Psychotherapist Kathleen Saxton has written a book about growing up with a mother or father who is grandiose, entitled, exploitative and lacking in empathy. She discusses how to recognise the signs – and recover Many of Kathleen Saxton’s...
Researchers say findings show inequality creates toxic environment and reducing it is ‘a public health imperative’ Scientists have linked the impact of living in an unequal society to structural changes in the brains of children –...
I’ve already been disavowed of my naive notions that this next parenting stage is entirely stress-free Parenting is a pathway filled with milestones. When I was pregnant, there was the shock of my baby’s first in utero kick. I’ll never...
He is now an adult, so I have no right to dictate the state of his hair or his choice of diet. But I hadn’t expected this to be such an emotional wrench Not counting the many thousands of words I spent complaining about being pregnant, I...
From a coffee club to a meditation group with self-affirmations, brothers are doing it for themselves Ron Holden Jr had one big question on his mind as a coffee shop-loving father of two daughters, two-year-old Layla and one-month-old...
Dropping birthrates are worrying Elon Musk, JD Vance and the like. But their proposed remedies are risible. Here are some surefire winners To the surprise of no one with internet access, surely, we’re still in a birthrate crisis. What...
While not without its challenges, autism isn’t a curse to be cured of, as the likes of the US president and RFK Jr want us to believe Donald Trump’s claims about autism deserve as little oxygen as possible, but it’s been a depressing,...
Society has come a long way in making space for maternal ambivalence and the childfree movement, but those frameworks ask whether we want to have children, not whether we should When I first started researching antinatalism a few years...
The US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has long been consumed by the neurological condition autism – what causes it, and whether there’s a treatment. This week, Donald Trump took on the cause, making claims about acetaminophen,...
New studies show that a bacterial molecule, peptidoglycan, is present in the brain and fluctuates with sleep patterns. This challenges the idea that sleep is solely brain-driven, instead suggesting it’s a collaborative process between...
When artist Krishna Istha and their partner went to sperm banks they were told ‘eye colour, height, PhD or no PhD’; wanting to know a donor’s values led to the creation of their live show First Trimester Get our weekend culture and...
The US president claims the painkiller also known as acetaminophen is linked to autism. Here’s what the science says Donald Trump has urged pregnant women not to take acetaminophen , also known as Tylenol or paracetamol. He claimed it...
Organisers of event urge fathers to push for more equal parental rights in face of Britain’s current poor offering “Who’s in your team?” asked Elliott Rae, pumping up the crowd in central London at what he billed as the world’s first...
Exclusive: The federal government paid big law firms more than $60m in 2024-25 to fight NDIS participants appealing decisions about their care packages. Most families represent themselves Follow our Australia news live blog for latest...
Women’s happiness is measurably lower than it was 20 years ago. But there are steps that can improve your life significantly In 2017, I gave birth to my son, and also a midlife crisis. Suddenly, my two-hour commute from our home in New...
I recognised the longing to be in two places at once. When you have two worlds, you always have to say goodbye to one Last school holidays, I took my daughter to Hong Kong, my birthplace and home for the first eight years of my life. I...
Starring Rosamund Pike as a judge whose son is accused of sexual assault, a filmed version of the hit play lands in UK and Australian cinemas this month When Prima Facie premiered at the Stables Theatre in Sydney in 2019, it sliced...
A sweeping review from NYU Langone Health reveals that everyday exposure to plastics—especially during childhood—poses lasting risks for heart disease, infertility, asthma, and even brain development issues. These chemicals, found in...
Sure, I personally am terminally cautious and aesthetically unadventurous – but I’m the exception “These aren’t your mother’s pantyhose,” I read recently on the New York magazine website , then I scrolled on, because the word “pantyhose”...
On some level, I realised it was a bit unhinged, writes the author and podcaster Elizabeth Day. But what did I have to lose? On 29 December 2022, I received a text. ‘Hi mum I’m texting you off a friends phone I’ve smashed mine and...
On the whole, men I’ve spoken to – like women – want children. But a host of issues, from housing to mental health, is getting in the way “Why aren’t women having babies?” It’s the question on everyone’s lips as the fertility rate...
Having flown the nest, two of our sons are now back under our roof – and the third lives just around the corner It is late on Saturday morning, and the oldest one and I are sitting opposite one another at the kitchen table, staring at...
Preschoolers with ADHD are often given medication right after diagnosis, against medical guidelines that recommend starting with behavioral therapy. Limited access to therapy and physician pressures drive early prescribing, despite risks...
Chronic insomnia may do more than leave you groggy, it could speed up brain aging. A large Mayo Clinic study found that people with long-term sleep troubles were 40% more likely to develop dementia or cognitive impairment, with brain...
