advanced AI could threaten humanity's survival. Dario Amodei, CEO of AI company Anthropic, outlined a plan for companies and governments to ensure that increasingly capable AI models have fortified guardrails after two former Anthropic safety researchers publicly aired concerns about the existential threats AI might pose to humanity.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AIGovernance #AISafety #AIWarnings #Anthropic #DirePredictions #Safeguards #AIethics #ExistentialRisk #TechPolicy #FutureOfAI
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:45AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Hidden Brain Wiring May Keep Thinking Sharp As Gray Matter Shrinks
Source: Science Daily - Top News
A new study has uncovered evidence that two neighboring types of brain tissue may work together to support thinking abilities later in life. Its findings suggest that the condition of the brain's local communication pathways could influence how strongly gray matter loss affects cognition. The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, was based on date from 459 adults aged 60 and older living in India.
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:45AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Hidden Brain Wiring May Keep Thinking Sharp As Gray Matter Shrinks
Source: Science Daily - Top News
A new study has uncovered evidence that two neighboring types of brain tissue may work together to support thinking abilities later in life. Its findings suggest that the condition of the brain's local communication pathways could influence how strongly gray matter loss affects cognition. The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, was based on date from 459 adults aged 60 and older living in India.
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:45AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Turkish Authorities Launch Anti-LGBTQ Raids, Detaining Dozens
Source: Al Jazeera
Turkish police have detained at least 63 people after conducting nationwide raids targeting LGBTQ organizations. Police swooped on gay bars, offices, and homes in major cities on Sunday, escalating Turkey's decade-long hostility towards LGBTQ groups. Justice Minister said in a social media post Sunday that prosecutors were investigating 162 suspects, 9 associations, and 13 businesses to "protect children, the institution of the family, and...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:45AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Hidden Brain Wiring May Keep Thinking Sharp As Gray Matter Shrinks
Source: Science Daily - Top News
A new study has uncovered evidence that two neighboring types of brain tissue may work together to support thinking abilities later in life. Its findings suggest that the condition of the brain's local communication pathways could influence how strongly gray matter loss affects cognition. The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, was based on date from 459 adults aged 60 and older living in India.
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:45AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: White House Set to Remove Rules Curbing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Source: PBS News Hour
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to repeal rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas, an action that Administrator Lee Zeldin has said would remove billions of dollars in costs for the industry and help "unleash" American energy. At a speech to the United Nations last year, President Donald Trump called climate change "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:45AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: White House Set to Remove Rules Curbing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Source: PBS News Hour
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to repeal rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas, an action that Administrator Lee Zeldin has said would remove billions of dollars in costs for the industry and help "unleash" American energy. At a speech to the United Nations last year, President Donald Trump called climate change "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:45AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: White House Set to Remove Rules Curbing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Source: PBS News Hour
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to repeal rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas, an action that Administrator Lee Zeldin has said would remove billions of dollars in costs for the industry and help "unleash" American energy. At a speech to the United Nations last year, President Donald Trump called climate change "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 03:45AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Minister Vows to Revoke Filmmakers' Citizenship Over Gaza Film
Source: Al Jazeera
Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar has said that he will move to revoke the citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor after their documentary on Israel's genocide in Gaza, NAZA, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. In an X post on Sunday, Zohar called the documentary "vile" and its win at the film festival "shocking." He accused the filmmakers of harming the country "just to get applause from antisemites around...
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Universal two-child policy linked to increased depression among Chinese women
URL: https://www.psypost.org/the-unexpected-psychological-cost-of-china-s-two-child-policy/
China’s transition to a universal two-child policy was associated with an unexpected increase in depressive symptoms among many married women of reproductive age. A recent analysis found that women exposed to the new policy faced a higher risk of moderate to severe depression, especially if they encountered conflicting family pressures or financial constraints. The research was published in the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.
The childbearing years between ages 20 and 40 represent a period of elevated vulnerability to mental health challenges for women. During this time, biological changes, career development, and shifting social identities can act as major stressors. The decision to have a child, or the inability to do so, deeply influences a person’s psychological well-being.
In China, the government has heavily regulated family planning for decades. The original one-child policy began in 1979 to curb fears of overpopulation. While it reduced maternal mortality, it also led to a skewed sex ratio and an aging population.
To address these demographic challenges, the government introduced a partial two-child policy in 2013. This specific rule allowed couples to have a second child if either parent was an only child. By late 2015, the government announced the universal two-child policy, granting all families the right to have two children starting in 2016.
Most prior public health research focused on how these policy shifts affected physical birth outcomes and economic trends. Less attention was given to the psychological consequences of the transition. While the relaxed rules might alleviate the stress of suppressed fertility desires, they could also introduce new burdens.
A return to multi-child families might increase the physical demands of childcare and reduce a woman’s career flexibility. It could also spark new disagreements between spouses or across generations regarding reproductive choices. Ruoxi Ding of Peking University Sixth Hospital and corresponding author Chao Guo led a team of researchers to investigate these potential mental health impacts.
The researchers analyzed data from the China Family Panel Study, a nationwide biennial survey. They extracted information from the 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 survey waves. The final dataset included 7,481 married women aged 20 to 40, making this a large study.
To isolate the effect of the policy change, the team used a quasi-experimental approach called a difference-in-difference analysis. This method compares changes over time between a group affected by a new event and a control group that remains unaffected.
The researchers categorized women who were restricted to one child before 2016 as the exposed group. This meant neither the woman nor her husband was an only child, and they only had one child at the time. The control group consisted of women who already qualified to have two children under the previous rules, or who already had two or more children.
To measure mental health, the surveys utilized established psychiatric questionnaires. In some years, participants answered the Kessler 6 Rating Scale, which asks how often a person experienced nervousness, agitation, or psychological fatigue over the past month. In other years, the surveys used items from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, which tracks negative emotions over the past week.
Following the implementation of the universal two-child policy, women in the exposed group experienced a marked increase in depressive symptoms. The researchers calculated that these women faced a 45 percent higher odds of having moderate to severe depressive symptoms compared to the years before the policy took effect.
The team then separated the data by social and demographic factors to identify which groups were most affected. They found that the increase in depressive symptoms was prominent among women aged 30 to 40. Younger women did not show the same negative mental health impact.
The researchers suggest that older women might experience less flexibility in career planning and face higher physiological risks associated with pregnancy. This combination of factors could elevate their psychological stress when confronted with the sudden possibility of a second child.
Income and education also influenced the outcomes. Women with low educational backgrounds (primary school or below) and those living in households with a medium family income displayed a notable rise in depression scores. Education often correlates with personal empowerment and the ability to negotiate reproductive decisions or household duties with a spouse.
High-income families can often afford the costs of raising multiple children, and low-income families might view children as future economic support. Middle-income families, conversely, face the highest proportional financial strain when balancing childcare costs against their available resources.
Cultural pressures regarding the gender of children played a major role in the findings. The negative mental health impact was highly visible among women whose first child was a boy. In contrast, women who only had daughters prior to the policy did not show a similar increase in depression.
Traditional preferences for male heirs are common in many parts of the country, but raising sons often carries heavy financial expectations, such as helping them purchase a home for marriage. The researchers note that many women now experience a fear of having two sons because of these economic burdens.
The new policy may have created intense friction between a woman’s desire to avoid a second son and older generations’ traditional preference for more grandsons. For women who previously had only girls, the relaxed policy may have actually relieved stress by giving them a sanctioned opportunity to try for a boy.
The rise in depressive symptoms was heavily concentrated among women who did not actually give birth to a second child after the policy changed. This suggests that the distress may stem from an inability to conceive, or from ongoing family disputes over whether to expand the family against the mother’s wishes.
The study has several limitations regarding its data collection. The surveys relied on self-reported questionnaires to track depressive symptoms rather than formal clinical diagnoses by medical professionals. Self-reported responses can be influenced by a participant’s memory or a desire to avoid embarrassment.
The specific psychological scales used in the survey occasionally changed from year to year. While the researchers adjusted for this mathematically and verified their results with a consistent subset of questions, continuous use of a single measurement tool is generally preferred in longitudinal studies.
Future investigations will need to track subjective experiences, such as marital satisfaction and individual fertility desires, to map exactly how policy shifts translate into emotional distress. Tracking the mental health impacts of newer pronatalist initiatives, such as the more recent three-child policy, will help public health officials design better psychological support systems for parents.
The study, “China’s universal two-child policy and depressive symptoms among women at childbearing age: a difference-in-difference analysis based on the China Family Panel Study,” was authored by Ruoxi Ding, Dianqi Yuan, Xiaohan Zhu, Yushan Du, and Chao Guo.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/the-unexpected-psychological-cost-of-china-s-two-child-policy/
-------------------------------------------------
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #UniversalTwoChildPolicy #DepressionAmongWomen #ChinaFamilyPolicy #MentalHealthChina #ReproductiveHealth #WomenInWorkforce #GenderAndFamilyPressure #DepressiveSymptoms #PublicHealthResearch #FertilityPolicyImpact
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Universal two-child policy linked to increased depression among Chinese women
URL: https://www.psypost.org/the-unexpected-psychological-cost-of-china-s-two-child-policy/
China’s transition to a universal two-child policy was associated with an unexpected increase in depressive symptoms among many married women of reproductive age. A recent analysis found that women exposed to the new policy faced a higher risk of moderate to severe depression, especially if they encountered conflicting family pressures or financial constraints. The research was published in the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.
The childbearing years between ages 20 and 40 represent a period of elevated vulnerability to mental health challenges for women. During this time, biological changes, career development, and shifting social identities can act as major stressors. The decision to have a child, or the inability to do so, deeply influences a person’s psychological well-being.
In China, the government has heavily regulated family planning for decades. The original one-child policy began in 1979 to curb fears of overpopulation. While it reduced maternal mortality, it also led to a skewed sex ratio and an aging population.
To address these demographic challenges, the government introduced a partial two-child policy in 2013. This specific rule allowed couples to have a second child if either parent was an only child. By late 2015, the government announced the universal two-child policy, granting all families the right to have two children starting in 2016.
Most prior public health research focused on how these policy shifts affected physical birth outcomes and economic trends. Less attention was given to the psychological consequences of the transition. While the relaxed rules might alleviate the stress of suppressed fertility desires, they could also introduce new burdens.
A return to multi-child families might increase the physical demands of childcare and reduce a woman’s career flexibility. It could also spark new disagreements between spouses or across generations regarding reproductive choices. Ruoxi Ding of Peking University Sixth Hospital and corresponding author Chao Guo led a team of researchers to investigate these potential mental health impacts.
The researchers analyzed data from the China Family Panel Study, a nationwide biennial survey. They extracted information from the 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 survey waves. The final dataset included 7,481 married women aged 20 to 40, making this a large study.
To isolate the effect of the policy change, the team used a quasi-experimental approach called a difference-in-difference analysis. This method compares changes over time between a group affected by a new event and a control group that remains unaffected.
The researchers categorized women who were restricted to one child before 2016 as the exposed group. This meant neither the woman nor her husband was an only child, and they only had one child at the time. The control group consisted of women who already qualified to have two children under the previous rules, or who already had two or more children.
To measure mental health, the surveys utilized established psychiatric questionnaires. In some years, participants answered the Kessler 6 Rating Scale, which asks how often a person experienced nervousness, agitation, or psychological fatigue over the past month. In other years, the surveys used items from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, which tracks negative emotions over the past week.
Following the implementation of the universal two-child policy, women in the exposed group experienced a marked increase in depressive symptoms. The researchers calculated that these women faced a 45 percent higher odds of having moderate to severe depressive symptoms compared to the years before the policy took effect.
The team then separated the data by social and demographic factors to identify which groups were most affected. They found that the increase in depressive symptoms was prominent among women aged 30 to 40. Younger women did not show the same negative mental health impact.
The researchers suggest that older women might experience less flexibility in career planning and face higher physiological risks associated with pregnancy. This combination of factors could elevate their psychological stress when confronted with the sudden possibility of a second child.
Income and education also influenced the outcomes. Women with low educational backgrounds (primary school or below) and those living in households with a medium family income displayed a notable rise in depression scores. Education often correlates with personal empowerment and the ability to negotiate reproductive decisions or household duties with a spouse.
High-income families can often afford the costs of raising multiple children, and low-income families might view children as future economic support. Middle-income families, conversely, face the highest proportional financial strain when balancing childcare costs against their available resources.
Cultural pressures regarding the gender of children played a major role in the findings. The negative mental health impact was highly visible among women whose first child was a boy. In contrast, women who only had daughters prior to the policy did not show a similar increase in depression.
Traditional preferences for male heirs are common in many parts of the country, but raising sons often carries heavy financial expectations, such as helping them purchase a home for marriage. The researchers note that many women now experience a fear of having two sons because of these economic burdens.
The new policy may have created intense friction between a woman’s desire to avoid a second son and older generations’ traditional preference for more grandsons. For women who previously had only girls, the relaxed policy may have actually relieved stress by giving them a sanctioned opportunity to try for a boy.
The rise in depressive symptoms was heavily concentrated among women who did not actually give birth to a second child after the policy changed. This suggests that the distress may stem from an inability to conceive, or from ongoing family disputes over whether to expand the family against the mother’s wishes.
The study has several limitations regarding its data collection. The surveys relied on self-reported questionnaires to track depressive symptoms rather than formal clinical diagnoses by medical professionals. Self-reported responses can be influenced by a participant’s memory or a desire to avoid embarrassment.
The specific psychological scales used in the survey occasionally changed from year to year. While the researchers adjusted for this mathematically and verified their results with a consistent subset of questions, continuous use of a single measurement tool is generally preferred in longitudinal studies.
Future investigations will need to track subjective experiences, such as marital satisfaction and individual fertility desires, to map exactly how policy shifts translate into emotional distress. Tracking the mental health impacts of newer pronatalist initiatives, such as the more recent three-child policy, will help public health officials design better psychological support systems for parents.
The study, “China’s universal two-child policy and depressive symptoms among women at childbearing age: a difference-in-difference analysis based on the China Family Panel Study,” was authored by Ruoxi Ding, Dianqi Yuan, Xiaohan Zhu, Yushan Du, and Chao Guo.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/the-unexpected-psychological-cost-of-china-s-two-child-policy/
-------------------------------------------------
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #UniversalTwoChildPolicy #DepressionAmongWomen #ChinaFamilyPolicy #MentalHealthChina #ReproductiveHealth #WomenInWorkforce #GenderAndFamilyPressure #DepressiveSymptoms #PublicHealthResearch #FertilityPolicyImpact
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Universal two-child policy linked to increased depression among Chinese women
URL: https://www.psypost.org/the-unexpected-psychological-cost-of-china-s-two-child-policy/
China’s transition to a universal two-child policy was associated with an unexpected increase in depressive symptoms among many married women of reproductive age. A recent analysis found that women exposed to the new policy faced a higher risk of moderate to severe depression, especially if they encountered conflicting family pressures or financial constraints. The research was published in the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.
The childbearing years between ages 20 and 40 represent a period of elevated vulnerability to mental health challenges for women. During this time, biological changes, career development, and shifting social identities can act as major stressors. The decision to have a child, or the inability to do so, deeply influences a person’s psychological well-being.
In China, the government has heavily regulated family planning for decades. The original one-child policy began in 1979 to curb fears of overpopulation. While it reduced maternal mortality, it also led to a skewed sex ratio and an aging population.
To address these demographic challenges, the government introduced a partial two-child policy in 2013. This specific rule allowed couples to have a second child if either parent was an only child. By late 2015, the government announced the universal two-child policy, granting all families the right to have two children starting in 2016.
Most prior public health research focused on how these policy shifts affected physical birth outcomes and economic trends. Less attention was given to the psychological consequences of the transition. While the relaxed rules might alleviate the stress of suppressed fertility desires, they could also introduce new burdens.
A return to multi-child families might increase the physical demands of childcare and reduce a woman’s career flexibility. It could also spark new disagreements between spouses or across generations regarding reproductive choices. Ruoxi Ding of Peking University Sixth Hospital and corresponding author Chao Guo led a team of researchers to investigate these potential mental health impacts.
The researchers analyzed data from the China Family Panel Study, a nationwide biennial survey. They extracted information from the 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 survey waves. The final dataset included 7,481 married women aged 20 to 40, making this a large study.
To isolate the effect of the policy change, the team used a quasi-experimental approach called a difference-in-difference analysis. This method compares changes over time between a group affected by a new event and a control group that remains unaffected.
The researchers categorized women who were restricted to one child before 2016 as the exposed group. This meant neither the woman nor her husband was an only child, and they only had one child at the time. The control group consisted of women who already qualified to have two children under the previous rules, or who already had two or more children.
To measure mental health, the surveys utilized established psychiatric questionnaires. In some years, participants answered the Kessler 6 Rating Scale, which asks how often a person experienced nervousness, agitation, or psychological fatigue over the past month. In other years, the surveys used items from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, which tracks negative emotions over the past week.
Following the implementation of the universal two-child policy, women in the exposed group experienced a marked increase in depressive symptoms. The researchers calculated that these women faced a 45 percent higher odds of having moderate to severe depressive symptoms compared to the years before the policy took effect.
The team then separated the data by social and demographic factors to identify which groups were most affected. They found that the increase in depressive symptoms was prominent among women aged 30 to 40. Younger women did not show the same negative mental health impact.
The researchers suggest that older women might experience less flexibility in career planning and face higher physiological risks associated with pregnancy. This combination of factors could elevate their psychological stress when confronted with the sudden possibility of a second child.
Income and education also influenced the outcomes. Women with low educational backgrounds (primary school or below) and those living in households with a medium family income displayed a notable rise in depression scores. Education often correlates with personal empowerment and the ability to negotiate reproductive decisions or household duties with a spouse.
High-income families can often afford the costs of raising multiple children, and low-income families might view children as future economic support. Middle-income families, conversely, face the highest proportional financial strain when balancing childcare costs against their available resources.
Cultural pressures regarding the gender of children played a major role in the findings. The negative mental health impact was highly visible among women whose first child was a boy. In contrast, women who only had daughters prior to the policy did not show a similar increase in depression.
Traditional preferences for male heirs are common in many parts of the country, but raising sons often carries heavy financial expectations, such as helping them purchase a home for marriage. The researchers note that many women now experience a fear of having two sons because of these economic burdens.
The new policy may have created intense friction between a woman’s desire to avoid a second son and older generations’ traditional preference for more grandsons. For women who previously had only girls, the relaxed policy may have actually relieved stress by giving them a sanctioned opportunity to try for a boy.
The rise in depressive symptoms was heavily concentrated among women who did not actually give birth to a second child after the policy changed. This suggests that the distress may stem from an inability to conceive, or from ongoing family disputes over whether to expand the family against the mother’s wishes.
The study has several limitations regarding its data collection. The surveys relied on self-reported questionnaires to track depressive symptoms rather than formal clinical diagnoses by medical professionals. Self-reported responses can be influenced by a participant’s memory or a desire to avoid embarrassment.
The specific psychological scales used in the survey occasionally changed from year to year. While the researchers adjusted for this mathematically and verified their results with a consistent subset of questions, continuous use of a single measurement tool is generally preferred in longitudinal studies.
Future investigations will need to track subjective experiences, such as marital satisfaction and individual fertility desires, to map exactly how policy shifts translate into emotional distress. Tracking the mental health impacts of newer pronatalist initiatives, such as the more recent three-child policy, will help public health officials design better psychological support systems for parents.
The study, “China’s universal two-child policy and depressive symptoms among women at childbearing age: a difference-in-difference analysis based on the China Family Panel Study,” was authored by Ruoxi Ding, Dianqi Yuan, Xiaohan Zhu, Yushan Du, and Chao Guo.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/the-unexpected-psychological-cost-of-china-s-two-child-policy/
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #UniversalTwoChildPolicy #DepressionAmongWomen #ChinaFamilyPolicy #MentalHealthChina #ReproductiveHealth #WomenInWorkforce #GenderAndFamilyPressure #DepressiveSymptoms #PublicHealthResearch #FertilityPolicyImpact
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DATE: September 14, 2026
SOURCE: SOCIALWORKER.COMTITLE: Reflections on My 42-Year Career in Social Work
“You’re too sensitive” was my family’s response when I informed them that I wanted to become a social worker. I assured them that I could handle it, and I did for a span of 42 years. These are my reflections.
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DATE: September 14, 2026
SOURCE: SOCIALWORKER.COMTITLE: Reflections on My 42-Year Career in Social Work
“You’re too sensitive” was my family’s response when I informed them that I wanted to become a social worker. I assured them that I could handle it, and I did for a span of 42 years. These are my reflections.
