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(https://www.psypost.org/genetic-analysis-reveals-role-of-melatonin-in-adhd-symptom-severity/) Genetic analysis reveals role of melatonin in ADHD symptom severity
Nov 15th 2024, 08:00

New research published in (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772598724000345) Psychiatry Research Communications suggests that the hormone melatonin may be closely linked to the severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. A study led by Hamamatsu University School of Medicine found that genetic variations affecting melatonin production could contribute to ADHD symptoms, particularly through disrupted sleep patterns. These findings highlight the potential benefits of healthy sleep routines in managing ADHD symptoms.
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the pineal gland in response to darkness, helping regulate sleep-wake cycles. It signals the body when it’s time to sleep, supporting our internal “biological clock,” or circadian rhythm. Disruptions in melatonin production can make it harder to fall asleep, affecting sleep quality and overall well-being. Melatonin has other roles as well, including supporting immune function and reducing inflammation.
For many individuals, melatonin secretion follows a predictable pattern, rising in the evening and lowering in the morning. However, this pattern can vary, and certain conditions may interfere with typical melatonin levels, disrupting the sleep cycle.
ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder, is characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. For children with ADHD, one common challenge is establishing a stable sleep routine. Many struggle to fall asleep on time, which worsens their daytime symptoms and leads to a cycle of sleep deprivation and increased hyperactivity or inattention.
While ADHD’s exact causes are complex, involving genetic, neurological, and environmental factors, recent research suggests that sleep disruptions could be a contributing factor. Specifically, children with ADHD often exhibit delayed melatonin secretion, which might be linked to difficulties in winding down and falling asleep at night.
“Sleep disturbances are common in children with ADHD, yet the mechanisms are not fully understood. Our interest stemmed from the hypothesis that disrupted melatonin secretion, a key regulator of circadian rhythms, may play a role in ADHD, potentially linking sleep patterns with genetic risk factors,” said study author Nagahide Takahashi, who is now a director in the Department of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry in Tokyo.
To investigate this, the researchers gathered and analyzed genetic data from three large cohorts: the Lundbeck Foundation’s Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, the Taiwan Biobank, and the Hamamatsu Birth Cohort for Mothers and Children. These groups combined data from 27,076 individuals from the first cohort, 2,373 from the second, and 726 from the third.
The study analyzed melatonin levels indirectly by measuring a metabolite called 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate, which is excreted in urine and serves as a practical substitute for measuring melatonin directly. Levels of this metabolite, adjusted for creatinine to account for urine concentration differences, were used to determine the urine metabolite-to-creatinine ratio (UMCR), a proxy measure of melatonin secretion.
The researchers then conducted a genetic correlation analysis using genome-wide association study summary data from these cohorts. They constructed a polygenic risk score based on the UMCR to assess whether genetic variations linked to melatonin secretion correlated with ADHD symptoms. They also performed additional analyses to explore the relationship between melatonin secretion, sleep behaviors, and ADHD, including examining pathways that might connect melatonin with immune responses in ADHD, particularly focusing on the role of interleukin-6, a molecule known to be involved in neuroinflammation.
The results revealed a significant correlation between genetic markers associated with melatonin secretion and ADHD symptoms in children. This association was most notable for ADHD symptoms related to inattention, suggesting that children with these symptoms might be more prone to circadian rhythm disturbances linked to lower melatonin levels.
The researchers found that children with higher UMCR-based risk scores for reduced melatonin secretion tended to have more severe ADHD symptoms. Although the study showed a genetic link between melatonin production and ADHD, the researchers did not find that sleep onset delay alone explained this relationship. Instead, they proposed that both ADHD symptoms and disrupted melatonin secretion could stem from a shared genetic predisposition.
“It was surprising to find that while genetic factors influencing melatonin secretion correlated with ADHD symptoms, sleep onset delays did not mediate this relationship, suggesting a more direct genetic influence,” Takahashi told PsyPost.
