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Arts Prescription Helped Young Adults Build Routine but Caused Stress

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A 2026 qualitative study of a 10-week Danish Arts on Prescription program found that young adults aged 18 to 30 often described more stable daily routine, confidence, and belonging, but some activities also caused stress, fatigue, or discomfort.1 The useful interpretation is structured creative groups may help some disconnected young adults rebuild daily life when …

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Chronic Disease Linked Loneliness to Cognitive Risk

A longitudinal MIDUS analysis involving 840 adults found that loneliness scores higher than a person's objective social-isolation score were linked to later cognitive impairment mainly through chronic disease burden, while the allostatic-load pathway was weaker than the chronic-disease pathway and not statistically confirmed for the main cognitive outcomes.1 Research Highlights Loneliness was separated from isolation: …

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PTSD Social Function Therapy Improved Family Function in Older Veterans

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A 2026 pilot randomized trial involving 36 older U.S. veterans with PTSD symptoms found that a structured social-function group therapy produced stronger signals for romantic and family functioning than a support group, with condition-by-time effects of eta-squared = 0.072 and eta-squared = 0.112. The same trial did not show a specific advantage for friendships and …

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ME/CFS Memorial Entries: 505 Death Narratives Show Suicide Risk Gaps

MHD featured image for ME/CFS memorial entries, systemic neglect, and suicide risk.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disabling multisystem illness marked by post-exertional malaise, cognitive dysfunction, pain, sleep disruption, and autonomic symptoms; a 2026 PLOS One qualitative analysis of 505 memorial entries found that bereaved accounts repeatedly placed death inside 4 overlapping contexts: systemic neglect, clinical dismissal, social disconnection, and personal functional collapse.1 Research Highlights …

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Hikikomori & Loneliness in Japan: Trends, Definitions, Demographics (2024 Report)

In Japan, a country facing unique demographic challenges, loneliness has emerged as a pressing public health issue, intricately linked with the phenomenon known as hikikomori, or extreme social withdrawal. Through a detailed analysis of a nationwide survey and various factors influencing loneliness, a new study sheds light on the complexity of social isolation in modern …

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Living Alone Increases Risk of Depression in U.S. Adults 18+ (2021 NHIS Survey Insights)

In a comprehensive analysis of the 2021 National Health Interview Survey, stark differences in self-reported feelings of depression based on living arrangements come to light. The study reveals that adults living alone are more likely to report feelings of depression compared to those living with others, underscoring the complex interplay between social dynamics and mental …

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