Curious

Does Having A Dog Make You Happier Than Having A Cat?

The eternal debate between cat people and dog people, finally has a concrete answer. Research is now investigating the bond humans share with both animals. However, it seems like the findings confirm that having a dog does make you happier than having a cat.

Scientific Research Can Prove It

A series of studies realized by the University of Chicago, targeted both dogs and cats owners. Their investigation process was transmitted through their General Social Survey. They researched the pros and cons of having each a pet, then proceeded with self-esteem and emotions of each category of owners.

Eventually, the findings did confirm what a previous professor at Manhattan College said: Dog owners are happier.

Why Does Having A Dog Make You Happier Than Having A Cat?

Yes, the study did come to the conclusion that on average, dog people admitted to be more happy. In addition, the surveys conducted reflected that 36% of dog owners said to be ”very happy.’‘ As oppose to only 18% of cat owners were able to say the same.

Consequently, dogs transmit more positivity to their owners than cats do. Dog people have shown to be more extrovert and open-minded than those who only have cats.

Benefits of Having A Pet

Wether you prefer dogs or you prefer cats, having a pe in general is good for you. Actually, in a study done by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , “pet owners exhibited greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, were less lonely, were more conscientious, were more socially outgoing, and had healthier relationship styles than non-owners.”

Moreover, animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been encouraged by many psychologists. Pet therapy is said to lower anxiety , ease depression and motivate you. Did you know that the University of Miami offers pet therapy to their students during midterms and finals?

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Tips To Help You Reduce Your Smartphone Addiction

In a pure technological era, not having a cell phone is absolutely rare. However, since the outbreak of social media, and the emergence of mobile internet, smartphones are some of the most sold items worldwide.

Several research and studies have warned against the harms of smartphone addiction. In fact, they have several serious consequences such as insomnia, brain and eye damage, and endless psychological troubles. Here are some tips from us, in order to help you reduce your smartphone addiction.

Track Your Usage

Most smartphones now allow the feature of tracking your usage. This way, you know how much time you spend, and where you spend it. Our dependence on social media has side effects that we are often not even aware of. Research backed up the theory that social media creates an urge of creating content to feel worthy.

Calm Your Mind

It is absolutely important to sometimes just push the button off. Basically, dependence on social media has wired the brain to release dopamine when someone likes your picture, or talks to you. In fact, you can replace the creation of this temporary pleasure, through natural ways such as meditation.

Stick To Your Plan

If you tell yourself that you will only use your phone for few hours a day, then stick to it. You can try to schedule your hours to check your phone, instead of being on it all day. For example, you can turn the wifi off once at work, so you can focus on doing one task at a time.

Read Before Bed

Replacing social media with books is a genius idea. Not only that it simulates your brain, it also help you fall asleep faster. Rays coming out from your phone screen and significantly more harmful at night. Research have also found a correlation between smartphone usage and insomnia.

Turn Off Notifications

Turn off your notifications at night for a peaceful night rest. Even though you are thinking about that special person, or waiting for a special text, just allow yourself to take a break. Relax, the messages will still be there tomorrow, and you’ll have gained a good night sleep with no disturbance.

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Study Reveals Men Don’t Consider Kissing As Cheating

Do you consider kissing another person while in a relationship as cheating? While the typical answer might be yes, you need to think again. This British study revealed that a big portion of men do not consider kissing as cheating. In fact, the results varied significantly between men and women, to show to what extent each gender has its own different vision.

The Study Included 5000 People

5000 people participated in the study case. It was conducted by Charities Relate and Relationships Scotland, and found out that 19% of men believe that ”passionately kissing someone other than their partner is acceptable.”

Although cheating could be a relative concept, the study focused on both young and older generations. The first group being participants between 16-24 years old, and the second category targeted those who are over 25 years old.

Shocking Research Results

the research classified the ‘‘tinder generation” as the most possessive. Actually, 45 per cent of women admitted that they consider even flirting as cheating. As oppose to only 30% of older age range women considered splitting up with their partner over flirting.

Results of this study were a bit shocking, as half the men said that kissing is not cheating for them. on the other hand, women showed the contrary. If anything, this illustrates the gap between the way men and women perceive certain things.

Results Were Different Between Men and Women

Only 9% of the women who participated in the study revealed that they didn’t consider kissing as cheating. However, over 73% actually did.

Charities Relate and Relationships Scotland blamed the British system for the lack of quality sex education. BBC Radio 5 reported that ignorance is what’s leading to higher cheating and divorce rates lately. They suggested couple counseling as an effective method to increase communication in relationships, and eventually avoid clashing point of views.

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Home Remedies to Eliminate Bad Breath

Although it is very hard to smell our own breath, we are always self-conscious about the smell of our mouths. In fact, sometimes we even have to resort to a friend in order to reassure us that we don’t have bad breath.

