Latest news with #SchoolofPsychology
The Advertiser
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Socials ban: Aussie researchers want your teens' help in world-first study
Australian researchers have launched a "world first" study into Australia's social media ban for children. The continuing study from Deakin University will follow participants once restrictions preventing children under 16 from having social media accounts come into force late in 2025. School of Psychology senior lecturer Dr Sharon Horwood said they are interested in understanding what people actually know about the ban. "Do they think it's a good thing or a bad thing? Is it going to change anything?" Dr Horwood said. She said there would be more interviews one year after the initial interview to find out how the ban had affected participants, whether their lives were better or worse. The data will be used in conjunction with a bigger study that will hopefully provide helpful information for the federal government. "This is a world first, the whole world is watching. We want to try to get as much insight and data on this as we can," Dr Horwood said. Secondary school students aged under 16 years and parents of young people are encouraged to sign up. The Australian government first announced the ban in November 2024. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the government said the ban was introduced to protect the mental health and wellbeing of children under 16. As the due date gets closer, the outcome of the ban is unknown. Dr Horwood has been looking at health, wellbeing and digital technology use for a long time. She said it really depended on the content children consumed. "If you're a little kid and accessing good educational content and it involves some activity, whether that be moving or socialising, those are generally fairly good things," Dr Horwood said. "There is evidence that little kids' numeracy and literacy can improve with digital technology use." The understanding of technology and social media is often left for children to teach parents, making it harder for parents to properly monitor their children's online activity. Dr Horwood understands that banning social media isn't going to eliminate health and wellbeing issues from social media use. She said more education was needed about the impacts of digital media on mental health. "We don't have enough understanding of the problem. I think in general, we need more time to understand how social media influences kids in terms of their development and how they grow into adults." "We need to support parents and schools a lot more in terms of funding and resources. "Just as we teach kids to brush their teeth every day and should eat healthy food, we also need to teach them how to develop healthy digital behaviours." You can register your interest in joining the study here. Australian researchers have launched a "world first" study into Australia's social media ban for children. The continuing study from Deakin University will follow participants once restrictions preventing children under 16 from having social media accounts come into force late in 2025. School of Psychology senior lecturer Dr Sharon Horwood said they are interested in understanding what people actually know about the ban. "Do they think it's a good thing or a bad thing? Is it going to change anything?" Dr Horwood said. She said there would be more interviews one year after the initial interview to find out how the ban had affected participants, whether their lives were better or worse. The data will be used in conjunction with a bigger study that will hopefully provide helpful information for the federal government. "This is a world first, the whole world is watching. We want to try to get as much insight and data on this as we can," Dr Horwood said. Secondary school students aged under 16 years and parents of young people are encouraged to sign up. The Australian government first announced the ban in November 2024. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the government said the ban was introduced to protect the mental health and wellbeing of children under 16. As the due date gets closer, the outcome of the ban is unknown. Dr Horwood has been looking at health, wellbeing and digital technology use for a long time. She said it really depended on the content children consumed. "If you're a little kid and accessing good educational content and it involves some activity, whether that be moving or socialising, those are generally fairly good things," Dr Horwood said. "There is evidence that little kids' numeracy and literacy can improve with digital technology use." The understanding of technology and social media is often left for children to teach parents, making it harder for parents to properly monitor their children's online activity. Dr Horwood understands that banning social media isn't going to eliminate health and wellbeing issues from social media use. She said more education was needed about the impacts of digital media on mental health. "We don't have enough understanding of the problem. I think in general, we need more time to understand how social media influences kids in terms of their development and how they grow into adults." "We need to support parents and schools a lot more in terms of funding and resources. "Just as we teach kids to brush their teeth every day and should eat healthy food, we also need to teach them how to develop