#Education

A rising article highlights 11 subtle indicators of “high-quality parenting”—an approach that fosters emotional intelligence, confidence, and lasting resilience as children grow into adults. Grounded in recent psychology, the piece offers insights for Thai readers eager to reflect on family experiences or nurture similar strengths in the next generation.

In Thailand, academic pressures and social expectations can overshadow softer traits of upbringing. Yet many families still value ความเคารพ (respect) and กตัญญู (filial piety). There is growing recognition that warmth, open dialogue, and emotional development are essential for long-term success, supported by recent psychological work conducted worldwide and echoed in Thailand’s evolving family conversations.

Rejection can sting for anyone, but some people react as if every slight is deadly. This phenomenon, known as rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), has gained prominence through social media, evolving research, and personal accounts. A recent feature in a leading international publication uses real stories, clinical insight, and emerging science to explore a condition not yet common in medical textbooks but increasingly discussed by mental health professionals worldwide, including among Thai youths.

A powerful personal account recently highlighted in The Telegraph sheds light on maternal abuse and the lasting harm it inflicts on children. While society often assumes fathers are the primary perpetrators, growing research and stories from survivors show that mothers can also be abusive. For Thai readers, this discussion intersects with local values around filial piety, family privacy, and social harmony, prompting a need for compassionate, informed conversation.

The story centers on a survivor who describes growing up under an emotionally and physically abusive mother. Beyond a personal tale, it challenges stigma and taboo surrounding maternal abuse. Many who have experienced similar family dynamics may feel seen for the first time, while others gain insight into this complex issue. In Thai culture, where motherhood is traditionally revered as nurturing, acknowledging abuse by a mother can be especially hard. Yet experts emphasize that abuse can occur in any family structure, regardless of outward appearances or social expectations. Data from international and regional research indicates that maternal abuse is more common than many assume and has serious consequences for child development.

A new research report has found that students who use dating apps are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, raising concerns among educators and health professionals about a hidden danger in the digital age of romance. The study, highlighted by Frontiers in November 2024, adds fresh urgency to Thailand’s ongoing efforts to improve sexual health education and digital literacy among young people Frontiers in Public Health.

With dating apps becoming an integral part of modern student social life, especially in university settings across Thailand and globally, this news holds significant implications. Thai students are among the world’s most digitally connected, with Gen Z leading trends in smartphone and app usage. Yet, with greater access to platforms that facilitate rapid connections often come greater health risks, including unprotected sex, multiple partners, and a higher likelihood of encountering sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to the new research, these risks are statistically higher among students active on dating apps.

A recent study highlights a concerning link between dating app use and higher-risk sexual behaviors among university students. The findings, summarized in Frontiers in Public Health, underscore Thailand’s long-running push to improve sexual health education and digital literacy for youth.

With dating apps now central to student life in Thai universities, educators are rethinking how to address real-world risks. Thailand’s youth are among the most digitally connected in the world, and easy access to potential partners can coincide with unprotected sex, multiple partners, and increased exposure to sexually transmitted infections. The research shows that these risks are more common among students who use dating apps.

In an era of ongoing social, political, and workplace challenges where authority and individual will often collide, understanding why people obey orders is more relevant than ever for Thai society. Recent discussions sparked by “Why We Follow Orders: The Neuroscience of Compliance and Control,” a feature on the Michael Shermer Show, have brought new research to the public eye, shedding light on the brain mechanisms and situational dynamics that drive human compliance. This emerging field offers crucial lessons not only for authorities and educators but also for anyone navigating the fine line between following instructions and maintaining personal agency.

The US state of Virginia has reported its first confirmed measles case for 2025, raising fresh concerns about the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Health officials at the Virginia Department of Health announced the case on 19 April 2025, emphasizing the critical need to maintain high immunization rates. This news is not only significant for Americans, but offers urgent lessons for Thai families and healthcare providers in an era marked by global travel, vaccine hesitancy, and infectious disease risks.

For many Thais, rejection—whether from friends, family, or colleagues—can feel like a sting, but for some, even the smallest slight feels devastating. This overwhelming emotional reaction, described as “rejection sensitive dysphoria” (RSD), is gaining attention thanks to social media, research, and a wave of first-person accounts. The latest article from The New York Times draws on real-life stories, clinical insight, and emerging science to examine a phenomenon seldom found in medical textbooks but increasingly recognized in the mental health community, including among younger generations in Thailand and worldwide (source: The New York Times).

