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(https://www.psypost.org/gops-midterm-hopes-faltered-as-abortion-outranked-economy-among-key-voters-study-finds/) GOP’s midterm hopes faltered as abortion outranked economy among key voters, study finds
Nov 4th 2024, 09:00

In the aftermath of the 2022 Congressional midterm elections, political analysts were surprised by the Democratic Party’s performance, which contradicted predictions of a strong Republican showing. A recent study published in the journal (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0294047) PLOS One presents evidence that voters were notably influenced by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The findings indicate that issue of abortion became a focal point in the midterms, helping Democrats attract swing voters, including Republicans in key races.
Historically, the president’s party usually loses seats during midterms, particularly when economic conditions are poor and the president’s approval ratings are low. In 2022, despite high inflation and President Biden’s relatively low approval ratings, Democrats held on to more seats than anticipated.
“Experts and scholars were generally convinced that the Democratic Party was poised to suffer defeats similar to what the President’s party experienced in the 2018, 2014, 2010, and 2006 midterm elections,” the study authors explained. “However, the actual election results caught pundits and scholars off guard. The Democratic Party only lost nine seats in the House of Representatives and managed to gain one seat in the Senate.”
Recognizing the need to understand what caused this deviation, the researchers sought to identify factors that may have influenced voting behavior beyond economic and presidential approval metrics. They were particularly interested in whether a single issue, like abortion, could sway voter decisions in a way that traditional models couldn’t predict.
The research team conducted a survey with 2,109 registered voters across the United States. This survey was conducted immediately after the 2022 midterm elections and focused on voters’ political preferences, party identification, and the significance they attached to various issues, such as the economy, immigration, crime, and abortion. By using a structured survey with a national sample, the researchers were able to obtain data that represented a diverse set of opinions and demographics.
Voters were asked not only whom they voted for but also which issues they felt were significant in their decision-making process. One of the key questions examined the importance of abortion in voters’ choices, particularly in light of the recent Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which removed federal protections for abortion rights by overturning Roe v. Wade. This focus allowed researchers to determine whether the court’s decision had heightened the issue’s importance for persuadable voters—especially Independents and Republicans who might not typically prioritize abortion.
The study found that abortion was indeed a decisive factor in persuading voters who typically are not strongly aligned with a particular political party. For Independent voters in particular, abortion emerged as a leading issue influencing support for Democratic candidates, marking a shift in voting patterns. The researchers observed that many persuadable voters, including Independents and some Republicans, were drawn to Democratic candidates as they prioritized the protection of abortion rights.
By comparing this midterm data to a similar survey conducted after the 2020 presidential election, the researchers found that abortion’s role in 2022 voting was significantly more prominent. Before the Dobbs decision, abortion was a much less influential issue. After the ruling, the topic gained significant importance among voters who were concerned about the potential rollback of reproductive rights.
In terms of issue prioritization, abortion ranked closely with other traditionally high-priority issues such as crime and the economy, but it was particularly impactful among persuadable voters. The study also found that while economic factors remained a consistent concern, they did not have as much of an influence on voting behavior in 2022 as the issue of abortion did. This finding challenges the idea that midterm elections are mainly referendums on the economy and presidential performance.
“In the lead-up to the midterm elections, Republican leaders asserted that abortion would not be the determining factor for voters, emphasizing that crime and inflation would hold greater significance in the minds of the electorate,” the researchers wrote. “Nevertheless, our research uncovers a different reality, demonstrating that abortion, alongside crime and immigration, played a vital role in shaping the decisions of Independent voters. Particularly noteworthy was the substantial increase in the impact of the abortion issue compared to previous elections. In contrast, inflation emerged as a less dependable predictor of Independent voters’ choices, offering only ambiguous signals in comparison to the other issues.”
As with all research, there are limitations. Since the research relied on survey data, the team was dependent on participants accurately reporting their voting behavior and motivations. Additionally, the sample was collected online, which might affect the representativeness of the data if online respondents differ from the general population in terms of political engagement.
Looking ahead, researchers suggest that future studies could explore the influence of specific issues in even greater depth, particularly in elections with similar unexpected outcomes. They propose that subsequent research could analyze other factors, like social media and campaign messaging, which may also amplify the importance of certain issues during elections.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294047) Persuadable voters decided the 2022 midterm: Abortion rights and issues-based frameworks for studying election outcomes,” was authored by Claudia Kann, Daniel Ebanks, Jacob Morrier, and R. Michael Alvarez.