healthy digital behaviours." You can register your interest in joining the study here. Australian researchers have launched a "world first" study into Australia's social media ban for children. The continuing study from Deakin University will follow participants once restrictions preventing children under 16 from having social media accounts come into force late in 2025. School of Psychology senior lecturer Dr Sharon Horwood said they are interested in understanding what people actually know about the ban. "Do they think it's a good thing or a bad thing? Is it going to change anything?" Dr Horwood said. She said there would be more interviews one year after the initial interview to find out how the ban had affected participants, whether their lives were better or worse. The data will be used in conjunction with a bigger study that will hopefully provide helpful information for the federal government. "This is a world first, the whole world is watching. We want to try to get as much insight and data on this as we can," Dr Horwood said. Secondary school students aged under 16 years and parents of young people are encouraged to sign up. The Australian government first announced the ban in November 2024. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the government said the ban was introduced to protect the mental health and wellbeing of children under 16. As the due date gets closer, the outcome of the ban is unknown. Dr Horwood has been looking at health, wellbeing and digital technology use for a long time. She said it really depended on the content children consumed. "If you're a little kid and accessing good educational content and it involves some activity, whether that be moving or socialising, those are generally fairly good things," Dr Horwood said. "There is evidence that little kids' numeracy and literacy can improve with digital technology use." The understanding of technology and social media is often left for children to teach parents, making it harder for parents to properly monitor their children's online activity. Dr Horwood understands that banning social media isn't going to eliminate health and wellbeing issues from social media use. She said more education was needed about the impacts of digital media on mental health. "We don't have enough understanding of the problem. I think in general, we need more time to understand how social media influences kids in terms of their development and how they grow into adults." "We need to support parents and schools a lot more in terms of funding and resources. "Just as we teach kids to brush their teeth every day and should eat healthy food, we also need to teach them how to develop healthy digital behaviours." You can register your interest in joining the study here. Australian researchers have launched a "world first" study into Australia's social media ban for children. The continuing study from Deakin University will follow participants once restrictions preventing children under 16 from having social media accounts come into force late in 2025. School of Psychology senior lecturer Dr Sharon Horwood said they are interested in understanding what people actually know about the ban. "Do they think it's a good thing or a bad thing? Is it going to change anything?" Dr Horwood said. She said there would be more interviews one year after the initial interview to find out how the ban had affected participants, whether their lives were better or worse. The data will be used in conjunction with a bigger study that will hopefully provide helpful information for the federal government. "This is a world first, the whole world is watching. We want to try to get as much insight and data on this as we can," Dr Horwood said. Secondary school students aged under 16 years and parents of young people are encouraged to sign up. The Australian government first announced the ban in November 2024. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the government said the ban was introduced to protect the mental health and wellbeing of children under 16. As the due date gets closer, the outcome of the ban is unknown. Dr Horwood has been looking at health, wellbeing and digital technology use for a long time. She said it really depended on the content children consumed. "If you're a little kid and accessing good educational content and it involves some activity, whether that be moving or socialising, those are generally fairly good things," Dr Horwood said. "There is evidence that little kids' numeracy and literacy can improve with digital technology use." The understanding of technology and social media is often left for children to teach parents, making it harder for parents to properly monitor their children's online activity. Dr Horwood understands that banning social media isn't going to eliminate health and wellbeing issues from social media use. She said more education was needed about the impacts of digital media on mental health. "We don't have enough understanding of the problem. I think in general, we need more time to understand how social media influences kids in terms of their development and how they grow into adults." "We need to support parents and schools a lot more in terms of funding and resources. "Just as we teach kids to brush their teeth every day and should eat healthy food, we also need to teach them how to develop healthy digital behaviours." You can register your interest in joining the study here.