Obedience to authority shapes many aspects of Thai life—from classrooms and workplaces to public safety. A fresh wave of research highlights why people tend to follow commands, and what this means for personal agency in a modern Thai context. The discussion stems from “Why We Follow Orders: The Neuroscience of Compliance and Control,” a feature featured on the Michael Shermer Show, which translates cutting-edge science into practical insights for everyday life.

A new AI-driven study sheds light on why some people stick to exercise while others abandon routines. Using data from nearly 12,000 individuals, researchers found three strong predictors of meeting weekly activity guidelines: daily sedentary time, gender, and educational attainment. The results suggest tailored health advice and smarter public campaigns could help people stay active, including in Thailand.

Thailand faces rising health risks from obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Urban life and demanding work schedules can limit time for movement, while long commutes and crowded cities encourage sedentary habits. Thailand’s Health Promotion Foundation reports that only about 40% of Thais exercise regularly, underscoring the need for effective, culturally relevant strategies. The study’s insights offer a practical framework for policymakers and health professionals working toward healthier communities.

A major neuroscience breakthrough reveals how the brain encodes and stores new information. The study uncovers practical “rules” neurons follow to form lasting memories. Reported by MedicalXpress in April 2025, the findings could inform new therapies for memory disorders and offer fresh guidance for learning in Thailand’s classrooms and lifelong education initiatives.

The central question is how everyday experiences—from a Songkran moment to new vocabulary in English class—translate into lasting memories. Using advanced neuroimaging and electrophysiology, researchers showed that the brain does not passively store data. Instead, it applies rules that strengthen certain neural connections while pruning others. This selective process helps create durable memories and prevents cognitive overload. For Thai readers, the science behind effective learning is highly relevant, suggesting strategies teachers and students can use to improve long-term retention in primary schools in Bangkok and in adult education across provinces.

A groundbreaking study using artificial intelligence (AI) has taken a scientific leap in answering an age-old question: why do some people stick with regular exercise, while others quickly fall off the wagon? By analyzing the habits and characteristics of nearly 12,000 individuals, a research team from the University of Mississippi has identified three surprisingly robust predictors of exercise adherence—how much time you spend sitting, your gender, and your education level—shedding new light on what keeps people committed to their fitness goals. This finding could open the door to more individualized health advice and smarter public health campaigns worldwide, including here in Thailand (Neuroscience News, Science Daily).

A wave of recent studies is drawing global attention to a striking trend: the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in cannabis – the primary compound responsible for the drug’s psychoactive “high” – is now far more potent than in previous decades. According to new data reported by Axios, the average THC level in U.S. cannabis has quadrupled since the 1990s, signaling both significant changes for cannabis users and new health concerns for society at large Axios. For Thai readers—whether policymakers, healthcare providers, students, or parents—the global surge in high-potency cannabis raises important questions about public health, legal approaches, and cultural attitudes toward marijuana.

Neuroscientists have recently made a significant breakthrough in our understanding of how the brain creates and stores new memories, uncovering previously unknown “rules” for how neurons encode fresh information. This discovery, reported by MedicalXpress in April 2025, opens the door to improved treatments for memory disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and offers fresh insights into how we learn and remember—two functions at the very heart of Thai society’s emphasis on lifelong education and wellbeing (MedicalXpress, 2025).

A leading center at MIT is accelerating our understanding of the human brain and turning discoveries into practical tools for health, learning, and inclusion. The McGovern Institute for Brain Research is identified as a hub of cutting-edge neuroscience, bringing together researchers across disciplines to tackle questions that matter to public health and education in Thailand and Southeast Asia. New projects point to breakthroughs in treating psychiatric disorders, supporting neurodiverse learners, and strengthening community health systems.

Before dawn settles over Amherst Regional Middle School, the gym is already pulsing with basketballs and upbeat music. Students gather for “Morning Movement and Mentoring,” a pioneering program that pairs early exercise with academic support and mentoring. What began as a simple way to entice teens to class has evolved into a comprehensive, youth-centered model that improves attendance, engagement, and overall development.

