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Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Children with mothers suffering from domestic violence prone to mental health issues, study says
New Delhi: Children of mothers suffering from domestic violence in India are significantly associated with mental health disorders including anxiety and depression in teenagers , a study has found. The findings, published in the journal PLOS One, underscore the need for school programs sensitive to trauma and improved prevention of domestic violence in India. Researchers from the cVEDA Consortium , National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, and international institutes looked at nearly 2,800 teen-mother pairs. The data was collected from seven centres across urban and rural India, examining mental health disorders among teenagers aged 12-17 years and psychological, physical, and sexual abuse affecting their mothers. Mothers experiencing abuse were "significantly associated with adolescent common mental disorders including anxiety and depression," the authors wrote. "Depressive disorders specifically were associated with physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, while anxiety disorders were associated only with physical and sexual abuse". One in three women in India are estimated to suffer domestic violence, making them more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidality. This link has been well demonstrated in Western studies, the researchers said. They added that studies in India show that exposure to domestic violence is related to adverse outcomes at birth -- miscarriage, still and pre-mature birth -- and emotional, behavioural, and academic difficulties in children. However, knowledge gaps remain on how mothers experiencing domestic violence can impact the mental health of children, for which cultural aspects of domestic violence -- joint families and emotional means -- need to be looked at. The joint family system -- a woman living with her husband's family -- can serve as a support, but also enable domestic violence directly or indirectly by exerting influence on the man, the authors explained. Emotional violence by forcing women to return to their parental homes, physical means of resorting to stones and chemicals to inflict hurt and controlling birth outcomes by withholding contraception until a boy is born, are some other types of domestic violence. Psychological violence was found to include verbal threats and harassment, and deprivation of resources, possibly more noticed by children, the authors said. The findings are in line with previous studies that have shown noticeable changes in the behaviour and academic performance of teens witnessing violence in their homes, indicating they are absorbing its effects, they said. Adolescence is a critical period during which milestones related to one's thought processes, social conduct and personality are achieved. Teenage years could also thus be a period when one is vulnerable to the effects of witnessing their mother suffering domestic violence -- this exposure has been studied to set the affected up for a higher chance of chronic diseases and psychological disorders, the team said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Children with mothers suffering from domestic violence prone to mental health issues, study says
Children of mothers suffering from domestic violence in India are significantly associated with mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression in teenagers, a study has found. The findings, published in the journal PLOS One, underscore the need for school programs sensitive to trauma and improved prevention of domestic violence in India. Researchers from the cVEDA Consortium, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, and international institutes looked at nearly 2,800 teen-mother pairs. The data was collected from seven centres across urban and rural India, examining mental health disorders among teenagers aged 12-17 years and psychological, physical, and sexual abuse affecting their mothers. Mothers experiencing abuse were "significantly associated with adolescent common mental disorders including anxiety and depression," the authors wrote. "Depressive disorders specifically were associated with physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, while anxiety disorders were associated only with physical and sexual abuse". One in three women in India are estimated to suffer domestic violence, making them more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidality. This link has been well demonstrated in Western studies, the researchers said. They added that studies in India show that exposure to domestic violence is related to adverse outcomes at birth -- miscarriage, still and pre-mature birth — and emotional, behavioural, and academic difficulties in children. However, knowledge gaps remain on how mothers experiencing domestic violence can impact the mental health of children, for which cultural aspects of domestic violence — joint families and emotional means — need to be looked at. 'The joint family system — a woman living with her husband's family — can serve as a support, but also enable domestic violence directly or indirectly by exerting influence on the man,' the authors explained. Emotional violence by forcing women to return to their parental homes, physical means of resorting to stones and chemicals to inflict hurt, and controlling birth outcomes by withholding contraception until a boy is born, are some other types of domestic violence. 'Psychological violence was found to include verbal threats and harassment, and deprivation of resources, possibly more noticed by children,' the authors said. 'The findings are in line with previous studies that have shown noticeable changes in the behaviour and academic performance of teens witnessing violence in their homes, indicating they are absorbing its effects,' they said. Adolescence is a critical period during which milestones related to one's thought processes, social conduct and personality are achieved. 'Teenage years could also thus be a period when one is vulnerable to the effects of witnessing their mother suffering domestic violence — this exposure has been studied to set the affected up for a higher chance of chronic diseases and psychological disorders,' the team said. Help line 181 is intended to provide 24 hours assistance and emergency response to women affected by violence.
