Today, we’re looking at three very different studies, but each raises an important question. First, Kratzer et al. (2026) published “Questioning the structural validity of trauma-related dissociative disorders: The latent structure of pathological dissociation across diagnostic groups. In Traumatology. Here are the edited abstract and impact statement:

Models of trauma-related dissociation rely on two conflicting assumptions: dissociation as a single transdiagnostic severity continuum versus dissociative disorders as categorically distinct from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Neither has been tested at the level of symptom organization across diagnostic contexts.

Sometimes, I read two articles and feel confused, so I have decided to share my confusion today. Both studies look at trauma, one early on and one later. First, Kim et al. (2026) published “Multidimensional Resiliency Factors and Psychopathology after Acute Trauma: Results from a prospective cohort study” in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.  Here are the edited abstract and impact statement:

Preventing posttraumatic psychopathology (e.g., depression or posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) following an acute traumatic event requires attention to modifiable factors that may protect against such psychopathology. In this study, we aimed to identify the relative contributions of resiliency factors across multiple domains to posttraumatic psychopathology and to delineate subcomponents that may be most influential.

I tend to present a single study either when it’s long or I think it’s worth spending time thinking about. Today’s choice is due to the latter. Bogaerts, Eggermont & Hopwood (2026) published “A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Feelings of Inner Emptiness in Community Young Adults: Associations with identity and personality functioning, health risk behaviors, and (mal)adaptive coping strategies” in Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment. Here’s the edited abstract:

This is a long one, but if you deal with clients for whom digital engagement may be significant, it may be helpful. Shaleha & Roque (2026) published “Screen Time in Context: Toward a theoretical model of digital engagement across the lifespan” in Developmental Psychology. Here are highly edited excerpts:

Today, I’m providing two studies related to ACEs. Alpugan (2024) published ”The Impact of Early Childhood Adversity on Neurodevelopment: A Comprehensive Review” in J. Neurobehavioral Science. Here are highly edited excerpts:

The early years of childhood are crucial for brain development, characterized by rapid growth and high plasticity.

We’re looking at four studies of depression today. First, Nagrodzki, Passamonti, Schweizer, Stretton, Knights, Henson & Wolpe (2025) published “Behavioral and Brain Differences in the Processing of Negative Emotion in Previously Depressed Individuals: An exploratory analysis of population-based data” in Emotion. Here’s the edited abstract:

Depressed individuals show significant biases in the processing of emotional stimuli, focusing attention on negative facial expressions (termed “attentional negativity bias”).

Today we’re looking at three articles on parenting. First, Sadri & Yates (2024) published “Maternal Support in Preschool and Child Behavior Problems: The mediating role of childhood emotion knowledge” in Developmental Psychology. Here are the edited abstract and impact statement:

Children’s emotion knowledge encompasses abilities to recognize and label emotions in the service of positive adaptation.

I hadn’t seen research on derailment and found this study intriguing. Dai, Feng, Zong, Zou & Qiao (2025) published “The Role of Derailment in the Relationship between Childhood Trauma and Depression among Emerging Adults: A latent moderated model” in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Here are highly edited excerpts:

Childhood trauma has been demonstrated to have severe adverse effects on lifespan. Although research has explored the link between childhood trauma and depression, fewer studies have examined this relationship specifically in the context of emerging adulthood.

Today, we’re looking at two very different studies of memory in the aging. First, Noël & Picard (2025) “Why Humor’s Positive Effect on Memory Disappears with Aging” in Emotion. Here’s the edited abstract:

Numerous studies have highlighted the beneficial effect of humor on memory in younger adults. While older adults are known to preferentially process positive information and appreciate humor, no study has investigated whether the effect of humor on memory persists in aging.

I’ve had some long posts lately, so here’s a short one I found intriguing. Soden, Bhat, Anderson & Friston (2025) published “The Meltdown Pathway: A multidisciplinary account of autistic meltdowns” in Psychological Review. Here’s the edited abstract:

Autistic meltdowns are fits of intense frustration and often physical violence elicited by sensory and cognitive stressors. Despite the high prevalence of meltdowns among autistic individuals, the neural mechanisms that underlie this response are not yet well understood.

