Winter 2012

Caregiver personality traits affect mental, physical health
Taking care of an aging or disabled loved one can be hazardous to your health, but certain personality traits appear to reduce caregivers’ risk for health problems.

Obama’s election changed racial identity of black students
A new Cornell study reports that the 2008 election changed African-American college students’ perceptions of being black.

New approach could more effectively diagnose personality disorders
Personality disorders could be more effectively diagnosed by identifying and targeting the disrupted neurobiological systems where the disorders originate, says Depue.

Kids under chronic stress more likely to become obese
The more ongoing stress children are exposed to, the greater the odds they will become obese by adolescence, reports Evans.

Meet HD’s newest faculty member, Felix Thoemmes
Please welcome our newest faculty member, Felix Thoemmes, assistant professor in the department of human development in Cornell’s College of Human Ecology.

Women leave math-intensive science fields when they decide to have kids
Women with advanced degrees in math-intensive academic fields drop out of fast-track research careers primarily because they want children, report Williams and Ceci.

New Book on teen brains can help improve reasoning, decision making
The book “The Adolescent Brain: Learning, Reasoning and Decision Making,” co-edited by Valerie Reyna, focuses on teen brain development and high cognition, which is critical for good reasoning.

New book shares life lessons from ‘wisest Americans’
Gerontologist Karl Pillemer’s new book, “30 Lessons for Living,” gleans advice on living better and aging well from more than 1,200 older Americans.

Students in the News

Playing with little ones brings child development to life
Big Red Buddies is a new program that places Cornell students at the Cornell Child Care Center to read to and play with the children – and to learn and be inspired.