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DATE: September 14, 2026
SOURCE: SOCIALWORKER.COMTITLE: Reflections on My 42-Year Career in Social Work
“You’re too sensitive” was my family’s response when I informed them that I wanted to become a social worker. I assured them that I could handle it, and I did for a span of 42 years. These are my reflections.
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Are gender differences really power differences? Large-scale analysis finds strong behavioral parallels
New research suggests that many psychological and behavioral differences between men and women might actually stem from differences in social power. The findings indicate that holding a high-power role produces behavioral effects strikingly similar to traits often associated with men, while low-power roles produce effects resembling traits often associated with women. This research was published in PNAS Nexus.
The origins of behavioral differences between men and women remain a topic of intense debate in the social sciences. Evolutionary theorists tend to trace these differences back to natural selection and biology. In this view, men and women developed distinct psychological attributes to adapt to different reproductive and survival roles in early human history.
Sociocultural theorists approach the issue differently, emphasizing how societal roles and social power shape behavior. They argue that hierarchical structures and unequal resource allocation reinforce gendered behaviors beyond any biological roots. A 2019 review indicated that human brains and hormonal systems are not strictly divided into two distinct categories, which supports the idea that many gender differences are shaped by culture rather than rigid biology.
At the center of this debate is the concept of social power, defined as the actual or perceived control over valuable resources. Across many areas of society, men tend to hold more power than women, occupying more leadership roles and controlling more financial assets. Because power differences are so frequently tied to gender, some researchers suspect that power dynamics might be the true source of many presumed gender differences.
Adam D. Galinsky of Columbia University and his colleagues set out to systematically test this idea. They wanted to see if the behaviors resulting from experimental manipulations of power would match up with known differences between men and women. By comparing these two separate areas of research, the team aimed to determine if power imbalances could provide a useful explanation for gender differences.
To conduct the analysis, the researchers first collected data from experiments that randomly assigned people to high-power or low-power roles. They performed a statistical check on 270 of these experiments to ensure the existing literature on power was reliable. From there, they identified 59 distinct psychological and behavioral outcomes that are genuinely affected by having or lacking power.
Next, the research team gathered 102 outcomes from meta-analyses of sex and gender differences. Meta-analyses are large-scale statistical reviews that combine data from many individual studies to find overall trends. The researchers then grouped the findings from both the power experiments and the gender meta-analyses into four broad categories for comparison.
These four categories included agency, communion, self-evaluation, and cognitive processes. Agency involves striving for independence, assertiveness, and control over one’s environment. Communion relates to social connection, empathy, and cooperating with others. Self-evaluation involves how people view their own abilities, and cognitive processes include attention, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning.
The comparison yielded a massive overlap. The researchers found that about 71 percent of the recorded gender differences were entirely consistent with the effects of power differences. In contrast, only about 8 percent of the gender differences showed the opposite pattern.
Sonya Xinyue Xiao, a developmental psychologist who directs the IBAY Lab and was not involved in the study, told PsyPost that her confidence in the results is “pretty high.”
“The method they used is very rigorous in testing their hypotheses that focus on whether power effects are aligned with sex/gender differences when there is a significant power effect,” she said.
Specifically, high-power individuals and men both tend to display higher agency, including traits like dominance and a willingness to take risks. They also both show more positive self-evaluations and display similar cognitive processing styles. On the other hand, low-power individuals and women both tend to display higher communion, exhibiting more interpersonal sensitivity and social cooperation.
To check if this alignment was unique to power, the researchers ran a similar comparison using the personality trait of extraversion. Extraversion is known to correlate with having power and influence, so the team wanted to see if it would also perfectly mirror gender differences. The results showed that it did not.
While extraverts and high-power individuals share some traits, they diverge in the area of communion. Extraverts tend to be highly communal and social, whereas high-power individuals and men tend to score lower on communion. This divergence provides evidence that social power has a specific and uniquely strong relationship with gender differences.
As with all research, there are a few things to keep in mind. The study relies on comparing two separate bodies of literature, meaning the link between power and gender is observational in this context. The researchers did not conduct a new experiment to see if giving women high-power roles would immediately erase the observed gender gaps in these specific traits.
“The gender differences in many constructs are very small, but power differences may be large; it is important to keep in mind that the findings are pointing at similarity in directions rather than magnitudes,” Xiao noted. “As the authors mentioned in their discussions, their findings do not actually prove causal relations between social power and sex/gender differences.”
Additionally, grouping dozens of distinct psychological concepts into broad categories requires subjective judgment. Although the researchers used independent experts to classify the traits, personal biases or cultural perspectives could have subtly influenced how the categories were organized. The authors note that their results do not mean power explains all behavioral differences between men and women, but rather that it is likely a major contributing factor.
Future studies could directly test these ideas by assigning men and women to high- and low-power roles in the same experiment. This would help clarify exactly how power shapes behavior across different genders in real time.
“As a developmental psychologist, I am curious to see research examining how the potential causal relation between social power and gender difference changes over time — perhaps the role of social power increases as we age,” Xiao said. “Because gender is highly salient during childhood, whereas one’s gendered experiences of social power may come later.”
The study, “Are many sex/gender differences really power differences?,” was authored by Adam D. Galinsky, Aurora Turek, Grusha Agarwal, Eric M. Anicich, Derek D. Rucker, Hannah R. Bowles, Nira Liberman, Chloe Levin, and Joe C. Magee.
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Body roundness index linked to depression risk in older adults with dementia
New research indicates that a specific measurement of body fat distribution may help identify depression risk in older adults experiencing cognitive decline. Individuals with dementia who scored highest on the body roundness index were more than three times as likely to have depression compared to those with lower scores. The findings were published in the Journal of Health Psychology.
Dementia is a major global health concern characterized by objective cognitive deficits and functional impairment. Around 45 percent of dementia cases involve risk factors that people can theoretically modify. These modifiable risks include low educational attainment, sensory deficits, depression, and metabolic diseases.
Obesity has emerged as an especially prominent predictor of adverse cognitive outcomes in aging populations. Excess fat tissue can provoke chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation throughout the body. This persistent inflammation can disrupt normal neuronal activity and accelerate the physical deterioration of the brain.
Inflammation also increases oxidative stress and disrupts the body’s natural hormone response systems. These biological shifts are known to contribute to depressive symptoms in older populations.
Assessing body fat in older adults presents specific methodological challenges for medical professionals. The most common measurement is the body mass index, which is calculated by dividing a person’s weight by the square of their height. This traditional metric fails to distinguish between fat mass and lean muscle mass.
In older adults, muscle depletion and bone loss are common physical changes. As a result, calculating a standard body mass index might underestimate the true amount of fat tissue in a senior citizen, obscuring their actual metabolic health.
Waist circumference is another traditional metric used in medical clinics. It measures the distance around the abdomen but does not reliably indicate whether fat is sitting just beneath the skin or packed deep around the internal organs.
Clarissa Pacheco da Rocha Fernandes, a researcher at the D’Or Institute for Research and Education in Brazil, led the new investigation alongside corresponding author Felipe Kenji Sudo and their colleagues. The team wanted to evaluate alternative measurements that might better capture body fat distribution in older adults.
The researchers focused on newer metrics like the body roundness index. The body roundness index relies on a mathematical model that visualizes the human shape as an oval.
By combining a person’s height and waist circumference, the body roundness index estimates central fat accumulation more accurately than standard weight-to-height ratios. The researchers wanted to know if this specific index could predict mood disturbances in people experiencing cognitive decline.
The researchers designed an observational study involving 601 individuals aged 60 to 91. These participants were evaluated at a specialized memory clinic in Brazil between 2015 and 2024.
Medical professionals conducted standardized clinical interviews and physical examinations for every participant. They measured height, weight, and waist circumference to calculate the various body indices.
Trained neuropsychologists administered a battery of cognitive tests to assess memory, language, and executive function. Based on these standardized evaluations, 239 participants were formally diagnosed with dementia.
To measure mood, the participants completed a widely used 15-item questionnaire designed specifically to detect geriatric depression. The researchers also collected data on lifestyle habits, such as physical activity levels and alcohol consumption, alongside the participants’ medical histories.
The research team calculated several different body measurements for each person. They then ran statistical models to see if higher body fat measurements corresponded to higher rates of clinical depression.
In the total group of 601 older adults, none of the body measurements were associated with depression. The results across the general clinic population were not statistically significant.
When the researchers restricted their analysis to the 239 individuals diagnosed with dementia, they observed a distinct pattern. In this specific subgroup, the body roundness index was strongly linked to depression.
Individuals with dementia who scored in the highest quarter of the body roundness index had more than three times the odds of experiencing depression compared to those in the lowest quarter. This association remained mathematically robust even after adjusting for age, sex, education level, and general anxiety.
The models also accounted for medical conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and abnormal cholesterol levels. The body roundness index maintained its predictive power independent of these other health issues.
The traditional measurements did not perform as well in the analysis. Body mass index and waist circumference showed a non-linear relationship with depression in the dementia group.
Specifically, these traditional metrics displayed a U-shaped curve when plotted on a graph. Both the lowest and the highest measurements were associated with elevated odds of depression, which makes them less reliable as simple screening tools for mood disorders.
The researchers suspect the body roundness index performs better because it captures abdominal fat more precisely. Central adiposity is known to influence brain networks involved in attention and processing speed, which are often impaired in late-life depression.
Emerging evidence suggests that abdominal fat might alter specific genetic and molecular pathways in the brain. Obesity-related mechanisms can impair the brain’s ability to form new synaptic connections, potentially increasing a person’s vulnerability to mood disorders.
The study has a few limitations that readers should keep in mind. Because the research relied on a cross-sectional design, it represents a single snapshot in time.
This observational design cannot prove that abdominal fat causes depression in older adults with dementia. It can only demonstrate that the two conditions are present at the same time in this specific population.
The study took place at a specialized tertiary memory clinic, and the participants were all highly educated compared to the regional average. As a result, the findings might not fully represent the general population of older adults living in the wider community.
The doctors diagnosed dementia using clinical criteria and cognitive tests rather than biological markers. The study did not use brain imaging or spinal fluid analysis to confirm the specific underlying diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia.
The body measurements are indirect estimates of fat tissue. They do not offer the precision of advanced imaging techniques, such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry or magnetic resonance imaging, which directly measure the volume of internal fat.
