Latest news with #2022study
Forbes
31-07-2025
- General
- Forbes
1 Underrated Skill That Uplifts Your Relationship, By A Psychologist
There are days when your self-belief runs dry. Your motivation flickers. The future feels foggy. You know there's something ahead, but you just can't see it clearly. And in romantic relationships, these moments can feel even more fragile. You might question yourself, your partner's intentions or even the relationship's future. A 2022 study published in Social and Personality Psychology Compass offers a powerful lens through which to understand these moments, as invitations to lean into something called 'relational hope.' Unlike the traditional view of hope as an internal, individual trait, new findings suggest that hope also thrives 'between' people, particularly in close relationships. This emerging model of relational hope proposes that couples can build and borrow hope through three key facets: the wills (relational agency), the ways (relational pathways) and the wishes (relational aspirations) that partners co-create over time. In other words, even when you can't summon belief on your own, your relationship can become a vessel for it. Hope doesn't have to begin within you, it can actually be sparked by someone beside you. Here's how relational hope works, and how you can gently lean into it when your self-belief is struggling. 1. Relational Agency Relational agency is the shared energy you and your partner bring to pursue relationship goals, from rebuilding trust and resolving conflict to simply reconnecting after experiencing emotional distance. In long-term relationships, motivation naturally waxes and wanes. Sometimes you'll feel hopeful and driven. Other times your partner will carry that load. And that's a skill you want to embrace. In a 2014 study of 795 married couples, researchers found that each partner's effort directly influenced not only their own relationship satisfaction, but also their spouse's. For example, when one partner reported putting effort into the relationship through care, time or emotional investment, the other partner reported higher satisfaction and lower divorce proneness. This suggests that your partner's motivation can measurably improve your sense of relational security. The study confirms what many couples sense intuitively. Sometimes, it's enough for just one person to believe. To act. To try. That energy is easily contagious, and relationship effort does not work in isolation. So, when you're depleted or doubting yourself constantly, remember that letting your partner 'hold the vision' is a form of co-regulation; a temporary transfer of belief that sustains both people. Your willingness to receive that kind of support says more about your emotional strength than pretending you want to do it all alone. Letting someone believe in you, and in the relationship when you can't, is one of the most courageous relational acts. 2. Relational Pathways Hope is not just about wishing. It's also about knowing how exactly you'll get through something together. In strong relationships, couples don't rely solely on emotion to get them through. They develop strategies or relational pathways that they can return to when things feel heavy. Perhaps a walk around the block, a rule to pause before arguing, a check-in every Friday night. These aren't random habits. They're rituals of regulation. In a 2012 study, researchers found that dyadic coping (managing stress together as a couple) is a stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction than how they cope individually. More interestingly, pragmatic coping, or practical teamwork (like planning, problem-solving and helping each other through action) had mutual benefits for both partners. Emotional support alone didn't show the same effect. So, when one of you says 'We'll get through this,' 'Let's do what always helps us,' or 'This is tough, but we've been here before and now we have better tools to navigate this,' remember that it's not just words of comfort. These are the rays of hope you've built together. They lower stress, improve communication and remind you that you have a way through, and you've walked it before. Perhaps the next time you feel stuck, try asking: 'What's something that has worked for us before when things felt off? Can we try that again?' And remember, you don't need to reinvent hope. Sometimes, all you need is just a reminder of where your experience has helped you store it. 3. Relational Aspirations When the present feels uncertain or strained, talking about the future that you're building together can reignite passion and connection. These relational aspirations, consisting of your desire of growing old side by side, planning a trip or imagining your future home, serve as emotional anchors during difficult times. Additionally, this also affirms your commitment out loud. A 2023 study, for instance, shows that committed partners tend to offer more verbal assurances about the relationship's future and spend more time being physically present with their partner. These small, everyday behaviors like saying 'we'll figure this out' or choosing to sit together after a long day are signs that you're in for a truly shared, supportive future. The 2023 study also shows that these verbal and behavioral investments actually mediate the link between commitment and time spent together, suggesting that the future lives in daily action. When couples engage in conversations, even if casually, perhaps about the life they're creating, it reinforces commitment and builds a sense of continuity that makes it easier to navigate the present. So, next time things feel uncertain, don't be shy to bring up your shared 'why.' Get curious about 'Where do you see us five years from now?' or daydream out loud. Sometimes doing something corny or silly is just what it takes to reaffirm the future you're already investing in today. Remember, however, that blind optimism in unhealthy or completely stagnant relationships can delay necessary change or mask deeper issues. Healthy relational hope is active, not passive. If, at any point, you feel off, reflect on whether: Curious whether your relationship has the hope to carry you through? Take the research-backed Relationship Satisfaction Scale to find out.