(https://www.psypost.org/new-research-upends-long-held-beliefs-about-romantic-love-and-sexual-frequency/) New research upends long-held beliefs about romantic love and sexual frequency
Nov 4th 2024, 08:00

A recent study published in the (https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2024.2394670) Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy found that traits commonly associated with romantic love, such as obsessive thoughts about one’s partner and intense feelings, do not significantly influence how often young adults have sex. The researchers challenge the long-held belief that romantic love naturally leads to increased sexual activity.
Previous research has suggested that the intense emotional connection and passion of early-stage romantic relationships fuel sexual desire. While it’s well-documented that sexual frequency typically declines as relationships progress and passion fades, less is known about what factors might influence sexual desire during the initial phases of romantic love.
Led by Adam Bode from the Australian National University, the research team sought to understand what drives sexual frequency in individuals experiencing new romantic love. They hypothesized that shorter relationship duration, greater intensity of romantic love, lower commitment, and more hypomanic-like features (i.e., feeling overly energetic or enthusiastic) would be associated with higher sexual frequency.
To test these hypotheses, the researchers surveyed 720 sexually active young adults aged 18 to 25 from 33 countries, all of whom self-reported experiencing romantic love.
Participants provided information on their relationship duration, the intensity of their romantic love, how often they thought about their partner, their level of commitment, and any hypomanic-like features they experienced.
The researchers then used statistical models to identify connections in the data, controlling for variables known to influence sexual frequency, such as age, sexual orientation, and health status.
Surprisingly, the study found no significant associations between romantic love traits and sexual frequency. The entire model, which included 14 variables, explained only 4.06% of the variation in sexual frequency. This suggests that other factors not captured in the study may play a larger role in determining sexual frequency among young adults.
However, some known covariates did predict sexual frequency. For example, older participants reported having sex more frequently, which contradicts some previous research. The researchers speculate this might be due to younger participants having less privacy or fewer opportunities for sexual activity. Additionally, homosexual participants reported lower sexual frequency, which may be influenced by social factors or differences in sexual behavior patterns.
The study’s findings underscore the complexity of sexual behavior and suggest that romantic love alone is not a strong predictor of sexual frequency.
As Bode and colleagues noted, “Given that none of our variables of interest were associated with frequency of sex per week, the question remains, which factors are responsible for variation in sexual activity? The most obvious point to make is that sex involves two parties, and therefore evaluating predictors of sexual activity in only one person leaves half of the equation untested. The sex drive of one member of a romantic relationship may be a primary contributor to variation in frequency of sexual activity.”
The study does have some limitations. The sample was limited to young adults who had been in love for less than two years, which may not represent the full spectrum of romantic relationships. Additionally, the definition of “sex” was left to participants’ interpretation, potentially introducing variability in responses. The sample was also relatively homogeneous, consisting mostly of individuals from democratic, wealthy nations.
The study, “(https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0092623X.2024.2394670) Romantic Love and Sexual Frequency: Challenging Beliefs,” was authored by Adam Bode, Marta Kowal, Fabio Cannas Aghedu, and Phillip S. Kavanagh.

(https://www.psypost.org/anger-more-strongly-linked-to-alcohol-and-tobacco-use-than-illicit-drug-use/) Anger more strongly linked to alcohol and tobacco use than illicit drug use
Nov 4th 2024, 06:00