DW
2 days ago
- Science
- DW
Cats can sniff out owners, study finds – DW – 05/28/2025
Cats use scent to tell their owners apart from strangers. But a cat's disposition also plays a part, according to a Japanese study. A new study by researchers at the Tokyo University of Agriculture in Japan has identified patterns of behavior shown by cats toward humans they know, such as their owners, and strangers. Previous research suggested that cats rely on their sensitive noses to identify other cats as friend or foe. But whether that same function applies to detecting humans was not fully understood. So, the researchers in Japan took 30 domestic cats and tested their responses to a range of special scents. The cats' owners provided samples of their scents by swabbing their underarms, behind their ears and between their toes. These swabs were then presented to the cats in a tube. And the researchers monitored the behavior shown by each cat and the time they spent sniffing the scent samples. They repeated the process with swabs from humans the cats did not know, and also with a blank swab, or placebo, as a measure to control or verify the test. Their results appear to show that the cats spent twice as long smelling samples from strangers than samples from their owners, and that they favored their right nostrils over their left nostrils when sniffing the swabs from strangers. Spanish lab clones dogs, cats for grieving owners To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The research team thinks the choice of nostril may correspond to the way in which many animals process new information. "Dogs, but also fish, birds, and other vertebrates process novel information using the right brain hemisphere," they wrote in a study paper published May 28, 2025, in the journal PLOS One . "The left brain is responsible [...] when a routine response emerges." The researchers said that while their findings suggested a cat's sense of smell was a tool for their recognizing humans, they could not conclude that smell was the most important mechanism for cats to do that. A cat's personality influences how they interact with humans Personality traits may also play a role in how cats interact with odors — human or otherwise. The researchers asked the cat owners to complete a survey about their cats' personalities. They then tried to match those personality traits with the behaviors they observed during the smelling test, in a hope that this would enable them to identify behavioral differences among cats in responding to smells. They observed that among male cats, the more "neurotic" ones repeatedly returned to the smell tubes, while those described as being more "agreeable" rarely returned to a scent. No behavioral differences were identified among female cats. A Japanese research group found cats use their right nostril when exposed to the scent of an unknown human, rather than their left nostril, which they tend to use when smelling the scent of someone they know Image: IMAGO/ingimage The personality traits were quantified using a test known as "the Feline Five ." That test was developed by another research team for a study of about 3,000 cats in Australia and New Zealand. In that study, published in 2017, highly neurotic cats were described as "insecure, anxious, fearful [of people], suspicious and shy." More agreeable cats were described as "affectionate, friendly to people and gentle." The test was originally pitched as a tool to support animal welfare in the home, by helping owners create safe environments for their cats. Another attempt to understand mysterious 'moggies' While dogs are often called "man's best friend," cats have a reputation for being mercurial, wayward, untamed domestic cohabitants. For example, one study from the University of Leeds found that cats don't bond with humans in the same way as dogs do. "Adult cats are typically quite autonomous, even in their social relationships, and not necessarily dependent on others to provide a sense of security and safety," said the authors of that study when it was published in 2015. So, although this latest study from Japan may suggest cats are able to recognize their human companions, they may still think very little of them. Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
How emojis are shaping the future of work communications
For some, emojis are at odds with the serious world of business. — AFP Relaxnews Gone are the days of cold emails and dry, emotionless exchanges. Emojis are now becoming a common feature of professional messaging. Far from being a mere gimmick, these colorful little symbols are redefining the codes of business communications. This shift divides as much as it fascinates, but it could well make our working relationships feel more human. A recent Atlassian-YouGov* survey confirms that nine in ten Gen Z workers are in favour of using emojis at work. Indeed, this generation, which will account for 30% of the workforce by 2030, is shaking up the rules of the game. While their elders cling to their formal work emails, younger workers are all about expressiveness and responsiveness. But this difference of opinion is not without consequences. At a time when the written word is replacing physical meetings in many companies, a misinterpreted message can be costly. Some 40 hours a year are lost by a third of the workforce due to unclear written communications. In this new context, every word counts. Hence the growing interest in these little symbols. A simple "ok' sounds dry, even hostile. Add a thumbs-up or a wink, and the tone changes completely. Emojis become our virtual gestures: they convey emotion, nuance the message, and humanize the exchange. It's hardly surprising that 65% of employees use emojis to convey