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<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News</span></td>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/paternal-psychological-strengths-linked-to-lower-maternal-inflammation-in-married-couples/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Paternal psychological strengths linked to lower maternal inflammation in married couples</a>
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<p><p>A new study published in <em><a href="https://journals.lww.com/bsam/abstract/9900/parental_resilience_resources_and_gestational.72.aspx" target="_blank">Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine</a></em> suggests that a father’s psychological resilience may play a significant role in the biological health of his pregnant partner and the duration of her pregnancy. The research indicates that for married couples, a father’s internal strengths are linked to lower systemic inflammation in the mother, which in turn predicts a longer gestational length.</p>
<p>Premature birth and low birth weight are significant public health concerns that can lead to long-term developmental challenges for children. Infants born too early or too small face increased risks for health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, and difficulties with emotional regulation later in life. </p>
<p>Medical professionals understand that high levels of inflammation in a mother’s body during pregnancy can increase the risk of these adverse birth outcomes. While biological changes are normal during gestation, excessive inflammation can disrupt the delicate environment required for fetal development.</p>
<p>Past scientific inquiries have largely focused on identifying risk factors, such as socioeconomic disadvantage and chronic stress, that drive this inflammation. Less attention has been paid to positive psychological factors that might act as a buffer against these risks. </p>
<p>The concept of “resilience resources” refers to a safety net of psychological strengths that allow individuals to adapt successfully in the face of challenges. These resources typically include optimism, self-esteem, a sense of mastery over one’s life, and social support.</p>
<p>The current study sought to determine if these resilience resources could protect against inflammation during pregnancy. Most prior work in this area has focused solely on the pregnant mother. This leaves a gap in understanding how a father’s psychological state might influence the pregnancy’s progression. </p>
<p>“We’ve known for quite some time that adverse birth outcomes, like preterm delivery, can have long-term consequences for the health of the child. We have also learnt about psychological and biological factors in pregnant people, like stress and excess inflammation, which can raise the risk for outcomes like preterm delivery,” said study author Kavya Swaminathan, a doctoral student at UC Merced. </p>
<p>“However, we found that relatively little was known about whether psychological factors, social support, optimism, self-esteem, and mastery (i.e., resilience resources) could offer protective benefits. Relatedly, we recognized that there was limited research examining the role of both parents in protecting against adverse birth outcomes. To fill all these gaps in the literature, we decided to test whether resilience resources in the parents predicted lower inflammation in the mother and thus lower the risk for preterm delivery.”</p>
<p>The research team analyzed data from the Community Child Health Network. This was a large, prospective study focusing on families from diverse backgrounds across five sites in the United States. The sites included Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Lake County in Illinois, and rural eastern North Carolina. The study specifically recruited families from communities with high proportions of residents living at or below the federal poverty line.</p>
<p>The researchers focused on a final sample of 217 couples who provided data during a subsequent pregnancy following the birth of an initial child. The participants included mothers and fathers who identified as Black, Hispanic, and White. The team assessed resilience resources using four validated psychological surveys.</p>
<p>Dispositional optimism was measured using the Life Orientation Test, which asks individuals about their expectations for the future. Self-esteem was evaluated using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to gauge feelings of self-worth. Mastery, or the sense of control over one’s life, was assessed with a scale asking participants if they felt they could achieve their goals. Finally, perceived social support was measured by asking participants if they had people available to help them if needed.</p>
<p>To measure physiological inflammation, the team collected biological samples from the mothers. They utilized dried blood spots taken from a finger prick during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. These samples were analyzed for C-Reactive Protein. This protein is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. High levels of this protein are often used as a marker for systemic inflammation in the body.</p>
<p>The researchers utilized a statistical method known as structural equation modeling to analyze the relationships between these variables. They combined the four psychological measures into a single “resilience resource” factor for each parent. They then tested whether these factors predicted the mother’s levels of C-Reactive Protein and, subsequently, the baby’s birth weight and gestational age.</p>
<p>The data revealed a specific pathway of influence originating from the fathers. Higher levels of resilience resources in fathers were associated with lower levels of C-Reactive Protein in mothers during pregnancy. In turn, lower levels of this inflammatory marker predicted a longer gestational length. This suggests that a father’s psychological stability may dampen biological stress responses in his partner.</p>
<p>This chain of associations was not uniform across all participants in the study. The link between paternal resilience, maternal inflammation, and pregnancy length was statistically significant only among married couples. It was not observed in couples who were cohabiting but unmarried. The effect was also absent in parents who were neither married nor living together.</p>
<p>“Our findings essentially suggest that in married couples, a father’s psychological strengths, his resilience, are not only relevant to his well-being, but can also impact the health of his pregnant partner and unborn child,” Swaminathan told PsyPost. “Thus, as we try to support the pregnant people in our lives, it might also be useful to try to bolster resilience in the father, who can, in turn, help buffer adverse health outcomes in his partner.”</p>