The pathway-based analysis provided additional insights into the biological mechanisms that might connect melatonin and ADHD symptoms. The team found that several pathways involving interleukin-6 were significantly associated with both melatonin secretion and ADHD symptoms. Interleukin-6, a molecule linked with inflammation, has been observed at elevated levels in children with ADHD, and the researchers found that this pathway could be involved in the link between melatonin and ADHD.
These findings suggest that the interaction between sleep disturbances and ADHD symptoms may be biologically rooted. The researchers proposed that encouraging healthy sleep habits that increase melatonin production in children with ADHD could help lessen symptoms by potentially reducing levels of interleukin-6.
“Good sleep hygiene and promoting healthy sleep habits in children can potentially mitigate ADHD symptoms,” Takahashi said. “This research highlights the genetic link between melatonin secretion and ADHD, emphasizing the importance of addressing sleep-related factors in managing ADHD.”
Despite these significant findings, the study had limitations. The researchers did not have access to direct melatonin measurements in the children’s blood or urine, which could have strengthened the results.
Future research could explore the therapeutic potential of melatonin regulation to support children with ADHD. This might include interventions that promote circadian rhythm alignment, such as scheduled sleep routines or even low-dose melatonin supplements. Further studies are also planned to investigate how genes, sleep patterns, and ADHD symptoms interact over time.
“We aim to explore how melatonin regulation can be harnessed therapeutically, including the potential use of melatonin supplements or interventions to support circadian rhythm alignment in children with ADHD,” Takahashi said.
“This study emphasizes the intersection of genetics, sleep, and behavior. Collaborative research combining genetic, clinical, and lifestyle interventions can pave the way for holistic ADHD management,” he added.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psycom.2024.100188) Association between genetic risk of melatonin secretion and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,” was authored by Nagahide Takahashi, Tomoko Nishimura, Akemi Okumura, Taeko Harada, Toshiki Iwabuchi, Md. Shafiur Rahman, Pi-Hua Liu, Gwo-Tsann Chuang, Yi-Cheng Chang, Yoko Nomura, and Kenji J. Tsuchiya.

(https://www.psypost.org/scientists-discover-atypical-brain-connectivity-in-those-with-alcohol-use-disorder/) Scientists discover atypical brain connectivity in those with alcohol use disorder
Nov 15th 2024, 06:00

In a recent study published in (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-03083-8) Translational Psychiatry, researchers discovered distinct patterns in how brain regions communicate in individuals with alcohol use disorder compared to healthy individuals. Using advanced imaging and analytical techniques, the study found altered connections in specific brain areas related to self-control, decision-making, and reward processing. These changes, they suggest, could explain why some people develop alcohol use disorder and struggle to control their alcohol intake.
The study aimed to clarify how different parts of the brain interact in alcohol use disorder. Alcohol misuse is a widespread public health issue, causing significant health and social challenges. While past studies have explored brain function in individuals with alcohol use disorder, the exact patterns of connectivity between specific brain areas remain unclear. This study focused on identifying the unique brain connectivity patterns associated with alcohol use disorder, hoping to improve diagnosis and treatment.
“Our laboratory has extensively researched addiction, aiming to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying addiction and identify key biomarkers for effective treatment interventions,” said study author Xiaochu Zhang, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China.
“Additionally, we have been actively involved in developing innovative therapeutic approaches for addiction management, including neurofeedback and transcranial electrical stimulation techniques. Alcohol use disorder is a significant addiction that imposes a substantial economic burden on families and society, while its treatment remains challenging. The identification of key neurobiomarkers in the management of alcohol addiction can offer crucial insights for more effective interventions. Our project is conducted within this framework.”
To investigate this, researchers examined two groups: 30 men with alcohol use disorder and 32 healthy men. Each participant underwent resting-state functional MRI, a type of brain scan that measures connectivity between different brain regions while the person is at rest. The study used a method called multivariate pattern analysis, which involves machine learning to distinguish individuals with alcohol use disorder from healthy individuals based on brain activity patterns.
By looking at the direction and strength of connections between regions, they aimed to identify patterns unique to alcohol use disorder. They focused on specific brain areas that past research suggested were involved in self-control, decision-making, and reward processing, including the pre-supplementary motor area, anterior cingulate cortex, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, putamen, and nucleus accumbens.
