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  • Matt Shea

    Matt Shea is a journalist and editor based in Brisbane, Australia. He edits the Brisbane edition of Broadsheet, and has freelanced for AskMen, Qantas, Luxury Travel Magazine, ELLE Australia, Monocle, the Guardian and the Sydney Morning Herald, among many, many others. Follow and then un-follow him on @mrmatches.
Study Shows That Happy Childhood Memories Could Be Key To Better Health in Later Life
Parenting

Study Shows That Happy Childhood Memories Could Be Key To Better Health in Later Life

How do you achieve a long and healthy life? Cut down the calories and up the exercise, sure. And you needed to give up the cigarettes (and limit the booze too) years ago.But what if our health in later life is also affected by our happiness when we’re a child? That’s the finding of new research published by the American Psychological Association in the journal Health Psychology. People who have fond memories of childhood and relationships with their parents in particular, tend to have better health, less depression and fewer chronic illnesses as older adults.“We know that memory plays a huge part in how we make sense of the world — how we organize our past experiences and how we judge how we should act in the future. As a result, there are a lot of different ways that our memories of the past can guide us,” William J. Chopik, PhD said in a news release. Based at Michigan State University, Chopik was a lead author on the study. “We found that good memories seem to have a positive effect on health and well-being, possibly through the ways that they reduce stress or help us maintain healthy choices in life.”It Starts YoungPrevious research had already illustrated a positive relationship between memories and health in young adults, including higher quality of work and personal relationships, lower substance abuse and depression, and fewer health problems. But Chopik and co-author Robin Edelstein, PhD, from the University of Michigan, wanted to see how this would apply to older people.Another curio of earlier studies was that it tended to focus on mothers, rarely examining the role of fathers in child development. Chopik and Edelstein wanted to look at relationships with both parents.For their data, the two researchers turned to the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States and the Health and Retirement Study, which together totalled more than 22,000 participants aged from their mid-40s upwards.Participants in both groups who remembered higher levels of affection from their mothers during childhood experienced better physical health and fewer depressive symptoms later in life. Similarly, kids who received more support from their fathers experienced fewer depressive symptoms. Memories Don’t FadeKey to the findings was that they ran counter to the researchers’ theory that the effects of how people are raised when children would matter less over time, particularly when participants were trying to recall something that might have happened 50 years in the past. “But these memories still predicted better physical and mental health when people were in middle age and older adulthood,” Chopik said.Another quirk of the results was the stronger association in people who reported a more loving relationship with their mother, Chopik putting this down to older cultural norms where women often played the role of primary caregiver.One aspect of the research that remained a mystery was the effect positive childhood memories had on chronic conditions. There was a relationship in the first study but not in second. Chopik reckons this might because chronic conditions were rare in both samples and suggests it an area for future research.Either way, the study further underlines the importance of caring for children, particularly when negative experiences during childhood could still be being felt decades later.

Writer Interviews 300 People About Their Morning Routines - and the Key Takeaways Will Surprise You
Self-Development

Writer Interviews 300 People About Their Morning Routines - and the Key Takeaways Will Surprise You

Ask about the ideal morning routine and you might as well be asking for the key to life. We all roll out of different sides of the bed, wash differently, eat differently, dress differently. Take our coffee, tea or juice differently. The perfect morning routine? There’s no such thing. But perhaps there’s an approximation. And if anyone should know, it’s Benjamin Spall. The co-author of My Morning Routine: How Successful People Start Every Day Inspired has interviewed 300 high achievers about their morning routines. He wrote in the New York Times about what he learned. The Principles Spall reckons a morning routine should suit your needs, but that there are some habits everyone should try. “Through talking with business leaders and university presidents to Olympians, fashion models and artists, I’ve learned that while there isn’t one ‘best’ morning routine that works for everyone,” Spall writes, “there are best practices that some of the most successful people I spoke with follow every day.” So what are the essentials? Try Different Wake-Up Times… and Make Time for What Energizes You This basically comes down to giving yourself extra time in the morning so you’re not just getting out of bed as late as possible in the morning, pulling your clothes on and sprinting for the subway. The average wake-up time of those interviewed by Spall? A rather early 6:27am. As for what to do with that extra time, the high achievers Spall spoke to tended to involve themselves in things that made them feel relaxed, energized and motivated. In short, they use the time thoughtfully and it sets the tone for the rest of their day. Make Sure Your Routine is Adaptable and Don’t Freak Out When It Breaks Sometimes you’re staying away from home, with family or in a hotel. In which case, Spall says, don’t be afraid to mix up your routine. Maybe it’s running around the block rather than hitting the gym, or switching up breakfasts when staying at a hotel, but prepare to be adaptable. Similarly, successful people aren’t afraid of a small break in the routine — as long as they get back to it as soon as possible, even if it’s after two or three days. Basically, don’t beat yourself up over the odd mishap. The entire piece is worth a read — as is Spall’s book, co-authored by Michael Xander — take a look here.