<p>The researchers did not find evidence that the mother’s own resilience resources directly lowered her inflammation or influenced birth outcomes in this specific statistical model. While maternal and paternal resilience scores were correlated—meaning resilient mothers tended to have resilient partners—the direct benefit to gestational length appeared to flow through the father’s influence on maternal inflammation. Additionally, the study did not find a significant link between these factors and infant birth weight, only gestational length.</p>
<p>“At the outset, we were interested in the protective effects of both parents’ resilience resources on adverse birth outcomes,” Swaminathan said. “We were surprised to find that although paternal resilience resources seemed to matter for inflammation, and thereby, gestational length, maternal resources did not. This, to us, suggested that perhaps maternal resources offer protection in different ways that we did not test in this study.” </p>
<p>The researchers propose several theoretical reasons for these observations. Committed relationships often involve a process called coregulation. This occurs when partners’ physiological and emotional states become linked to one another. A resilient father may be better equipped to provide tangible support, such as assisting with daily tasks or encouraging adherence to medical advice. This support can reduce the mother’s overall stress load.</p>
<p>Reduced stress typically results in a calmer immune system and lower production of inflammatory proteins. The “self-expansion theory” of love also offers a potential explanation. This theory suggests that in close relationships, individuals include their partner’s resources and identity into their own sense of self. A mother may psychologically benefit from her partner’s optimism and sense of mastery, effectively “borrowing” his resilience to buffer her own stress response.</p>
<p>The specificity of the finding to married couples warrants further consideration. Marriage often implies a higher level of long-term commitment and possibly greater time spent together compared to other relationship structures. This increased proximity and commitment might facilitate stronger coregulation and more consistent resource sharing. Married fathers in this sample also reported higher average levels of resilience resources than unmarried fathers, which could contribute to the stronger effect.</p>
<p>The study has certain limitations that affect how the results should be interpreted. The research design was observational rather than experimental. This means it cannot definitively prove that the father’s resilience caused the changes in the mother’s biology. It is possible that other unmeasured variables influenced the results.</p>
<p>Future research is needed to understand why the protective effect was specific to married couples in this dataset. Scientists should investigate whether the quality of the relationship or the amount of time spent together explains the difference. It would also be beneficial to examine other biological markers beyond inflammation. Cortisol, a stress hormone, might be another pathway through which resilience influences pregnancy.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0000000000001445" target="_blank">Parental resilience resources and gestational length: A test of prenatal maternal inflammatory mediation</a>,” was authored by Kavya Swaminathan, Christine Guardino, Haiyan Liu, Christine Dunkel Schetter, and Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/authoritarian-leadership-linked-to-higher-innovation-in-family-owned-companies/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Authoritarian leadership linked to higher innovation in family-owned companies</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Dec 14th 2025, 18:00</div>
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<p><p>Top-down, commanding leadership is frequently viewed with skepticism in the modern business world. Management experts typically champion collaborative environments where employees feel free to share ideas without fear of retribution. A new study challenges the universality of this view. The findings suggest that in family-owned businesses, a strict, authoritarian leadership style can actually boost innovation.</p>
<p>This positive effect is particularly strong when family members feel a deep emotional connection to the company and when the business operates in an emerging economy. The research was published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2025.2533189" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Small Business Management</a>.</em></p>
<p>Family businesses face a unique set of challenges compared to their non-family counterparts. They must balance professional goals with personal relationships. Previous research into how these firms innovate has produced conflicting results. Some observers argue that family firms are too conservative and risk-averse to innovate effectively. Others contend that their long-term focus allows them to be more efficient with resources.</p>
<p>Chelsea Sherlock from Mississippi State University led the research team. Her co-authors included David R. Marshall, Clay Dibrell, and Eric Clinton. The team sought to resolve existing debates by looking at leadership styles. They specifically examined authoritarian leadership. This style is characterized by a leader who exerts absolute control over decisions and demands unquestioning obedience from subordinates.</p>
<p>In a general corporate setting, such heavy-handed management often crushes creativity. Employees may feel stifled or resentful. Sherlock and her colleagues proposed that family firms operate under a different psychological contract. In these organizations, the leader is often a matriarch or patriarch. Their authority is derived not just from a job title but from their position within the family unit.</p>
<p>The researchers hypothesized that this unique context changes how leadership impacts innovation. Innovation requires the rapid mobilization of resources. It often demands quick, decisive action. An authoritarian leader can cut through bureaucratic red tape. They can allocate funds and personnel without engaging in lengthy debates. The team believed this efficiency could drive new product development and service improvements.</p>
<p>To test this theory, the researchers utilized data from the Successful Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Project (STEP). This is a global survey of family business leaders. The final sample included 1,267 family firms from 56 different countries. The businesses were small to medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees. The study covered a diverse range of nations, separating them into emerging economies and advanced economies.</p>
