UM: Mental Health

USA Today reports on two psychological studies co-authored by UM research assistant professor Kira Birditt and presented at the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting. The first study found that adult children’s problems adversely affect their parents’ mental health. “If you think your kid is a problem, it’s going to make you unhappy,” Birditt said. The other study compared the levels of stress in engaging in an argument versus avoiding an argument. “Avoidance basically has a lingering effect and arguments don’t,” Birditt said. [Source]