Future investigations should track patients over multiple years to see if changes in body shape precede the onset of mood disorders. Longitudinal tracking would help scientists map the exact biological pathways linking fat tissue to brain health.
Identifying depression risk is a high priority in geriatric care because mood disorders can accelerate cognitive decline in dementia patients. Simple, inexpensive screening tools like the body roundness index could eventually help doctors provide targeted preventative treatments.
The study, “Body roundness index as a predictor of depression in dementia: A cross-sectional study,” was authored by Clarissa Pacheco da Rocha Fernandes, Natalia Oliveira, Rejane Soares, Fernanda Rodrigues, Gabriel Bernardes, Raquel Quimas Molina da Costa, Naima Assuncao, Alina Teldeschi, Felippe Mendonca, Victor Calil, Andrea Silveira de Souza, Claudia Drummond, Fernanda Tovar-Moll, Paulo Mattos, and Felipe Kenji Sudo.
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 10:23AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEEDTITLE: Hidden brain wiring may help keep the mind sharp as gray matter shrinks
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
Scientists have discovered that the brain’s short-range wiring may help protect cognition even as gray matter shrinks with age. Healthier connections just beneath the brain’s surface were linked to better language skills and appeared to weaken the impact of gray matter loss.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 10:23AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Hidden brain wiring may help keep the mind sharp as gray matter shrinks
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
Scientists have discovered that the brain’s short-range wiring may help protect cognition even as gray matter shrinks with age. Healthier connections just beneath the brain’s surface were linked to better language skills and appeared to weaken the impact of gray matter loss.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 10:23AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Hidden brain wiring may help keep the mind sharp as gray matter shrinks
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
Scientists have discovered that the brain’s short-range wiring may help protect cognition even as gray matter shrinks with age. Healthier connections just beneath the brain’s surface were linked to better language skills and appeared to weaken the impact of gray matter loss.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 10:23AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Hidden brain wiring may help keep the mind sharp as gray matter shrinks
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
Scientists have discovered that the brain’s short-range wiring may help protect cognition even as gray matter shrinks with age. Healthier connections just beneath the brain’s surface were linked to better language skills and appeared to weaken the impact of gray matter loss.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 10:23AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Hidden brain wiring may help keep the mind sharp as gray matter shrinks
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
Scientists have discovered that the brain’s short-range wiring may help protect cognition even as gray matter shrinks with age. Healthier connections just beneath the brain’s surface were linked to better language skills and appeared to weaken the impact of gray matter loss.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081921.htm
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: A specific thinking style explains why dark personality traits are linked to creativity
People with darker personality traits tend to achieve more creative success, and a recent study suggests this is linked to their highly analytical, self-directed way of processing information. Published in Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, the research indicates that a thinking style known as field independence acts as a bridge between socially aversive personality traits and real-world creative accomplishments.
To understand this connection, it helps to look at the Dark Triad. The Dark Triad is a group of three socially undesirable personality traits: Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. People high in Machiavellianism tend to be manipulative, cynical, and highly strategic.
Psychopathy is characterized by impulsivity, thrill-seeking, and a lack of empathy or remorse. Narcissism involves an inflated sense of self-importance, a constant need for admiration, and a sense of entitlement. While these traits are often viewed negatively, they appear in varying degrees among the general population and have been linked to certain positive outcomes, including creativity.
Creative achievement refers to actual, recognized accomplishments in fields like visual arts, scientific discovery, writing, or cooking. Past research established that dark personality traits can predict these creative accomplishments. For instance, a 2021 meta-analysis found a small positive association between creative behaviors and traits like narcissism and Machiavellianism.
Additionally, a study covered by PsyPost in 2021 indicated that Dark Triad traits play a role in how people generate novel, sometimes harmful, ideas. While this link is well-documented, the exact mental mechanisms explaining why these dark traits lead to creative success have remained open to debate.
“Much of the research on creativity has focused on its ‘bright side,’ particularly traits such as openness to experience, along with intelligence and divergent thinking,” study author Marco Giancola, a researcher at the Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences at the University of L’Aquila in Italy, told PsyPost.
“However, these well-established factors explain only part of why people differ in their real-world creative achievements, while considerably less attention has been paid to darker personality characteristics and, especially, to the cognitive mechanisms through which they might relate to creativity,” Giancola explained. “Therefore, I was interested not simply in asking whether Dark Triad traits are associated with creative achievement, but in understanding how this association might emerge through the way people process information.”
Separate studies showed that an autonomous, analytical thinking style called field independence also fuels creativity. Field independence is a cognitive style, meaning it describes how a person naturally perceives and organizes information. A field-independent person can easily separate specific details from a complex, distracting background.
These individuals tend to rely on their own internal judgment rather than being influenced by the people or social cues around them. A 2024 study of children found that a field-independent cognitive style acts as a mental bridge connecting core intelligence to creative thinking. The new study connects these two lines of research to see if field independence is the underlying cognitive bridge linking dark personality traits to creative success.
To explore this potential pathway, Giancola recruited 212 university students with an average age of 21. About half of the participants were female. The participants were drawn from various degree programs, including biology, medicine, and psychology, and none had a history of neurological or psychiatric disorders.
During individual laboratory sessions, participants completed several assessments. To measure Dark Triad traits, they filled out a standard 12-item questionnaire. They rated how much they agreed with statements like “I cheat or lie to get what I want” to measure Machiavellianism, or “I expect special attention from others” for narcissism.
To assess cognitive style, the researcher used the Embedded Figures Test. In this task, participants looked at a complex, colorful geometric figure for 15 seconds. Then, they were shown a simple black-and-white shape. Finally, they looked at the complex colorful figure again and were timed on how fast they could find and trace the simple shape hidden within it. Faster times indicated a more field-independent cognitive style.
Creative achievement was measured using a questionnaire that asked participants to check off concrete, real-life creative successes they had achieved across ten different domains. These domains included visual arts, music, dance, architectural design, creative writing, humor, scientific discovery, invention, theater, and culinary arts.
Because creativity is influenced by many factors, the researcher controlled for several other variables. These included age, sex, education level, and openness to experience, which is a personality trait known to predict creativity. The study also controlled for fluid intelligence, which is the ability to solve new problems, and crystallized intelligence, which is accumulated knowledge. Finally, it accounted for divergent thinking, measured by asking participants to list as many alternative uses for a newspaper and a brick as possible in three minutes.
“The indirect effects of the Dark Triad on creative achievement through cognitive styles were statistically reliable even after accounting for several established predictors of creativity,” Giancola noted.
The results showed a consistent pattern connecting dark traits, cognitive style, and creativity. Participants with higher levels of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism were faster at finding the hidden shapes in the visual test. This indicates that people with these traits tend to process information in a highly field-independent way.
When looking at the paths connecting all these variables, the direct relationship between the Dark Triad traits and creative achievement was not statistically significant on its own. Instead, the relationship operated indirectly through cognitive style. The presence of dark personality traits predicted a field-independent thinking style, which in turn predicted higher scores in real-life creative achievements.
“The findings suggest that some characteristics associated with Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism may coincide with a more field-independent way of processing information,” Giancola said. “That is, a greater tendency to rely on one’s own internal frame of reference, separate relevant information from its surrounding context, and be less constrained by external cues. It was through this cognitive style that emerged as an important bridge from the Dark Triad to higher creative achievement.”
The researcher suggests that each dark trait might drive this analytical thinking style for different reasons. For Machiavellianism, field independence might reflect a highly strategic orientation. These individuals tend to filter out distractions and focus strictly on information that helps them achieve their goals, allowing them to break problems down and find novel solutions.
For psychopathy, the connection might stem from a reduced sensitivity to social norms and emotional disinhibition. People high in psychopathy care very little about what others think. This allows them to ignore external constraints and take risks on unconventional ideas.
For narcissism, the link to field independence may come from a deep self-focus. Narcissistic individuals have high confidence in their own judgment and a strong desire to stand out. They tend to prioritize their own internal feelings over external feedback, which supports self-directed problem-solving and the pursuit of creative recognition.
“What I found particularly interesting was how similar the pattern was across Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism,” the researcher said. “Although these traits are psychologically distinct, the three mediation models showed no meaningful differences in their effect sizes, significance patterns, or explained variance.”
“This suggests that a characteristic they may share—a reduced reliance on socially anchored or contextual constraints—could be particularly relevant when it is expressed through field-independent information processing,” Giancola continued.
By bypassing conventional constraints and social expectations, people with dark personality traits naturally lean into a field-independent cognitive style. This specific way of filtering the world seems to foster the conditions needed to generate novel and useful ideas, resulting in measurable creative achievements.
“A major misinterpretation would be to conclude that dark personality traits are inherently beneficial or that becoming more narcissistic, Machiavellian, or psychopathic would make someone more creative,” Giancola warned. “These traits can have substantial interpersonal and behavioral costs, and our results concern statistical associations with certain modes of information processing, not a general advantage of dark personality.”
As with all research, there are a few other things to keep in mind. The study used a cross-sectional design, meaning all data was collected at a single point in time. Because of this, the results cannot prove a strict cause-and-effect relationship between personality traits, cognitive styles, and creativity.
Additionally, the participants were university students who generally reported low average levels of dark personality traits. This is typical for a non-clinical group of people, but it is something to consider when applying the findings to individuals with more extreme or severe personality traits.
The study also did not measure every possible personality factor. For example, it did not assess everyday sadism, which is sometimes grouped with the Dark Triad. It also did not account for broader personality dimensions like extraversion, which can also influence social status and creative output. Future research could follow people over longer periods to see how these traits and cognitive styles interact over a lifetime of creative work.
“I am interested in moving beyond the Dark Triad toward broader models of dark personality, including the Dark Tetrad and the general Dark Factor of Personality, and in examining whether different dark traits lead to creativity through distinct cognitive, motivational, or self-regulatory pathways,” Giancola said.
“Ultimately, I think the more interesting question is not whether a personality characteristic is simply ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for creativity, but under what conditions and through which psychological mechanisms it can facilitate or inhibit creative behavior,” he added. “I think understanding how personality interacts with the way people process information may be more informative than simply asking if particular personality traits are associated with creativity.”
The study, “Breaking the Mold: How Dark Personality Traits Shape Creative Achievement Through Cognitive Styles,” was authored by Marco Giancola.
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Yesterday I returned from a week-long vacation in Poland, where it was great, but also depressing. It was depressing because I saw a lot of couples there, a lot of beautiful women, and it only made me feel lonelier.