<p>The survey asked CEOs to rate their firm’s innovativeness. Questions focused on their emphasis on research and development and their history of introducing new product lines. They also rated the level of authoritarian leadership within the firm. These questions assessed how much the leader retained decision-making authority and expected strict compliance.</p>
<p>A third key variable was emotional attachment. The researchers measured how strongly family members identified with the business. This concept reflects a sense of psychological ownership. In firms with high emotional attachment, the business is not just a source of income. It is a central part of the family’s identity and legacy.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed a positive relationship between authoritarian leadership and firm innovativeness. Contrary to popular management theories that favor flat hierarchies, the data showed that strict family leaders often drove their companies to be more innovative. The researchers suggest this is because authoritarian leaders in family firms are deeply committed to the business’s survival. They possess the power to force the organization to adapt and evolve.</p>
<p>This relationship was not uniform across all companies. The study found that emotional attachment played a vital moderating role. The positive effect of authoritarian leadership was significantly stronger in firms where the family felt a deep emotional bond.</p>
<p>When family members are emotionally invested, they are more likely to trust the leader’s intentions. They view the leader’s strict commands as necessary for protecting the family legacy. This trust reduces resistance. Family employees interpret top-down directives as focused decision-making rather than oppression. This alignment allows the firm to move quickly and cohesively toward innovative goals.</p>
<p>Conversely, in firms where emotional attachment was low, the benefits of authoritarian leadership were less apparent. Without that emotional buffer, strict control is more likely to breed resentment. If the family does not care deeply about the business, they may view an authoritarian leader as a tyrant rather than a guardian. This friction can stall progress and hinder the creative process.</p>
<p>The researchers also investigated how the economic environment influenced these dynamics. They distinguished between advanced economies, such as Germany and the United States, and emerging economies, such as Brazil and China. Emerging economies often lack robust institutional support structures. In these environments, the rule of law may be weaker, and resources may be scarcer.</p>
<p>The study found a specific “three-way interaction” between leadership, emotion, and economy. The combination of authoritarian leadership and high emotional attachment was most effective for innovation in emerging economies. In these unpredictable markets, a strong hand at the helm is often necessary to navigate external chaos.</p>
<p>In an emerging economy, a family firm cannot always rely on external institutions for stability. They must rely on themselves. A strict leader provides direction. When that leadership is backed by a family united by strong emotional ties, the firm becomes a resilient, innovative unit. The family accepts the hierarchy because it ensures their collective survival and prosperity.</p>
<p>The results were different for firms in advanced economies with low emotional attachment. In countries with stable markets and strong institutions, the need for a “strongman” leader is less pronounced. If a family in an advanced economy lacks an emotional connection to the business, an authoritarian leader may actually hurt innovation. The rigidity of the leadership style conflicts with the cultural norms of autonomy common in these regions.</p>
<p>These findings suggest that there is no “one size fits all” approach to leading a family business. The effectiveness of a leadership style depends heavily on the internal culture of the family and the external economic reality. What works for a tight-knit family business in an emerging market might fail for a disconnected family firm in a developed nation.</p>
<p>Sherlock and her team noted several caveats to their work. The study relied on cross-sectional data. This means it captured a snapshot of these firms at a single point in time. It is impossible to definitively prove that authoritarian leadership caused the innovation. It is possible that innovative firms simply tend to adopt stricter leadership structures to manage their growth.</p>
<p>Additionally, the data relied on self-reports from CEOs. While this is common in management research, it introduces the possibility of bias. Leaders may perceive themselves or their firms more favorably than an objective observer would. The study also focused on small and medium-sized firms. The dynamics in massive, publicly traded family conglomerates could be entirely different.</p>
<p>The authors recommend that future research look at these relationships over time. A longitudinal study could track how changes in leadership style affect innovation rates in subsequent years. They also suggest exploring other leadership styles, such as servant leadership or participative leadership, to see how they interact with family dynamics.</p>
<p>This research offers a practical message for family business owners. It indicates that consolidating power is not inherently bad for business growth. However, this authority must be exercised in a way that resonates with the family. Leaders who wish to drive innovation through strict control must ensure they also cultivate the family’s emotional bond to the firm. Without that emotional buy-in, the strategy is likely to fail.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2025.2533189" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The bright side of authoritarian leadership in family firms: An emotional attachment perspective on innovativeness</a>,” was authored by Chelsea Sherlock, David R. Marshall, Clay Dibrell, and Eric Clinton.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/sexual-difficulties-in-eating-disorders-may-stem-from-different-causes-in-men-and-women/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Sexual difficulties in eating disorders may stem from different causes in men and women</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Dec 14th 2025, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>The underlying causes of sexual difficulties may differ between men and women who experience symptoms of eating disorders, according to new research. While depression appears to be the primary driver of sexual challenges among women with these symptoms, eating disorder behaviors themselves play a more direct role for men. These findings were published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2025.2553850" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Journal of Sexual Health</a></em>.</p>
<p>Sexual functioning is a fundamental aspect of human health and quality of life. It encompasses desire, arousal, and the ability to achieve orgasm. Problems in these areas can lead to lower psychological well-being and relationship dissatisfaction.</p>
<p>Previous research has established a clear link between eating disorders and sexual dysfunction. Individuals struggling with disordered eating often report higher rates of sexual dissatisfaction and physiological difficulties. This connection makes intuitive sense given that eating disorders involve severe disturbances in body image and physical health.</p>
<p>Hormonal imbalances caused by malnutrition can physically impede sexual response. Simultaneously, psychological factors such as body shame and anxiety about appearance can create mental barriers to intimacy. However, the exact nature of this relationship remains a subject of scientific inquiry.</p>
<p>A complicating factor is the presence of other mental health conditions. Anxiety and depression are highly common among people with eating disorders. These conditions are also well-known causes of sexual dysfunction on their own.</p>
<p>It has been difficult for researchers to determine if sexual problems are caused specifically by the eating disorder or by co-occurring depression and anxiety. Additionally, the vast majority of research on this topic has focused on women. There is a lack of data regarding how these dynamics play out in men.</p>
<p>To address these gaps, a team of researchers led by Maegan B. Nation undertook a comprehensive investigation. Nation is affiliated with the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The team aimed to disentangle the effects of eating pathology from the effects of general distress.</p>
<p>The researchers sought to understand if eating disorder symptoms predict sexual problems when the influence of anxiety and depression is mathematically removed. They also aimed to compare these patterns across genders. This approach allows for a more precise understanding of which symptoms should be targeted in treatment.</p>
<p>The study recruited a large sample of undergraduate students from two public universities in the United States. The final analysis included 1,488 cisgender women and 646 cisgender men. Cisgender refers to individuals whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.</p>
<p>Participants completed a series of online questionnaires. To assess eating disorder symptoms, the researchers used the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. This tool measures behaviors such as dietary restraint and concerns regarding body shape and weight.</p>
<p>To evaluate sexual health, the team utilized the Medical Outcomes Study Sexual Functioning Scale. This measure asks participants to rate the severity of various problems. These issues include a lack of sexual interest, difficulty becoming aroused, inability to relax during sex, and difficulty reaching orgasm.</p>
<p>The researchers also administered a standard assessment for anxiety and depression. This allowed them to control for these variables in their statistical models. By doing so, they could isolate the unique contribution of eating disorder symptoms to sexual functioning.</p>
<p>The results revealed distinct patterns for men and women. Among the female participants, sexual functioning problems were quite common. Approximately 73 percent of women reported some level of difficulty.</p>
<p>The most frequent complaints among women were difficulty reaching orgasm and an inability to relax and enjoy sex. When the researchers ran their statistical models, they found an association between eating disorder symptoms and sexual problems.</p>
<p>However, once the researchers adjusted for anxiety and depression, the picture changed. For women, the direct link between eating disorder symptoms and sexual dysfunction became very weak. The effect sizes were small enough that they might not be clinically meaningful.</p>
<p>Instead, depression symptoms emerged as the stronger predictor of sexual difficulties in women. This suggests that the sexual problems often seen in women with disordered eating may actually be a byproduct of depressive symptoms. The eating disorder itself may not be the primary culprit for the sexual dysfunction.</p>
<p>The findings for men told a different story. About half of the male participants reported sexual functioning problems. The most common issues for men were a lack of sexual interest and an inability to relax.</p>
<p>For men, eating disorder symptoms continued to predict sexual dysfunction even after controlling for anxiety and depression. While the effect was small, it remained statistically relevant. This implies that for men, there is a unique pathway between disordered eating and sexual health that is independent of general mood.</p>
<p>The authors propose several explanations for this gender disparity. One possibility involves the drive for muscularity. Men with body image issues often strive for a hyper-muscular physique rather than thinness.</p>
<p>This specific drive might influence sexual self-esteem and functioning in ways that differ from the drive for thinness typically seen in women. It is also possible that men experience unique sociocultural pressures regarding sexual performance and body image. These pressures could interact with eating pathology to disrupt sexual function.</p>
<p>The results for women align with existing theories about the heavy impact of depression on libido and arousal. It reinforces the idea that treating depression could alleviate sexual side effects in women with eating disorders.</p>
<p>For men, the results suggest that clinicians should look specifically at eating behaviors and body image cognitions. Addressing depression alone might not fully resolve sexual issues for male patients.</p>
<p>The study also examined sexual attraction as a variable. The researchers found that sexual orientation was linked to different levels of functioning. Men who reported attraction to the same gender or multiple genders reported higher levels of sexual problems compared to heterosexual men.</p>
<p>Conversely, women who were exclusively attracted to women reported fewer sexual functioning problems than those attracted to men. This adds nuance to the understanding of how sexual orientation interacts with sexual health.</p>