The mouth is an area which creates a perfect atmosphere for bacteria. Therefore, everyone has a stinky breath once in a while. However, this condition could affect certain people more than others. Here is a list of home remedies for you, in order to eliminate bad breath.

Good Dental Hygiene

Undoubtedly, the main reason behind having bad breath is poor dental hygiene. Plaque buildup increases the chances of accumulating bacteria. Always choose a toothpaste high on fluoride, and brush your teeth correctly 2-3 times a day.

In addition, and to prevent tooth decay and bad breaths from food stuck between teeth, try to floss at least once per day. Also, do not forget to scrape your tongue as it gathers a huge amount of bacteria daily.

Chlorophyll

Furthermore, to make sure that you eliminate bad breath once and for all, you should stick to a cleaning routine. Studies have been arguing that chlorophyll is quite efficient to get rid of bad breath.

Chlorophyll is the chemoprotein that gives plants their green color. Apparently, they are responsible for a major part of the good health benefits of leafy veggies on our well-being. Although it hasn’t been tested on human breath, some researchers recommend chewing on Parsley few times a day, in order to eliminate bad breath.

Homemade Mouth Wash

Mouth wash is easily obtainable at the grocery store, but you can also easily create your own at home. Medical research showed that high concentrations of baking soda effectively reduce bad breath. Therefore, you can mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of warm water and use it to rinse your mouth after brushing.

In addition, you can also try making a mouthwash from 2tablespoons of white vinegar and warm water. Since vinegar is very acidic and bacteria hate growing in acidic environment. This homemade solutions could help eliminate bad breath from your mouth.

Photos: Pixabay

Why Do We Eat More With Other People?

With the holidays, we realize how much we do enjoy eating with company. The added pounds are not only from the extra-calories we gain through the holiday food. In fact, some of them have to do with the quantity of food we allow ourselves to eat. Therefore, if you were wondering about the reasons why we eat more with other people, then here is the scientific explanation.

This Study Reveals The Truth

In a case study back in 2006, an experiment gathered 132 people and gave them either 12 or 36 minutes to eat cookies and pizza. The main point was to show that the longer you take to eat, the more you end up eating.

The participants were seated alone, in pairs or in group of 4. However, the results of careful observation of behavior, found that the size of the group didn’t matter. Actually, regardless of the number of companions, eating with people increases your food intake.

Our Drive To Indulge Is Triggered By The Need to Behave

Eating with other people increases your consumption time, because you are also focused on social interactions as oppose to merely eating. According to another Japanese study, sharing food with others means also sharing your eating habits. Moreover, they explained that we get the need to ”behave” which usually affects how much we eat.

Furthermore, eating with familiar people triggers a different social facilitation than with strangers. Because in the latter, you tend to watch out for what you are eating, and people tend to go for smaller portions than desired.

Is It Good For You To Eat With Other People?

Finally, the answer to question is neither a yes nor a no. Being able to eat with other people increases our social interactions and allows us to eat slower, even if we eat too much. On the other hand, eating alone consists of one main focus, which is the act of eating. However, new emerging research argues that eating in front of a mirror is the best form of eating for you. Well, that explains why many restaurants have prominent mirrors everywhere.

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The Best And Worst European Countries For Job Prospects

After years of studying to get a degree, you have to face the job market. Actually, job hunting is one of most stressful things you have to do. Nevertheless, certain countries offer better conditions for job prospects, and are relatively easier to settle in, than others. If you are a recent grad, check out the new revealed list of the best and worst European Countries to get a job.

Glassdoor’s Research Report Revealed

Glassdoor teamed up with Llewellyn Consulting to produce the report. This analysis included 17 countries in Europe, and was based on several factors. First, the change in the employment rate (employment gap) since global crisis. Also, it took a look at the unemployment rate, including for the young, as well as temporary employment rates. The report used the United states as their benchmark.

UK and Estonia Lead The Chart

Brexit and the crisis of 2008 didn’t seem to do much harm to the United Kingdom. Research show that the gradual recovery from the crisis enabled the UK to stay on top, in terms of job prospects.

On the other hand, Estonia also ranked high in strong job offers. In fact, both Estonia and Norway have ranked first and second, followed by the UK and Austria.

Spain, Greece and Portugal Rank The Worst

However, the poor labor market performance have placed Spain, Greece and Portugal as the hardest countries for job prospects. While Germany‘s complicated paper work has improved, the Spanish and Portuguese ones have gone to worst. The report also disclosed that the tough economic crisis that hit Spain and Greece is to blame for this result. Both countries have at least 25 per cent of the population suffering from unemployment.

In conclusion, Nordic countries offer stronger and better employment possibilities. On the contrary, Mediterranean countries have the worst economic dynamism in general. Although the reasons for this employment gap between European countries is yet to be explained, it may have something to do with the quality of life in general in the different areas of the continent.

Photos: Pixabay