The findings revealed distinct connectivity patterns in individuals with alcohol use disorder, especially in the pre-supplementary motor area, anterior cingulate cortex, putamen, and nucleus accumbens. These areas showed altered connectivity that, the researchers suggest, might contribute to the difficulties in self-control and heightened impulsivity seen in individuals with alcohol use disorder.
Importantly, they found that the connection between the anterior cingulate cortex and putamen, as well as between the nucleus accumbens and pre-supplementary motor area, were linked to the severity of alcohol dependence. Individuals with more severe alcohol use disorder symptoms showed stronger or weaker connections in these areas, depending on the specific brain pathway. The analysis accurately distinguished between participants with alcohol use disorder and healthy individuals, suggesting that these connectivity patterns could be used as potential markers for diagnosing alcohol use disorder.
“Our findings revealed atypical causal connectivity between cortical and subcortical brain regions in patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder,” Zhang told PsyPost. “Furthermore, these atypical causal brain connections contribute to the correlation observed between addiction severity and behavioral measures. These findings suggest that impulsivity may serve as a significant personality trait predisposing individuals to alcohol consumption and the development of alcohol use disorder, thereby providing crucial insights for early prevention and diagnosis.”
“Moreover, in future studies focusing on withdrawal and relapse prevention in patients with alcohol use disorders, medical professionals or researchers could consider integrating traditional drug therapy with innovative interventions (such as transcranial electrical stimulation) to gain valuable insights into enhancing rehabilitation outcomes by ameliorating aberrant causal connectivity between cortical-subcortical brain regions.”
However, there are some limitations to consider. The study focused only on men, as male participants were more readily available in treatment settings, so the results may not apply to women with alcohol use disorder. Future research should include a more diverse sample. Additionally, many participants with alcohol use disorder also used nicotine, which could influence the brain’s connectivity patterns. While the researchers attempted to account for this, future studies could benefit from more rigorous control over smoking habits. They also suggest that examining larger brain networks and incorporating additional imaging techniques could deepen understanding of how alcohol use disorder affects the brain’s overall connectivity.
The study, “(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-024-03083-8) Atypical effective connectivity from the frontal cortex to striatum in alcohol use disorder,” was authored by Hongwen Song, Ping Yang, Xinyue Zhang, Rui Tao, Lin Zuo, Weili Liu, Jiaxin Fu, Zhuo Kong, Rui Tang, Siyu Wu, Liangjun Pang, and Xiaochu Zhang.

(https://www.psypost.org/225175-2/) Cyberbullying linked to extreme dieting and cosmetic surgery interests in teen girls
Nov 14th 2024, 16:00

A study of adolescent girls in Australia found that 62% experienced cyberbullying related to their appearance. Girls teased or insulted about their body shape, weight, or physical features are more likely to resort to extreme dieting or consider cosmetic surgery. The paper was published in the (https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-01083-z) Journal of Eating Disorders.
Cyberbullying is a form of harassment that occurs online, through digital devices, such as social media, messaging apps, or gaming platforms. It includes sending mean messages, spreading rumors, sharing embarrassing photos or videos, or excluding someone from online groups. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying can happen anytime and reach a wide audience instantly, making it difficult for victims to escape.
Research indicates that the impact of cyberbullying can be particularly severe during adolescence. Adolescence is a time when children’s bodies undergo rapid transformation as they mature into adults. This makes adolescents particularly sensitive to issues related to their bodies and potentially vulnerable to cyberbullying focused on their appearance, body shape, size, or physical features. Exposure to this type of bullying can lead to heightened body dissatisfaction and even disordered eating, particularly among adolescent girls.
Study author Taliah Prince and her colleagues sought to investigate the effects of appearance-related cyberbullying on body image and mental health in Australian adolescent girls. Specifically, they aimed to understand how common appearance-related cyberbullying is, what forms it takes, and its psychological impacts. The researchers define appearance-related cyberbullying as “online harassment or criticism focused on physical appearance, including aspects such as weight, body shape, and facial features.”
