EurekAlert! News by Subject: Social & Behavior

Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 23-Jun-2026 11:15 ET (23-Jun-2026 15:15 GMT/UTC)

30-Mar-2026

Pinpointing Europe’s Digital Dependencies

University of Bonn
Reports and Proceedings

From computer chips and cloud computing to artificial intelligence, Germany and the rest of Europe want to become less dependent on digital technologies from abroad by driving forward their own innovations. The Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) at the University of Bonn has now prepared a policy brief, in cooperation with the Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications, Vodafone’s European think tank. The paper tackles the continent’s “digital trade deficit” and shows how hidden trade dependencies on the US and China are raising questions about the effectiveness of current European strategies.

30-Mar-2026

Toward strategies for extending ketamine’s antidepressant effects

Yokohama City University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Treatment-resistant depression affects a large proportion of people with major depressive disorder, and while ketamine offers rapid relief, its antidepressant effects fade within a few weeks. Now, researchers from Japan have identified the enzyme NOX-1 as a key molecular target to prolong ketamine’s antidepressant effects. Their findings shed light on key molecular and brain circuit mechanisms and point to new research directions for developing longer-lasting treatments for depression.

Journal: Molecular Psychiatry
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Takeda Science Foundation, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development

30-Mar-2026

Study challenges neo-liberal higher education model by revisiting Confucius’ dual ideals of the ideal individual and social order

ECNU Review of Education
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The dominant Anglo-American Research University model has long been criticized for failing to address contemporary global challenges. A new study by researchers from Southern University of Science and Technology and The University of Hong Kong revisits Confucius’ dual imaginaries—the ideal man (Junzi) and the ideal social order (Tianxia)—to propose a reimagined framework for higher education. The study argues that Confucius’ ideals offer a relational, contextual, and internally driven alternative to prevailing neo-liberal models.

Journal: ECNU Review of Education

30-Mar-2026

Screen time among children and adolescents has increased over three decades – especially after COVID-19 pandemic

University of Turku
Peer-Reviewed Publication

First systematic review to track long-term trends across pre- and post-pandemic periods finds dramatic rise in screen use among children and adolescents.

Journal: Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

30-Mar-2026

Normative messaging bridges the partisan gap in pandemic risk-taking, study shows

University of Plymouth
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research led by the University of Plymouth (UK) demonstrates that clear messages can align public behaviour during a health crisis, effectively bridging gaps previously associated with political voting records. The research was carried out around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and recruited more than 800 United States citizens who had voted for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Journal: Journal of Behavioral Decision Making

30-Mar-2026

A study links armed conflict in Colombia with higher tuberculosis cases and mortality

Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The prolonged armed conflict in Colombia has had a significant impact on tuberculosis (TB) incidence and mortality. This is revealed by a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), which aimed to develop a municipal-level armed conflict intensity index and analyse how it relates to inequalities in the tuberculosis burden.

Journal: BMJ Global Health

30-Mar-2026

Choosing embryos based on genetic predictions raises new ethical and legal concerns

Hokkaido University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The article examines the emerging use of genomic testing to predict complex traits in embryos, such as intelligence or the risk of developing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s disease later in life. As embryo testing moves beyond disease prevention toward the prediction of complex human social characteristics, the author argues that stronger oversight and clearer regulations are needed.

Journal: Frontiers in Reproductive Health