Tidbits on paternity, weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, immune system, puberty, and not-so-desperate housewives.
By
PT Staff, published on November 01, 2005 - last reviewed on June 12, 2007
Who's Her Daddy?
About one in 25 fathers may unknowingly be raising another man's child, according to a U.K. study. Health-care workers who uncover such disturbing discrepancies need guidelines for how to reveal such information, and to whom, say researchers.
Fat Chance
Foods sweetened with corn syrup or fructose—such as sodas and juice—may spur the body to prematurely convert calories to fat, according to a University of Cincinnati study. Total calorie intake may not be the only explanation for weight gain, say researchers.
Powerful Stuff
Keeping slim may not be the only way to fight Type 2 diabetes. According to an article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, men who eat low-fat dairy products reduce their risk of developing diabetes. In the study, each daily serving was linked to a 9 percent reduction in risk. The evidence that dairy foods help people lose weight, however, is mixed.
The so-called "hygiene hypothesis," which states that having older siblings "trains" the immune system to fight disease, doesn't hold up when it comes to multiple sclerosis. People who are the baby of the family develop MS at the same rate as older siblings. Previous studies have found that late birth order is linked to lower rates of asthma and lymphoma.
Early Bloomers
Girls who hit puberty early aren't likelier than their peers to be overweight, contrary to previous reports. According to a Tufts University study, being overweight as a preteen seems to be a cause rather than an effect of early development and menstruation.
Not-So-Desperate Housewives?
Long hours at the office may not automatically damage a couple's sex life, according to a Louisiana Tech University study.
Psychologist Jonathan Schwartz and his team tracked the sexual habits of nearly 100 married couples for one year. The wives of men who were most dedicated to their jobs—measured as hours spent at the office—reported they were happier with their sex lives than women whose husbands were home more often.
The finding contradicts previous studies linking work and marriage quality. The researchers speculate that in some cases confidence on the job might be a sexual stimulant, at least for men. Or perhaps male workaholics make up for time spent away from home in the bedroom.
New Friends: Negatives Attract
Next time you are hoping to get to know someone a little better, steer the conversation toward your mutual dislikes instead of what you both enjoy.
A Texas Tech University study finds that in the early stages of a relationship, sharing pet peeves or negative opinions, such as a deep disdain for Britney Spears, can bring people closer together than can mutual passion.
Expressing a strong negative opinion is risky, but sharing such attitudes can build intimacy quickly because they allow for greater differentiation than do positive attitudes. The payoff is especially strong if people share idiosyncratic opinions.
Post-It Persuasion: Read Me Now!
Need a quick response from a colleague? Use a Post-it note.
Volunteers who were asked to fill out a survey were more likely to do so—and give more detailed answers—if it included a handwritten sticky. Writing on the survey cover page wasn't as persuasive.
Randy Garner, a psychology professor at Sam Houston University in Texas, says the Post-it is perceived as a request for a personal favor, even between strangers.
The study appeared in the Journal of Consumer Psychology.
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