Wales Online
04-07-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Sound of a heat pump release as a mindfulness track to ease stress
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info New research reveals the impact that noise has on us, with almost nine in ten saying certain sounds send their stress levels soaring. Stress-triggering sounds cause Brits' heart rates to spike an average of eight times a week, with nearly half saying that parts of modern life feel too loud and overwhelming. Hhammering and banging top the list, closely followed by the yap of a small dog and the sound of drilling coming from next door. Other irritating noises include noisy chewing, snoring partners, revving engines, slurping tea or coffee, car horns, and high-pitched children's toys. The research from Hive, found that building and renovation noises feature heavily in the list. One in three say people playing music or videos loudly on their phones drives them mad, while over a quarter say speakerphone conversations in public spike their stress. Professor. Jamie Ward from the University of Sussex's School of Psychology said: 'Everyday sounds do more than just annoy us, they can elevate stress levels, interrupt focus, and even interfere with sleep. In some cases, they can also strain relationships. However, different types of sounds may annoy us in different ways and some people have greater sound sensitivity than others. 'Sounds also have the power to stir positive emotions. Research shows we are biologically inclined to find natural sounds calming, while slowly building crescendos can trigger an intense positive sensation known as 'the chills. With the right balance of tempo and tone, sound can be a powerful tool for wellbeing.' To help the nation tune out and take back control of their environment, Hive has launched a mindfulness track, Green Noise. Designed to soothe stress and promote calm, the track features the gentle hum of a heat pump, the whir of an EV and the soft click of a smart thermostat. Susan Wells, Director of EV and Solar at Hivesaid: 'Whether it's the neighbour's DIY, a barking dog or the constant hum of modern life, everyday noise is clearly driving many of us to distraction. That's why we created our Green Noise track - a calming soundscape that blends ambient sounds with the gentle, soothing rhythms inspired by Hive's eco-tech. "With many people assuming eco-tech is noisy or disruptive, we wanted to create a track that challenges that misconception and encourages more people to consider making the switch. As well as quiet, Hive eco-tech offers you greater control over your home energy helping you to lower bills and carbon emissions. Smarter, greener living.'
North Wales Live
04-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Sound of a heat pump release as a mindfulness track to ease stress
New research reveals the impact that noise has on us, with almost nine in ten saying certain sounds send their stress levels soaring. Stress-triggering sounds cause Brits' heart rates to spike an average of eight times a week, with nearly half saying that parts of modern life feel too loud and overwhelming. Hhammering and banging top the list, closely followed by the yap of a small dog and the sound of drilling coming from next door. Other irritating noises include noisy chewing, snoring partners, revving engines, slurping tea or coffee, car horns, and high-pitched children's toys. The research from Hive, found that building and renovation noises feature heavily in the list. One in three say people playing music or videos loudly on their phones drives them mad, while over a quarter say speakerphone conversations in public spike their stress. Professor. Jamie Ward from the University of Sussex's School of Psychology said: 'Everyday sounds do more than just annoy us, they can elevate stress levels, interrupt focus, and even interfere with sleep. In some cases, they can also strain relationships. However, different types of sounds may annoy us in different ways and some people have greater sound sensitivity than others. 'Sounds also have the power to stir positive emotions. Research shows we are biologically inclined to find natural sounds calming, while slowly building crescendos can trigger an intense positive sensation known as 'the chills. With the right balance of tempo and tone, sound can be a powerful tool for wellbeing.' To help the nation tune out and take back control of their environment, Hive has launched a mindfulness track, Green Noise. Designed to soothe stress and promote calm, the track features the gentle hum of a heat pump, the whir of an EV and the soft click of a smart thermostat. Susan Wells, Director of EV and Solar at Hivesaid: 'Whether it's the neighbour's DIY, a barking dog or the constant hum of modern life, everyday noise is clearly driving many of us to distraction. That's why we created our Green Noise track - a calming soundscape that blends ambient sounds with the gentle, soothing rhythms inspired by Hive's eco-tech. "With many people assuming eco-tech is noisy or disruptive, we wanted to create a track that challenges that misconception and encourages more people to consider making the switch. As well as quiet, Hive eco-tech offers you greater control over your home energy helping you to lower bills and carbon emissions. Smarter, greener living.'