I could have called this potpourri, but I chose the title because each study today makes what I think is a helpful distinction. First, Mostajabi, Sperry, King & Wright (2025) published “Uncovering Urgency in Daily Life: Testing a novel method for assessing emotion–impulsivity co-occurrence in momentary data” in Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

Impulsivity is a personality trait with broad health implications. Urgency is a facet of impulsivity defined as the tendency to engage in rash action when experiencing strong emotions. Thus, as defined, urgency is a dynamic, if … then process.

Today we’re looking at empathy. First, Avnor, Atias, Markus & Shamay-Tsoory (2024) published “It Takes Two to Empathize: Interbrain coupling contributes to distress regulation” in Emotion. Here are edited excerpts:

While extant research on empathy has made significant progress in uncovering the mechanisms underlying the responses of an observer (empathizer) to the distress of another (target), it remains unclear how the interaction between the empathizer and the target contributes to distress regulation in the target.

I’ve written before Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) framework before, but am revisiting it today with new theory and research. First, Trayvick, Adams & Nelson (2024) published “The P300 and Hierarchical Dimensions of Psychopathology” in Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) framework offers the potential to better understand how neurobiological mechanisms relate to psychopathology.

Today, we’re looking at three studies of parenting. First, the bad news. Lorence, Hidalgo, Grasmeijer & Jiménez (2025) published “Parental Competencies for Positive Parenting and Their Measurement: A systematic review” in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Here are the edited abstract and impact statement:

In the absence of a consensual framework on the competencies required for positive parenting, a systematic review was carried out with two objectives:

Today, we’re looking at three studies of the beginning, middle and end of romantic relationships. First, Traut, Gander, Uhlich, Weidmann, Chopik & Grob (2025) published “Examining Change in Attachment in Romantic Couples: The role of relationship characteristics and codevelopment between partners” in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Here’s the edited abstract:

I recently discovered a number of articles related to gender stereotypes. First, Leshin & Rhodes (2025) published “Girls as Objects, Boys as Humans: Young children tend to be objectified along gender lines” in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Here are the edited abstract and impact statement:

Today, we’re looking at studies of clients in rural areas. First, Kruis, Sprouse-McClam, Johnson, Guille & Harvey (2024) published “Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Psychiatric Collaborative Care in Rural United States: A mixed-methods systematic review” in Journal of Rural Mental Health. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

Behavioral health (BH) disorders are highly prevalent in the United States and especially concerning in rural areas, which severely lack access to BH services.

Today, we’re looking at three studies of satisfaction in young adults. First, Lansford et al. (2025) published “Predictors of Young Adults' Primal World Beliefs in Eight Countries” in Child Development. Here’s the edited abstract:

Primal world beliefs (“primals”) capture understanding of general characteristics of the world, such as whether the world is Good and Enticing. Children (N = 1215, 50% girls), mothers, and fathers from Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Philippines, Sweden,

Today I am presenting three articles related to stereotype threat. First, Fourgassie, Subra & Sanitioso (2025) published “Revisiting the Concept of Stereotype Threat(s): Is it all about the situation?” in Psychological Review.  Here’s the edited abstract:

Nearly 30 years ago, Steele and Aronson (1995) proposed the concept of stereotype threat. Despite the rich literature on the topic, the robustness and significance of stereotype threat effects face scrutiny due to unsuccessful replications and meta-analyses.

Today, I look at two studies that I thought were important especially to white professionals working with clients different from themselves. First, Cobb, Schwartz & Martinez (2025) published “A Theory of Cultural Continuity: Heritage culture retention as an important psychological motivation” in Psychological Review.  Here’s the edited abstract:

In this article, we advance the thesis, called the cultural continuity hypothesis, which states that heritage culture retention represents an important psychological motivation that underlies a wide array of human behaviors and that is important for positive psychosocial functioning.