Researchers analyzed data of 2,398 participants ranging in age from 18 to 101 to test the notion of resilience—how successfully people adapt after exposure to stressful or potentially traumatic life events or circumstances. The findings, which are reported online prior to the print edition of the Journal of Personality and Social, show those who experienced some adverse events reported better mental health and well-being than those exposed to high levels of adversity or no adversity at all. (HealthDay News, 10/20/10)
Depression May be Due to Poor Food Choices: Eating fatty junk food may contribute to depression, according to a new study. Spanish researchers followed 12,059 people over six years, analyzing their diets, lifestyles and medical problems. The people who ate the most trans fats, which are commonly found in pastries and fast food, had a 48 percent increased risk of depression compared with people who did not eat those foods. Individuals who ate a lot of healthier polyunsaturated foods had a lower risk of depression, the researchers report in the journal PLoS One. (Los Angeles Times, 1/26/11)