Another reason was that Gdańsk, in particular, was a very beautiful city, and I’d love to move there. But unfortunately, in my current situation, that’s not possible, since I don’t have any money and I have social anxiety. It’s all so frustrating.
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CW: Vent
Today started rough as I saw my stepfather's limp body sitting on the toilet as my mom was on the phone with 911 and had to be resuscitated (and was to the point of responding) It was hard to watch but I was worried for him. However, I know now how id feel if a loved one were to die or be close to dying. #NearDeath #depression
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There’s a surprisingly simple reason for England’s high antidepressant use: lots of people need them | Dean Burnett
By Dean BurnettThe idea that GPs are ignoring guidelines and ‘overprescribing’ doesn’t hold water. Instead, look to our social and economic crises
#Mentalhealth #Depression #Poverty #Healthpolicy #NHS #Anxiety #Health #Politics #Society #UKnews #TheGuardian #DeanBurnett
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DATE: September 14, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Private touch matters more than public affection for relationship quality
URL: https://www.psypost.org/being-in-sync-on-physical-affection-predicts-relationship-happiness/
Being on the same page as a romantic partner about physical affection is linked to a healthier relationship, especially behind closed doors. A recent study published in Personal Relationships found that couples who share similar levels of comfort with touch report higher relationship well-being. The importance of this alignment varies depending on whether partners are in public or private spaces.
Physical touch between romantic partners is associated with numerous physiological and psychological benefits. Holding hands, hugging, and kissing can lower stress levels, support immune system function, and foster a sense of security. Engaging in physical affection is known to improve cardiovascular functioning and increase the release of oxytocin, a hormone heavily involved in social bonding.
When individuals desire more affection than they receive, they can experience what psychologists call affection deprivation. This state is frequently linked to relationship dissatisfaction and a feeling of distance from a partner. An unfulfilled desire for touch is associated with tension and inhibited communication.
Psychology researchers Sabrina Sgambati, Diane Holmberg, and Karen L. Blair wanted to understand how variations in comfort with physical affection might relate to a couple’s overall happiness. They explored whether average comfort levels, as well as discrepancies between partners, could predict relationship well-being. A sense of shared reality generally reduces the need for constant negotiation in a relationship, which helps mitigate conflict.
The research team also investigated whether these dynamics shifted depending on the setting. Public spaces introduce social pressures that do not exist in the privacy of a home. Some individuals might enjoy physical affection in private but feel awkward engaging in it around family members, friends, or strangers.
This contextual difference is relevant for same-sex couples. Experiencing marginalization frequently fosters heightened vigilance regarding public displays of affection. Same-sex partners often dedicate more cognitive energy toward monitoring their surroundings for safety, potentially altering how public touch relates to relationship satisfaction.
To examine these questions, the investigators first analyzed survey data from 1,832 individuals in romantic relationships. Participants rated their own comfort with physical affection, as well as how comfortable they believed their partner was. They answered these questions twice, once thinking about private settings and again considering public environments.
The researchers calculated an average perceived comfort score for each couple, along with a score representing the gap between the participant’s comfort level and their partner’s presumed comfort level. They then compared these affection scores against participants’ self-reported relationship quality. This quality metric included elements like trust, intimacy, passion, and overall satisfaction.
Higher average comfort with physical affection consistently predicted better relationship well-being. This positive association held true for both public and private settings. When both partners were perceived to be highly comfortable with touch, the relationship tended to be stronger.
When looking at disparities between partners, the researchers found that larger perceived gaps in comfort levels were linked to lower relationship well-being. If one partner felt very comfortable with touch and believed their partner was uncomfortable, relationship satisfaction tended to be lower. This negative association was particularly pronounced in public settings once average comfort levels were taken into account.
The environment played a central role in the strength of these associations. Feeling highly comfortable sharing affection in private was more closely connected to strong relationship well-being than feeling comfortable sharing affection in public. The researchers suggested that as long as couples can compensate for a lack of public affection by connecting in private, the relationship fares relatively well. Discomfort in public can easily be attributed to personal decorum or cultural norms rather than a lack of love.
When comparing mixed-sex and same-sex relationships, the overall patterns were largely similar. Higher comfort levels and smaller discrepancies generally mapped onto better relationship quality for both groups. The underlying mechanics of how affection relates to happiness did not drastically change based on the partners’ genders.
Some specific variations did emerge. Individuals in same-sex relationships reported lower average comfort with public affection. They also perceived larger gaps between themselves and their partners in public settings. The researchers attributed this difference to the ongoing social stigma and safety concerns same-sex couples often navigate.
Additionally, individuals in same-sex relationships were able to maintain slightly higher relationship well-being than mixed-sex couples when their average comfort with private affection was low. The researchers hypothesized that same-sex couples, who regularly restrict public affection for safety, might develop alternative, non-physical ways to express love. These communication strategies might carry over into private settings, making physical touch slightly less essential for their overall satisfaction.
The researchers then analyzed a second dataset comprising 86 couples, which allowed them to compare the self-reported scores of both partners directly. This dyadic analysis evaluated actual similarities and differences in comfort, rather than relying on one partner’s assumptions.
The results for this secondary analysis mostly mirrored the initial findings. Higher actual average comfort with private affection again predicted better relationship well-being. Alignment in private remained a strong indicator of a happy couple.
Actual discrepancies in public comfort levels were not associated with relationship well-being. Actual average comfort in public also failed to predict better relationship quality when other variables were factored into the analysis. In other words, a partner’s true feelings about public touch mattered less than what their significant other believed they felt.
This divergence suggests that an individual’s perception of their partner’s comfort might matter more to their relationship satisfaction than their partner’s actual, self-reported comfort level. A partner who is slightly less comfortable with public touch might engage in it anyway to please their significant other. This compliance creates a perception of alignment that helps maintain harmony.
Because the research relies on observational survey data, the results cannot establish a one-way path of influence. A mutual comfort with physical affection might improve relationship well-being, but it is equally likely that being in a happy, secure relationship increases a couple’s comfort with physical affection. The two factors likely reinforce each other continuously over time.
The analysis of actual partner differences relied on a sample of 86 couples, which might not have possessed the statistical power to detect smaller effects. If actual discrepancies do influence relationship quality, the associations might be too subtle to appear in a dataset of this size. Larger studies involving both members of a couple could provide more precise insights into how actual, rather than perceived, discrepancies operate.
The current analysis also excluded individuals in gender-diverse relationships due to a low number of participants in that demographic category. Future research with larger, more diverse populations could investigate how gender expression and fluidity influence comfort with affection. This line of inquiry could clarify how shifting social judgments impact couples who might be perceived differently depending on the context.
The study, “In Sync? Assessing Partners’ Similarities in Comfort With Physical Affection–Sharing as a Predictor of Relationship Well-Being,” was authored by Sabrina Sgambati, Diane Holmberg, and Karen L. Blair.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/being-in-sync-on-physical-affection-predicts-relationship-happiness/
-------------------------------------------------
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PrivateAffectionMatters #RelationshipWellBeing #TouchAndTrust #CouplesCommunication #PublicVsPrivateAffection #SameSexRelationships #AffectionDeprivation #OxytocinBoost #RelationshipAlignment #LoveAndTouch
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Private touch matters more than public affection for relationship quality
URL: https://www.psypost.org/being-in-sync-on-physical-affection-predicts-relationship-happiness/
Being on the same page as a romantic partner about physical affection is linked to a healthier relationship, especially behind closed doors. A recent study published in Personal Relationships found that couples who share similar levels of comfort with touch report higher relationship well-being. The importance of this alignment varies depending on whether partners are in public or private spaces.
Physical touch between romantic partners is associated with numerous physiological and psychological benefits. Holding hands, hugging, and kissing can lower stress levels, support immune system function, and foster a sense of security. Engaging in physical affection is known to improve cardiovascular functioning and increase the release of oxytocin, a hormone heavily involved in social bonding.
When individuals desire more affection than they receive, they can experience what psychologists call affection deprivation. This state is frequently linked to relationship dissatisfaction and a feeling of distance from a partner. An unfulfilled desire for touch is associated with tension and inhibited communication.
Psychology researchers Sabrina Sgambati, Diane Holmberg, and Karen L. Blair wanted to understand how variations in comfort with physical affection might relate to a couple’s overall happiness. They explored whether average comfort levels, as well as discrepancies between partners, could predict relationship well-being. A sense of shared reality generally reduces the need for constant negotiation in a relationship, which helps mitigate conflict.
The research team also investigated whether these dynamics shifted depending on the setting. Public spaces introduce social pressures that do not exist in the privacy of a home. Some individuals might enjoy physical affection in private but feel awkward engaging in it around family members, friends, or strangers.
This contextual difference is relevant for same-sex couples. Experiencing marginalization frequently fosters heightened vigilance regarding public displays of affection. Same-sex partners often dedicate more cognitive energy toward monitoring their surroundings for safety, potentially altering how public touch relates to relationship satisfaction.
To examine these questions, the investigators first analyzed survey data from 1,832 individuals in romantic relationships. Participants rated their own comfort with physical affection, as well as how comfortable they believed their partner was. They answered these questions twice, once thinking about private settings and again considering public environments.
The researchers calculated an average perceived comfort score for each couple, along with a score representing the gap between the participant’s comfort level and their partner’s presumed comfort level. They then compared these affection scores against participants’ self-reported relationship quality. This quality metric included elements like trust, intimacy, passion, and overall satisfaction.
Higher average comfort with physical affection consistently predicted better relationship well-being. This positive association held true for both public and private settings. When both partners were perceived to be highly comfortable with touch, the relationship tended to be stronger.
When looking at disparities between partners, the researchers found that larger perceived gaps in comfort levels were linked to lower relationship well-being. If one partner felt very comfortable with touch and believed their partner was uncomfortable, relationship satisfaction tended to be lower. This negative association was particularly pronounced in public settings once average comfort levels were taken into account.
The environment played a central role in the strength of these associations. Feeling highly comfortable sharing affection in private was more closely connected to strong relationship well-being than feeling comfortable sharing affection in public. The researchers suggested that as long as couples can compensate for a lack of public affection by connecting in private, the relationship fares relatively well. Discomfort in public can easily be attributed to personal decorum or cultural norms rather than a lack of love.
When comparing mixed-sex and same-sex relationships, the overall patterns were largely similar. Higher comfort levels and smaller discrepancies generally mapped onto better relationship quality for both groups. The underlying mechanics of how affection relates to happiness did not drastically change based on the partners’ genders.
