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Beauty Sick

How the cultural obsession with appearance hurts girls and women.

Bias
Body Dissatisfaction Is Expensive

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on March 28, 2024

A new analysis estimates that body dissatisfaction and appearance-based discrimination create billions of dollars in costs for individuals, the government, and society at large.

A new analysis estimates that body dissatisfaction and appearance-based discrimination create billions of dollars in costs for individuals, the government, and society at large.

Education
Gender Diversity in Physics Classes Benefits Men and Women

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on March 24, 2024

New research across 124 physics classrooms finds that a brief belongingness intervention can have remarkable outcomes, but only if classrooms are gender diverse.

New research across 124 physics classrooms finds that a brief belongingness intervention can have remarkable outcomes, but only if classrooms are gender diverse.

Depression
Negative Moods Are Revealed in Teen Girls’ Language

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on January 15, 2024

Consistent with the idea that depression makes us self-focused, a new study shows that girls who are feeling sad use more first-person pronouns when typing on their phones.

Consistent with the idea that depression makes us self-focused, a new study shows that girls who are feeling sad use more first-person pronouns when typing on their phones.

Bias
What Depression Actually Looks Like

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on December 28, 2023

A new series of studies shows just how hard it can be to recognize depression—especially when we let our ideas of what a typical depressed person looks like affect our judgments.

A new series of studies shows just how hard it can be to recognize depression—especially when we let our ideas of what a typical depressed person looks like affect our judgments.

Body Image
Online Shopping Can Be a Blow to Body Image

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on December 17, 2023

Online shopping can be fun, but can also leave many women feeling worse about themselves. Browsing for activewear, in particular, seems to pack a negative psychological punch.

Online shopping can be fun, but can also leave many women feeling worse about themselves. Browsing for activewear, in particular, seems to pack a negative psychological punch.

Body Image
How Influencers Make Young Women Feel Bad

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on September 25, 2023

Social media influencers can have a negative impact on young women’s mood and body image, new research finds—especially when the images they post are sexualized.

Social media influencers can have a negative impact on young women’s mood and body image, new research finds—especially when the images they post are sexualized.

Narcissism
Narcissistic Men Have Higher Testosterone

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on September 12, 2023

New research finds that men who score high on the type of narcissism associated with status-seeking and ego-boosting have higher levels of testosterone.

New research finds that men who score high on the type of narcissism associated with status-seeking and ego-boosting have higher levels of testosterone.

Gender
What Happens When Children Think Girls Are Bad at Math

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on August 30, 2023

A new study finds that even in classrooms where girls outperform boys on math tests, classmates’ belief that boys are better at math still has a negative impact.

A new study finds that even in classrooms where girls outperform boys on math tests, classmates’ belief that boys are better at math still has a negative impact.

Eating Disorders
Food Insecurity Makes Disordered Eating More Likely

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on June 6, 2023

The stereotype is that people with eating disorders are wealthy. But new research shows that those who experience food insecurity are at high risk of disordered eating.

The stereotype is that people with eating disorders are wealthy. But new research shows that those who experience food insecurity are at high risk of disordered eating.

Alcoholism
Alcohol and Zoom: A Recipe for Depression?

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on March 12, 2023

New research shows that focusing on your own face during video calls worsens your mood, and drinking while Zooming makes you even more likely to focus on yourself.

New research shows that focusing on your own face during video calls worsens your mood, and drinking while Zooming makes you even more likely to focus on yourself.

Fear
Do Men Hog the Microphone at Q&A Sessions?

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on December 6, 2022

New research finds that at academic conferences, men tend to be first to the microphone and women report feeling less comfortable asking questions of speakers.

New research finds that at academic conferences, men tend to be first to the microphone and women report feeling less comfortable asking questions of speakers.

Family Dynamics
How Much Do Our Siblings Shape Who We Are?

Renee Engeln Ph.D. on September 26, 2022

Theories about how the presence of brothers or sisters affects our personalities abound. But do our siblings really influence our personalities as much as we imagine?

Theories about how the presence of brothers or sisters affects our personalities abound. But do our siblings really influence our personalities as much as we imagine?