Rates of depression are higher in countries with higher per capita incomes. 121 million people worldwide have depression. Severe depression can lead to suicide and causes 850,000 deaths every year. The United Sates and France had the highest … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude
Mental Attitude: A Happy Marriage
People in happy marriages live less "in sickness" and enjoy more of life "in health." Couples in positive marital relationships sustain health over the long run. Those with higher marital conflict are more likely to report poor health. The … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Optimism and Stress
A six-year study of 135 older adults (>60 years old) found that pessimistic people have a higher baseline level of stress and have a more difficult time handling stress than their more optimistic peers. Health Psychology, May 2013 … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: The First Three Years and Aggression
Children who witnessed domestic violence before age three were more likely to show aggression when they reached grade school, even if they were removed from their home and witnessed no domestic violence in the interim. According to Dr. Megan Holmes, … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Ease Anxiety
Volunteers with normal levels of anxiety and no previous meditation experience or anxiety disorders participated in four 20-minute classes to learn "mindfulness" meditation. In this form of meditation, people were taught to focus on breath and body … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Suicide Rates Rise!
Suicide rates among middle-aged (35-65) Americans have risen 28% in the past 10 years with the largest increase among people in their 50s at nearly 50%. Suicide deaths have become more common than deaths from car crashes. In 2010, there were 33,687 … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Depression and Dementia
Those with late-life depression are 1.85 times more likely to develop all-cause dementia, 1.65 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, and 2.52 times more likely to develop vascular dementia. The phrase "all-cause dementia" refers to all … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Stress and Problem Solving
People under high levels of chronic stress appear to have impaired problem-solving skills. In a study setting, they solved 50% fewer problems than their non-stressed peers. PLOS ONE, May 2013 … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Depression and Stroke Risk in Middle-Aged Women.
A 12-year study of over 10,000 middle-aged Australian women found that those who suffered from depression had nearly double the risk of stroke compared to non-depressed women in their same age group. The American Heart Association encourages everyone … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Dementia Cost!
Caring for people with dementia costs $157 billion a year in the United States (US) -- higher than the costs of treating heart disease ($102 billion) and cancer ($77 billion). 75-84% of dementia costs are for nursing home care and care at home. 14.7% … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Happily Married?
A recent study concludes that young and happily married newlyweds are more likely to gain weight than their young and unhappily married counterparts. For each unit increase in satisfaction, on average, males and females both gained one tenth of a BMI … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Teenaged Smoking, Depression, and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a costly health problem. Although it is primarily evident in postmenopausal women, its roots can be traced to periods of growth, including adolescence. A recent study showed that smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls had … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Negativity Online
Simply reading angry rants online can cause a negative mood shift within five minutes of doing so, even if you find them entertaining, interesting, or funny. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, March 2013 … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude: Cognitive Function and Exercise
Regular exercise as a child can result in improved cognitive function at age 50. Exercise represents a key component of lifestyle interventions to prevent cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Even low levels of exercise … [Read more...]