A new study from Rice University reveals how financial stress disrupts sleep by increasing “stress-before-bed behaviors” such as worry, tension and mental overactivation at night. Tracking full-time Army and Air National Guard members over nine months, researchers found that economic strain predicted elevated bedtime stress, which then led to shorter sleep, more insomnia symptoms and lower sleep satisfaction. The findings highlight a measurable pathway connecting money stress to sleep health and point to strategies for workplaces and individuals to help break the stress–sleep cycle.

George Mason University youth mental health researcher Melissa Villodas explores the complex influence of neighborhood amenities in shaping youth depression and anxiety.

New research from Rice University and the University of Alberta shows that residents who believe their neighborhoods were exposed to toxic contamination during flooding report significantly higher concerns about future storms and their long-term well-being. The study analyzed survey responses from Houston residents following Hurricane Harvey, focusing on worries related to home, health and neighborhood safety. Researchers found that the combination of flooding and suspected contamination—not flooding alone—was strongly associated with elevated climate concerns, particularly in coastal industrial communities and communities of color. The authors argue that industrial pollution and climate-related flood risks are increasingly interconnected challenges that require coordinated planning and policy responses. The study, published in Natural Hazards Review, highlights the need for improved strategies to protect vulnerable neighborhoods as severe weather events intensify.