Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Our mission is to understand and intervene on the social determinants of health and health equity across the life-course.
677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building
Boston, MA 02115
News
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Extreme temperatures impact teens’ mental health
Exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures can affect adolescents’ mental health and behavior.
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Considering rural areas’ complexity in shaping health interventions
There’s no one-size-fits-all definition of what constitutes a rural community in the U.S., but there are four distinct patterns of rurality, each with strengths and deficits upon which tailored health interventions can be built, according to Harvard Chan School’s Jen Cruz.
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Mental health declined among U.S. adults from 2011 to 2022
The number of U.S. adults who reported poor mental health rose significantly—and inequitably across social groups—between 2011 and 2022, according to a new Harvard Chan School study.
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Meta’s fact-checking changes raise concerns about spread of science misinformation
Meta’s announcement that it would end its use of fact-checkers has raised concerns about the spread of science misinformation.
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New report addresses misinformation about science
K. Vish Viswanath discussed findings from the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine report on science misinformation.
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Kindness linked to better physical health, longevity
Regularly volunteering and engaging in other acts of kindness can boost not just mental health but also physical health, according to Harvard Chan School researchers.
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A ‘to do’ list for policymakers
The 119th Congress will be sworn in early next month, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health faculty have suggestions.
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The deadly habit we can’t quite kick
Actions by tobacco companies worry researcher even amid ‘dramatic decrease’ in smoking among young Americans
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How muscle-building imagery, supplement use can harm teen boys
A new documentary shines a spotlight on how body image pressures that boys experience from social media can damage their mental health and push them into disordered behaviors. The documentary—Generation Flex, produced by Men’s Health—features Harvard Chan School’s S. Bryn Austin.
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Opinion: LGBTQ+ families are worried about losing rights
In the wake of Donald Trump’s election, LGBTQ+ families in the U.S. fear that they will lose fundamental legal protections, according to Harvard Chan School’s Sabra Katz-Wise.