Viral Internet Search Identifies Couple in Yosemite Proposal Photo, Revealing a Beautiful Side of the Internet
Love Stories

Viral Internet Search Identifies Couple in Yosemite Proposal Photo, Revealing a Beautiful Side of the Internet

With all the negative stories that come from our use of social media, it’s sometimes a relief to be reminded of its powers for good.Take photographer Matthew Dippel, who stopped at Yosemite National Park on an early October road trip to Los Angeles, only to capture a wedding proposal and set off a worldwide internet search for the couple in question.Right Place at the Right TimeDippel was travelling from Grand Rapids with a buddy, the two stopping at Yosemite in order to capture some sunset photos from the park’s much loved Taft Point, with its views of the valley, Yosemite Falls and El Capitan.Dippel had lined up to take photos of his friend when he noticed a proposal taking place at the point’s 3500-foot drop ledge. He quickly captured the moment from a distance and, after completing his own photos, raced around to find the couple and show them. But they’d disappeared into the crowd.Taking to TwitterDippel was determined to find the couple. The solution? Social media. Dippel took to Twitter and shared his photo. “Twitter help, idk who these two are but I hope this finds them,” he wrote. “ I took this at Taft Point at Yosemite National Park, on October 6th, 2018.” The tweet has since been re-shared a whopping 175,000 times.Ten days later, Dippel tweeted again to say he’d found the couple, who have been identified simply as Charlie Bear and Melissa.“Everyone meet, Charlie and his fiancé Melissa the happy happy couple that was out on the point in my Taft Point Proposal,” he wrote in a tweet dated October 27. “I’m glad I finally found you to share this special moment with you, thanks for being so awesome, maybe one day we will finally meet in person!”In an interview with CNN, Bear said Melissa had come across the photograph on Instagram and reached out to Dippel.“They sent me over iPhone screen shots of some of their friends that were up on that point that day, and they are wearing the exact same thing, and the photos are timestamped on the exact same day and the same time that I was there,” Dippel said.Bear and Melissa have since taken to Instagram to share the experience and thank Dippel.“Huge thank you once again to Matthew for capturing this special moment and taking the time to track us down,” Bear wrote. “Also, a big thanks to all of the media outlets and inter-webs for spreading the word. Success!”The couple is due to get married in Malibu, California in April.

Diet & Exercise

People Who Drink Coffee Regularly May Experience Less Sensitivity to Pain, According to Science

Caffeine. Is there anything it can’t do? In recent years it’s been linked with everything from improved physical endurance and heart health to cleaner arteries and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. But what if caffeine could also help people process pain? That’s the preliminary finding of a new study published in the journal Psychopharmacology. And for once we’re not talking about caffeine taken as medicine or a supplement. This is your everyday cup of Joe. “Relatively little is known about the potential impact of dietary caffeine consumption on the experience of pain,” corresponding author on the study, Burel R. Goodin, told PsyPost. Goodin is an associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “We wanted to address this gap in current knowledge.” Heat and Pressure The study involved 62 healthy adults who kept daily caffeine consumption and sleep diaries for one week, and had their sleep monitored independently by a small actimetry sensor on their wrist. The participants then underwent pain threshold testing for both heat (applied to the forearm) and pressure (applied to the trapezius). Each 100 milligram increase in daily consumption of caffeine was associated with an impressive 5 degree celsius increase in heat pain threshold and a 31.2 kilopascal increase in pressure pain threshold. For reference, a 100 milligram dose of caffeine is what you’re usually getting from a typical cup of brewed coffee in the United States. Before You Start Lurking at Your Local Starbucks The one major caveat with the research is that it used a cross-sectional methodology, meaning Goodin and his colleagues couldn’t determine cause and effect. These results are correlational. “Additional randomized and controlled studies are need to definitively determine whether a diet that includes regular caffeine consumption prevents the development of pain, or minimizes pain once it has already developed,” Goodin told PsyPost. Besides, despite its many benefits, too much caffeine can be bad for you, leading to increased anxiety and insomnia, digestive issues and high blood pressure. It can also become habit-forming, particularly at higher doses. In short, sip easy, my friend. Read the entire PsyPost story here.