A new study has found that anger is more strongly linked to alcohol and tobacco use and their related disorders compared to other substances. The research, published in (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00952990.2024.2331721) The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, suggests that anger may be a key emotional factor that increases the risk of developing these substance use disorders and hinders recovery. The findings also challenge stereotypes about violence and illicit drug use, highlighting that legal substances like alcohol and nicotine are more closely associated with anger.
Substance use disorders pose a substantial health and economic burden in the United States, affecting millions and costing billions in medical expenses each year. Despite the widespread prevalence of these disorders, only a small percentage of individuals receive treatment, and many who do are at risk of relapse. This makes it important to understand the factors contributing to substance use and disorders.
Anger is one such factor linked to substance use. Unlike other negative emotions, such as fear or anxiety—which often motivate individuals to avoid negative situations—anger is associated with a desire to approach or confront the source of frustration.
This distinction suggests that anger might influence substance use differently from other negative emotions. While anger has been studied in the context of specific disorders like alcohol and tobacco use, less is known about its relationship to other substances and whether it is linked more to general use or specifically to disorders.
“I have developed a program of research surrounding anger’s importance in substance use because it is a relatively understudied emotion in this field,” said study author (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Krista-Miloslavich) Krista Miloslavich, a PhD candidate at (https://psch.uic.edu/profiles/miloslavich-krista/) the University of Illinois Chicago under the mentorship of Margaret Wardle. “We usually focus on emotions like sadness, fear, anxiety and relate that to self-medication. With that being said, it is important to understand which substances or substance use disorders are most affected by anger levels to inform where we should prioritize anger management in mainstream substance use treatments.”
The researchers analyzed data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III), which included responses from 28,753 American adults. This nationally representative survey provided detailed information about participants’ substance use, substance use disorders, and experiences of anger. Participants were asked about their lifetime use of substances like alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, stimulants, and opioids, and whether they had experienced significant anger that interfered with their daily life. The study also took into account factors such as age, race, and other mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
The researchers found that anger is associated not only with the use of psychoactive substances but also with the development of substance use disorders, especially involving alcohol and tobacco. Their findings indicate that people who experience anger are at a higher risk of developing problematic use patterns with these substances, beyond just occasional or recreational use.
“People should understand that anger is an important emotional factor that may put people at risk for developing substance use disorders or prevent them from recovering,” Miloslavich told PsyPost.
Interestingly, the study challenges some common stereotypes about anger and substance use. While people often associate anger and violent tendencies with the use of illicit drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine, the research suggests that anger is actually more strongly associated with alcohol and tobacco—substances that are legal and more socially accepted. This highlights a broader and perhaps overlooked issue, as alcohol and tobacco, despite their legality, are more frequently linked to anger-related problems than some illegal drugs.
The findings contradict “common stereotypes of ‘violent junkies’ that are often given to individuals who use illicit drugs,” Miloslavich said. “These results show that more common, legal drugs such as alcohol and nicotine are more strongly associated with anger.”
The study has some limitations that should be considered. Because the data were collected at one point in time and asked about lifetime experiences, it’s not possible to determine whether anger leads to substance use or vice versa. Future research could explore this relationship over time to better understand the cause-and-effect dynamics.
“Research always needs to be interpreted with caution as you can never conduct a perfect experiment,” Miloslavich noted. “Specifically for this study, it is important to know that this data was not collected with a hypothesis in mind. In other words, this dataset was not set up to measure this question, necessarily. Although the research was sound, secondary data analyses such as these are not considered as robust as hypothesis-driven data collection. The major benefits of using a national dataset such as NESARC-III is that we are able to sample from the broader population of the United States in ways that would be impossible for most research done through individual labs.”
Despite these limitations, the findings highlight the importance of considering anger in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, particularly for alcohol and tobacco. Anger may play a significant role in both the development and persistence of these disorders. If the mechanisms driving this association can be identified, treatments that focus specifically on managing anger could be more effective for individuals struggling with alcohol and tobacco use disorders, potentially reducing the risk of relapse and aiding recovery.
“My long-term goal with this research is to further the study of anger-related substance use to inform future treatment options,” Miloslavich said. “Right now, anger management is not a huge part of most treatments for substance use and needs to be further studied in order to facilitate that change.”
“I would like to add that these results are not the opinions of the United States government or any of its entities, especially the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) who sponsored, directed, and designed the NESARC-III study.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2024.2331721) Anger is more strongly associated with alcohol and tobacco use and use disorders compared to other substances in American adults,” was authored by Krista Miloslavich and Margaret Wardle.