Some specific variations did emerge. Individuals in same-sex relationships reported lower average comfort with public affection. They also perceived larger gaps between themselves and their partners in public settings. The researchers attributed this difference to the ongoing social stigma and safety concerns same-sex couples often navigate.
Additionally, individuals in same-sex relationships were able to maintain slightly higher relationship well-being than mixed-sex couples when their average comfort with private affection was low. The researchers hypothesized that same-sex couples, who regularly restrict public affection for safety, might develop alternative, non-physical ways to express love. These communication strategies might carry over into private settings, making physical touch slightly less essential for their overall satisfaction.
The researchers then analyzed a second dataset comprising 86 couples, which allowed them to compare the self-reported scores of both partners directly. This dyadic analysis evaluated actual similarities and differences in comfort, rather than relying on one partner’s assumptions.
The results for this secondary analysis mostly mirrored the initial findings. Higher actual average comfort with private affection again predicted better relationship well-being. Alignment in private remained a strong indicator of a happy couple.
Actual discrepancies in public comfort levels were not associated with relationship well-being. Actual average comfort in public also failed to predict better relationship quality when other variables were factored into the analysis. In other words, a partner’s true feelings about public touch mattered less than what their significant other believed they felt.
This divergence suggests that an individual’s perception of their partner’s comfort might matter more to their relationship satisfaction than their partner’s actual, self-reported comfort level. A partner who is slightly less comfortable with public touch might engage in it anyway to please their significant other. This compliance creates a perception of alignment that helps maintain harmony.
Because the research relies on observational survey data, the results cannot establish a one-way path of influence. A mutual comfort with physical affection might improve relationship well-being, but it is equally likely that being in a happy, secure relationship increases a couple’s comfort with physical affection. The two factors likely reinforce each other continuously over time.
The analysis of actual partner differences relied on a sample of 86 couples, which might not have possessed the statistical power to detect smaller effects. If actual discrepancies do influence relationship quality, the associations might be too subtle to appear in a dataset of this size. Larger studies involving both members of a couple could provide more precise insights into how actual, rather than perceived, discrepancies operate.
The current analysis also excluded individuals in gender-diverse relationships due to a low number of participants in that demographic category. Future research with larger, more diverse populations could investigate how gender expression and fluidity influence comfort with affection. This line of inquiry could clarify how shifting social judgments impact couples who might be perceived differently depending on the context.
The study, “In Sync? Assessing Partners’ Similarities in Comfort With Physical Affection–Sharing as a Predictor of Relationship Well-Being,” was authored by Sabrina Sgambati, Diane Holmberg, and Karen L. Blair.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/being-in-sync-on-physical-affection-predicts-relationship-happiness/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PrivateAffectionMatters #RelationshipWellBeing #TouchAndTrust #CouplesCommunication #PublicVsPrivateAffection #SameSexRelationships #AffectionDeprivation #OxytocinBoost #RelationshipAlignment #LoveAndTouch
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Private touch matters more than public affection for relationship quality
URL: https://www.psypost.org/being-in-sync-on-physical-affection-predicts-relationship-happiness/
Being on the same page as a romantic partner about physical affection is linked to a healthier relationship, especially behind closed doors. A recent study published in Personal Relationships found that couples who share similar levels of comfort with touch report higher relationship well-being. The importance of this alignment varies depending on whether partners are in public or private spaces.
Physical touch between romantic partners is associated with numerous physiological and psychological benefits. Holding hands, hugging, and kissing can lower stress levels, support immune system function, and foster a sense of security. Engaging in physical affection is known to improve cardiovascular functioning and increase the release of oxytocin, a hormone heavily involved in social bonding.
When individuals desire more affection than they receive, they can experience what psychologists call affection deprivation. This state is frequently linked to relationship dissatisfaction and a feeling of distance from a partner. An unfulfilled desire for touch is associated with tension and inhibited communication.
Psychology researchers Sabrina Sgambati, Diane Holmberg, and Karen L. Blair wanted to understand how variations in comfort with physical affection might relate to a couple’s overall happiness. They explored whether average comfort levels, as well as discrepancies between partners, could predict relationship well-being. A sense of shared reality generally reduces the need for constant negotiation in a relationship, which helps mitigate conflict.
The research team also investigated whether these dynamics shifted depending on the setting. Public spaces introduce social pressures that do not exist in the privacy of a home. Some individuals might enjoy physical affection in private but feel awkward engaging in it around family members, friends, or strangers.
This contextual difference is relevant for same-sex couples. Experiencing marginalization frequently fosters heightened vigilance regarding public displays of affection. Same-sex partners often dedicate more cognitive energy toward monitoring their surroundings for safety, potentially altering how public touch relates to relationship satisfaction.
To examine these questions, the investigators first analyzed survey data from 1,832 individuals in romantic relationships. Participants rated their own comfort with physical affection, as well as how comfortable they believed their partner was. They answered these questions twice, once thinking about private settings and again considering public environments.
The researchers calculated an average perceived comfort score for each couple, along with a score representing the gap between the participant’s comfort level and their partner’s presumed comfort level. They then compared these affection scores against participants’ self-reported relationship quality. This quality metric included elements like trust, intimacy, passion, and overall satisfaction.
Higher average comfort with physical affection consistently predicted better relationship well-being. This positive association held true for both public and private settings. When both partners were perceived to be highly comfortable with touch, the relationship tended to be stronger.
When looking at disparities between partners, the researchers found that larger perceived gaps in comfort levels were linked to lower relationship well-being. If one partner felt very comfortable with touch and believed their partner was uncomfortable, relationship satisfaction tended to be lower. This negative association was particularly pronounced in public settings once average comfort levels were taken into account.
The environment played a central role in the strength of these associations. Feeling highly comfortable sharing affection in private was more closely connected to strong relationship well-being than feeling comfortable sharing affection in public. The researchers suggested that as long as couples can compensate for a lack of public affection by connecting in private, the relationship fares relatively well. Discomfort in public can easily be attributed to personal decorum or cultural norms rather than a lack of love.
When comparing mixed-sex and same-sex relationships, the overall patterns were largely similar. Higher comfort levels and smaller discrepancies generally mapped onto better relationship quality for both groups. The underlying mechanics of how affection relates to happiness did not drastically change based on the partners’ genders.
Some specific variations did emerge. Individuals in same-sex relationships reported lower average comfort with public affection. They also perceived larger gaps between themselves and their partners in public settings. The researchers attributed this difference to the ongoing social stigma and safety concerns same-sex couples often navigate.
Additionally, individuals in same-sex relationships were able to maintain slightly higher relationship well-being than mixed-sex couples when their average comfort with private affection was low. The researchers hypothesized that same-sex couples, who regularly restrict public affection for safety, might develop alternative, non-physical ways to express love. These communication strategies might carry over into private settings, making physical touch slightly less essential for their overall satisfaction.
The researchers then analyzed a second dataset comprising 86 couples, which allowed them to compare the self-reported scores of both partners directly. This dyadic analysis evaluated actual similarities and differences in comfort, rather than relying on one partner’s assumptions.
The results for this secondary analysis mostly mirrored the initial findings. Higher actual average comfort with private affection again predicted better relationship well-being. Alignment in private remained a strong indicator of a happy couple.
Actual discrepancies in public comfort levels were not associated with relationship well-being. Actual average comfort in public also failed to predict better relationship quality when other variables were factored into the analysis. In other words, a partner’s true feelings about public touch mattered less than what their significant other believed they felt.
This divergence suggests that an individual’s perception of their partner’s comfort might matter more to their relationship satisfaction than their partner’s actual, self-reported comfort level. A partner who is slightly less comfortable with public touch might engage in it anyway to please their significant other. This compliance creates a perception of alignment that helps maintain harmony.
Because the research relies on observational survey data, the results cannot establish a one-way path of influence. A mutual comfort with physical affection might improve relationship well-being, but it is equally likely that being in a happy, secure relationship increases a couple’s comfort with physical affection. The two factors likely reinforce each other continuously over time.
The analysis of actual partner differences relied on a sample of 86 couples, which might not have possessed the statistical power to detect smaller effects. If actual discrepancies do influence relationship quality, the associations might be too subtle to appear in a dataset of this size. Larger studies involving both members of a couple could provide more precise insights into how actual, rather than perceived, discrepancies operate.
The current analysis also excluded individuals in gender-diverse relationships due to a low number of participants in that demographic category. Future research with larger, more diverse populations could investigate how gender expression and fluidity influence comfort with affection. This line of inquiry could clarify how shifting social judgments impact couples who might be perceived differently depending on the context.
The study, “In Sync? Assessing Partners’ Similarities in Comfort With Physical Affection–Sharing as a Predictor of Relationship Well-Being,” was authored by Sabrina Sgambati, Diane Holmberg, and Karen L. Blair.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/being-in-sync-on-physical-affection-predicts-relationship-happiness/
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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PrivateAffectionMatters #RelationshipWellBeing #TouchAndTrust #CouplesCommunication #PublicVsPrivateAffection #SameSexRelationships #AffectionDeprivation #OxytocinBoost #RelationshipAlignment #LoveAndTouch
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 07:00AM
SOURCE: STAT NEWS MENTAL HEALTHTITLE: STAT+: Definium’s LSD therapy eased anxiety in second large trial
Definium Therapeutics said Monday that its LSD therapy helped patients with anxiety in a second late-stage trial, setting up the company to seek the first approval of a psychedelic drug for anxiety.
In the 12-week trial, patients taking a 100-microgram dose of the drug, called DT120, experienced a 9.8-point drop on a test called the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, while those on placebo experienced a 4.7-point drop. The difference of 5.1 points is similar to what was seen in Definium’s first late-stage anxiety study and larger than what’s been observed with many other anxiety therapies, though it’s difficult to compare results across studies.
Definium is among the first wave of biotechs nearing regulatory approval for psychedelic therapies, a class of treatments that may be especially attractive to patients since they appear to exert rapid benefits. (In the latest trial, Definium said patients experienced changes as early as the second day after dosing.) In contrast, the effects of traditional options like antidepressants take weeks to kick in.
Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
-------------------------------------------------
STAT News reports "from the frontiers of health and medicine".
Learn more at https://www.statnews.com/topic/mental-health/ .
See also their complete Mastodon account at @STAT .