New Study Says Cutting Your Time on Social Media To 30 Minutes Eases Loneliness and Depression
Motivation

New Study Says Cutting Your Time on Social Media To 30 Minutes Eases Loneliness and Depression

Looking to improve your wellbeing? A compelling new study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has found that limiting your social media usage to 30 minutes a day can help lift depression and loneliness.The study, published in December’s Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, is one of the first to show causation — rather than just correlation — between social media usage and mental health.The Perfect SubjectsFor the study, researchers recruited a bunch of prime users of social media — 143 undergraduate students aged between 18 and 22 — and tested them over two semesters. One group of students was instructed to limit its time on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to just 30 minutes a day, while those in a control group continued using social media as they normally would.Participants completed a survey to determine mood and well-being at the study’s start and captured screen screenshots to help determine a baseline for social-media data. For the next three weeks, participants shared screenshots to provide researchers weekly social media tallies for each individual. Researchers then took that data and looked at seven outcome measures including fear of missing out, anxiety, depression and loneliness. The Bottom LineThe result? “Using less social media than you normally would leads to significant decreases in both depression and loneliness,” lead researcher Melissa Hunt told Science Daily. “These effects are particularly pronounced for folks who were more depressed when they came into the study.”Not that you should stop using social media altogether. Or try to, at least — Hunt built the study in a way that acknowledges pulling the plug completely on the social media is probably an unrealistic goal. This is more about making people aware of the importance of limiting screen time.“It is a little ironic that reducing your use of social media actually makes you feel less lonely,” Hunt said. “[But] some of the existing literature on social media suggests there's an enormous amount of social comparison that happens. When you look at other people's lives, particularly on Instagram, it's easy to conclude that everyone else's life is cooler or better than yours.”As with most scientific studies, there are a few caveats. Would these findings replicate for other age groups or in different settings? Also, the study only looked at Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, limiting its scope to determine general social media use. Hunt says these aspects will be the subject of future research.

Study Suggests How You and Your Partner Laugh Together Can Indicate the Strength of Your Relationship
Dating

Study Suggests How You and Your Partner Laugh Together Can Indicate the Strength of Your Relationship

Laughter plays an important role in any romantic relationship. That much is common knowledge. But new research indicates it’s how we laugh with and at each other that may be crucial in helping determine the strength of our romantic bonds. The study, published in Journal of Research in Personality, enlisted 154 heterosexual couples, with interviews conducted about their relationship with respect to overall satisfaction, sex life and how they handled being laughed at. RELATED: 5 Little Ways to Express Gratitude in a Long-Term Relationship “Earlier studies have shown that people are looking for a partner with a sense of humour and who enjoys a laugh,” Professor René Proyer said in a news release. The MLU-based psychologist conducted the new study together with Kay Brauer. But how people react to being laughed at differs wildly — some are afraid of being laughed at, viewing it as negative, while others love being the centre of attention. Finally, certain people enjoy laughing about others and making them the object of a joke. Researchers like Proyer and Brauer can construct profiles drawing on a combination of these three traits. “All of these characteristics are normal, up to a certain point — including being afraid of being laughed at,” Proyer said. Some Funny Results Analyzing the responses to their interviews, Proyer and Brauer found that partners are often similar in terms of their individual characteristics and laughter profiles. If these matched, they were usually more content in their relationships.

Stanford Study Suggests Virtual Reality Can Help Make People More Compassionate
Friends

Stanford Study Suggests Virtual Reality Can Help Make People More Compassionate

Virtual reality’s reputation has completely matured in the past five years, from a simple Oculus Rift-style gaming peripheral into a full blown technology capable of helping humans do everything from rehabilitating stroke victims to controlling robots on Mars. Of course, key to virtual reality’s usefulness is its capacity to affect our perceptions and, sometimes, our depths of feeling. A team of Stanford researchers has tapped into this phenomenon to create an experiment that can change people’s levels of empathy. Called “Becoming Homeless”, it allows users to see in VR what it would be like to lose their jobs and homes. And compared to other presentations of the same scenario, such as text, those who saw their lives fall apart in the digital world a developed longer-lasting compassion towards homeless people. Empathy Machine Virtual reality enthusiasts have for a long time been talking up the technology’s capacity to help people relate to one another, but up until now there has been precious little research into the idea. Past studies have shown mixed results, but all have been short-term efforts that didn’t extend beyond one week. RELATED: Hero of the Week: How One Woman Is Changing the Lives of People Experiencing Homelessness For the Stanford experiment, lead author Fernanda Herrera — a graduate student in the university’s Department of Communication — along with Stanford psychology scholar Jamil Zaki, professor of communication Jeremy Bailenson and psychology graduate student Erika Weisz (another researcher, Elise Ogle, was a co-author on the paper), conducted two two-month-long studies of more than 560 subjects. All the participants were aged between 15 and 88 and represented at least eight ethnic backgrounds. At the heart of the research was a seven-minute VR experience called “Becoming Homeless”, in which a narrator guides participants through several interactive VR scenarios that would happen if they lost their jobs (selecting items to sell in your virtual apartment so you can afford rent, say, or taking shelter on a public bus while protecting your belongings from being stolen). Not all participants were shown “Becoming Homeless”, but those who did were more likely to have enduring positive attitudes towards homeless people and support initiatives such as affordable housing. In the first study, 82 percent of participants who experienced VR signed a petition supporting affordable housing compared to 67 percent of the people who simply read a narrative. In the second study, it was 85 percent versus 63 percent — interestingly, though, this study included the two-dimensional version of “Becoming Homeless”, which returned only a 66 percent sign-up rate on the petition. Longterm Positive Effects One of the most interesting social phenomenons underlined by the study is how empathy is a learned behaviour — we’re not born with or without it. And that’s important, because it’s a critical part of meaningful inter-personal communication. “Experiences are what define us as humans, so it's not surprising that an intense experience in VR is more impactful than imagining something,” Bailenson said in a news release. “We tend to think of empathy as something you either have or don't have,” added Zaki. “But lots of studies have demonstrated that empathy isn't just a trait. It's something you can work on and turn up or down in different situations.” This was underlined by some of the personal responses researchers received from study participants. “Long after our studies were complete, some research participants emailed me to reflect on how they started becoming more involved in the issue afterward. One of them befriended a homeless person in their community and wrote me again once that person found a home,” Herrera said. “It was really inspiring to see that positive, lasting impact.”

New Study Says Couples Who Use Pronouns 'We' and 'Us' Are Happier in Love
Marriage

New Study Says Couples Who Use Pronouns 'We' and 'Us' Are Happier in Love

Are you friends with a couple who are constantly referring to themselves as a collective unit? You know how it goes. They’ll talk about their relationship in terms like “our” home or how “we” do things, or how something affects “us”. It’s almost fashionable to find this kind of behaviour excruciating, particularly in a modern culture that places a premium on independence. But new research suggests your loved up pals probably really are #relationshipgoals material, happier in love than those who avoid plural pronouns. Crunching the numbers Researchers from the University of California Riverside led by psychologist Megan Robbins examined 30 studies involving more than 5000 participants to look at the correlation between the use of the first-person plural pronouns and the health of romantic relationships. Five factors were taken into account: satisfaction and how long couples had been together (half of all participants were married); their relationship behaviour in terms of negative and positive interactions; their mental health; their physical health; and how well participants look after themselves on a day-to-day basis. RELATED: 5 Little Ways to Express Gratitude in a Long-Term Relationship The benefit of “we-talk” was evident in all five categories and pretty much equal for both men and women. “By examining all these studies together, they let us see the bigger picture,” Alexander Karan said in a news release. Karan is a graduate student in Robbins’ laboratory. “We-talk is an indicator of interdependence and general positivity in romantic relationships. “The benefit of analyzing many different couples in a lot of different contexts is that it establishes we-talk isn’t just positively related in one context, but that it indicates positive functioning overall.” We-talk beats me-talk We-talk turned out to be good for both young couples and older couples. It’s good for conflict resolution and even good when a partner isn’t physically present. Interestingly, though, it’s most important when your partner uses it, which gives an insight into how positive perceptions of your better half are important in a relationship, particularly during times of stress. So there’s a correlation there — the next step for Robbins and her fellow researchers is to figure out the causation. Is the we-talk making couples happy? Or do happy couples just start we-talking? “It is likely both,” Robbins said. “Hearing yourself or a partner say these words could shift individuals’ ways of thinking to be more interdependent, which could lead to a healthier relationship. “It could also be the case that because the relationship is healthy and interdependent, the partners are being supportive and use we-talk.”