EurekAlert! News by Subject: Social & Behavior

Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Jun-2026 07:15 ET (21-Jun-2026 11:15 GMT/UTC)

28-Apr-2026

TikTok’s muscle dream is a nightmare for young men

Flinders University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New Australian research has found that popular fitness and supplement videos on TikTok can leave young men feeling worse about their fitness and nutrition, and increase their interest in using muscle‑building supplements. The Flinders University study, published in the international journal Body Image, is one of the first to experimentally test the immediate impact of TikTok content on young men’s body satisfaction and health intentions

Journal: Body Image

28-Apr-2026

Study reveals century-long cycles in U.S. suicide rates and a long-term crisis among youth

University of Utah Health
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Suicide rates in the United States follow striking, decades-long cycles likely shaped by broad social forces, according to a new study. But beneath that long-term rise-and-fall pattern, researchers uncovered a deeply concerning and persistent trend: suicide risk among young people has been rising steadily for more than half a century, affecting each new generation earlier in life.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

28-Apr-2026

Having a religious affiliation doesn’t prevent betting on sports

Ohio State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Having a religious affiliation doesn’t stop people from betting on sports in the United States, according to a new study. Results showed that people who infrequently attend religious services are more likely to gamble on sports than people who attend services at least weekly or who never worship publicly. Catholics – and especially Catholic men – stood out in the data as a group most likely to engage in sports gambling.

Journal: Sociology of Sport Journal

28-Apr-2026

The Frontiers of Knowledge Award goes to the ISR (University of Michigan) and NORC at the University of Chicago, as global leaders in social science based on reliable data at the service of the public interest

BBVA Foundation
Grant and Award Announcement

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Social Sciences has gone in this 18th edition to the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan and NORC at the University of Chicago for “their long-term contribution to the objective measurement of public opinion and social life,” in the words of the committee. They are recognized as having created “a reliable and unsurpassed source for social scientists, policymakers, and journalists” through their extensive data series built up over eight decades of research.

28-Apr-2026

Hemp waste biocomposites offer a lower-carbon alternative for packaging and agricultural films

Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts
Peer-Reviewed Publication

As global plastic production continues to rise, replacing fossil-based plastics with renewable and biodegradable alternatives has become increasingly urgent. Researchers have now evaluated hemp hurd-based biocomposite films as sustainable substitutes for conventional packaging and mulch films using a full cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment. Published in Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, the study demonstrates that these biocomposites maintain mechanical performance comparable to conventional plastics while offering clear environmental advantages. Among the disposal options studied, anaerobic digestion showed the lowest global warming potential due to electricity generation from biogas and the reuse of digestate as a soil conditioner. The results provide practical guidance for integrating agricultural residues into circular bioplastic systems and improving waste management strategies for emerging bio-based materials.

Journal: Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts

28-Apr-2026

Racism and socioeconomic stress may alter pregnancy biology, leaving black women nearly three times more likely to die

University of Cambridge
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A University of Cambridge study has found that stresses such as systemic racism and socioeconomic disadvantage may sensitise key processes in the body during pregnancy, helping to explain why black women and their babies face significantly higher rates of complication than white women.

Journal: Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism

28-Apr-2026

How a free flow of information can amplify incorrect ideas

University of Groningen
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Simulations by a team of scientists, including University of Groningen Professor of Artificial Intelligence Davide Grossi, show that an unrestricted flow of information can amplify incorrect ideas amongst like-minded people.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences