Entries by Justin Preston

New research highlights potential of organizing social support to promote health

Posted by Katie Delach To encourage healthy habits and actions, doctors should leverage patients’ engagement with their friends and families—rather than increasing their interactions with medical professionals. In a new perspective published by the New England Journal of Medicine, behavioral economists suggest a five-step ladder to effectively engineer social engagements that promote health and to test their […]

Being kind serves to elevate your own well-being

Written by Douglas LaBier and originally posted on the Huffington Post I came across this small but useful study from Oxford researchers, and it caught my attention because it’s one more bit of evidence of our underlying interconnectedness. It shows that doing something positive for others enhances our own happiness. The study consisted of a […]

New research asks mentors to reflect on their perceptions of youth and the mentor role

Lakind, D., Akins, M., & Eddy, J. M. (2015). Youth mentoring relationships in context: Mentor perceptions of youth, environment, and the mentor role. Children and Youth Services Review, 53, 52-60.   Summarized by Umass Boston clinical psychology graduate student, Samantha Burton   Introduction: Mentors’ perceptions of their mentees can influence the length of the mentoring […]

Eight Things to Remember about Child Development

Originally Posted by Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child Building on a well-established knowledge base more than half a century in the making, recent advances in the science of early childhood development and its underlying biology provide a deeper understanding that can inform and improve existing policy and practice, as well as help generate new […]

New research shows benefits of small treats in goal attainment

Posted by Andrew Trounson, Futurity.org A new study links simple pleasures with making better progress toward personal goals. Enough simple pleasures can even counter the negative effects of a bad day.   The results have implications for workplace productivity and stress management, says lead author Nicole Mead, associate professor at the University of Melbourne. There […]

New research recommends targeted approach to seeking donations

Posted to Futurity by Matthew Biddle Charities and nonprofits can increase engagement and revenue by suggesting the right donation levels, according to new research. Setting a low suggested amount increased the total number of donations, the study found. Conversely, setting a high default amount increased the average amount donors gave, but resulted in fewer contributions overall. […]

New research points out benefits of group and individual mentoring for girls

Deutsch, N. L., Reitz-Krueger, C. L., Henneberger, A. K., Ehrlich, V. A. F., & Lawrence, E. C. (2016). “It Gave Me Ways to Solve Problems and Ways to Talk to People”: Outcomes From a Combined Group and One-on-One Mentoring Program for Early Adolescent Girls. Journal of Adolescent Research, 0743558416630813. Summarized by Matthew Hagler   Introduction Group […]