This approach resonates beyond Amherst, offering lessons for Thai educators and policymakers. As Thailand faces absenteeism, disengagement, and motivation gaps, the Amherst model demonstrates how physical activity, mentorship, and targeted academic help can be woven into the school day. Emerging research supports the link between exercise, mental alertness, mood, and learning, and Amherst’s experience shows how community partnerships and a student-centered approach can make a difference at the local level.

Before the sun rises over Amherst Regional Middle School in the United States, the gym fills with the thumping sound of basketballs and energetic music. A diverse group of students, some still wiping sleep from their eyes, gather for “Morning Movement and Mentoring,” a pioneering program that combines early-morning exercise with academic support and mentoring. Initiated as a simple way to entice teens to school with a few early hoops, this grassroots project has evolved into a multifaceted, youth-focused initiative now recognized for boosting academic performance and attendance—as well as transforming lives.

A leading health expert from Philadelphia is experimenting with music as a drug-free way to reduce stress, fueling new interest in how melodies might heal mind and body. Drawing on a wave of recent research, this approach invites Thai readers to consider music not just as entertainment, but as a scientifically validated “medicine” for anxiety, emotional resilience, and overall well-being — without the side effects of pills. As stress and anxiety issues continue to rise in Thailand, especially in post-pandemic society, innovative, accessible approaches like music therapy are gaining ground both globally and at home.

A Philadelphia health expert is exploring music as a drug-free way to ease stress, sparking global interest in whether melodies can heal the mind and body. For Thai readers, this trend shifts music from mere entertainment to a scientifically supported approach for anxiety, resilience, and overall wellness—especially appealing in a society grappling with post-pandemic stress. Music therapy offers a practical option that aligns with local values of community, mindfulness, and holistic health.

A surge in anxiety among children and teens has surprised many health professionals in recent years. In the UK, mental health referrals for youth anxiety more than doubled since 2019, rising from about 99,000 to over 204,000 cases annually. This trend underscores a broader reality: children’s anxiety often triggers or worsens distress in their parents, creating a ripple effect through families. Emerging studies suggest that addressing childhood anxiety requires also tending to parental well-being.

New data shows that cannabis today is far more potent than in the 1990s. The average THC level in cannabis has quadrupled over the past few decades, raising concerns about health risks and how societies regulate the drug. For Thai policymakers, healthcare professionals, students, and parents, this global trend prompts questions about public health, law, and cultural attitudes toward cannabis.

In the 1990s, cannabis with around 5% THC was among the strongest options available. By 2025, many cannabis products—flowers, concentrates, and edibles—often contain 20–30% THC, with some extracts even higher. The rise is driven by advanced cultivation, selective breeding, and growing demand for stronger effects. This escalation comes with increased potential for adverse effects, particularly for new users and young people.

The past five years have seen an alarming surge in anxiety among children and young adults, with mental health referrals for anxiety in youth in the UK more than doubling since 2019—from about 99,000 to over 204,000 cases annually (The Times). Yet as society scrambles to address this crisis in children, a critical—and less visible—public health problem is emerging right alongside it: children’s anxiety often triggers or worsens anxiety and distress in their parents, creating a ripple effect through families. Recent studies suggest it may be impossible to fully address childhood anxiety unless parents’ mental well-being is considered too.

A groundbreaking new study using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning has revealed the most crucial factors that keep people committed to their exercise routines: how much time they spend sitting, their gender, and their education level. Published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports, this research analyzed health data from nearly 12,000 individuals, offering fresh insights into what helps people meet physical activity guidelines—a finding with important implications for Thailand, where sedentary lifestyles are increasingly common.

A new study using artificial intelligence and machine learning identifies the three strongest predictors of sticking with an exercise routine: sedentary time, gender, and education level. Published in Scientific Reports, the research analyzed health data from nearly 12,000 individuals to understand who meets physical activity guidelines. The findings carry meaningful implications for Thailand, where sedentary lifestyles are rising amid urban life.

Regular exercise is essential for preventing chronic diseases. In Thailand, long hours at desks and routine traffic congestion increase the risk of inactivity-related illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Thai health authorities recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Yet many Thai people struggle to reach these targets, underscoring the need for effective, culturally informed strategies.