UC Berkeley researchers mapped the brain circuits that control growth hormone during sleep, uncovering a feedback system where sleep fuels hormone release, and the hormone regulates wakefulness. The discovery helps explain links between...
Getting a smartphone before age 13 may drastically increase the risk of poor mental health later in life, according to data from more than 100,000 people. Early use is linked to suicidal thoughts, aggression, and detachment, largely...
A long-term study following insomnia patients treated with cannabis-based medical products revealed sustained improvements in sleep quality, mood, and pain management over 18 months. Most participants reported better rest and less...
Using cannabis to self-medicate comes with hidden dangers—new research shows these users face higher paranoia and consume more THC. Childhood trauma further amplifies the risks, especially emotional abuse, which strongly predicts paranoia.
A large-scale review finds that acetaminophen use during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism and ADHD in children. The strongest studies showed the clearest links, pointing to biological pathways like oxidative stress and hormone...
UC Berkeley scientists found oxytocin is key for quickly forming strong friendships, but less critical for mate bonds. In prairie voles, a lack of oxytocin receptors delayed bonding and reduced partner selectivity, changing how the brain...
Scientists at Princeton and the Simons Foundation have identified four biologically distinct subtypes of autism, using data from over 5,000 children and a powerful new computational method. These subtypes—each with unique traits,...
A massive global survey has revealed that people with eating disorders often turn to cannabis and psychedelics like magic mushrooms and LSD to ease their symptoms, rating them more effective than traditional medications. Surprisingly,...
Yoga, Tai Chi, walking, and jogging may be some of the best natural remedies for improving sleep and tackling insomnia, according to a large analysis comparing various treatments. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) remains...
Premature menopause isn t just a hormonal issue it s a deeply emotional one for many women. A new study reveals that almost 30% experience depression, and it s not just about hormone loss but also grief, identity, and support systems.
Struggling to sleep might be the hidden reason why adults with ADHD traits often feel less satisfied with life. New research reveals a strong link between insomnia and reduced well-being in people with ADHD symptoms, suggesting a vicious...
What if your brain is the reason some pain feels unbearable? Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered a hidden brain circuit that gives pain its emotional punch—essentially transforming ordinary discomfort into lasting misery....
Researchers testing urine from 2- to 4-year-olds in four U.S. states uncovered 96 different chemicals, many of them unmonitored and linked to hormone and brain disruption. Legacy toxins like triclosan are slowly declining, yet...
Over a thousand students revealed a striking link between lactose intolerance and nightmare-filled nights, hinting that midnight stomach turmoil from dairy can invade dreams. Researchers suggest simple diet tweaks especially ditching...
Our brains may work best when teetering on the edge of chaos. A new theory suggests that criticality a sweet spot between order and randomness is the secret to learning, memory, and adaptability. When brains drift from this state,...
With $860K in Navy funding, MSU psychologists are developing tools to spot people who can handle complex tasks under pressure. The key? Mastering "placekeeping" staying focused and accurate even when sleep-deprived or interrupted.
A team at Kobe University has created a game-changing resource for autism research: 63 mouse embryonic stem cell lines, each carrying a genetic mutation strongly associated with the disorder. By pairing classic stem cell manipulation...
Teens might finally have a good reason to sleep in on weekends within limits. A new study reveals that teenagers who get up to two extra hours of sleep on weekends show fewer anxiety symptoms than those who don t. But go beyond that...
The effects of artificial intelligence on adolescents are nuanced and complex, according to a new report that calls on developers to prioritize features that protect young people from exploitation, manipulation and the erosion of...
Singing to your infant can significantly boost the baby's mood, according to a recent study. Around the world and across cultures, singing to babies seems to come instinctively to caregivers. Now, new findings support that singing is an...
Coffee can help you stay awake. But what does caffeine actually do to your brain once you're asleep? Using AI, a team of researchers has an answer: it affects the brain's 'criticality'.
A new device that monitors the waste-removal system of the brain may help to prevent Alzheimer s and other neurological diseases, according to a new study. In the study, participants were asleep when they wore the device: a head cap...
It's tempting to think that, with our fancy electric lights and indoor bedrooms, humanity has evolved beyond the natural influence of sunlight when it comes to our sleep routines. But new research shows that our circadian rhythms are...
Parental warmth and affection in early childhood can have life-long physical and mental health benefits for children, and new research points to an important underlying process: children's sense of social safety.
A new study quantifies the amount of sleep loss experienced by first-time mothers in the weeks after giving birth and is the first to identify the unique type of sleep disruption that persists throughout the first months of motherhood.
The U.S. is facing a maternal health crisis with higher rates of maternal mortality than any other high-income country. Social and economic factors, including income, are recognized determinants of maternal morbidity and mortality. In...