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Feeling Hard Done By? New Study Looks At The Effects
Press Release – University of Auckland Drawing from data collected over nine years as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), researchers examined responses from more than 50,000 New Zealanders to explore how perceptions of economic inequality affected emotional wellbeing … Are you feeling hard done by – frustrated at earning less than other people? In a recently published study, people feeling that way tended to develop a diminished sense of belonging and then to report poorer physical health. Drawing from data collected over nine years as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), researchers examined responses from more than 50,000 New Zealanders to explore how perceptions of economic inequality affected emotional wellbeing and health. 'Our study suggests that if you are worse off financially compared to others, across time this is linked to reduced feelings of belonging, which may in turn negatively contribute to your physical health,' says Dr Brian Don, lead author of the study published in Affective Science. 'As a society, this shines a light on the toll that inequality can take.' Income inequality has been rising across the world and in New Zealand, says Don, a lecturer in the School of Psychology at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. In the study, people rated their levels of agreement with statements such as ' I'm frustrated by what I earn relative to other people in New Zealand ' and '(I) Know that people in my life accept and value me' and graded their health on a scale from poor to excellent. Participants who felt economically deprived one year were more likely to report lower levels of belonging the subsequent year, which predicted poorer physical health in the year following that. While financial hardship can limit participation in society, Don believes the decline in belonging may stem more from psychological mechanisms than direct economic constraints. How can these effects be avoided? At the societal level, Don says policies that reduce the rising pattern of economic inequality will help to reduce individual feelings of unfairness. There are things individuals can do, too. 'Comparison truly is the thief of joy,' says Don. 'At the individual level, avoiding social media could be a good start to avoid getting stuck in a rut of negative comparisons.' A caveat: the study shows associations, not causality. Besides a reduced sense of belonging, feeling worse off financially was linked with declines in gratitude and sense of meaning in life. Looking ahead, Don aims to explore whether objective measures of inequality, such as the Gini coefficient, influence emotional experiences and physiological responses in everyday life. The co-authors of the paper were Dr Kieren Lilly, Professor Chris Sibley, Professor Nickola Overall and Associate Professor Danny Osborne.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Feeling Hard Done By? New Study Looks At The Effects
Press Release – University of Auckland Drawing from data collected over nine years as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), researchers examined responses from more than 50,000 New Zealanders to explore how perceptions of economic inequality affected emotional wellbeing … Are you feeling hard done by – frustrated at earning less than other people? In a recently published study, people feeling that way tended to develop a diminished sense of belonging and then to report poorer physical health. Drawing from data collected over nine years as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), researchers examined responses from more than 50,000 New Zealanders to explore how perceptions of economic inequality affected emotional wellbeing and health. 'Our study suggests that if you are worse off financially compared to others, across time this is linked to reduced feelings of belonging, which may in turn negatively contribute to your physical health,' says Dr Brian Don, lead author of the study published in Affective Science. 'As a society, this shines a light on the toll that inequality can take.' Income inequality has been rising across the world and in New Zealand, says Don, a lecturer in the School of Psychology at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. In the study, people rated their levels of agreement with statements such as ' I'm frustrated by what I earn relative to other people in New Zealand ' and '(I) Know that people in my life accept and value me' and graded their health on a scale from poor to excellent. Participants who felt economically deprived one year were more likely to report lower levels of belonging the subsequent year, which predicted poorer physical health in the year following that. While financial hardship can limit participation in society, Don believes the decline in belonging may stem more from psychological mechanisms than direct economic constraints. How can these effects be avoided? At the societal level, Don says policies that reduce the rising pattern of economic inequality will help to reduce individual feelings of unfairness. There are things individuals can do, too. 'Comparison truly is the thief of joy,' says Don. 'At the individual level, avoiding social media could be a good start to avoid getting stuck in a rut of negative comparisons.' A caveat: the study shows associations, not causality. Besides a reduced sense of belonging, feeling worse off financially was linked with declines in gratitude and sense of meaning in life. Looking ahead, Don aims to explore whether objective measures of inequality, such as the Gini coefficient, influence emotional experiences and physiological responses in everyday life. The co-authors of the paper were Dr Kieren Lilly, Professor Chris Sibley, Professor Nickola Overall and Associate Professor Danny Osborne.
