A short round up of psychology research and stories from around the world, with a note from Katya on each. New stories are added every week.
1. Feeling valued is the quiet secret of happy couples
Australia, February 2026
Researchers at the University of Sydney looked at why emotionally intelligent people tend to have happier relationships. The main reason was simple: they make their partner feel valued and appreciated. The study appeared in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
Katya’s note: Tell your partner one specific thing you value about them this week.
Source: PsyPost
2. Many couples do recover after an affair
United States, June 2026
A study led by clinical psychologist Kathy Nickerson found that more couples stay together after infidelity than most people expect. Some go on to rebuild relationships they describe as meaningful and satisfying. The researchers stress that this does not lessen the pain an affair causes.
Katya’s note: Recovery is possible, but it rarely happens without help. Couples work is designed for exactly this.
Source: PsyPost
3. Sharing a sense of wonder brings couples closer
Netherlands, August 2026
A team at Radboud University found that couples who experience awe together, such as a striking landscape or a concert, report more satisfaction and passion in their relationship. The authors note the link may run both ways: happy couples may also notice more wonder together. Published in The Journal of Positive Psychology.
Katya’s note: Plan one experience together that is new to you both.
Source: PsyPost
4. Empathy makes for a closer intimate life
Canada, November 2026
Researchers at the Université de Montréal studied 190 young couples and found that understanding and sharing a partner’s feelings is linked to a more satisfying intimate life, and the benefit is felt by both people. Published in The Journal of Sex Research.
Katya’s note: Feeling understood outside the bedroom matters inside it.
Source: PsyPost
5. Loneliness and memory in later life
Europe, April 2026
Researchers from Colombia, Spain and Sweden studied more than 10,000 adults aged 65 to 94 across 12 European countries. Lonelier people scored lower on memory tests at the start, but their memory did not decline faster over the following years. Experts suggest loneliness may do its damage earlier in life.
Katya’s note: Connection is worth investing in at every age, not only later on.
Source: Fox LA
6. More than half of Australian women report mental health struggles
Australia, August 2026
A national study of 9,000 women by Women’s Mental Health Australia found that 56% are experiencing mental health issues and one in four is likely to be in severe distress. Depression affects 30%, anxiety 21% and body image issues 20%. The levels have barely changed since 2022, despite more women seeking support.
Katya’s note: Awareness has grown faster than support. If this is you, you are far from alone.
Source: The George Institute for Global Health
7. Women over 50 struggle, and most never ask for help
United Kingdom, January 2026
A survey of 2,000 women for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy found nearly two in three women aged 50 and over are struggling with their mental health. Of those, 90% never ask for help. Brain fog, a common menopause symptom, was the pressure mentioned most often, by nearly 38%.
Katya’s note: Midlife changes are real and they can be talked about.
Source: DJS Research
8. Burnout is now the norm for many workers
United Kingdom, October 2026
Research by Robert Half found that 55% of UK professionals feel burnt out, mainly because of understaffing and heavier workloads. Separately, Mental Health UK’s Burnout Report 2026 found that 91% of adults faced high or extreme pressure in the past year, and one in five took time off because of stress.
Katya’s note: Burnout is a signal about workload, not a personal failing.
Source: Staffing Industry Analysts, Mental Health UK
9. Raising an irritable child takes a lasting toll on parents
November 2026
A new study suggests that preschoolers who often lose their temper can gradually change how their parents respond to them, and that some parenting habits can feed a child’s frustration in turn. The strain on the relationship may still show years later.
Katya’s note: Parents need support too; asking for it helps the whole family.
Source: PsyPost
10. Impostor feelings are not the same as narcissism
German-speaking Europe, November 2026
A study of German-speaking adults found that feeling like an impostor overlaps with vulnerable narcissism, but the two are distinct. Self-doubt on its own is not a sign of something darker. Published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
Katya’s note: Impostor feelings are common among capable people and they respond well to coaching.
Source: PsyPost