(https://www.psypost.org/conservatives-are-happier-but-liberals-lead-more-psychologically-rich-lives-research-finds/) Conservatives are happier, but liberals lead more psychologically rich lives, research finds
Nov 3rd 2024, 14:00

A recent study in the (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jopy.12959) Journal of Personality sheds new light on the connection between political views and well-being. The findings indicate that those with more liberal views tend to experience lives filled with psychological richness, marked by diverse and stimulating experiences. While happiness and meaning are associated with conservative values, psychological richness appears to be more common among those with fewer conservative views.
Previous research on well-being and political beliefs has largely focused on two primary aspects of a fulfilling life: happiness and meaning. Happiness is often defined by life satisfaction and positive emotions, while meaning involves a sense of purpose or fulfillment. Studies have consistently found that conservative beliefs are associated with higher levels of both happiness and meaning.
This connection may be due to factors such as system justification, the belief that societal structures are fair, which can create a stable foundation for feeling content and purposeful. For example, conservatives are generally more likely to see social systems as just and reliable, which might lead to a greater sense of stability and satisfaction. Furthermore, the Protestant work ethic—a belief in the value of hard work as a path to success—is often embraced by conservatives and has been tied to a strong sense of life purpose.
However, previous studies mostly overlooked a third dimension of a fulfilling life: psychological richness. Psychological richness refers to a life filled with new, varied, and stimulating experiences that broaden one’s perspective. This quality differs from happiness or meaning in that it emphasizes diversity and complexity over contentment or purpose. Individuals who lead psychologically rich lives seek diverse experiences and view challenges or changes as opportunities for growth.
This dimension is especially relevant given that openness to experience—a personality trait commonly linked to psychological richness—is also often linked with liberal values. Thus, the authors of this study wanted to investigate if this previously neglected aspect of well-being might be more closely associated with liberal beliefs,offering a fuller picture of how different political ideologies relate to unique facets of a good life.
The research consisted of six studies designed to examine the relationships between political beliefs and different dimensions of well-being: happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. Each study employed slightly different samples, procedures, and measures to gradually build a comprehensive understanding of these associations across various populations and cultural contexts.
Study 1 served as the foundation, using a convenience sample of 583 students from an American university to explore how conservative worldviews, such as system justification and the Protestant work ethic, correlate with happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. Participants completed the 15-item Good Life Scale to assess their levels of happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. Participants rate statements describing their lives, such as “enjoyable” or “comfortable” for happiness, “purposeful” or “fulfilling” for meaning, and “interesting” or dramatic” for psychologically richness.

The initial study found that happiness and meaning were positively linked to conservative beliefs, whereas psychological richness showed little to no association. These findings laid the groundwork for further research, indicating that while traditional markers of well-being like happiness and meaning are more common among conservative individuals, psychological richness may not be.
Study 2 expanded on these initial findings by investigating a broader set of variables, including political orientation and personality traits. Using a new sample of 348 American college students, researchers measured participants’ happiness, meaning, and psychological richness levels, as well as their political orientation (from very liberal to very conservative). The inclusion of the Big Five personality traits provided additional context, as openness to experience, in particular, is commonly associated with liberal beliefs and psychological richness.

