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Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 25-Oct-2026 23:16 ET (26-Oct-2026 03:16 GMT/UTC)

Data on human and wildlife movement during the pandemic suggest new ways for us to coexist

University of California - Santa Barbara
Peer-Reviewed Publication

For thousands of years, humans have shaped the world around us, leaving other animals to adapt to the activities of the industrious ape. But new research shows how animals also respond directly to our physical presence.

Journal: Science

Study of Rwandan young adults highlights gaps in digital financial literacy

Carnegie Mellon University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a new study published in Sustainability, researchers surveyed Rwandan young adults on their financial knowledge, skills, and behaviors to identify gaps in their DFL. They found modest strengths in some areas and gaps in others, as well as disparities by gender and education.

Journal: Sustainability
Funder: African Engineering and Technology Network, Afretec, Mastercard Foundation

Serotonin reduces ‘belief stickiness,’ which could explain how it works on people with OCD

Brown University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In exploring how serotonin affects how people learn and adapt to changes, researchers found that the neurotransmitter helps reduce "belief stickiness" — the tendency to get stuck on an old idea despite new contradicting evidence. According to the researchers, the discovery, detailed in Nature Mental Health, holds important implications for the understanding and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Journal: Nature Mental Health

Preschool teachers test children's social skills

Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new test that uses emojis can check the social skills of preschoolers. A vocabulary test is underway.

Journal: Frontiers in Education

Buying your way to better health comes at the expense of others

Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Private health insurance contributes to poorer health among people with the lowest levels of education.

Journal: Health Policy

Why are young people’s sleep and mental health so poor? Researchers point to ‘vicious cycles’ as possible explanation

University of Copenhagen
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study from the University of Copenhagen maps a complex network of factors that may trap young adults in poor sleep patterns and mental distress. The research is already being used to target interventions for young people in a Danish municipality.

Journal: BMC Medicine

Social mammals live longer – but bigger groups don’t add many extra years

University of Southern Denmark
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Mammals that live with others tend to live longer than those that live alone, according to the largest comparative study of mammalian lifespan to date. Using data from 1,436 mammal species, researchers found that species living in pairs or groups consistently outlive solitary species, even after accounting for body size and evolutionary history.

Journal: Ecology and Evolution