Medscape
05-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Grass Pollen: A Double Threat to Allergy Patients
Patients with pollen allergy who were exposed to higher concentrations of grass pollen were more likely to have physical symptoms and impairments in day-to-day life. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted an observational pilot study to assess the association between daily grass pollen concentrations and physical symptoms and daily life impairments experienced by patients with pollen allergy. The analysis included 53 patients (mean age, 41.8 years; 68% women) with grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in Bavaria, Germany, evaluated between May and July 2022. Researchers collected data for the pollen season 2022 from the Electronic Pollen Information Network of Bavaria. An app-based questionnaire was used to collect patients' data on allergic symptoms and treatment measures. They used a physical symptoms index to assess patients' daily eye and nose symptoms and a daily overall impairments index to assess impairments in performance, sleep quality, and activities. TAKEAWAY: The average grass pollen concentration measured between early May and late July 2022 was 37.1 pollen particles/m 3 . . A significant association was observed between grass pollen concentration and both the physical symptoms index (regression coefficient [beta], 0.002; P < .001) and impairments in day-to-day life (beta, 0.00064; P < .048). < .001) and impairments in day-to-day life (beta, 0.00064; < .048). Additionally, pollen levels were significantly associated with performance impairment (beta, 0.0009; P = .027); no significant association was observed with sleep or daily activities. IN PRACTICE: 'To enhance clinical practice, it is essential to address the gap in adequate medical care for pollen allergy patients and prioritize patient education on recognizing and managing allergic rhinitis,' the authors wrote. 'Advancements in technology-assisted self-monitoring could further empower patients in managing their symptoms and understanding the interplay between environmental triggers and allergic complaints,' they added. SOURCE: Jonas Huss, with the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Munich, Germany, was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on May 28 in Scientific Reports. LIMITATIONS: The study relied on physician-diagnosed allergies and self-reported patient data. Additionally, the absence of individualized air pollution or weather data, a limited sample size, and strict exclusion criteria further limited the generalizability of the findings. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.
Health Line
08-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Is Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Insomnia?
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a higher risk of sleep disorders like insomnia. The exact reasons for this are unclear. Although research is mixed, taking vitamin D may boost sleep quality. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that's important for your overall health. This nutrient is involved in maintaining the health of your bones, muscles, and immune system. Despite its importance, many people don't have enough vitamin D. A 2022 study estimated that 22% of people in the United States have a moderate deficiency in vitamin D while 2.6% have a severe deficiency. A vitamin D deficiency can have several notable effects on your health. One of these is insomnia. What's the link between vitamin D and insomnia? Insomnia is a sleep disorder where you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. It's also associated with poor quality sleep, meaning you feel unrested and sleepy during the day, even if you do manage to get some sleep. Researchers have observed an association between vitamin D deficiency and sleep disorders. For example, a 2018 review of nine studies linked vitamin D deficiency to a higher risk of sleep disorders. It also associated vitamin D deficiency with poor sleep quality, shorter sleep duration, and increased sleepiness during the day. How exactly vitamin D deficiency contributes to insomnia isn't known. A 2020 review notes that receptors for vitamin D are found in areas of the brain associated with sleep. Although more research is needed, it seems that low levels of vitamin D impact how the body regulates sleep. For example, vitamin D is involved in pathways used to make melatonin, a hormone important for the sleep-wake cycle. It may also help regulate genes that code for other proteins that are involved in controlling sleep. What are the symptoms of low vitamin D? Most people with vitamin D deficiency are asymptomatic, which means they don't have any noticeable symptoms. When symptoms are present, they may include things like: fatigue muscle pain muscle weakness bone and joint pain mood changes, such as feeling depressed Long-term vitamin D deficiency can have negative effects on bone health, leading to rickets in children and osteomalacia in teens and adults. Can taking vitamin D help insomnia? If you've been experiencing insomnia lately, you may be wondering if taking a vitamin D supplement will help you get a better night's sleep. Overall, the research into this is mixed. A 2018 clinical trial involving 89 participants with sleep disorders found that taking a 50,000 IU supplement every 2 weeks for 8 weeks improved sleep quality, reduced the time it took to fall asleep, and boosted sleep duration. However, a 2021 clinical trial involving 189 participants with vitamin D deficiency found that taking a 20,000 IU supplement of vitamin D weekly for 4 months showed no improvement in sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, or insomnia. A 2022 review of studies reported that vitamin D supplementation may boost sleep quality. However, the authors noted that this finding should be interpreted with caution due to the limited research into this topic. They also mention that they couldn't find enough data looking at the effects of vitamin D supplements on specific sleep disorders. »MORE: Vitamin D benefits. Can taking vitamin D cause insomnia? It may seem counterintuitive, but taking too much vitamin D may also lead to sleep troubles. This goes back to the link between vitamin D and melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that promotes sleep and its production increases as it gets dark out. Meanwhile, vitamin D can be made during exposure to sunlight. A 2023 review notes that there's a negative correlation between the two. This means that as vitamin D increases, melatonin may decrease. In fact, an older study involving 40 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) found just this. Daily supplementation with a high dose (4,370 IU) of vitamin D decreased nighttime levels of melatonin. Meanwhile, a lower daily dose (800 IU) did not affect melatonin levels. So it's possible that taking too much vitamin D may lead to trouble sleeping. That's why it's important to chat with a healthcare professional before starting a new supplement. They can recommend how much to take and also make you aware of any potential side effects. »MORE: Vitamin D dosage. Takeaway Researchers have linked vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of sleep disorders like insomnia. The exact reason for this isn't known, but it appears to be linked to vitamin D's role in pathways associated with sleep. While it's possible that vitamin D supplementation may improve sleep quality, research into this topic has been mixed. Additionally, taking too much vitamin D may have the opposite effect and actually interfere with sleep. If you're worried that a vitamin D deficiency may be contributing to your sleep troubles, visit a healthcare professional to discuss your concerns. A simple blood test can be used to confirm or rule out a deficiency.
