A recent study showed a connection between monthly cash gifts to low-income mothers and enhanced cognitive development in their infants. Financial well-being can contribute to healthy development in children by alleviating parental stress and the cognitive effects of toxic stress. Children who experience toxic stress are at increased risk for…
A new research study from Thriveworks shows that more Americans are engaged in parasocial relationships than they care to admit. Humans naturally form one-sided connections to media personas and public figures, even genuinely mourning their deaths. These parasocial relationships are usually harmless, though 9% of people report lasting mental health…
If you want to get a quick picture of what a refugee or asylum seeker might feel, put yourself in their shoes for a moment: What would you carry if you had to leave your home abruptly, perhaps forever? Everyone is one major humanitarian crisis away from refugee status, no…
If you love coffee (like I do), a world without it is hard to imagine—yet others turn their nose up at the idea of indulging. Regardless of your opinion, multiple studies and reviews have concluded that drinking coffee comes with physical and mental benefits. It can help slow the aging…
Eating healthy is a worthy goal—but when eating conscientiously turns from mindfulness to an obsession, orthorexia can kick in. Orthorexia Nervosa, as it’s properly known, occurs when someone begins obsessively eating only foods that they deem as “pure,” “healthy,” or “clean.” Orthorexia isn’t just a diet; this eating habit becomes…
Black history month celebrates the progress and recognizes the tribulations of Black Americans, and many notable people of color have contributed to the fields of psychology and psychological research. Despite racial tension, bias, and discriminatory treatment, these Black psychologists paved the way for providers of color to continue expanding and…
A new research study by Thriveworks reveals the extent to which romantic relationships affect mental health in the United States. Over a third of Americans identify their past and present romantic relationships as the primary cause for their mental health concerns. A large percentage of Americans still suffer psychological fallout…
Though the idea that each of us has a “reserve” of willpower is an attractive notion, current psychological research doesn’t put much stock in the idea. Psychologists are instead asking the question: Does willpower exist? Believing in willpower is part of ego depletion theory—the belief that without enough willpower, we…
Thriveworks analyzed over 54,000 data points to identify the Top Mental Health Terms for 2021, determined by usage growth over the past five years. Our findings indicate that many mental health terms are experiencing a surge in usage — overall, the use of mental health terminology has seen a 140%…
In this post-covid era, mental health professionals are seeing a new type of anxiety disorder, post-covid stress disorder (PCSD), appear. While the social stigmas surrounding mental health topics are steadily losing steam, the covid-19 pandemic reminded us that we often put our mental wellbeing on the backburner. While the world…
New research suggests that handgun purchasers with a previous DUI conviction are more likely to commit violence crimes than handgun purchasers without a DUI record. Researchers identified every individual between 21 and 49 years old who legally purchased a handgun in California in 2001; researchers then identified any violent crime…
New research from Mayo Clinic says that vaping-related lung injuries are likely due to toxic chemical fumes. The CDC has reported over 800 lung injuries associated with vaping or electronic cigarette use in the past several months; additionally, there have been 12 confirmed deaths related to these injuries. Mayo Clinic…