<p>There are limitations to this study that warrant consideration. The sample consisted of undergraduate students rather than a clinical population. People with diagnosed, severe eating disorders might show different patterns.</p>
<p>The study was also cross-sectional. This means the data represents a single snapshot in time. Researchers cannot definitively say that one factor causes another, only that they are related.</p>
<p>It is possible that the relationship is bidirectional. Sexual problems could contribute to body dissatisfaction, or vice versa. Longitudinal research, which follows participants over time, would be needed to establish causality.</p>
<p>The researchers also noted that the study focused on cisgender individuals. The experiences of transgender and gender-diverse individuals were not analyzed due to sample size constraints. Given that gender-diverse people often face higher rates of eating disorders, this is an area for future investigation.</p>
<p>Despite these limitations, the study offers new insights. It challenges the assumption that the relationship between eating disorders and sex is the same for everyone. It highlights the importance of considering gender when assessing and treating these co-occurring issues.</p>
<p>Maegan Nation and her colleagues suggest that screening for sexual functioning problems should be a routine part of mental health care. For women, this might involve a closer look at depressive symptoms. For men, it might require a specific focus on body image and eating behaviors.</p>
<p>Future research should aim to replicate these findings in clinical settings. Studies involving older adults or community samples would also be beneficial. Understanding the mechanisms behind these associations could lead to more effective interventions.</p>
<p>This research underscores the complexity of human sexuality and its relationship to mental health. It serves as a reminder that broad assumptions often fail to capture individual experiences. By breaking down these associations by gender and accounting for mood disorders, scientists can develop more targeted treatments.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2025.2553850" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sexual Functioning and Eating Disorder Symptoms: Examining the Role of Gender and Internalizing Symptoms in an Undergraduate Population</a>,” was authored by Maegan B. Nation, Shane W. Kraus, Melanie Garcia, Nicholas C. Borgogna, and Kara A. Christensen Pacella.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/analysis-of-20-million-posts-reveals-how-basic-psychological-needs-drive-activity-in-extremist-chatrooms/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Analysis of 20 million posts reveals how basic psychological needs drive activity in extremist chatrooms</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Dec 14th 2025, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>A recent study suggests that participation in online extremist communities may be driven by the search for basic human psychological needs. This research, published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506251389642" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Social Psychological and Personality Science</a></em>, found that users whose posts reflected a sense of agency and capability were more active and stayed in these groups for longer periods. The findings provide evidence that extremist environments might serve as a space where individuals attempt to satisfy fundamental desires for personal growth and social connection.</p>
<p>The rise of far-right extremist movements has led to an increase in religious and ethnic violence across the globe. Researchers have noted that these ideologies are often spread through social media and private chatrooms that allow for easy communication and organization. Despite years of study, the exact reasons why individuals are drawn to these digital spaces remain only partially understood.</p>
<p>Jeremy J. J. Rappel and his colleagues at McGill University conducted this research to see if established theories of human motivation could explain extremist behavior. They focused on basic psychological needs theory, which is a well-supported framework in psychology. This theory suggests that all humans have three primary needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.</p>
<p>Autonomy refers to the need to feel that one’s actions and thoughts are authentic and self-chosen. Competence is the desire to feel capable and effective in achieving goals or performing tasks. Relatedness is the need to feel a sense of belonging and to have meaningful connections with other people.</p>
<p>The researchers proposed that extremist groups might appeal to people because they offer a way to satisfy these needs. A person who feels powerless or lonely in their daily life might turn to a digital community that promises a sense of empowerment or camaraderie. While these groups are often outside of social norms, the psychological drive to join them might be the same drive that leads others to join sports teams or civic organizations.</p>
<p>To test these ideas, the research team analyzed a massive dataset of leaked conversations from the messaging platform Discord. The data came from a public database of over 200 extremist chatrooms that included fascists, white supremacists, and conspiracy theorists. The final sample was immense, consisting of approximately 20 million posts written by more than 86,000 individual users.</p>
<p>Because the data was so large, the researchers used a specialized computer technique called natural language processing. This allowed them to analyze the meaning of millions of posts without having to read each one manually. They used a tool known as the Universal Sentence Encoder, which converts text into numerical scores representing its semantic meaning.</p>
<p>The team compared the posts made by Discord users to standardized survey questions used by psychologists to measure autonomy, competence, and relatedness. If a user’s posts were mathematically similar to the language of those survey questions, the user received a higher score for that specific need. This method allowed the researchers to estimate the psychological state of each user based on their natural speech patterns.</p>
<p>The researchers also included a control measure to ensure their results were accurate. They compared the user posts to a survey about food neophobia, which is the fear of trying new foods. Since a fear of new foods has nothing to do with extremism, this helped the team account for general patterns in how people use language. This step ensured that the findings were truly about psychological needs rather than just the way people structure their sentences.</p>
