Mental Health

Extreme loneliness in young adults often predicts obsessive online habits like uncontrollably viewing pornography. Conversely, obsessive gaming and endless internet health searches can predict future social isolation, revealing a cyclic relationship between human disconnection and digital habits.

A new study reveals a surprising disconnect in lonely individuals: while brain scans show they possess normal levels of neurological empathy, they subjectively view themselves as lacking empathy.

A new study in BMC Psychology suggests stuttering is more than a physical speech disorder. Researchers found that adults who stutter experience differences in auditory brain processing and higher anxiety, which both scale with their stuttering severity.

New field research examines the morning stress hormone patterns of Palestinian boys living in conflict zones, revealing how chronic political violence shapes early childhood biology and daily psychological strain.

Higher levels of an excitatory brain chemical can make individuals overly sensitive to their mistakes. New research shows that an exaggerated response to everyday errors helps explain the shared biological roots of anxiety and depression.

Online talk therapy could provide a new path to recovery for people with "broken-heart" syndrome. A recent trial found that a tailored internet program helps these patients cope with emotional distress, significantly easing their anxiety.

A recent psychological survey of adolescents seeking care for gender dysphoria reveals three distinct subgroups. By grouping youths based on trauma, personality development, and anxiety, researchers highlight the need for tailored, individualized medical approaches.

Receiving the live shingles vaccine may help delay cognitive decline in older adults, according to a new study in Alzheimer's & Dementia. The findings provide evidence that the vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease.

By analyzing genetic and environmental data from thousands of twins, researchers found that early trauma shapes mental health in distinct ways that increase a person's vulnerability to later domestic abuse.

Romantic relationships are widely considered a primary buffer against loneliness, but new research shows this protective effect does not apply equally to everyone. Survey data reveals that for asexual individuals, romantic involvement is not associated with feeling less isolated.

A new study finds that a supervised Nordic walking program can significantly reduce moderate to severe depression symptoms in just five weeks. The aerobic workout proved especially beneficial for participants who started with the most severe symptoms.

A 23-year study shows that IQ alone doesn't dictate an autistic person's ability to learn daily life skills. Researchers found most participants developed practical skills matching their intelligence, indicating that autistic individuals can master independent tasks over time.

Physical exercise is known to improve mental health. A new study reveals that a muscle-released protein called apelin travels to the brain during exercise, promoting neuron growth and alleviating depression.

A new study of retired athletes found that repetitive head trauma can lead to a "leaky" blood-brain barrier. This long-lasting damage allows immune cells to enter the brain, causing persistent inflammation and accelerating cognitive decline.