A faculty member and his Ph.D. student from the University of Texas at Austin's Human Development and Family Sciences Department were quoted in several recent news articles highlighting studies they contributed to.
Stephen Russell, the department's chair and Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor of Child Development, contributed to a new study led by European researchers that found teens who are bullied often may be left with changes in key areas of the brain. These alterations may contribute to mental health issues later on. Russell told U.S. News and World Report that he hopes this new data will "change the minds of people who think that bullying is 'natural' or a normal part of growing up."
It's not all bad news, though. Russell points out that many people who experience bullying grow up to be thriving adults, and that the changes bullying may cause, like shifts in attention or sensitivity, may be things people turn to their advantage.
Allen Mallory, a graduate student in Russell's lab, co-authored a paper that found reminiscing about the good times in a relationship could provide a temporary boost in satisfaction with relationship. His work was highlighted in a recent piece in U.S. News and World Report about the health benefits of nostalgia.
"Nostalgia provides a way to mentally re-experience positive memories throughout a relationship," Mallory said. "Positive feelings and fondness often accompany these memories, (which) can help promote satisfaction with the relationship."
Comments