Sleep is a basic physiological need that all human beings experience. It is such an important and overwhelming need that we spend about one third of our lives asleep. Unsatisfactory sleep results in irritability, increased pain sensitivity, decreased daytime alertness, and apathy (Webb, 1975). Satisfactory sleep enhances our sense of well-being (Shirmer, 1983). The adverseRead more ⟶
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If not dieting, how to lose weight? Tips and tricks for a better global and cardiovascular health
AbstractWeight loss is a popular topic and may be of serious concern for many patients. Even with the abundant literature on obesity and cardiometabolic risk, it is always challenging to demystify and reinforce the determinants of safe approaches to lose weight. Measures of central obesity are essential to characterize the patient’s adiposity distribution and shouldRead more ⟶
Low-carbohydrate diets for athletes: what evidence?
IntroExercise scientists teach that since muscle glycogen utilisation occurs at high rates (during high-intensity exercise in carbohydrate-adapted athletes), all athletes must be advised to ingest large amounts of carbohydrate before and during exercise. But this does not seem entirely logical. Why, for example, should athletes involved in prolonged submaximal exercise—probably the most common form ofRead more ⟶
Meditation
IntroMeditation practices which have appeared across cultures and at different times are briefly described, as well as the mechanics of meditation practices in the West. The research problems which arise in examining the effects of meditation are outlined and the research literature reviewed under three headings: the psychophysiological correlates of meditation; personality change associated withRead more ⟶
Personal growth and personal development: concepts clarified
A distinction can be drawn between personal development and personal growth. Despite their similarities, linguistic analysis shows the two concepts to convey different ideas. Personal development is a process concerned with specific aspects of the individual: the development of ‘what’, and the ways this can be planned, achieved and evaluated. Personal growth, on the otherRead more ⟶
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT: Stability and Change
AbstractIn this review, we evaluate four topics in the study of personality development where discernible progress has been made since 1995. We (a) evaluate research about the structure of personality in childhood and in adulthood, with special attention to possible developmental changes in the lower-order components of broad traits; (b) summarize new directions in behavioralRead more ⟶
Reducing Anxiety to Prevent Depression
AbstractDepression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders. Accordingly, treatment research has flourished; however, prevention efforts have lagged behind. The extant literature is reviewed on the relationship between anxiety and depression and the potential for childhood anxiety interventions to reduce the risks of secondary depression. Additionally, methodological issues and recommendations in the design ofRead more ⟶
Stress, Inflammation, and Yoga Practice
Objective: To address the mechanisms underlying hatha yoga’s potential stress-reduction benefits, we compared inflammatory and endocrine responses of novice and expert yoga practitioners before, during, and after a restorative hatha yoga session, as well as in two control conditions. Stressors before each of the three conditions provided data on the extent to which yoga speeded anRead more ⟶
The Determinants of Parenting Behavior
Explored factors that influence parenting behavior through examination of previously reported and more recently developed models for predicting parenting behavior. Patterson’s behavioral model, Abidin’s initial model of parenting stress, and Belsky’s process model of determinants of parenting are reviewed. A proposed model is presented to improve on previous models by integrating sociological, environmental, and behavioralRead more ⟶
The Health Benefits of Yoga and Exercise: A Review of Comparison Studies
AbstractObjectives: Exercise is considered an acceptable method for improving and maintaining physical and emotional health. A growing body of evidence supports the belief that yoga benefits physical and mental health via down-regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The purpose of this article is to provide a scholarly review of theRead more ⟶