The study participants included 336 girls between the ages of 14 and 19, recruited from the general community and the study authors’ university. Of these, 85% were attending secondary school at the time of the study.
Participants completed an online survey with assessments of cyberbullying and cybervictimization (the Berlin Cyberbullying-Cybervictimization Questionnaire), appearance-related cyberbullying (three assessments created by the study authors), body satisfaction (the Body Shape Questionnaire Subscale), body esteem (the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults), body shame (the Body Image Shame Scale), body appreciation (the Body Appreciation Scale – 2), and eating disorder symptoms (the Chile Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire).
The assessments for appearance-related cyberbullying focused on the roles participants took in cyberbullying (whether as bullies, victims, or both), types of appearance-related cyberbullying experienced (such as comments on body shape, body size, specific body attributes, disability, changes to appearance, facial features, clothing, skin color, body tone, age, or muscularity), and the impact of this type of bullying on the desire to change physical appearance.
Results showed that 98% of participants reported experiencing at least one form of cyberbullying. Sixty-two percent reported experiencing appearance-related cyberbullying. Among those who experienced cyberbullying, 76% reported both bullying others and being a victim of cyberbullying, while 21% were only victims, and 1% reported bullying others without being bullied themselves.
Fifty percent reported being exclusively victims of appearance-related bullying, 3% reported bullying others about appearance (without being bullied themselves), and 10% reported both bullying others and being bullied.
Body shape and size (such as fatness or thinness) were the most frequently targeted attributes. Other frequently targeted features included breasts and buttocks, facial appearance, clothing and style, body tone, and muscularity, though these were less frequently targeted than body shape and size. Victims of cyberbullying, whether they were only victims or also bullied others, reported lower body satisfaction and more symptoms of eating disorders.
Participants experiencing higher levels of cyberbullying expressed a stronger desire to change their physical appearance, self-presentation, and appearance through cosmetic procedures.
“The research identified a strong positive correlation between experiences of appearance-related cybervictimization and heightened concerns about body shape, body shame, and symptoms of eating disorders. Inversely, these experiences were linked to lower body esteem and body appreciation. Additionally, ARC-victimization [appearance-related cyberbullying victimization] was associated with the inclination among adolescent females towards changing their appearance through dieting, exercising, altering self-presentation, and considering cosmetic procedures,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the links between cyberbullying and body image. However, the study was based solely on self-reports, leaving room for reporting bias to affect the results.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-01083-z) Appearance-related cyberbullying and its association with the desire to alter physical appearance among adolescent females,” was authored by Taliah Prince, Kate E. Mulgrew, Christina Driver, Lia Mills, Jehan Loza, and Daniel F. Hermens.

(https://www.psypost.org/the-dark-dating-strategies-red-pill-men-use-according-to-their-exes/) The dark dating strategies “Red Pill” men use, according to their exes
Nov 14th 2024, 14:00

A recent study published in the journal (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pere.12557) Personal Relationships explored how personality traits associated with manipulation—known as the “Dark Triad”—are reflected in the dating practices of men in the “Red Pill” community. Women previously involved with Red Pill men described partners who showed patterns of self-interest and emotional detachment, often using manipulation to achieve their goals. These findings suggest that Red Pill teachings may encourage or attract men with traits linked to a willingness to manipulate others in relationships.
The “Red Pill” community is a loosely connected group of online communities that use the red pill metaphor from The Matrix movie to describe a supposed awakening to hidden truths, usually concerning relationships, gender dynamics, and society. Originally, taking the red pill in The Matrix meant awakening to an uncomfortable reality and rejecting the comforting illusions of the world. In these online communities, it signifies rejecting what they consider mainstream or “blue-pilled” beliefs, often about masculinity, feminism, and traditional gender roles.
The new study sought to better understand how Red Pill community teachings translate into romantic relationships. The Red Pill, an online community connected to the “manosphere,” supports a philosophy rooted in antifeminist views and endorses the use of manipulative tactics to build relationships with women.
