There has been much research that has shown bilingual individuals underperforming in standardized vocabulary assessments, yet do better in executive control tasks/cognitive control, compared to monolingual individuals. Hence, researchers questioned whether bilingual children had such a benefit on working memory. Working memory can be defined as the ability to take in and retain information when distracted, processing other information simultaneously, etc.

They hypothesized that bilingual children would have better working memory compared to monolingual children and how it affects them over a span of three years. However, their results demonstrated that their hypothesis was not supported; bilingualism does not provide an advantage in working memory. The monolingual and bilingual children performed equally well!

To read more, click here!

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant

With the rise of technology, music became more accessible, and more genres have emerged! Such genres can impact the lives of the listeners; for example, someone may benefit greatly from instrumental or classical music when studying. In this article, the researchers look at how different genres of music can impact adolescent’s cognitive abilities, stress, etc. 

Jazz was surprisingly the most helpful in improving calmness and decreasing stress in the participants. Classical music greatly increased calmness, which caused lower energy levels in the participants, whereas Hip-hop increased their energy levels and mood. Interestingly, Pop music had no effect in either variables. In addition, they found that calmness and energy are respectively correlated with stress and mood. 

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

Created in Australia, the kids TV show, Bluey, became an international hit among children and families. Though episodes are quite short, each highlights life lessons and emotional growth. For children, the visually appealing graphics and talking dogs foster their imagination, encouraging creativity. However, older audiences not-so secretly enjoy watching this kids’ show as well! One could say that their inner child is healed while watching the therapeutical elements of the show. 

Children may not notice, but older viewers and adults can recognize the adult subtext that’s often in children’s media. In Bluey, the adult subtext is not inappropriate or crude like in other media to garner attention, but the attention from adults in this show comes from the characters being relatable in everyday life. Bluey’s parents are shown to make mistakes, talk about serious topics, or get emotional – all realistic behaviors that real parents engage in. The show closely mirrors real family dynamics, making it comforting and reassuring for parents to see. 

To watch the full Ted Talk, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

In Rusbult’s investment model of romantic commitment, satisfaction and investment correlates with commitment within a romantic relationship. Thus, it can predict the stability of relationships, and even friendships, as the author predicts. The only difference between a romantic relationship and a friendship is that they aren’t exclusive. Individuals can have multiple friends but only one romantic partner (not including polyamory relationships). 

The researchers applied Rusbult’s model onto adolescent best friendships to predict their friendship stability. After analyzing data from adolescent boys and girls of both stable and nonstable friendships, the model was proven to be applicable in friendships and predictive abilities of stability. The better friendship stability, the higher levels of satisfaction, investments, and commitment there would be! These variables are also more important for girls than boys. 

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

There are many types of family support services that can aid children’s mental health, starting in the 1980’s. Parents that are included in their child’s treatments are quite common. In this literature review, the authors discovered and discussed five important types of familial support: informational, instructional, emotional, instrument, and advocacy. 

The authors were curious if family support programs were more effective than regular clinical practices/treatment. Family support services differ from traditional clinical care since it helps the parents with their personal well-being as well as learning about child management. Family-led programs also highlight advocacy and instrumental support. Even with the lack of research of the use of family programs, there is great potential for it to be utilized more in the future to help families! 

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

One of the most common psychiatric disorders in the United States is major depression. It can inhibit one’s daily functioning, regardless of age. Due to the high prevalence of the disorder, there’s an abundance of research aimed at discovering effective and efficient treatments. In this article, the researchers look at past literature that focus on the efficacy of family therapy for depression in multiple studies.  

Based on six studies, family therapy is more effective when compared to no treatment/waiting list. However, when compared to group/behavioral/cognitive interventions, there was no clear conclusion that family therapy is better/as effective as these other treatments. This does not mean it’s not used in treatment, in fact it’s used widely for many patients, but only when clinicians deem it useful. More research is needed to determine if family therapy is the best treatment for individuals with major depression.  

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

Though it’s not often talked about often, sleepwalking is quite common in children. In fact, 1 in 10 school aged children experience sleepwalking episodes. Parents generally notice more noises/sounds from the rooms of their young children rather than their older ones, so it’s more common for younger children to be caught sleepwalking by their parents. It’s important to note that the earlier sleepwalking is treated, the better the outcome for the child will be. 

In this study, the researchers have discovered that sleepwalking is associated with night terrors, restless sleep, and sleep talking. Aside from nighttime activities, it’s also associated with emotional/behavioral issues, usually caused by the sleep problems that affect the children. A stable sleep routine is important for children to minimize any problems that may occur without proper sleep. If they don’t get adequate sleep, they’re more likely to experience daytime problems.  

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

Today, social media is everywhere, used by millions or even billions of people worldwide. Many apps like Instagram, Tiktok, etc., are especially popular among children and adolescents. However, companies are exploiting their vulnerability as minors by ignoring their privacy rights via digital interactions. 

Activist Baroness Beeban Kidron states that “technology is not all to blame, but the technology that should make her day better is actually making it worse.” She created an initiative, “5rights,” that’s designed to ensure children’s rights are delivered in the digital realm. These are: the right to remove, the right to know, the right to safety and support, the right to informed and conscious use, and the right to digital literacy. 

Now, technology is not all bad. It can provide support and entertainment for its users as well! Kidron’s work is not to challenge the app companies, but to make sure that privacy rights are established in the digital world. She doesn’t want “children to be kept offline but support their presence online.” 

To watch the full Ted Talk, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

In childhood, cartoons are one of the most watched types of media among children. But, how does this impact their development? Genetic and environmental factors, as we know, play a role in shaping child development. Cartoons are a type of environmental factor, and depending on what is shown in the cartoon, it can impact the mentality and behavior of young school children. 

There are cartoons that depict violence, which can increase aggressive behaviors in preschoolers. Prosocial behavior can decrease, and the development of such behaviors can be stunted. In addition, cartoons can take up time of childhood, leaving little room for other activities like parent-child interactions. 

Though, this is not to say all cartoons are bad or must not be watched! In fact, there are many benefits to watching cartoons. They can be a baseline to a good mental state in children. Cartoons also act as an alternative to teaching life experience that are not taught from parents and schools! 

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

Changes of the Self happens during adolescence, and it is one of the most prominent changes! Erik Erikson, a children psychoanalyst, came up with eight distinct stages of development. Identity formation happens in adolescence, usually during one’s teenage years, due to the expansion of cognitive abilities. It’s the time when they seek independence, self-discovery, and essentially find meaning in life 

Personality traits (i.e., the Big Five) are embedded in identity formation. It’s not unchangeable; in fact, they are affected by environmental factors (not just genetics) that occur during adolescent development. As one grows older, their personality and identity start to morph into adult-like attributes. 

In summary, personality traits and identity formation can affect one another. It’s important to note that personality traits are not the same as personality types, which this itself requires more research on. To even shape or reshape one’s own identity, it all starts with reconsideration with how they view themselves in the now, and how they want to envision themselves in the future. 

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant