anxiety | SPSP

The Magical Aura of Insurance

silhouette of happy running woman with umbrella

Does insurance make negative events seem less likely?

Read more about The Magical Aura of Insurance

Feeling Lonely? Here Are Some Tips for College Students

Sad young man sitting on a sofa; gazing down

Building self-esteem and support can help reduce loneliness in first-year college students.

Read more about Feeling Lonely? Here Are Some Tips for College Students

A New Rock in College Students’ Shoes: Poor Program Design

Students enter college hoping it will be a positive and life-changing experience. But some end up experiencing acute psychological distress. Why?

Read more about A New Rock in College Students’ Shoes: Poor Program Design

What Makes College Students Anxious?

Young woman sitting on floor with hands on chest

Helicopter parents, unrealistic ideals, and rising competition seem to matter.

Read more about What Makes College Students Anxious?

COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories: Who Believes These Bonkers Stories?

A world-wide study takes a look at the kinds of people who tend to believe conspiracy theories about the pandemic.

Read more about COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories: Who Believes These Bonkers Stories?

Insecure Relationships Change Our View of the World

Psychologists have long known that experiencing inconsistent attention and affection makes us anxious about future relationships. Only recently, though, has such inconsistent treatment by other people been shown to change our reactions to irregularities more generally.

Read more about Insecure Relationships Change Our View of the World

When You Don't Feel Valued in a Relationship, Sleep Suffers

We spend up to one-third of our life asleep, but not everyone sleeps well. For couples, it turns out how well you think your partner understands and cares for you is linked to how well you sleep. The results are published in Social Personality and Psychological Science.

“Our findings show that individuals with responsive partners experience lower anxiety and arousal, which in turn improves their sleep quality,” says lead author Dr. Emre Selçuk, a developmental and social psychologist at Middle East Technical University in Turkey.

Read more about When You Don't Feel Valued in a Relationship, Sleep Suffers

The Power of a Hug Can Help You Cope with Conflict

Image of an interracial couple embracing in a hug

Friends, children, romantic partners, family members – many of us exchange hugs with others on a regular basis. New research from the United States, published today in PLOS, now shows hugs can help us to cope with conflict in our daily life.

Hugs are considered a form of affectionate touch. Hugs occur between social partners of all types, and sometimes even strangers.

Read more about The Power of a Hug Can Help You Cope with Conflict