How the Mediterranean Diet Might Help Protect Against Depression

Introduction The various stages of the menstrual cycle affect women in many ways: physically, hormonally, and mentally. Rarely throughout the cycle are females in a state of homeostasis (Mitra et al., 2025). This constant fluctuation in hormone levels and physical symptoms severely affects the lives of these females, as it can result in distraction, lower academic or workplace performance, and negative physical health (Mitra et al., 2025; Bhuvaneswari et al., 2019). The effects aren’t exactly minor. Mitra et al. used this study to examine the physical and mental benefits of participating in a yoga program during the menstrual cycle for college-aged women. The authors suggest that engagement in regular yoga programs will have overall positive benefits on women’s psychophysiological health throughout the typical menstrual cycle. The study was conducted using 82 college-aged females from India who have a normal menstrual cycle and don’t regularly practice yoga. Methods Prospective participants went through an extensive screening process to ensure they met the necessary criteria. Self-report questionnaires were then used to record the various stages of the menstrual cycle, basal body temperature, and menstrual distress symptoms. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) was also administered. Participants in the experimental group engaged in regular, guided yoga and mindfulness practice, following the same sequence of movements, for a period of three months, and their reported results were then compared to the responses of the control group. Notably, there was no biological measure of hormone or stress levels; the data relied entirely on self-report. 

With the highest rates of social networking service use occurring among women aged 18-29, it is important to study the impact of photo-based platforms like Instagram on body image in this demographic (Cohen et al., 2017). Cohen et al.’s study, The relationship between Facebook and Instagram appearance-focused activities and body image concerns in young women, examined 259 Australian women between the ages of 18 and 29 to assess the correlation between appearance-focused social media use and body image concerns such as self-monitoring and thin-ideal internalization. Societal standards often push women toward “self-objectification” to obtain what is prized by society (Cohen et al., 2017). Women may observe current trends and begin comparing themselves to celebrities without consciously considering the negative implications. While these possibilities are troubling, some may be quick to demonize social media for its role in the alarming prevalence of body image issues among young women. This study offers a more specific perspective by comparing appearance-neutral social media use, such as following travel accounts, with appearance-focused social media use, such as monitoring friends’ photos, within this vulnerable demographic.

It’s not a new idea that walking can provide a creative boost. While prior literature focused mainly on more intense aerobic exercise, the authors aimed to test whether a simple and accessible activity like walking could improve creativity both in the moment and shortly afterward. Specifically, the study examined how walking affects divergent thinking (brainstorming) versus convergent thinking (finding a single correct solution), with the goal of identifying an easy method for boosting creativity (Oppezzo & Schwartz, 2014). The study includes four experiments assessing how walking affects creativity. Experiment 1 shows that walking on a treadmill improves divergent thinking. Experiment 2 addresses practice effects and finds that the benefits of walking persist even after participants sit down. Experiment 3 shows that these benefits also occur in outdoor settings. Finally, Experiment 4 provides evidence that walking, rather than simply being outdoors, contributes to the increase in creativity.

Introduction Screen use among adolescents has grown rapidly, and so have concerns about what it's doing to their mental health. According to Santos et al. (2023), using devices on weekdays has been associated with diminished overall mental well-being. Adolescence already carries an increased risk for mental health problems, so it is important to monitor both how much time teens spend on screens and what they're consuming. Excluding schoolwork, media-related activities take up around six to nine hours of an American adolescent's day (Santos et al., 2023). That's a lot of time. This systematic review aimed to highlight the effects of screen exposure on a wide range of mental health aspects in adolescents. These include conduct issues, disorders such as depression, psychosocial difficulties, life satisfaction, and more. The study contributes to our knowledge of how adolescents interact with screens and how increased exposure may affect their well-being.  Methods Santos et al. (2023) followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), meaning the researchers gathered and analyzed existing articles published in the last ten years rather than collecting new data. The methodological quality of each study was determined using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Four reviewers evaluated the studies in pairs, and a fifth reviewer resolved any discrepancies. In total, fifty articles were reviewed, 38 cross-sectional and 12 longitudinal, covering 1,900,447 adolescents. Participants ranged from 10 to 21 years old, and screen time was mostly self-reported.

