Research Spotlights

Our research spotlights focus on behavioral and social sciences funded by the National Institutes of Health. These articles are for informational purposes only. They do not signify endorsement of specific studies or offer medical or treatment advice.

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Research Spotlights

Using content analysis to understand the usage of stigmatizing language in recent scientific literature and its harmful effect on people living with HIV

“Just enough” diet tracking can still support healthy weight loss

A mouse model of adolescent heavy drinking indicates long lasting brain alterations following binge drinking

Research Spotlights

Using classification models that identify mentions of Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) within clinical notes to develop open-source tools for identifying SDoH categories

Income–associated disparities in children’s brain structure can be alleviated with state-level anti-poverty programs

Factors associated with improvements in physical health and functioning of women during midlife

Research Spotlights

Using machine learning with electronic health records to help predict opioid use disorder among U.S. veterans

Brain maturation sequence sheds light on youth sensitivity to neighborhood impacts through adolescence

Study finds increase in smoking prevalence and age of initiation among US young adults from 2002 to 2019

Research Spotlights

Parental monitoring may moderate the associate between childhood environmental risk and adverse health outcomes into adulthood

In Sub-Saharan Africa, structural biases and legal barriers might contribute to higher HIV prevalence among MSM

Corporal punishment may impact neural systems to produce negative behavioral effects in adolescence

Research Spotlights

The use of mobile devices for calming preschool-aged children may interfere with child development

Community-sourced recommendations from Latinx Trans and Non-Binary Individuals to promote cancer prevention

Research Spotlights

Prosocial tendencies across adolescence may be associated with an underlying ability to tolerate social risks

Risk factors for poor mental health among older LGBT Asian Americans

Negative communication patterns between married couples can lower immune function

Research Spotlights

Medical jargon used in medical settings is poorly understood by patients and contributes to barriers in proper health care communication

Some young adult males living in certain major U.S. cities face a higher risk of firearm death than military deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan

Community mobilization efforts effective in preventing mpox transmission in the U.S.

Research Spotlights

Sustained Effects of Mindfulness Interventions During Pregnancy in a Diverse Pool of Women

Adolescent substance use: Improving detection, prevention, and interventions

Cash incentives can help boost weight-loss programs in individuals living in low-income neighborhoods

Research Spotlights

Telehealth lifestyle intervention reduces blood pressure, with dietitian support leading to greater improvements in secondary cardiometabolic outcomes

Family caregivers face unique challenges caring for discharged COVID-19 ICU patients

Changing state policy contexts are associated with increasing mortality rates among working-age adults in the U.S. ages 25-64 over the past two decades

Research Spotlights

Time-restricted eating feasible and beneficial for cardiometabolic health among shift workers

Anxiety in pregnancy and the association with shorter gestational length

New research shows how the brain differentially stores positive and negative memories