These tactics echo characteristics of the Dark Triad—a combination of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Those who score highly in these traits typically seek short-term gains and use deceit or coercion to fulfill their needs, prioritizing immediate self-interest over long-term connection. While many studies have examined the impacts of Dark Triad traits on relationships, this research is the first to gather insights directly from women who dated Red Pill-affiliated men.
To investigate the role of the Dark Triad in Red Pill relationships, the author of the study recruited participants from r/TheBluePill, a Reddit community that critiques and reflects on the Red Pill. Six self-identified heterosexual women aged 20 to 38 participated in detailed, semi-structured interviews, describing their experiences dating Red Pill men.
Each woman’s relationship varied in length from a few months to over six years, and by the time of their interviews, all participants were no longer involved with their Red Pill partners. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed to determine if the participants’ experiences aligned with previously documented traits and behaviors associated with the Dark Triad in relationships.
The study’s findings reveal a significant overlap between the personality traits associated with the Dark Triad and the behaviors promoted by the Red Pill community. Women who had been in relationships with Red Pill men described a distinct pattern in which their partners exhibited self-centered and manipulative behaviors aimed at fulfilling personal needs, often at the expense of emotional connection. These relationships were marked by an intense focus on image, success, and control, aligning with the traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy found within the Dark Triad.
One central theme that emerged was the quick escalation of these relationships. Many women described how Red Pill partners would rapidly push for deeper commitment or intimacy early in the relationship. This pattern of “love-bombing” helped establish control quickly, often leaving the women feeling overwhelmed or unprepared to set boundaries.
Red Pill men also placed a strong emphasis on the role of sex, viewing it as a foundational element of the relationship. This pressured the women into conforming to their partners’ expectations, sometimes to their discomfort. These early pressures often led to women moving in with their Red Pill partners sooner than they would have liked, reinforcing a dynamic where the men could exert greater control over daily interactions.
Another significant finding involved the concept of “coaxing,” where Red Pill partners used psychological tactics to manipulate their partners’ emotions and decisions. This included strategies like “dread game,” where Red Pill men would subtly threaten abandonment to encourage compliance. In these situations, the women were left feeling anxious and eager to placate their partners to avoid conflict.
This emotional manipulation took various forms, from guilt-tripping over minor issues to intentionally provoking the women to get a desired reaction. For instance, one partner might leave messes for his girlfriend to clean up, establishing her as responsible for the domestic work, or use passive-aggressive comments to make her feel guilty about not meeting his standards.
The study also uncovered how these men were preoccupied with their outward appearance and social status, aiming to portray themselves as successful, powerful, and attractive “alpha” males. This image management was a recurring theme, with Red Pill men often fixating on displaying their physical fitness, material success, or intellectual superiority.
Several women recounted their partners’ habit of showcasing their career achievements or flaunting their wealth to appear desirable. This emphasis on a powerful public image seemed driven by a belief that it would make them more attractive and worthy of admiration, aligning with the narcissistic component of the Dark Triad. However, the participants noted that this polished image was often a facade, hiding behaviors that contradicted their carefully crafted personas.
Interestingly, the findings indicated that Red Pill men often used the internet, specifically Red Pill communities, to reinforce and develop their behaviors. The study participants reported instances where their partners openly consumed Red Pill content, which would directly influence their attitudes and actions within the relationship. Some partners openly watched Red Pill videos or read forums as a form of validation, sometimes even encouraging their girlfriends to explore the same content to “understand” their perspective.
The study highlighted that, even outside the relationship, Red Pill men’s interactions with the online community often reflected Dark Triad traits. Some participants described their partners as fixated on engaging with Red Pill content online, sometimes to the detriment of their real-world relationships. For instance, one woman recalled how her partner would spend excessive time on social media or gaming platforms, seemingly prioritizing his online persona over their shared time.
The study’s findings suggest that Red Pill beliefs and behaviors create a social dynamic within relationships that often leads to manipulative and callous interactions. For some men, Red Pill teachings may amplify pre-existing tendencies towards the Dark Triad; for others, Red Pill communities might serve as an environment that nurtures these behaviors, encouraging men to see them as virtuous or desirable.
