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Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 20-Jun-2026 10:16 ET (20-Jun-2026 14:16 GMT/UTC)

Q&A: When is screen time healthy and when is it not?

Penn State
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Is screentime always harmful? This Q&A addresses what makes screen time positive or harmful, how people can protect themselves and their children from unhealthy screen behavior, and how lawmakers could legislate healthier screen environments for everyone.

Journal: Developmental Psychology

Checking it twice: Simple step improves face-matching accuracy

Adelaide University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

From airport security to verifying a driver’s licence, matching an unfamiliar face to a photograph is something people do every day. Yet despite its widespread use, people often get it wrong – especially when comparing a person’s current appearance with a photo that may be years old.

Journal: Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology
Funder: Australian Research Council

New survey: One in five US adults unaware of link between diet and blood cholesterol levels

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Reports and Proceedings

On the heels of updated cholesterol management guidance that recommends earlier screening and establishes target goals for LDL “bad” cholesterol based on an individual’s risk factors, a new Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/Morning Consult survey finds that one in five U.S. adults is unaware that what they eat directly affects blood cholesterol levels. Of those who said they were aware of the association between diet and cholesterol, 52% said they received the information from a healthcare provider, while 36% got it from friends or family, and 34% from social media.

Smartphone acquisition and use at age 13 and health outcomes at age 14

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: The results of this cohort study suggest that simply smartphone acquisition at age 13 was not associated with depression or with obesity, but was associated with insufficient sleep at age 14; however, the amount of smartphone use was associated with higher odds of all 3 outcomes. Behavioral interventions like limiting smartphone time and keeping smartphones out of bedrooms at night may protect adolescents from potential adverse health outcomes. Findings offer insights to guide caregivers on adolescent smartphone use and inform policies aimed at protecting youth, such as delaying smartphone acquisition until age 13.

Journal: JAMA Pediatrics

Alliance digital tool proves effective at keeping patients engaged in trials

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a step forward for patient-centered cancer research, a new pilot project reveals that 84% of participants had a positive experience using a newly developed online tool created by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology called the Participant Engagement Portal (PEP). Alliance created PEP to foster direct connection between cancer researchers and the individuals who volunteer for clinical studies. The goal was to make it easier for patients and clinicians to share information, deliver trial updates, and self-report on social risk factors. The results of this national project are published in JNCI Cancer Spectrum.

Journal: JNCI Cancer Spectrum
Funder: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation, Alliance Foundation Trials, Genentech

Fear memories form differently in male and female brains, study finds

Virginia Tech
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A Virginia Tech study found that the female brain forms fear memories using a molecular process not seen in the male brain. The findings suggest that treatments for PTSD may need to be tailored differently for men and women, said the study’s lead researcher, Timothy Jarome, an associate professor of neurobiology in the School of Animal Sciences located within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Journal: Behavioural Brain Research

How NFL draft position overpromises player potential

Ohio State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new analysis suggests there is no correlation between athlete performance and the way the NFL values draft positions, challenging long-held beliefs about how professional football teams select new players each year.

Journal: The Sport Journal

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