Life News (Social & Behavioral Sciences)

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The Virginia Tech media relations office has the following experts available for interviews on holiday related topics.

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People generally can’t tell the difference between AI and human art, but they prefer the latter — even if they can’t explain it

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CHICAGO — In the toy aisle of a nearby store, hundreds of dolls, LEGO sets and stuffed animals await becoming a child’s favorite gift of the year. During this holiday season, consider how gifting a new plastic toy may impact the environment. Christie Klimas, associate professor of environmental science at DePaul University, researches the environmental impact of children’s toys​.

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If you feel overworked and stressed, you’ll be less committed to your job and perform less well. Many companies are aware of this problem and, therefore, spend money on professionals to look after the mental health of their employees. And yet there’s a much simpler and more cost-effective way to increase satisfaction and efficiency: In a one-week study, just 30 minutes less social media use per day improved the mental health, job satisfaction and commitment of the participants.

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An online treatment for insomnia may improve both sleep and problem drinking patterns in people who drink heavily, according to a study in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research.

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Snacks constitute almost a quarter of a day’s calories in U.S. adults and account for about one-third of daily added sugar, a new study suggests.

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Patients with a history of suicidality experience increased risk in the days surrounding menstruation

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A new study led by the University of Portsmouth in England has tested the hypothesis that people are more likely to find someone attractive while drunk, because their face appears more symmetrical.

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Research by William Toledo, assistant professor of secondary education at Cal State Fullerton, revealed several ways K-12 classrooms can lack inclusion and how LGBTQ+ teachers can add support for students' success and well-being in the classroom

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One of the greatest philosophical thought exercises that has challenged the concept of identity, is the Ship of Theseus paradox. It poses the question: Are we the same person over time? The original meaning of ‘Identity’ is derived from Medieval Latin identitas or idem meaning ‘sameness’ or ‘same’. But ‘sameness’ has been difficult to comprehend.

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Ian Kuijt, a professor in the Department of Anthropology, and William Donaruma, a professor of the practice in the Department of Film, Television and Theatre, both at the University of Notre Dame, visited Ukraine to document the extent of damage to cultural sites including churches, schools, opera houses, libraries and archaeological sites.

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As presented at the 2023 Society for Risk Analysis Annual Conference, Gabriel Rubin from Montclair State University conducted 40 interviews with members of Gen Z (as of publication) in an ongoing study about risk factors that have led to the current mental health crisis in young people.

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Studies on sustainability inevitably touch on food-related topics like food security, culinary heritage, and the sustenance of vulnerable people. Social sustainability is one of the three pillars of sustainability, alongside environmental and economic sustainability, and has become a pivotal topic in various research fields.

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