Results from this study confirmed the initial findings from Study 1, with happiness and meaning correlating with conservatism. Additionally, this study found a weak but negative association between psychological richness and conservatism.
Study 3 continued to refine the approach by including additional measures of happiness, meaning, and psychological richness to ensure consistent results. This study sampled 436 college students from a different American university, aiming to replicate the findings from Study 2 while adding depth through multiple measures. For instance, happiness was measured using both the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Good Life Scale, while psychological richness was measured with the Psychologically Rich Life Questionnaire.
This more detailed approach, however, found that the associations between conservatism and the three well-being aspects were weaker than in previous studies. This suggested that the relationship might vary depending on how well-being is measured or across different student demographics, indicating a need for a more representative sample.
Study 4 addressed the limitations of previous studies by using a large, nationally representative sample of 1,217 adults from across the United States. This allowed the researchers to explore whether the findings generalized beyond college students and across a more diverse demographic. Participants answered similar measures of happiness, meaning, and psychological richness as well as additional questions about their political orientation.
This study revealed a consistent pattern: happiness and meaning remained positively associated with conservatism, while psychological richness was more prevalent among those with liberal beliefs. The nationally representative sample strengthened the reliability of the findings, highlighting that the associations between political beliefs and these three dimensions of well-being extended beyond a university context.
Study 5 extended the research to a non-Western context by recruiting 2,176 adult participants in South Korea. Given that political conservatism and liberalism might have different cultural meanings in Korea than in the United States, this study aimed to see if the patterns observed in the American context would hold in a different cultural setting. Using translations of the same scales from previous studies, participants in South Korea reported their levels of happiness, meaning, and psychological richness, as well as their political beliefs adapted to reflect Korean cultural and social issues.
Results showed that while happiness and system justification were still positively associated with conservatism, psychological richness did not strongly correlate with political beliefs, suggesting that the relationship between political orientation and psychological richness may vary depending on cultural context.
Study 6 was a pre-registered replication study using a sample of 617 American college students to confirm the key findings from Studies 1 through 5. This study focused on validating the relationships between happiness, meaning, and psychological richness and conservative beliefs, using structural equation modeling to account for measurement errors and ensure statistical rigor.
By replicating the results with the same procedures, Study 6 reinforced the findings that happiness and meaning are linked with conservatism, while psychological richness is more often associated with liberal beliefs when happiness and meaning are statistically controlled.
“Across six studies, we largely replicate earlier findings that happiness was associated with slightly more political conservatism,” the researchers wrote. “Happiness was also associated with system justification, or the tendency to see the current political, economic, and societal systems to be fair and defendable. Meanwhile, meaning in life was consistently associated with Protestant work ethic, or the view that hard work will lead to success in life.”
On the other hand, the “correlations between psychological richness and conservative worldviews were in general null or slightly positive… The present findings add to the emerging literature on psychological richness, providing empirical support and construct validity for the basic postulate that a psychologically rich life is related but distinct from a happy life or a meaningful life.”
But the study has limitations. One challenge lies in the correlational nature of the data, which means it cannot determine whether political beliefs directly influence well-being or if other factors are involved. Moreover, since the participants self-reported their well-being, social desirability bias—a tendency to present oneself in a positive light—might have influenced responses, particularly for qualities like happiness and meaning.
Future research could explore other factors that influence psychological richness beyond political orientation, as well as examine whether similar trends exist in different cultural settings. Researchers could also look into longitudinal data to better understand the cause-and-effect relationships between political beliefs and aspects of well-being.
“We are not claiming that a psychologically rich life is by any means better than a happy life or a meaningful life,” the researchers concluded. “Indeed, it is clear that a happy life and a meaningful life are desirable lives, associated with stable social relationships, prosocial behaviors, and health.”
“Our work merely illustrates that a good life should not be narrowly construed as only either a happy life or a meaningful life, and that this restricted view can obscure other important aspects of a good life—such as low levels of system justification and desire for societal changes. By broadening our understanding of what the “good” in a good life includes, the concept of psychological richness opens up new conceptual space within the science of well-being.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12959) Differing worldviews: The politics of happiness, meaning, and psychological richness,” was authored by Shigehiro Oishi, Hyewon Choi, Youngjae Cha, Samantha Heintzelman, Nicholas R. Buttrick, and Erin C. Westgate.

(https://www.psypost.org/psychologists-identify-a-morality-related-psychological-factor-that-is-linked-to-infidelity/) Researchers identify a morality-related psychological factor that is linked to infidelity
Nov 3rd 2024, 12:00