<p>To make the study more reliable, the team split their data into two halves. They used the first half to explore their ideas and the second half to confirm that their findings were consistent. This approach helps prevent scientists from finding patterns in data that only appear by chance.</p>
<p>The results showed a clear link between psychological needs and how people behave in these chatrooms. Users whose language reflected high levels of autonomy and competence tended to be much more engaged. They made more posts overall and remained active in the chatrooms for a longer number of days.</p>
<p>Competence was the strongest predictor of how many posts a person would make. This suggests that people who feel effective or capable in these spaces are more likely to contribute to the conversation. Autonomy also played a significant role, as users who felt a sense of agency were more likely to stay involved with the group over time.</p>
<p>A different pattern was observed for the need for relatedness. While there was some evidence that social connection was linked to activity, the results were less consistent than those for autonomy and competence. In some models, relatedness was actually linked to fewer posts, which was a surprising outcome.</p>
<p>The researchers also looked at the use of hate terms as a measure of extremist signaling. They found that users who expressed more autonomy and competence used fewer hate terms in their posts. This suggests that people who feel more personally secure and capable may have less of a need to use aggressive language against others.</p>
<p>On the other hand, a higher need for relatedness was linked to a greater use of hate terms. The researchers suggest that this might be because new members use extreme language to gain acceptance from the group. By adopting the group’s hateful rhetoric, they may be attempting to prove their loyalty and satisfy their need for belonging.</p>
<p>These findings share similarities with a study published in 2021 in the <em>Journal of Experimental Social Psychology</em>. That <a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-psychology-research-indicates-hatred-toward-collective-entities-inspires-meaning-in-life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous research</a>, led by Abdo Elnakouri, found that expressing hatred toward large groups or institutions can give people a greater sense of meaning in life. Both studies suggest that extreme attitudes and group participation serve a psychological function for the individual.</p>
<p>The earlier study by Elnakouri found that collective hate can make people feel more energized and determined. It suggests that having a clear enemy to fight against can simplify the world and provide a sense of purpose. The McGill study builds on this by showing how these motivations play out in real world digital interactions over long periods.</p>
<p>But there are some limitations that should be considered. Since the data came from leaked chatroom logs, the researchers could not ask the users for their consent or follow up with them directly. Additionally, the computer models could not always tell if a user was expressing that a need was being met or if they were complaining that it was being frustrated.</p>
<p>The researchers noted that the analysis focused only on text and did not include images, videos, or emojis. These visual elements are common in online extremist culture and might carry additional psychological weight. Future research could look at how visual media contributes to satisfying psychological needs in these spaces.</p>
<p>The study also could not account for “lurkers,” who are people who read the messages but never post anything. It is possible that the psychological needs of these silent observers are different from those who are highly active. Understanding the motivations of this quieter group could be a helpful direction for future investigations.</p>
<p>Despite these limitations, the study provides a new way to think about how people become radicalized. It suggests that instead of focusing only on ideology, it may be helpful to look at the psychological benefits people get from these groups.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506251389642" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basic Psychological Needs Are Associated With Engagement and Hate Term Use in Extremist Chatrooms</a>,” was authored by Jeremy J. J. Rappel, David D. Vachon, and Eric Hehman.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/most-top-us-research-universities-now-encourage-generative-ai-use-in-the-classroom/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Most top US research universities now encourage generative AI use in the classroom</a>
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<p><p>An analysis of policy documents from 116 R1 U.S. universities found that 63% of these institutions encourage the use of generative AI, with 41% offering detailed guidance for its use in the classroom. More than half of the institutions discussed the ethics of generative AI use, while the majority of guidance focused on using generative AI for writing activities. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbah.2025.100121"><em>Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans</em></a>.</p>
<p>Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that creates new content such as text, images, audio, code, or video based on patterns learned from large datasets. It works by using models like neural networks to predict and generate outputs that resemble human-created content.</p>
<p>People use generative AI to write documents, summarize information, create artwork, design products, and automate routine tasks. It also supports scientific research by analyzing data, generating hypotheses, and assisting in code or experiment design. Businesses use it for customer support, marketing, prototyping, and improving productivity across many workflows.</p>
<p>In education, generative AI helps students learn by providing explanations, tutoring, and personalized feedback. In medicine, it assists with interpreting data, drafting reports, and even exploring molecular designs for new drugs. Artists and designers use it to explore creative variations and accelerate their creative process. However, generative AI also raises concerns about misinformation, copyright issues, and ethical use.</p>
<p>Study author Nora McDonald and her colleagues wanted to explore what guidance higher education institutions were providing to their constituents about the use of generative AI, what the overall sentiment was regarding its use, and how that sentiment was manifested in actual guidelines.</p>