This robot is NOT affiliated with STAT news and merely rebroadcasts from their site. Responses posted here are not monitored.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DefiniumTherapeutics #DT120 #LSDtherapy #anxietytreatment #psychedelicmedicine #lateStageTrial #HamiltonAnxietyRatingScale #rapidresults #psychedelicdrugs #biotechnews
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 07:00AM
SOURCE: STAT NEWS MENTAL HEALTHTITLE: STAT+: Definium’s LSD therapy eased anxiety in second large trial
Definium Therapeutics said Monday that its LSD therapy helped patients with anxiety in a second late-stage trial, setting up the company to seek the first approval of a psychedelic drug for anxiety.
In the 12-week trial, patients taking a 100-microgram dose of the drug, called DT120, experienced a 9.8-point drop on a test called the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, while those on placebo experienced a 4.7-point drop. The difference of 5.1 points is similar to what was seen in Definium’s first late-stage anxiety study and larger than what’s been observed with many other anxiety therapies, though it’s difficult to compare results across studies.
Definium is among the first wave of biotechs nearing regulatory approval for psychedelic therapies, a class of treatments that may be especially attractive to patients since they appear to exert rapid benefits. (In the latest trial, Definium said patients experienced changes as early as the second day after dosing.) In contrast, the effects of traditional options like antidepressants take weeks to kick in.
Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
-------------------------------------------------
STAT News reports "from the frontiers of health and medicine".
Learn more at https://www.statnews.com/topic/mental-health/ .
See also their complete Mastodon account at @STAT .
This robot is NOT affiliated with STAT news and merely rebroadcasts from their site. Responses posted here are not monitored.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DefiniumTherapeutics #DT120 #LSDtherapy #anxietytreatment #psychedelicmedicine #lateStageTrial #HamiltonAnxietyRatingScale #rapidresults #psychedelicdrugs #biotechnews
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 07:00AM
SOURCE: STAT NEWS MENTAL HEALTHTITLE: STAT+: Definium’s LSD therapy eased anxiety in second large trial
Definium Therapeutics said Monday that its LSD therapy helped patients with anxiety in a second late-stage trial, setting up the company to seek the first approval of a psychedelic drug for anxiety.
In the 12-week trial, patients taking a 100-microgram dose of the drug, called DT120, experienced a 9.8-point drop on a test called the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, while those on placebo experienced a 4.7-point drop. The difference of 5.1 points is similar to what was seen in Definium’s first late-stage anxiety study and larger than what’s been observed with many other anxiety therapies, though it’s difficult to compare results across studies.
Definium is among the first wave of biotechs nearing regulatory approval for psychedelic therapies, a class of treatments that may be especially attractive to patients since they appear to exert rapid benefits. (In the latest trial, Definium said patients experienced changes as early as the second day after dosing.) In contrast, the effects of traditional options like antidepressants take weeks to kick in.
Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
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-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: MDMA-enhanced couples therapy shows promise for treating PTSD and relationship distress
New research suggests that pairing a brief form of couples therapy with MDMA can lead to large improvements in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and relationship satisfaction for veterans and their partners. The preliminary findings, published in Journal of Traumatic Stress, provide evidence that these benefits occur even when only the diagnosed veteran receives the medication.
Posttraumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms tend to include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. Beyond the individual, PTSD often strains close relationships, undermining communication and a sense of safety between partners.
Veterans are particularly at risk for PTSD due to the stressors of military deployment. Their intimate partners frequently experience secondary effects, leading to elevated rates of relationship distress. To address both the individual symptoms and the relational strain, psychologists developed cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy. This is a type of talk therapy where the person with PTSD and their partner attend sessions together to learn how trauma impacts relationships, how to communicate better, and how to challenge unhelpful trauma-related thoughts.
While this therapy is effective at reducing PTSD symptoms, its ability to improve overall relationship satisfaction tends to be moderate. The brief, eight-session version of this therapy is similarly effective for PTSD but produces even smaller relationship gains.
To boost the relationship benefits, researchers have been looking into MDMA, a psychoactive drug that alters mood and perception. In a clinical setting, MDMA is thought to promote empathy, social connection, and a reduction in fear. For instance, a 2026 trial analysis found that MDMA combined with psychotherapy helps relieve chronic PTSD symptoms, with patients experiencing positive mood changes that aid in their recovery.
A previous study tested the full cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy protocol paired with MDMA, but it gave the medication to both partners. The research team behind the new study, led by Leslie A. Morland at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, recognized that prescribing MDMA to a partner who does not have PTSD is likely impractical under future medical and insurance guidelines. They designed their study to see if providing a brief version of the therapy, and giving MDMA solely to the veteran diagnosed with PTSD, could still yield both individual and relational benefits.
The researchers recruited eight couples from the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. In each couple, the veteran met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, while the partner did not. The veterans had an average age of about 46, and the partners had an average age of roughly 43.
The treatment program lasted about seven weeks. It involved the eight-session brief cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy protocol, but added two day-long MDMA dosing sessions for the veteran. Before the first MDMA session, the couples attended an introductory preparation session.
During the first MDMA session, the veteran was administered an initial dose of 80 milligrams of MDMA, with an optional 40-milligram supplemental dose a few hours later. The second session involved a higher initial dose of 100 milligrams, also with an optional 40-milligram supplement. The partner was invited to join the room for the final one to two hours of these MDMA sessions to connect and share, though they did not receive the drug themselves.
On the morning following each MDMA session, the couple attended an integration session. During these meetings, the veteran shared their experiences and insights from the medication session, and the partner shared their emotional responses. The therapists incorporated strategies from another evidence-based practice, integrative behavioral couple therapy, to help the partners build empathy and shift out of rigid conflict patterns.
The researchers measured outcomes using clinical interviews for PTSD severity and self-report questionnaires for relationship satisfaction. They tracked scores at the start of the study, during the treatment, at the end of the treatment, and at three and six months afterward. When analyzing the results, the researchers controlled for the initial baseline levels of the outcome variables to better isolate the effects of the treatment.
The veterans began the study with an average PTSD severity score of 39.1 on a standard clinical assessment scale, which ranges from 0 to 80. By the end of the treatment, the veterans showed a large drop in symptom severity, with an average decrease of 16.1 points.
Five of the eight veterans demonstrated a clinically meaningful treatment response. Among those five, three no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and two achieved full symptom remission by the end of the study.
Relationship satisfaction also improved for both members of the couple. Veterans saw their relationship satisfaction scores increase by an average of 27.9 points on a questionnaire that measures relationship happiness and quality. The partners experienced an average score increase of 19.8 points.
Out of the six veterans and six partners who started the study with scores indicating clinical relationship distress, four veterans and four partners reached the non-distressed range by the end of treatment. One partner who started in the non-distressed range did experience a decline in relationship satisfaction over the course of the study.
In the follow-up period three and six months later, the researchers noted a slight rebound in PTSD symptoms, with average scores creeping up by about 6.3 points. Relationship satisfaction scores also retreated moderately during this time, though they remained better than the initial baseline scores.
The treatment was generally well-tolerated. No serious adverse events were reported. The most common side effects from the MDMA sessions included headaches, feeling warm, temporary increases in blood pressure, and nausea. All couples completed the full course of treatment, suggesting the program was acceptable and manageable for the participants.
As with all research, there are a few caveats to consider. The study was a pilot trial with a very small sample of only eight couples. Because there was no control group that received the therapy without MDMA or with a placebo, it is difficult to know exactly how much of the improvement was due directly to the medication versus the intensive therapy itself.
The study participants were predominantly white, heterosexual, and highly educated. This means the findings might not apply to couples with different demographic backgrounds or those with less access to resources.
The partial return of symptoms and relationship distress during the follow-up months indicates that an eight-session therapy model might not be enough to produce permanent changes for everyone. Veterans with complex psychiatric histories might need longer treatment or extended integration support to maintain their initial gains.
The study, “Healing together: Results from a pilot trial of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-enhanced cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder,” was authored by Leslie A. Morland, Chandra E. Khalifian, Dimitri Perivoliotis, Bettye Chargin, Al Alam, Tamara R. Wachsman, Dhakshin Ramanathan, Andrew W. Bismark, Christopher Stauffer, Anne C. Wagner, Abigail C. Angkaw, and Kayla C. Knopp.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PTSD #MDMAtherapy #couplestherapy #traumarecovery #veteranshealth #psychotherapy #relationshipgrowth #mentalhealthresearch #CBCT #PTSDresearch
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: MDMA-enhanced couples therapy shows promise for treating PTSD and relationship distress
New research suggests that pairing a brief form of couples therapy with MDMA can lead to large improvements in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and relationship satisfaction for veterans and their partners. The preliminary findings, published in Journal of Traumatic Stress, provide evidence that these benefits occur even when only the diagnosed veteran receives the medication.
Posttraumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms tend to include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. Beyond the individual, PTSD often strains close relationships, undermining communication and a sense of safety between partners.
Veterans are particularly at risk for PTSD due to the stressors of military deployment. Their intimate partners frequently experience secondary effects, leading to elevated rates of relationship distress. To address both the individual symptoms and the relational strain, psychologists developed cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy. This is a type of talk therapy where the person with PTSD and their partner attend sessions together to learn how trauma impacts relationships, how to communicate better, and how to challenge unhelpful trauma-related thoughts.
While this therapy is effective at reducing PTSD symptoms, its ability to improve overall relationship satisfaction tends to be moderate. The brief, eight-session version of this therapy is similarly effective for PTSD but produces even smaller relationship gains.
To boost the relationship benefits, researchers have been looking into MDMA, a psychoactive drug that alters mood and perception. In a clinical setting, MDMA is thought to promote empathy, social connection, and a reduction in fear. For instance, a 2026 trial analysis found that MDMA combined with psychotherapy helps relieve chronic PTSD symptoms, with patients experiencing positive mood changes that aid in their recovery.
A previous study tested the full cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy protocol paired with MDMA, but it gave the medication to both partners. The research team behind the new study, led by Leslie A. Morland at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, recognized that prescribing MDMA to a partner who does not have PTSD is likely impractical under future medical and insurance guidelines. They designed their study to see if providing a brief version of the therapy, and giving MDMA solely to the veteran diagnosed with PTSD, could still yield both individual and relational benefits.
The researchers recruited eight couples from the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. In each couple, the veteran met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, while the partner did not. The veterans had an average age of about 46, and the partners had an average age of roughly 43.
The treatment program lasted about seven weeks. It involved the eight-session brief cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy protocol, but added two day-long MDMA dosing sessions for the veteran. Before the first MDMA session, the couples attended an introductory preparation session.
