Developmental Psychology News

• A happier country equals a healthier one — but only above a certain threshold
  Scientists say they have identified the “happiness threshold” needed for a country’s population as a whole to achieve certain health benefits.
• OpenAI says over a million people talk to ChatGPT about suicide weekly
  OpenAI released new data illustrating how many of ChatGPT’s users are struggling with mental health issues and talking to the AI chatbot about it.
• What do sex dreams really mean?
  Dreams could be metaphors for intimacy or how we are perceived by others, or they could be about strained relationships or barriers in relationships.
• Want to lower anxiety? Put your phone away
  Start thinking of your phone in batches of time.
• They’re dating for dinner. And they’re not alone
  For some Gen Z singles, a free dinner date beats another night of ramen or freezer-aisle meals.
• New York’s cell phone ban in schools is actually working
  Widespread smartphone and social media use have altered the structure of childhood in recent years.
• Kids who use social media score lower on reading and memory tests
  A new study suggests a link between social media use and poorer cognition in teens.
• In Kenya, a search for links between a changing climate and mental health
  Feeding families has always been stressful—especially for women who shoulder most of the burden—and climate change is adding to the anxiety.
• Sober October is the new Dry January. Should you try it?
  Research shows taking a month-long break from alcohol, even if it’s just temporary, has been associated with a wealth of physical and mental health benefits
• Losing a family pet gives parents a chance to teach children about death and grieving
  The experience can become an opportunity for profound emotional learning and influence how young people understand and process grief when they are adults