their emotions, and that 78% prefer to read a message containing emojis. But not everyone is following suit. Fewer than one in two Boomer and Generation X employees approve of this shift in professional communications. For them, these colorful symbols are at odds with the serious world of business. This discrepancy can create tension when a manager perceives an emoji as inappropriate, whereas a younger employee simply wants to add a human touch to their exchange. Misunderstanding sets in, and there's a growing risk of widening the generation gap within teams. The art of emoji use Yet the benefits of this emoji-based communication are measurable, with greater clarity, stronger social bonds and reduced stress. Some companies are even integrating emojis into their team culture. As a result, employees feel more connected, better understood, and less burdened by the unspoken words that plague productivity. But this new form of expression requires finesse. Not all emojis are created equal, and some can be confusing, depending on the context and the user. A study published in 2024 in the journal PLOS One also revealed significant cultural differences in the interpretation of these pictograms, depending on people's nationality. Experts recommend using simple, universal emojis and adapting their use to each situation. As with any language, it's accuracy that makes the difference between a successful message and a misunderstanding. More than just a passing fad, emojis are a performance lever for tomorrow's workplaces – emotional intelligence condensed into a few pixels. Provided, of course, that you use them wisely. – AFP Relationship *The survey, conducted by Atlassian in collaboration with YouGov from August 8 to 24, 2024, questioned 10,000 employees across five international markets (USA, Australia, France, Germany and India) about their communications and productivity at work.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cats smell — their owners, that is
A new study by researchers at the Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan, identified patterns of behavior shown by cats towards humans they know, such as their owners, and strangers. Previous research suggested cats rely on their sensitive noses to identify other cats as friend or foe. But whether that same function applies to detecting humans was not fully understood. So, the researchers in Japan took 30 domestic cats and tested their responses to a range of special scents. The cats' owners provided samples of their scents by swabbing their underarms, behind their ears and between their toes. These swabs were then presented to the cats in a tube. And the researchers monitored the behavior shown by each cat and the time they spent sniffing the scent samples. They repeated the process with swabs from humans the cats did not know, and also with a blank swab, or placebo, as a measure to control or verify the test. Their results appear to show that the cats spent twice as long smelling samples from strangers than samples from their owners, and that they favored their right nostrils over their left nostrils when sniffing the swabs from strangers. The research team thinks the choice of nostril may correspond to the way in which many animals process new information. "Dogs, but also fish, birds, and other vertebrates process novel information using the right brain hemisphere," they wrote in a study paper published May 28, 2025, in the journal PLOS One. "The left brain is responsible [...] when a routine response emerges." The researchers said that while their findings suggested a cat's sense of smell was a tool for their recognizing humans, they could not conclude that smell was the most important mechanism for cats to do that. Personality traits may also play a role in how cats interact with odors — human or otherwise. The researchers asked the cat owners to complete a survey about their cats' personalities. They then tried to match those personality traits with the behaviors they observed during the smelling test, in a hope that this would enable them to identify behavioral differences among cats in responding to smells. They observed that among male cats, the more "neurotic" ones repeatedly returned to the smell tubes, while those described as being more "agreeable" rarely returned to a scent. No behavioral differences were identified among female cats. The personality traits were quantified using a test known as the Feline Five. That test was developed by another research team for a study of about 3,000 cats in Australia and New Zealand. In that study, published in 2017, highly neurotic cats were described as "insecure, anxious, fearful [of people], suspicious and shy." More agreeable cats were described as "affectionate, friendly to people and gentle." The test was originally pitched as a tool to support animal welfare in the home, by helping owners create safe environments for their cats. While dogs are often called "man's best friend", cats have a reputation for being mercurial, wayward, untamed domestic cohabiters. For example, one study from the University of Leeds found that cats don't bond with humans in the same way as dogs do: "Adult cats are typically quite autonomous, even in their social relationships, and not necessarily dependent on others to provide a sense of security and safety," said the authors of that study when it was published in 2015. So, although this latest study from Japan may suggest cats are able to recognize their human companions, they may still think very little of them. Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany Behavioral responses of domestic cats to human odor, PLOS ONE, 2025 The Feline Five: An exploration of personality in pet cats (Felis catus), PLOS ONE, 2017