<p>They were also interested in ethical and privacy considerations, if represented in the guidelines. These authors note that, although the use of generative AI—primarily ChatGPT—became very popular very quickly after its release, there are voices in education that remain staunchly opposed to the use of such applications.</p>
<p>The study authors collected policy documents and guidelines that were publicly available on the internet from 116 R1 institutions, utilizing the Carnegie Classification framework for classifying colleges and universities in the United States. According to this classification, R1 institutions are universities with the highest level of research activity.</p>
<p>The researchers downloaded documents that specifically dealt with generative AI, resulting in a total of 141 documents. Four researchers reviewed 20 of these documents to create a codebook (a coding system for classifying the documents according to their contents). They then used this system to categorize all the other documents.</p>
<p>Results showed that 56% of institutions provided sample syllabi for faculty that included policies on generative AI use, while 55% gave examples of statements regarding usage permissions, such as “embrace,” “limit,” or “prohibit.” Fifty percent provided activities that would help instructors integrate and leverage generative AI in their classrooms, while 44% discouraged the use of detection tools meant to catch AI-generated work. Fifty-four percent provided guidance for designing assignments in ways that discourage the use of generative AI by students, and 23% gave guidance on how to use AI detection tools.</p>
<p>Overall, 63% of universities encouraged the use of generative AI, and 41% offered detailed guidance for its use in the classroom. The majority of guidance focused on writing activities; references to code and STEM-related activities were infrequent and often vague, even when mentioned. Fifty-two percent of institutions discussed the ethics of generative AI regarding a broad range of topics.</p>
<p>“Based on our findings we caution that guidance for faculty can become burdensome as policies suggest or imply substantial revisions to existing pedagogical practices,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the stances U.S. universities take on generative AI use. However, the results of the study are based on an analysis of policy documents, not on the study of real classroom practices, which might not fully reflect the provisions specified in the policies.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbah.2025.100121">Generative artificial intelligence in higher education: Evidence from an analysis of institutional policies and guidelines,</a>” was authored by Nora McDonald, Aditya Johri, Areej Ali, and Aayushi Hingle Collier.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-study-suggests-zoom-fatigue-is-largely-gone-in-the-post-pandemic-workplace/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">New study suggests “Zoom fatigue” is largely gone in the post-pandemic workplace</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Dec 14th 2025, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the <em><a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-56461-001?doi=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Occupational Health Psychology</a></em> has found that the phenomenon popularly known as “Zoom fatigue” may have largely dissipated in the post-pandemic work environment. The findings suggest that video meetings are no longer significantly more exhausting than other types of meetings for most employees. This research challenges the narrative that virtual communication is inherently draining and indicates that workers may have adapted to the demands of remote collaboration.</p>
<p>The rapid shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a heavy reliance on video conferencing tools to maintain organizational operations. During this period, many employees reported feeling an unusual sense of exhaustion following these virtual interactions. This collective experience was quickly labeled “Zoom fatigue.” Previous empirical studies conducted during the height of the pandemic supported these anecdotal claims. They found a correlation between the frequency of video meetings and higher levels of daily fatigue among workers.</p>
<p>Various theories arose to explain why video calls might be uniquely taxing. Some researchers proposed that the cognitive load of video meetings was to blame. This theory posits that users must expend extra mental energy to monitor their own appearance on camera and to interpret non-verbal cues that are harder to read through a screen. Others suggested a theory of “passive fatigue.” This perspective argues that the lack of physical movement and the under-stimulation of sitting in front of a computer monitor lead to drowsiness and low energy.</p>
<p>However, the context of work has evolved since the early days of the pandemic. For many, video meetings are no longer a forced substitute for all human contact but rather a standard tool for business communication. The researchers behind the current study sought to determine if the exhaustion associated with video calls was a permanent feature of the technology or a temporary symptom of the pandemic era. They aimed to update the scientific understanding of virtual work by replicating a 2022 study in the current year, 2024.</p>
<p>“We conducted this study from both pure research curiosity, and a practical lens. As our first paper from the pandemic times (Nesher Shoshan & Werht, 2022) in which we identified that ‘Zoom fatigue’ exist got a lot of attention, we were interested to know if the results can be replicated in a different, post-pandemic setting, and with a stronger empirical approach (larger sample, another measurement point, a more sophisticated analysis),” said <a href="https://www.aow.psychologie.uni-mainz.de/jprof-dr-hadar-nesher-shoshan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hadar Nesher Shoshan</a>, a junior professor at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.</p>
<p>“Practically, we found out that our first study is being used to make organizational decisions. This is a large responsibility, that we wanted to make sure is updated and evidence based.”</p>
<p>To investigate this, the researchers utilized an experience sampling method. This approach allows researchers to capture data from participants in real-time as they go about their daily lives, rather than relying on retrospective surveys that can be subject to memory errors. The study was conducted in Germany in April 2024.</p>
<p>The research team recruited 125 participants who worked at least 20 hours per week and regularly attended video meetings. The participants represented various industries, including communication, service, and health sectors. Over a period of ten working days, these individuals completed short surveys at four specific times each day. This rigorous schedule resulted in a dataset covering 590 workdays and 945 distinct meetings.</p>