A study of couples in Austria and Germany has found that individuals with a stronger tendency toward moral disengagement report more instances of cheating and are more likely to suspect their partners of infidelity. These individuals do not necessarily deny cheating but rather opt to sideline their inner moral compass when engaging in unfaithful behaviors. The research was published in (https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12552) Personal Relationships.
For most people, a happy romantic relationship is one of life’s central goals. Fulfillment in a partnership and family life often ties directly to overall well-being and life satisfaction. However, achieving a stable and positive relationship can be challenging, and one factor that often disrupts relationship happiness is infidelity.
Infidelity in a romantic relationship — or cheating — occurs when one partner pursues emotional or physical intimacy outside the relationship without mutual consent. Such actions violate the expectations of exclusivity that many partners hold. Infidelity can take many forms, including sexual affairs, emotional bonds, or online interactions that cross established boundaries. This breach of trust typically leads to feelings of betrayal, along with significant emotional, psychological, and relational consequences for both partners.
Study authors Verena Aignesberger and Tobias Greitemeyer aimed to investigate why some individuals engage in infidelity despite believing it to be morally wrong. A recent survey indicates that 89% of Americans consider having an affair immoral, yet 20% to 25% of married individuals admit to cheating on their partners, with rates even higher among those in dating relationships. Given this discrepancy between moral beliefs and actions, the researchers sought to understand whether moral disengagement might explain why some individuals act against their own standards in romantic relationships.
Moral disengagement is the psychological mechanism that allows individuals to detach from their moral standards, enabling them to justify behaviors that would otherwise induce guilt or conflict. Essentially, those high in moral disengagement can distance themselves from their own moral beliefs, which may make it easier to act contrary to those values.
The study authors proposed several hypotheses. They expected that partners would show similar levels of moral disengagement, as individuals tend to gravitate toward people with similar attitudes and values. They also hypothesized that couples with matching levels of moral disengagement would experience higher relationship satisfaction, as shared perspectives might create greater understanding. Additionally, they speculated that individuals high in moral disengagement would have narrower definitions of infidelity — that is, they would consider fewer actions as cheating — and would, as a result, engage in more behaviors considered unfaithful by typical standards.
The study included 236 couples from Austria and Germany, of which 197 were dating, and 39 were married. The average age of participants was 29, and most had been together for over six years on average (79 months). Additionally, 64% of the women and 45% of the men were students, reflecting a well-educated, young adult sample.
Participants completed a survey assessing their level of moral disengagement with statements like “It is okay to spread rumors to defend those you care about” and “People who get mistreated have usually done something to bring it on themselves.” They also completed measures of relationship satisfaction and defined their views on cheating by selecting specific actions from a provided list that they considered unfaithful when committed within their current relationship. Lastly, participants reported whether they had engaged in any of these actions.
The results showed that 39% of women and 35% of men reported committing at least one act that they themselves defined as cheating. Additionally, individuals who scored higher on moral disengagement tended to have partners who also scored high, supporting the hypothesis that couples share similar levels of moral disengagement. However, the results diverged from the initial hypotheses in a few key areas.
Contrary to the researchers’ expectations, higher levels of moral disengagement did not correlate with a more lenient definition of cheating. This suggests that those prone to moral disengagement still recognize certain behaviors as morally wrong; they simply choose to ignore their moral compass when it comes to their actions.
Additionally, individuals with higher levels of moral disengagement reported lower satisfaction in their relationships, and this dissatisfaction extended to their partners as well. The findings indicate that moral disengagement might undermine the quality of a romantic relationship, even if both partners share similar tendencies.
The study provides insight into the psychological factors that may drive infidelity. Moral disengagement appears to facilitate cheating by allowing individuals to sidestep their moral principles, leading them to act against their own sense of right and wrong. As the study authors put it: “A propensity to not follow the own moral standards has negative effects on romantic relationships, as it is connected to lower relationship satisfaction in both partners. It additionally explains the gap between moral cognition and moral actions. Individuals high in MD [moral disengagement] are aware of what actions are morally incorrect; however, they adhere less to their moral compass.”
However, the study’s design limits its ability to make definitive statements about cause and effect. It remains unclear whether moral disengagement actively leads individuals to cheat, or if the experience of cheating reinforces moral disengagement. Further, it is possible that other factors, such as personality traits or relationship dynamics, could contribute to the observed patterns. Future research could explore these possibilities by examining moral disengagement in different types of relationships and across diverse age groups.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12552) Morality in romantic relationships: The role of moral disengagement in relationship satisfaction, definitions of infidelity, and committed cheating,” was authored by Verena Aignesberger and Tobias Greitemeyer.