However, the study did have limitations. Given its small sample size of six women and reliance on self-reported experiences, the findings may not represent the full range of experiences in relationships with Red Pill men. Also, as participants were recruited from a community critical of the Red Pill, there may have been some bias in how they viewed and interpreted their experiences. Future research could build on these findings by collecting data from larger samples and possibly including perspectives from men within the Red Pill community.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12557) ‘An Alpha Wouldn’t Spare an Emotion on a Woman’: A directed qualitative analysis of dark triad outcomes in women’s relationships with Red Pill men,” was authored by Ian Zapcic.

(https://www.psypost.org/interdependent-well-being-in-couples-evidence-from-american-and-japanese-spouses/) Interdependent well-being in couples: evidence from American and Japanese spouses
Nov 14th 2024, 12:00

A recent study in (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01461672241285180) Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin examined how married couples in both the United States and Japan influence each other’s well-being over time. The researchers found that spouses’ levels of well-being are positively associated with one another, with both American and Japanese couples displaying what the authors call “spousal interdependencies.” These interdependencies appear to be shaped by two key factors: the mutual influence between partners and the shared environments they inhabit.
Previous research has shown that well-being in couples is often interdependent. For example, a study conducted by Ulrich Orth and his colleagues found that that spouses’ happiness, life satisfaction, and emotional states influence each other significantly over time, with this interdependence driven by mutual influence and shared environmental factors.
Mutual influence reflects how one partner’s well-being directly affects the other’s over time. For instance, a positive change in one spouse’s happiness can lead to a similar boost in the other spouse’s mood. Shared environmental factors, on the other hand, include the life circumstances both partners experience together—such as financial situations, household responsibilities, or shared social circles—which shape their well-being similarly and in parallel ways.
The authors of the new study, led by Ryosuke Asano, wanted to broaden the existing research to include Japanese couples, exploring whether cultural differences might shape how couples affect each other’s happiness and life satisfaction. By doing so, they aimed to not only replicate findings from past studies but also to determine if these patterns held up across a different societal and cultural context.
“I have been interested in close relationships and well-being throughout my career,” said Asano, an associate professor at Kurume University. “When I read (https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000400) Orth et al.’s paper (2018, Developmental Psychology), I thought that it would be worthwhile to elaborate it in more depth. In particular, I wanted to generalize their theories to the Japanese population.”
To conduct their study, the researchers gathered a large sample of American and Japanese couples. The American sample consisted of 3,012 couples aged 26 to 96, while the Japanese sample included 2,307 couples between the ages of 24 and 76. The study involved a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys, meaning they collected data from participants at several points over time to observe how well-being shifted within each relationship.
Both the American and Japanese participants completed measures assessing various aspects of well-being, such as life satisfaction, positive and negative emotions, and symptoms of depression. These metrics allowed the researchers to capture a comprehensive view of well-being across a wide age range and to explore how partners’ experiences might impact each other.
To analyze the data, the researchers used a statistical method that allowed them to separate mutual influence and shared environmental factors. Using models that traced these influences over time, the researchers could see how couples’ well-being aligned and what might explain those patterns.
The study confirmed that well-being among married couples is interconnected, both in the United States and Japan, suggesting that spousal well-being is inherently interdependent across different cultural contexts. For both American and Japanese couples, when one spouse reported higher levels of life satisfaction or positive emotional states, the other spouse tended to reflect similar levels over time.
This pattern supports the idea that marriage forms an environment where partners’ happiness and emotional well-being become intertwined, regardless of cultural differences. The study’s findings demonstrate that this interdependence operates through two main mechanisms: mutual influence and shared environmental factors.
“We found that the interdependent nature of well-being is common for American and Japanese spouses,” Asano told PsyPost. “In particular, estimates for spousal interdependencies in well-being and two different sources of these interdependencies (i.e., mutual influence and shared environmental influences) are of very similar magnitude for Americans and Japanese.”
