Prehistoric behaviours, such as male domination, protecting what is perceived as their “turf” and ostracising those who do not agree with the group is more commonplace in everyday work situations than many of us want to accept, according to the research which was carried out in hospitals. Click here to read article.

Journal of Health Organisation and Management

I recently read an article titled “Who Doesn’t Need a Coach? Report from Evidence-Based Coaching Conference”. The article was very pro coaching and mentioned several researchers and the work they were doing that supported the efficacy of coaching particularly with regards to improving levels of life satisfaction and happiness.

A closer look at the research suggested that coaching appeared to be mostly hype. For example in one piece of research the author concluded that “coaching appeared to have minimal impact on the mental health of participants (1)”.  In another study the coaching group were still more depressed and anxious than the control group (2).

I contacted the author and he agreed that “despite all the publicity associated with coaching, there is very little solid evidence about the efficacy of coaching”.

So does this mean coaching is a waste of time - probably not. It just means that the focus of the coaching was on the wrong things. Both these studies focused on coaching people to achieve goals with the assumption that achieving goals makes us happy, This is partially true - but they have to be the right goals.

1. Spence, G. B., & Grant, A. M. (2007). Professional and peer life coaching and the enhancement of goal striving and well-being: An exploratory study Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(3), 185-194

2. Green, L. S., Grant, A. M., & Rynsaardt, J. (2007). Evidence-based life coaching for senior high school students: Building hardiness and hope. International Coaching Psychology Review, 2(1), 24-32

Thinking your memory will get worse as you get older may actually be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that senior citizens who think older people should perform poorly on tests of memory actually score much worse than seniors who do not buy in to negative stereotypes about aging and memory loss. Click here to read the article.

Drinking wine is associated with increased Heart Rate Variability (HRV). In contrast, consumption of beer and spirits and the total amount of alcohol consumed did not relate significantly to  HRV parameters

The researchers suggest that increases levels of HRV may be one pathway by which moderate wine consumption lowers cardiovascular risk.

Heart, 2005, 91 (3), Pages 314-318.

Low HRV is a predictor of long-term mortality amongst middle-aged women with coronary heart disease when measured 3-6 months after hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome, even after controlling for established clinical prognostic markers.

Journal of Internal Medicine, 2004, 255 (1), Pages 13-21.

Research has found that vegetarians have significantly higher levels of  heart rate variability (HRV) and increased baroreflex sensitivity than did omnivores.

The researchers concluded that higher levels of HRV might be the pathway that explains why vegetarian diets lower cardiovascular risk.

American Journal of Cardiology, 2006,  97 (3), Pages 380-383.

Research has found that self-ratings of trait anxiety and perceived emotional stress during the past week were associated with lower levels of HRV. The researchers concluded that HRV is “sensitive to the recent experience of persistent emotional stress, regardless of a person’s level of physical fitness and disposition toward experiencing anxiety”.

International Journal of Psychophysiology, 2000, 37 (2), Pages 121-133.

Consuming a low GI breakfast increases fat oxidation during subsequent exercise and improved satiety during recovery in sedentary females. As such, individuals trying to shed fat may consider choosing LGI foods eaten prior to when they exercise. Click here to read the article.

The Journal of Nutrition, May 2009

Feeling good encouraged volunteers — both European and Asian — to explore values that are inconsistent with their cultural norms. And elevated mood even shaped behavior, allowing volunteers to act “out of character.” These findings suggest that people in an upbeat mood are more exploratory and daring in attitude — and therefore more apt to break from cultural stereotype. That is, Asians act more independently than usual, and Europeans are more cooperative. Click here to read the article.

Psychological  Science, April 2009

Aging brings a sense of peace and calm, according to a new study from the Population Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Starting at about age 60, participants reported more feelings of ease and contentment than their younger counterparts. Click here to read the article.