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A new study published in the Journal of Stress and Health looked at the association between hair cortisol and psychopathology in children with a chronic physical illness. “This study explores how stress, measured using hair cortisol, may contribute to the onset of mental health problems in children with a chronic physical illness (CPI),” lead study author and University of Waterloo PhD candidate in Public Health Sciences, Emma Littler told us. “We were investigating whether hair cortisol could be used to identify children at the highest risk of developing mental health problems.” [More]

A new study published by Nested looked at forging new understandings as to how caregivers actually experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). “We looked closely at systemic gaps in screening, treatment, and follow-up, as well as how supported new parents felt by their partners, healthcare providers, and workplaces,” study author Erin O’Connor told us. [More]

Depression remains a global mental health concern, and early detection is essential. A new study published in Scientific Reports examined how individuals with mild depressive symptoms differ from their peers in facial expression and how they are perceived by others. “We aimed to determine whether subtle facial cues associated with early depressive tendencies could be detected through both subjective impression ratings and automated facial analysis,” study author Eriko Sugimori told us. [More]

A new study published in the International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction looked at the social dimensions of virtual/augmented reality sport gaming and the interplay among game involvement, interpersonal relationships, social capital, and psychological well-being. “In this study, we investigated whether AR/VR sport games can do more than just entertain,” study author Sanghoon Kim told us. “Virtual sport has many features. Users can create and use their own avatars, and they can also play with others beyond physical space." [More]

Do you admire an antagonistic leader? Science may have an explanation for that. Researchers have discovered that those who view the world as a savage social jungle are more likely to admire leaders who are antagonistic. [More]

A new study published in World Psychiatry looked at cognitive therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents exposed to multiple traumatic stressors. “Our study tested whether a talking therapy called cognitive therapy for PTSD works for children and teenagers who have been through many different traumatic experiences,” study author Richard Meiser-Stedman told us. “We wanted to see if this therapy could help in real-world NHS mental health services, where young people often present with not just PTSD but also depression, anxiety, or other difficulties.” [More]

Anxiety and loneliness could be contributing to addictions to smartphones and social media among “night owls”. Researchers at the University of Portsmouth found that those who prefer staying up late may use social media and smartphones as a coping strategy. [More]

A new study published in the Journal of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry looked at indirect associations between adolescent Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and/or Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) symptoms and adult incomes. “Our study looked at whether symptoms of ADHD and/or ODD in adolescence are linked to lower incomes in adulthood,” study author Sampo Seppä told us. “We wanted to understand not only if there is a connection, but why, specifically whether education, social relationships, or other mental health conditions explain the income gap.” [More]

A new study published in the Journal of Child Development looked at foster care entry and later academic achievement among infants involved with child protective services. “Prior research has shown that early experiences of maltreatment are linked to delays in children’s social and cognitive development,” study author Kierra Sattler told us. “At this same time, infants are at the highest risk of maltreatment, especially for neglect.” [More]

A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders looked at comorbidities and emotions of pediatric patients with multiple long-term conditions through social media feedback. “We selected this research topic to address a critical gap in understanding the emotional and psychological burdens experienced by children with MLTCs, a population whose needs are frequently overlooked by healthcare systems predominantly designed for single diseases,” study author Shang-Ming Zhou told us. [More]