Introduction Black adolescent boys face unique and serious mental health challenges that are often underaddressed. According to Ribeiro Brown et al. (2022), Black boys are disproportionately exposed to psychosocial stressors such as racial discrimination, community violence, poverty, and attending under-resourced schools. Despite this heightened risk, research on how Black boys seek help and what mental health resources they use remains scarce. Previous research estimates that between 50% and 76.5% of Black youth have unmet mental health service needs. That gap matters. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to examine the types of mental health resources Black high school boys currently use, with the broader goal of informing the development of a tailored mental health education and support program for this population. In this study, mental health resources are broadly defined as any person, platform, tool, or practice that a young person turns to cope with stress and support their emotional wellbeing. The researchers set out to answer one question: What kinds of mental health support resources are Black boys using? Methods Ribeiro Brown et al. (2022) used an exploratory case study design with a qualitative approach, meaning the study focused on in-depth individual and group experiences rather than numerical measurements. The researchers recruited six self-identified Black male high school students from a predominantly Black high school in southeastern Michigan. The participants ranged in age from 15 to 17 years old (mean age = 16.5), with five being high school seniors and one being a sophomore. One participant also identified as Afro-Latino and one as Afro-Caribbean. A Black male PhD-trained researcher led an hour-long focus group over lunch in the fall semester of 2021 to gather data. The focus group questionnaire covered topics like where participants look for information, who they trust for health information, how they handle stress, which social media platforms they use, how they feel about school-based programs, and what qualities would make a person or program trustworthy. The audio recording of the session was transcribed. To find the most common codes and themes, data were evaluated using a Rapid and Accelerated Data Reduction (RADaR) technique in conjunction with traditional text analysis. Results Four major themes emerged from the analysis. The first theme was online resources, including social media (Instagram and Snapchat), websites, and entertainment media. The second theme was community and trusted individuals, with boys reporting that they relied on neighbors, older family members, and community figures who had shared similar life experiences. Participants emphasized that trusted individuals needed to be both relatable and educated. The third theme was self-reliance, where some boys expressed a preference for handling stress independently, reflecting a cultural norm of emotional self-management common among Black adolescents. The fourth theme was additional needs, where participants identified gaps in culturally tailored programs, positive role models, and school support.

The purpose of this study is to understand how daily activities such as meal preparation and cooking can support individuals recovering from severe mental illness (SMI). Individuals with SMI can experience difficulties in daily life, and Garcia and Privott (2023) sought to understand how meal preparation and cooking groups could support the transition to independent community living through occupational therapy. Occupational therapy uses everyday activities to support clients’ physical and mental health. Another goal of the study was to better understand the challenges individuals with SMI face so that more effective interventions can be developed. The study focused on one participant who had experienced long-term institutionalization and later transitioned to independent living.

The highest proportion of people with alcohol disorders are aged between 18 and 29 (Hingson R, Annu Rev), which includes a majority of enrolled university students. Heavy alcohol use and “binge drinking” are also very well documented among college students. Given that universities maintain a reputation for being academically rigorous, there is concern that alcohol misuse could harm academic achievement. Ansari, Stock, and Mills designed the study to assess the associations between five alcohol consumption variables (length of time of last drinking occasion; number of drinks consumed during the last drinking occasion; frequency of alcohol consumption; heavy episode drinking; and problem drinking) and three academic achievement indicators (importance of good grades, performance relative to peers, and module mark). The researchers aimed to determine what type of drinking was most associated with academic outcomes and explore which academic achievement measures were most associated with alcohol consumption.

