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A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour looked at wellbeing-focused interventions. “This study looks at a wide range of interventions designed to improve wellbeing,” study author Dr. Lowri Sian Wilkie told us. “Instead of focusing only on psychological approaches, we took a broader, interdisciplinary view that also includes physical activity, mind body practices, and nature based interventions.” [More]

A recently published study looked at a biosensor able to non-invasively detect the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in human saliva. “The ultralow levels of BDNF in saliva is directly associated with major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as depression,” study author Paulo A. Raymundo-Pereira told us. “I didn't expect to discover anything. I simply used my expertise in chemistry and biotechnology and we worked hard to optimize the disposable device to selectively detect ultra-low concentrations of BDNF in saliva without interference.” [More]

A new study published in the Journal of Youth aimed to examine the ways chronic stress and discrimination shape mental health and substance use among young sexual minority men living in New York City. “The aim was to tease apart how everyday experiences such as stigma connect with issues like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use,” Kristen D. Krause told us. Krouse is the Deputy Director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies where the research was housed. “Ultimately, the study hoped to capture just how these stressors impact well-being day to day, not just as abstract risks but as lived realities.​" [More]

A new study published in the Frontiers of Health Services looked at leveraging generative AI to simulate mental healthcare access and utilization. “This study is about adapting AI to improve efficiency and effectiveness of mental health services,” study author Cortney VanHook told us. VanHook is an assistant professor of social work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “I set about testing if AI software could generate a robust and culturally sound assessment and treatment plan for a fictitious client.” [More]

A recently published study looked at integrated behavioral health services and psychosocial symptoms in children. “Our study was about TEAM UP, which is a model of integrated behavioral healthcare that partners behavioral health clinicians and community health workers with pediatricians to provide team-based care,” study author, Chris Sheldrick, PhD, research and evaluation co-director of TEAM UP at Boston Medical Center 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]

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]

A new study published in the Journal of Children, Youth Environments looked at the role of family residence green spaces and household chaos on children’s executive function “This study explores how the amount of green space and interactive items around where families live, and how chaotic or calm a household feels, might shape the development of young children’s executive function,” study author Samantha J. Iwinski told us. [More]

A new study published in the Journal of Advances in Nutrition looked at a systemic review of social vulnerability and child food insecurity in developed countries. “Our study focuses on identifying social vulnerability factors that may be associated with childhood food insecurity,” study author Liuwork Mitiku Dana told us. “Our aim was to understand the complex drivers of food insecurity in children living in wealthy industrialized nations like Australia and the US.” [More]

A new study explores the impact of prenatal exposure to Superstorm Sandy, a post-tropical cyclone that made landfall in New York City in 2012, and extreme ambient heat, defined as at least one day greater than 95 degrees Fahrenheit, on the brain volume of the basal ganglia in school-aged children, a critical brain region that regulates our emotions and behaviors. “We were hoping to find out whether individual and/or combined exposure to these stressors defined above would lead to discernible differences in the volume of the basal ganglia,” study author Donato DeIngeniis told us. [More]