Medical Xpress

Breaking up is hard. Are there certain behaviors or communication techniques that could result in ex-partners feeling better post-break? Researchers from the University of Ottawa's Relationships and Couple Health (REACH) Lab have explored this topic and have found that when the initiator of a breakup engages in "autonomy-supportive" behaviors—which can include being honest, using non-controlling language, and taking time to acknowledge the other person during disagreements—ex-partners experienced positive emotions and subjective vitality. By showing a level of respect for the former relationship, these behaviors helped provide better closure.

A new study suggests that the weather may have an effect on how people feel. Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the research found that daily outdoor temperatures are linked to changes in mood, energy levels and sleep quality, adding to a growing body of research examining how environmental factors influence mental health.

From responding to the ping of your phone notification to reaching for a snack at the end of the day, many everyday behaviors begin as mindful choices and end up feeling almost automatic. Now a study from Johns Hopkins University, published in Nature Communications, suggests that such shifting may not always happen slowly.

While E. Josie Clowney would never suggest that neuroscience is simple, a new study by her team at the University of Michigan could drastically reduce complexity in future studies. Their work focused on instinctual behaviors in fruit flies, but it has the potential to accelerate work to better understand the neurobiology that underlies behavior and decision-making in mammals, including humans.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks islets, certain areas of the pancreas, and destroys cells that would otherwise produce insulin, a hormone crucial for regulating blood sugar levels. One emerging treatment is transplantation—replacing islets with healthy cells—but patients would have to take medication to subdue the immune system, so the body would not reject the therapy.

A recent University of Mississippi study has identified hundreds of counties in the South where HIV prevention and health care may not be keeping pace with the local needs, leaving communities without resources to address the persistent problem. The research, published in Frontiers in Public Health, offers health care and government leaders a new tool for targeting HIV-related support where the need is highest.

A new book titled "SocialsVoice" shines a light on the relationship between social media content and mental health from the perspective of Latino youth—a group that engages with social media across multiple languages and cultural perspectives. Through concrete examples, the book presents a complex portrait of their experiences online, including both the mental health risks posed by certain content and the presence of supportive, anti-stigmatizing voices.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers report the final outcomes of a pioneering pilot clinical trial using electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to improve arm and hand mobility in people with chronic stroke in Nature Medicine.

Imagine not having access to affordable, healthy food. For many Americans, it's a reality. A new study by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) shows that between 2003 and 2023, nearly five million people in the United States lived in food deserts, places with no grocery stores. Most of these deserts are in poor and rural areas and in places where people rely on public transit. At the same time, the number of food swamps or areas with mostly restaurants/fast-food locations increased nationwide.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are expected to more than double by 2060. As June marks Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, three University of Florida researchers are working to improve clinicians' ability to distinguish between these diseases—a critical step toward earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.