While this study sheds valuable light on the ways that married couples’ well-being is interconnected, it also has some limitations. For one, although the American sample was representative of the national population, the Japanese sample was drawn from a convenience sample, which might limit the generalizability of these findings. Additionally, self-reported well-being measures may be subject to biases, such as current mood or a desire to present oneself positively. Future research could benefit from including more diverse samples from other cultures and using different methods, such as partner observations, to measure well-being more objectively.
“My long-term goal for this study is to understand how close relationships affect well-being,” Asano said. “To this end, we seek to collect longitudinal couple data with a nationally representative design in Japan, as in North America and European countries.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672241285180) The Interdependent Nature of Well-Being: Evidence From American and Japanese Spouses,” was authored by Ryosuke Asano, Yuji Kanemasa, Kentaro Komura, and Kenichi Ito.

(https://www.psypost.org/economic-development-strengthens-gender-stereotypes-on-career-and-family-study-finds/) Economic development strengthens gender stereotypes on career and family, study finds
Nov 14th 2024, 10:00

In a new study published in (https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672241286084) Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, researchers found that gender stereotypes associating men with career and women with family are more pronounced in economically developed countries, potentially explaining the gender equality paradox.
This research aimed to address a phenomenon known as the “(https://www.psypost.org/new-study-challenges-the-gender-equality-paradox/) gender equality paradox”, which highlights that in more developed countries—where gender equality in education, work, and rights is generally higher—gendered preferences and stereotypes (https://www.psypost.org/gender-equality-paradox-in-academic-strengths-persists-across-countries-and-time/) persist. These stereotypes often lead to differentiated roles, with men perceived as better suited for careers and women for family roles.
Clotilde Napp sought to explore why these stereotypes endure and even strengthen in societies with greater gender parity in other domains, hypothesizing that social role theory could explain this persistence by linking observable social roles to internalized stereotypes.
Building on past work showing that societal beliefs influence gendered choices, the researcher was motivated by the observation that, as economic and social opportunities expand, men and women often gravitate toward stereotypical gender roles in professional and family life, raising questions about the role of cultural and societal norms in shaping these decisions.
Napp utilized data from Project Implicit, which collects information on implicit biases across a broad demographic. This dataset included responses from 1.5 million individuals spanning 111 countries, making it one of the most extensive cross-cultural assessments of gender stereotypes. The study employed the Implicit Association Test (IAT), a psychological tool designed to measure the strength of automatic associations in memory—in this case, between male names and career-related words and between female names and family-related words.
Participants were presented with words one by one and were asked to categorize them as quickly as possible according to gender and domain (career or family), with response times used to infer the strength of their implicit associations. Shorter response times in aligning male names with career-related words and female names with family-related words indicated stronger gendered stereotypes.
Participants also completed questionnaires asking them to rate how strongly they associated men and women with career and family roles on a 7-point Likert scale. These data were collected over 15 years, from 2005 to 2020, to observe trends and consistency over time.
The results of the study revealed a counterintuitive pattern: gender stereotypes were more pronounced in economically developed countries, contrary to the expectation that social progress and economic advancement would reduce such biases. Specifically, higher GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and HDI (Human Development Index) scores predicted stronger implicit associations of men with careers and women with family roles.
Interestingly, the stereotype was robust across both male and female participants, though male participants showed particularly strong explicit stereotypes associating family roles with women. This pattern was also consistent when controlling for demographic factors like age, education level, and the number of times a participant had taken the IAT.
Further analysis revealed that in more economically advanced countries, gender differences in personal values, personality traits, and occupational preferences were also more pronounced. Women in these countries expressed greater preference for communal and family-oriented values, while men reported higher career-oriented values.
This study suggests that the persistence of stereotypical gender associations in wealthier countries may contribute to the gender equality paradox, where increased societal freedom allows individuals to make career and family choices that align with more deeply ingrained stereotypes.
One limitation is the study’s reliance on cross-sectional data, which cannot establish causation. Longitudinal data may provide better understanding of how stereotypes and economic factors influence each other over time.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672241286084) Gender Stereotypes About Career and Family Are Stronger in More Economically Developed Countries and Can Explain the Gender Equality Paradox”, was authored by Clotilde Napp.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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