Undergraduate students often face significant lifestyle shifts during their transition to university, including newfound autonomy and increased social and academic demands, which can lead to poor mental and physical health (Hagedorn et al., 2021). This period is frequently marked by high rates of sleep disruption and the emergence of food insecurity, defined as limited or uncertain access to safe and nutritious food, both of which are linked to decreased academic success and retention. Hagedorn and colleagues (2021) explored the associations between food insecurity, sleep quality, and the frequency of poor mental and physical health days among college students. The study, which used a cross-sectional design, analyzed data from a large sample of 17,686 students across twenty-two higher education institutions in the United States, finding that food-insecure students were significantly more likely to experience poor sleep quality and higher levels of psychological and physical distress than students who ate more nutritious foods. To assess student well-being, researchers administered an online survey to 17,686 college students across twenty-two higher education institutions in the United States. Food security status was measured using the USDA's ten-item Adult Food Security Survey, modified to capture the timeframe since the students began college. Sleep quality was evaluated using the nineteen-item Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while mental and physical health were assessed through the Healthy Days Core Module, which tracks the number of days in the past month that health issues interfered with daily activities. Multivariate logistic regression was then used to determine the relationship between food security and these health outcomes, expressed as an Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR).

Introduction Being a college student in this day and age comes with a plethora of stressors, from academic pressure and financial instability to social expectations and uncertainty about the future. As a result, struggling with anxiety and depression is not uncommon in this environment. At the same time, as online mental health services continue to expand, therapy has become more accessible than ever, allowing students to seek support from the comfort and privacy of their own dorm rooms. Mental health conversations are more visible than ever among young adults, especially on college campuses and social media. However, visibility does not always translate into equal access or willingness to seek help. Gender expectations continue to influence how college students understand emotional struggles, whether they seek professional support, and how they experience mental health care once they receive it. Mental health struggles among college students have become increasingly common in recent years (Bird et al., 2020). Academic pressure, financial stress, social expectations, and uncertainty about the future can all contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and emotional burnout. Although mental health conversations have become more normalized, many students still hesitate to seek professional help. Research suggests that stigma and gender expectations continue to play a major role in shaping attitudes toward therapy and mental health services (Bird et al., 2020). Studies consistently show that women are generally more likely than men to seek professional psychological help and to hold more positive attitudes toward therapy (Ang et al., 2004). Researchers have found these gender differences across multiple cultures and age groups, suggesting that the gap is not limited to one specific population. At the same time, these differences are often connected to broader social expectations surrounding masculinity and femininity rather than biology alone. Traditional masculine norms frequently emphasize independence, emotional control, and self-reliance, which can discourage men from openly discussing emotional struggles or asking for help (Courtenay, 2000). According to Will Courtenay’s theory of masculinity and health, many health-related behaviors are tied to how individuals “perform” gender socially (Courtenay, 2000). In this framework, avoiding vulnerability or refusing help can become associated with appearing strong or masculine. Research on college-aged men similarly found that gender stereotypes and masculine beliefs can negatively influence help-seeking behaviors (Juvrud & Rennels, 2017). Men may fear appearing weak, dependent, or emotionally unstable if they pursue therapy or counseling services. Meanwhile, women are often socialized to be more emotionally expressive and open about personal struggles, which may make therapy feel more socially acceptable for them. However, stigma affects both men and women, even if it appears differently. Researchers studying college students found that public stigma and self-stigma are major barriers preventing students from utilizing mental health services (Bird et al., 2020). Public stigma refers to negative societal perceptions about people who seek mental health treatment, while self-stigma occurs when individuals internalize those beliefs and judge themselves negatively for needing help (Bird et al., 2020). Another study found that attitudes toward therapy and stigma often influence help-seeking decisions more strongly than the actual severity of psychological symptoms themselves (Baptista & Zanon, 2017). In other words, even students experiencing serious anxiety, depression, or stress may avoid seeking treatment because of shame, fear of judgment, or discomfort with vulnerability.  The rise of online mental health services has also introduced new conversations surrounding accessibility and comfort. Online counseling offers convenience, privacy, and easier access for students who may feel intimidated by traditional face-to-face therapy (Bird et al., 2020). However, research shows that many college students still view face-to-face counseling more favorably and report stronger intentions to pursue in-person therapy (Bird et al., 2020). While online therapy may reduce certain barriers, stigma and personal attitudes toward mental health treatment continue to influence whether students actually utilize these services. Rather than suggesting that one gender struggles more than another, current research demonstrates that men and women may experience different social pressures surrounding emotional expression and help-seeking. These differences can influence how college students perceive therapy, whether they seek professional support, and how comfortable they feel utilizing mental health services.