<p>In each survey, participants reported details about the last work meeting they had attended. They specified the medium of the meeting, such as whether it was held via video, telephone, face-to-face, or through written chat. They also rated their current levels of emotional exhaustion and “passive fatigue,” which was defined as feelings of sleepiness or lack of alertness.</p>
<p>The researchers also collected data on several potential moderating factors. They asked participants to rate their own level of active participation in the meeting, as well as the participation level of the group. They inquired about multitasking behaviors during the call. Additionally, they recorded objective characteristics of the meetings, such as the duration in minutes and the number of attendees.</p>
<p>The analysis of this extensive dataset revealed that video meetings were not related to higher levels of exhaustion compared to non-video meetings. Participants did not report feeling more drained or more drowsy after a video call than they did after a face-to-face meeting or a phone call. This finding held true even when the researchers statistically controlled for the level of exhaustion participants felt before the meeting began.</p>
<p>The researchers also examined whether working from home influenced these results. The analysis showed that the location of the worker did not moderate the relationship between video meetings and fatigue. This suggests that the environment of the home office is not a primary driver of the exhaustion previously associated with video calls.</p>
<p>“Our initial hypothesis was that zoom fatigue still existed. After all, all previous studies had come to this conclusion, so there was no reason to doubt that this result was correct,” said Nesher Shoshan. “However, we found no evidence of the phenomenon! According to our findings, online meetings are not more fatiguing than in-person meetings.”</p>
<p>Regarding the specific behaviors within meetings, the researchers found that active participation and multitasking did not significantly alter the fatigue levels associated with video meetings. Whether an individual spoke frequently or remained quiet did not change the likelihood of experiencing exhaustion. Similarly, checking emails or performing other tasks during the meeting did not appear to increase the mental load enough to cause significant fatigue.</p>
<p>The study did identify one specific factor that made a difference: the duration of the meeting. The results indicated that video meetings lasting less than 44 minutes were actually less exhausting than meetings held through other media. This suggests there is a “sweet spot” for virtual collaboration where the efficiency of the format outweighs its cognitive costs. However, once a video meeting exceeded this time frame, the advantage disappeared, and fatigue levels became comparable to other meeting types.</p>
<p>Another finding involved the role of boredom. The researchers observed that when participants rated a video meeting as boring, it was associated with slightly higher levels of exhaustion compared to boring meetings held in other formats. This lends some support to the idea that under-stimulation can be a negative factor in virtual environments, even if it does not lead to general “Zoom fatigue.”</p>
<p>The researchers propose several explanations for why their results differ from pandemic-era studies. They suggest that the “Zoom fatigue” observed in 2020 and 2021 may have been largely driven by the historical context. During the lockdowns, video meetings carried a symbolic meaning. They represented isolation, the loss of office camaraderie, and the stress of a global health crisis. In 2024, this symbolic weight has likely faded. Video calls have become a normalized part of the workday.</p>
<p>Additionally, it is plausible that workers have simply habituated to the format. Over the last few years, employees may have developed unconscious strategies to manage the cognitive demands of being on camera. They may be more comfortable with the technology and less self-conscious about their appearance on screen.</p>
<p>These findings have practical implications for organizational policy. As many companies push for return-to-office mandates, they often cite the limitations of virtual work as a justification. This study suggests that employee exhaustion is not a valid reason to discourage remote work or video meetings. Instead, the data indicates that virtual meetings can be an efficient and non-taxing way to collaborate, provided they are managed well. The results specifically point to the benefit of keeping video meetings relatively short to maximize employee well-being.</p>
<p>The study has some limitations that should be considered. The data relied on self-reports, which capture the participant’s subjective experience but do not provide objective physiological measurements of stress. The study also focused on the German workforce, and cultural attitudes toward work and technology could vary in other regions. Furthermore, the study design allows for the observation of correlations but cannot definitively prove that the change in time period caused the disappearance of Zoom fatigue.</p>
<p>Future research could benefit from incorporating objective measures of fatigue, such as heart rate variability or cortisol levels. It would also be useful to investigate the content and quality of interactions within meetings. It is possible that negative interactions, such as conflicts or misunderstandings, drive exhaustion regardless of the communication medium. Finally, researchers might explore the positive potential of video meetings, investigating how they can be designed to promote engagement and flow rather than just avoiding fatigue.</p>
<p>“We hope that the average person takes from our study the importance of critical thinking, not take older results as truth and always ask questions,” Nesher Shoshan told PsyPost. “For researchers, we want to emphasize the importance of transparency and replication. Finally, for organizations, we stand for flexible work arrangements and hybrid work that are shown to be effective in many other studies, and according to our study, do not come with a fatiguing price.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/ocp0000409" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Zoom Fatigue” Revisited: Are Video Meetings Still Exhausting Post-COVID-19?</a>,” was authored by Hadar Nesher Shoshan and Wilken Wehrt.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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