The mental price of affluence (SOP18)

From roaring leaf blowers to screeching trains, the world is full of unwelcome noise – and researchers have found that noisy environments can take a real toll on people’s mental and physical health. Arline Bronzaft, PhD, talks about how noise affects health and well-being, how it can harm kids’ learning, why it’s not just a problem in big cities, and the most unusual noise complaints she’s heard in her five decades of advocacy combating noise pollution.

Last year -- 2023 -- was the world’s warmest on record, and 2024 could bring another record-shattering summer. Psychologist Kim Meidenbauer, PhD, and public health researcher Amruta Nori-Sarma, PhD, discuss how heat affects people’s mental health, emotions and even cognitive abilities; the link between heat, violence and aggression; who is most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat; and what policy makers could be doing to mitigate its effects.

Why can’t I get myself to run that 5K? Why isn’t my child getting better grades? We all have things that we struggle to accomplish – or that we struggle to get someone else to accomplish. Frank Worrell, PhD, and Wendy Grolnick, PhD, co-authors of “Motivation Myth Busters: Science-based Strategies to Boost Motivation in Yourself and Others,” discuss how our misconceptions about motivation get in the way of reaching our goals, why there’s no such thing as an “unmotivated” person, and the merits and drawbacks of strategies like rewards, competition and praise.

The average American adult spends up to one-third of their waking hours alone. Psychologists are exploring how those hours spent on our own affect us – including the potential benefits, as well as the challenges, of solitude. Thuy-vy Nguyen, PhD, and Netta Weinstein, PhD, discuss the difference between solitude and loneliness, how solitude affects our emotions and stress levels, why some people crave solitude more than others, and why the stigma against solitude can make us uncomfortable with being alone.

The 2024 World Happiness Report, which ranks the happiness levels of countries around the world, found that young Americans are less happy than their peers in many other countries. Psychology professor Lara Aknin, PhD, an editor of the report, talks about how the report defines happiness, why young people’s happiness levels may have dropped in the U.S, what drives happiness, and why being generous makes people happy – even when they don’t have much to spare.

A growing number of adults in the U.S. are choosing not to have children. Jenna Watling Neal, PhD, of Michigan State University, talks about her research that’s found 1 in 5 adults are child free, why people are choosing not to have kids, the stigma child-free adults face, whether people who decide not to have kids early in life usually stick with that choice, and how the prevalence of child-free adults in the U.S. compares with other countries.

If the thought of the upcoming election sends your stress level through the roof, you’re not alone. Psychologist Brett Q. Ford, PhD, and political scientist Kevin Smith, PhD, talk about how political stress affects people’s well-being; what high levels of political stress mean for people’s lives, for the U.S. and for democracy; and how to stay politically engaged while still maintaining your mental health.

For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Sesame Street has entertained and educated generations of children. Developmental psychologist Rosemarie Truglio, PhD, Sesame Workshop’s senior vice president of curriculum and content, talks about why the show has a new focus on young children’s emotional well-being; how Sesame Street translates complicated concepts into stories that young kids can connect with; the research that underpins all of the content on Sesame Street; and why the Sesame Street characters still resonate with so many adults.

For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

The eerie sensation of “déjà vu” -- feeling a strong sense of familiarity in a new place or situation -- is one of memory’s strangest tricks. Researcher Chris Moulin, PhD, of Grenoble Alpes University, talks about why déjà vu happens; why both déjà vu and its lesser-known opposite, jamais vu, may actually be signs of a healthy memory at work; why young people are more prone to déjà vu; how he and others study déjà vu and jamais vu in the lab; and what these experiences can teach us about memory more broadly.

For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Are you a sports “superfan”? Or do you wonder what’s driving the superfans in your life? Daniel Wann, PhD, of Murray State University, talks about why being a fan is usually good for people’s mental health, how they choose the teams they root for, why some are fair-weather fans while others love to cheer for the underdog, how fandom is changing among younger people, and whether a crowd of supportive fans can affect the outcome of a game.

For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

In Part II of our series on PTSD and its relationship to suicide we’ll explore why those who suffer from PTSD are at risk of death by suicide. Additionally, we’ll cover important info for groups more vulnerable to thoughts of suicide and the critically important progress that has been made in treating PTSD and ending its symptoms.

Why do some people claim, "Therapy didn't work for me"? In part two of our series, we discuss some of the issues that stand in the way of success in therapy. Some quit before they've really given the process a chance or are inconsistent about therapy. Additionally, people are often reluctant to seek help, believing they can relying on friends and family for support. If you are suicidal, it is highly unlikely that your loved ones know enough about mental health to provide the exact support you need. If you want to benefit from therapy, be consistent, be honest, and be willing to do your homework. Spend some time researching therapists in your area. Not every therapist is perfect for every person. Sometimes we are put off from seeking therapy because the thought of sharing can feel unbearable. Finding the right counselor will involve opening up. 

In Part II of our conversation, we explore the substantial difference in suicide rates between First Responders and the general population. Research suggests that police officers may be 50% more suicidal than the average citizen and that risk is even higher for firefighters. In fact, more firefighters die by suicide than in the line of duty. Why do we spend so much money on physically protecting our First Responders but so little on protecting their mental health? 

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Lara N. Coughlin, Ph.D., and Lewei Allison Lin, M.D., M.S., about their article on the provision of guideline-concordant depression treatment to patients with and without substance use disorders.

Dr. Lara Coughlin is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and an adjunct assistant professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. She is also a licensed clinical psychologist. Her research aims to find new ways to use behavioral economic frameworks to improve outcomes among individuals with substance use disorders. In particular, she is interested in decision making around health behaviors, such as choosing between sooner and smaller rewards, like substance use, and delayed and larger rewards, like overall health or career development. Her current work looks at the delivery and evaluation of care for underserved and rural populations.

Dr. Allison Lin is an addiction psychiatrist, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan, and a research scientist in the Department of Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

• How the authors became interested in their areas of research [2:28]
• How often does depression co-occur with other disorders? [5:05]
• Current recommendations or best practices for the treatment of these conditions [5:33]
• Objective of the study [6:55]
• Description of study participants [7:27]
• Measures used to collect and analyze data [9:15]
• Main results of the study [11:20]
• Were there significant differences between disorders with respect to receipt of appropriate treatment? [12:10]
• Did any demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, or other variables affect the findings? [13:25]
• Other notable or surprising results [14:03]
• Do the findings of the study extend to patients in the general population? [14:50]
• Study limitations [15:28]
• Patient or structural factors that may contribute to inequity in guideline-concordant care [16:13]
• How can we improve depression care for patients with comorbid substance use disorders? [19:01]
• Key points that researchers, clinicians, and other mental health professionals should take away from the article [22:12]
• Recommendations for further research in this area [23:32]

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Young people are amongst the most vulnerable to thoughts of suicide. Suicide is the number two leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. However, parents often fail to recognize the danger their children may be in until it is too late. In this episode, we’ll explore what might cause a young person to become suicidal. We’ll discuss how violence and sadness are pretty typical experiences for young people. We’ll also look at how the internet, social media, and cyberbullying may add to the stresses of childhood. Lastly, we’ll discuss how a lack of emotional tools and impulsivity may contribute to thoughts of suicide in young people.