Refresh

This website neurosciencenews.com/neuroscience-topics/psychology/page/2/ is currently offline. Cloudflare's Always Online™ shows a snapshot of this web page from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. To check for the live version, click Refresh.

Latest

Psychology

What is Psychology?
Definition of Psychology: Psychology is the study of behavior in an individual, or group. Our psychology articles cover research in mental health, psychiatry, depression, psychology, schizophrenia, autism spectrum, happiness, stress and more.

Latest

Psychology News

These research articles involve many aspects of psychology such as cognitive psychology, depression studies, mental health, stress, happiness and neuropsychology, Scroll below for more specific categories.

This shows two kids and COVID.

Long COVID Is Fueling a Mental Health Crisis in Children

A new study reveals that nearly 40% of children with long COVID are experiencing significant symptoms of anxiety or depression, many for the first time. Using validated mental health screening tools, researchers found that 1 in 4 children had new anxiety symptoms and 1 in 7 had new depressive symptoms, despite no prior mental health history.
Read More
This shows two lonely people.

Why Loneliness Hurts More When You’re Poor

A new study across 20 European countries shows that people in the lowest income brackets are significantly more likely to feel lonely than those with higher incomes, even though they socialize just as often. Loneliness was closely tied to a cluster of defensive symptoms—pain, fatigue, and low mood—which were especially severe among the poor.
Read More
This shows people drinking.

Peer Pressure, Perceived Norms Drive Risky Drinking

A new study highlights how peer pressure and misperceptions about campus drinking norms can lead college students to drink more heavily than they intend. Many students believe their peers consume more alcohol than they actually do, which can increase risky behavior and negative outcomes.
Read More
This shows sister moms and their babies.

Postpartum Psychosis May Run in Families

Women are over 10 times more likely to develop postpartum psychosis if their sister has experienced the condition, according to a major study of more than 1.6 million women. This rare but severe disorder, marked by hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized thinking after childbirth, can have life-threatening consequences if not treated.
Read More
This shows two heads and a brain.

Depression May Signal Chronic Pain Years Before It Starts

Middle-aged and older adults who experience chronic pain often show worsening symptoms of depression up to eight years before the pain begins. A large-scale study found that depressive symptoms and loneliness increased long before pain onset, suggesting mental health may play a causal role in later physical discomfort.
Read More
This shows a brain.

Body’s Own Cannabinoids May Help Control Trauma-Linked Fear

A new study reveals that a natural cannabinoid in the body, 2-AG, plays a crucial role in regulating fear responses, particularly in individuals with PTSD and anxiety. Researchers found that lower levels of 2-AG in both mice and humans were linked to exaggerated or overgeneralized fear reactions to non-threatening stimuli. This suggests that 2-AG helps the brain distinguish real threats from harmless cues, acting as a natural filter for fear.
Read More
This shows two people and social media icons.

Rethinking Propaganda in the Digital Age

Propaganda is often seen as a manipulative force, but it may be a necessary tool for active participation in a digital society. Rather than eliminate it, people should learn to understand and ethically use propaganda to counter disinformation and promote social good.
Read More
This shows the outline of a person and neurons.

Inflammation Triggers Repetitive Behaviors in ASD and OCD

New research reveals that chronic brain inflammation can directly lead to repetitive behaviors, often seen in conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In mice with a mutated NLRP3 gene, inflammation activated microglia to release IL-1β, overstimulating NMDA glutamate receptors responsible for excitatory brain signals.
Read More
This shows a newborn.

Low Newborn Vitamin D Linked to Autism and Schizophrenia

A large population study has found that babies born with low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop mental disorders like ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism later in life. Researchers analyzed data from over 71,000 individuals, linking neonatal vitamin D deficiency to increased risks of several neurodevelopmental conditions.
Read More
This shows a sad kid looking at a phone.

Cyberbullying Linked to PTSD Symptoms in Teens

A new national study finds that all forms of cyberbullying—not just direct threats—can cause trauma in teens, suggesting it should be considered a serious childhood adversity. Even subtle behaviors like exclusion from chats or online rumors were found to cause PTSD symptoms as severe as overt harassment. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,700 U.S. teens and found 87% had experienced at least one form of online victimization.
Read More
This shows a person reading and a brain.

Reading Fiction Boosts Empathy and Fights Loneliness

While AI companions are marketed as a fix for loneliness, research shows that reading offers far more meaningful benefits. Reading fiction can foster social connection, reduce stress, enhance empathy, and even reshape brain activity linked to social cognition.
Read More