(https://www.psypost.org/can-a-handful-of-nuts-a-day-keep-dementia-away-research-suggests-it-might/) Can a handful of nuts a day keep dementia away? Research suggests it might
Nov 3rd 2024, 10:00

A new study, published in the journal (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-024-01365-z) GeroScience, highlights a promising link between nut consumption and a reduced risk of dementia. The findings suggest that middle-aged and older adults who regularly consume nuts have a 12% lower chance of developing dementia compared to non-consumers. This protective effect was particularly strong for those who consumed up to a handful of unsalted nuts daily, which appeared to yield the most significant cognitive benefits.
Dementia is a broad term used to describe a decline in cognitive abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. It typically affects memory, thinking, and social skills, leading to difficulties in reasoning, communication, and self-care. Dementia is not a single disease but rather a collection of symptoms caused by various underlying conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. As dementia progresses, individuals may lose the ability to perform everyday tasks, recognize loved ones, or control their emotions, significantly impacting their quality of life and that of their caregivers.
The growing prevalence of dementia presents a significant challenge worldwide. Currently, over 50 million people are living with dementia, and that number is expected to triple by 2050. Despite advancements in medical research, there is no cure for dementia, and treatment options offer only modest benefits in managing symptoms. Consequently, there is a pressing need for effective prevention strategies to delay or reduce the onset of cognitive decline. This need has led researchers to focus on lifestyle factors—particularly diet—as potential ways to support brain health.
Dietary choices have emerged as promising areas for dementia prevention, especially diets rich in plant-based foods known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, has been associated with a lower risk of dementia. Nuts, a staple in this diet, are nutrient-dense foods packed with healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may support brain function.
However, previous studies on nuts and cognitive health have shown inconsistent results, creating a gap in our understanding of their specific impact on dementia risk. The new study aimed to address this uncertainty by examining whether regular nut consumption might be linked to a reduced risk of all types of dementia.
To investigate this, researchers drew on data from the (https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/) UK Biobank, a large health database that tracks over half a million people. They selected 50,386 participants between the ages of 40 and 70 who provided data on their nut consumption, lifestyle habits, health status, and dementia diagnoses.
Importantly, anyone who reported having dementia at the beginning of the study was excluded to ensure the results accurately reflected new dementia cases. Nut intake was assessed using the Oxford WebQ, a dietary questionnaire asking participants how often they consumed various foods, including nuts.
The researchers divided participants into two main categories: those who ate nuts daily and those who did not consume nuts at all. Additionally, for a more detailed analysis, they further categorized nut consumption into three groups based on intake: no consumption, up to one handful per day, and more than one handful. This approach allowed researchers to compare different levels of nut intake to understand whether higher consumption offered increased protective effects.
By the study’s end, 2.8% of participants, or 1,422 individuals, were diagnosed with dementia. When researchers compared nut consumers to non-consumers, they found that regular nut intake correlated with a 12% reduced risk of dementia. The effect remained significant even after accounting for factors like age, sex, body mass index, education, and lifestyle.
This association was particularly strong for those who ate up to one handful of nuts daily, which seemed to offer the most substantial protection. Unsalted nuts, such as almonds and cashews, appeared to be more beneficial than salted or processed nuts. Interestingly, the study found no additional benefits for consuming more than one handful per day, suggesting that moderate intake might be sufficient to obtain the potential neuroprotective effects of nuts.
Beyond the primary findings, the researchers observed that the link between nuts and reduced dementia risk was stronger in some subgroups. Women, older adults, nonsmokers, and individuals with lower-risk lifestyle factors—such as moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, and healthy sleep patterns—seemed to benefit most from nut consumption. However, the benefits were consistent across various demographic and health backgrounds, indicating that nuts might help lower dementia risk for a broad population.
Despite these promising results, the study had several limitations. Firstly, the data on nut consumption relied on self-reported dietary assessments, which can sometimes be inaccurate due to memory lapses or participants’ tendency to report healthier behaviors.
Additionally, the study was observational, meaning it can only show associations rather than prove that nuts directly lower dementia risk. Other unmeasured factors could influence the findings, although researchers made significant adjustments for known lifestyle and health variables.
Finally, while the study’s focus on nuts as a potential dementia-preventative is exciting, the mechanisms by which nuts might protect brain health remain speculative. Nuts are rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and bioactive compounds that may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress—two factors believed to contribute to cognitive decline. However, more research, especially clinical trials, is needed to understand exactly how nuts may influence brain function and whether other foods with similar nutrient profiles offer comparable benefits.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01365-z) Nut consumption is associated with a lower risk of all‑cause dementia in adults: a community‑based cohort study from the UK Biobank,” was authored by Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni, Valentina Díaz-Goñi, Nuria Beneit, Andreia Oliveira, Estela Jiménez-López, Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno, and Arthur Eumann Mesas.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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