During the first MDMA session, the veteran was administered an initial dose of 80 milligrams of MDMA, with an optional 40-milligram supplemental dose a few hours later. The second session involved a higher initial dose of 100 milligrams, also with an optional 40-milligram supplement. The partner was invited to join the room for the final one to two hours of these MDMA sessions to connect and share, though they did not receive the drug themselves.
On the morning following each MDMA session, the couple attended an integration session. During these meetings, the veteran shared their experiences and insights from the medication session, and the partner shared their emotional responses. The therapists incorporated strategies from another evidence-based practice, integrative behavioral couple therapy, to help the partners build empathy and shift out of rigid conflict patterns.
The researchers measured outcomes using clinical interviews for PTSD severity and self-report questionnaires for relationship satisfaction. They tracked scores at the start of the study, during the treatment, at the end of the treatment, and at three and six months afterward. When analyzing the results, the researchers controlled for the initial baseline levels of the outcome variables to better isolate the effects of the treatment.
The veterans began the study with an average PTSD severity score of 39.1 on a standard clinical assessment scale, which ranges from 0 to 80. By the end of the treatment, the veterans showed a large drop in symptom severity, with an average decrease of 16.1 points.
Five of the eight veterans demonstrated a clinically meaningful treatment response. Among those five, three no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and two achieved full symptom remission by the end of the study.
Relationship satisfaction also improved for both members of the couple. Veterans saw their relationship satisfaction scores increase by an average of 27.9 points on a questionnaire that measures relationship happiness and quality. The partners experienced an average score increase of 19.8 points.
Out of the six veterans and six partners who started the study with scores indicating clinical relationship distress, four veterans and four partners reached the non-distressed range by the end of treatment. One partner who started in the non-distressed range did experience a decline in relationship satisfaction over the course of the study.
In the follow-up period three and six months later, the researchers noted a slight rebound in PTSD symptoms, with average scores creeping up by about 6.3 points. Relationship satisfaction scores also retreated moderately during this time, though they remained better than the initial baseline scores.
The treatment was generally well-tolerated. No serious adverse events were reported. The most common side effects from the MDMA sessions included headaches, feeling warm, temporary increases in blood pressure, and nausea. All couples completed the full course of treatment, suggesting the program was acceptable and manageable for the participants.
As with all research, there are a few caveats to consider. The study was a pilot trial with a very small sample of only eight couples. Because there was no control group that received the therapy without MDMA or with a placebo, it is difficult to know exactly how much of the improvement was due directly to the medication versus the intensive therapy itself.
The study participants were predominantly white, heterosexual, and highly educated. This means the findings might not apply to couples with different demographic backgrounds or those with less access to resources.
The partial return of symptoms and relationship distress during the follow-up months indicates that an eight-session therapy model might not be enough to produce permanent changes for everyone. Veterans with complex psychiatric histories might need longer treatment or extended integration support to maintain their initial gains.
The study, “Healing together: Results from a pilot trial of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-enhanced cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder,” was authored by Leslie A. Morland, Chandra E. Khalifian, Dimitri Perivoliotis, Bettye Chargin, Al Alam, Tamara R. Wachsman, Dhakshin Ramanathan, Andrew W. Bismark, Christopher Stauffer, Anne C. Wagner, Abigail C. Angkaw, and Kayla C. Knopp.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PTSD #MDMAtherapy #couplestherapy #traumarecovery #veteranshealth #psychotherapy #relationshipgrowth #mentalhealthresearch #CBCT #PTSDresearch
-
DATE: September 14, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: MDMA-enhanced couples therapy shows promise for treating PTSD and relationship distress
New research suggests that pairing a brief form of couples therapy with MDMA can lead to large improvements in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and relationship satisfaction for veterans and their partners. The preliminary findings, published in Journal of Traumatic Stress, provide evidence that these benefits occur even when only the diagnosed veteran receives the medication.
Posttraumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms tend to include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. Beyond the individual, PTSD often strains close relationships, undermining communication and a sense of safety between partners.
Veterans are particularly at risk for PTSD due to the stressors of military deployment. Their intimate partners frequently experience secondary effects, leading to elevated rates of relationship distress. To address both the individual symptoms and the relational strain, psychologists developed cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy. This is a type of talk therapy where the person with PTSD and their partner attend sessions together to learn how trauma impacts relationships, how to communicate better, and how to challenge unhelpful trauma-related thoughts.
While this therapy is effective at reducing PTSD symptoms, its ability to improve overall relationship satisfaction tends to be moderate. The brief, eight-session version of this therapy is similarly effective for PTSD but produces even smaller relationship gains.
To boost the relationship benefits, researchers have been looking into MDMA, a psychoactive drug that alters mood and perception. In a clinical setting, MDMA is thought to promote empathy, social connection, and a reduction in fear. For instance, a 2026 trial analysis found that MDMA combined with psychotherapy helps relieve chronic PTSD symptoms, with patients experiencing positive mood changes that aid in their recovery.
A previous study tested the full cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy protocol paired with MDMA, but it gave the medication to both partners. The research team behind the new study, led by Leslie A. Morland at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, recognized that prescribing MDMA to a partner who does not have PTSD is likely impractical under future medical and insurance guidelines. They designed their study to see if providing a brief version of the therapy, and giving MDMA solely to the veteran diagnosed with PTSD, could still yield both individual and relational benefits.
The researchers recruited eight couples from the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. In each couple, the veteran met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, while the partner did not. The veterans had an average age of about 46, and the partners had an average age of roughly 43.
The treatment program lasted about seven weeks. It involved the eight-session brief cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy protocol, but added two day-long MDMA dosing sessions for the veteran. Before the first MDMA session, the couples attended an introductory preparation session.
During the first MDMA session, the veteran was administered an initial dose of 80 milligrams of MDMA, with an optional 40-milligram supplemental dose a few hours later. The second session involved a higher initial dose of 100 milligrams, also with an optional 40-milligram supplement. The partner was invited to join the room for the final one to two hours of these MDMA sessions to connect and share, though they did not receive the drug themselves.
On the morning following each MDMA session, the couple attended an integration session. During these meetings, the veteran shared their experiences and insights from the medication session, and the partner shared their emotional responses. The therapists incorporated strategies from another evidence-based practice, integrative behavioral couple therapy, to help the partners build empathy and shift out of rigid conflict patterns.
The researchers measured outcomes using clinical interviews for PTSD severity and self-report questionnaires for relationship satisfaction. They tracked scores at the start of the study, during the treatment, at the end of the treatment, and at three and six months afterward. When analyzing the results, the researchers controlled for the initial baseline levels of the outcome variables to better isolate the effects of the treatment.
The veterans began the study with an average PTSD severity score of 39.1 on a standard clinical assessment scale, which ranges from 0 to 80. By the end of the treatment, the veterans showed a large drop in symptom severity, with an average decrease of 16.1 points.
Five of the eight veterans demonstrated a clinically meaningful treatment response. Among those five, three no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and two achieved full symptom remission by the end of the study.
Relationship satisfaction also improved for both members of the couple. Veterans saw their relationship satisfaction scores increase by an average of 27.9 points on a questionnaire that measures relationship happiness and quality. The partners experienced an average score increase of 19.8 points.
Out of the six veterans and six partners who started the study with scores indicating clinical relationship distress, four veterans and four partners reached the non-distressed range by the end of treatment. One partner who started in the non-distressed range did experience a decline in relationship satisfaction over the course of the study.
In the follow-up period three and six months later, the researchers noted a slight rebound in PTSD symptoms, with average scores creeping up by about 6.3 points. Relationship satisfaction scores also retreated moderately during this time, though they remained better than the initial baseline scores.
The treatment was generally well-tolerated. No serious adverse events were reported. The most common side effects from the MDMA sessions included headaches, feeling warm, temporary increases in blood pressure, and nausea. All couples completed the full course of treatment, suggesting the program was acceptable and manageable for the participants.
As with all research, there are a few caveats to consider. The study was a pilot trial with a very small sample of only eight couples. Because there was no control group that received the therapy without MDMA or with a placebo, it is difficult to know exactly how much of the improvement was due directly to the medication versus the intensive therapy itself.
The study participants were predominantly white, heterosexual, and highly educated. This means the findings might not apply to couples with different demographic backgrounds or those with less access to resources.
The partial return of symptoms and relationship distress during the follow-up months indicates that an eight-session therapy model might not be enough to produce permanent changes for everyone. Veterans with complex psychiatric histories might need longer treatment or extended integration support to maintain their initial gains.
The study, “Healing together: Results from a pilot trial of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-enhanced cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder,” was authored by Leslie A. Morland, Chandra E. Khalifian, Dimitri Perivoliotis, Bettye Chargin, Al Alam, Tamara R. Wachsman, Dhakshin Ramanathan, Andrew W. Bismark, Christopher Stauffer, Anne C. Wagner, Abigail C. Angkaw, and Kayla C. Knopp.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PTSD #MDMAtherapy #couplestherapy #traumarecovery #veteranshealth #psychotherapy #relationshipgrowth #mentalhealthresearch #CBCT #PTSDresearch
-
@lebenslaenglich_lecker Ballaststoffe stabilisieren den Blutzucker, halten Magen-Darmflora intakt, reduzieren chronische Entzündungen. Das ist im Übrigen alles auch förderlich für unser Hirn und seine Stoffwechselprozesse.
#gaba #schlaf #psyche #depression #biom #darmflora #angst #neurotransmitter #vitamine #folsäure #gerstengras #vollkornmehl #leinsamen
-
@lebenslaenglich_lecker Ballaststoffe stabilisieren den Blutzucker, halten Magen-Darmflora intakt, reduzieren chronische Entzündungen. Das ist im Übrigen alles auch förderlich für unser Hirn und seine Stoffwechselprozesse.
#gaba #schlaf #psyche #depression #biom #darmflora #angst #neurotransmitter #vitamine #folsäure #gerstengras #vollkornmehl #leinsamen
-
@lebenslaenglich_lecker Ballaststoffe stabilisieren den Blutzucker, halten Magen-Darmflora intakt, reduzieren chronische Entzündungen. Das ist im Übrigen alles auch förderlich für unser Hirn und seine Stoffwechselprozesse.
#gaba #schlaf #psyche #depression #biom #darmflora #angst #neurotransmitter #vitamine #folsäure #gerstengras #vollkornmehl #leinsamen