#Socialsupport

A growing body of research from health psychologists and fitness experts suggests three practical keys to move exercise from a chore to a joyful daily habit. At a recent health festival, speakers emphasized embracing discomfort, building momentum, and finding community as the trio that helps people sustain activity over time. For Thai readers, these ideas are especially relevant as local concerns about inactivity and obesity rise among children and adolescents.

A viral question on social media—do parents have fewer friends than people without kids?—has set off a nationwide debate and inspired fresh research into how parenthood impacts adult friendships. Recent reports and expert insights reveal that while parents don’t necessarily “lose” friends, the dynamics, quality, and expectations of adult relationships undergo substantial changes once children arrive. This growing body of research and real-life testimony, which has resonated with many Thai parents and would-be parents, underscores the broader social implications of Thailand’s shifting family structures and the urgent need for supportive communities in the face of urbanization and changing lifestyles (TODAY.com, The Cut, Mother.ly).

A trending social-media question about whether parents have fewer friends than non-parents has sparked a broad discussion and new insights into how adulthood and parenthood change social circles. Research and expert commentary suggest that friendships aren’t erased by children; instead, their dynamics, quality, and expectations shift. The conversation resonates with many Thai families as urban living and changing lifestyles challenge traditional support networks.

The spark came from a social media post by a young creator who asked why parents seem less socially active outside work and childcare. The ensuing comments reveal a common pattern: parenting brings fatigue and new responsibilities, often making spontaneous socializing harder. Yet many participants highlight that meaningful connections can endure when friends adapt and show understanding.

Recent research unveiled in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlights the profound impact that early-life adversity has on the brain’s structural development, specifically targeting white matter connectivity. White matter, often dubbed as the brain’s “communication highways,” forms the intricate network necessary for tasks like language processing and mental arithmetic. The study, spearheaded by experts from Mass General Brigham, involves an in-depth analysis of brain imaging data from over 9,000 children aged around 9.5 years, all part of the comprehensive Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.

New findings from the ABCD study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that early-life hardship can affect the brain’s white matter—the brain’s communication highways that support language and math skills. The research analyzed brain scans from more than 9,000 children around 9.5 years old, providing a large-scale view of how adversity shapes development.

The study reveals that children who face hardship early in life often have lower white matter integrity, which links to weaker cognitive performance in adolescence. Using diffusion imaging, researchers connected various adversities—prenatal risks, family poverty, and neighborhood stress—to changes in white matter quality. Yet the message is not only about risk. The data also highlight how positive environments can counterbalance these effects. Stable homes and supportive, cohesive communities helped buffer against cognitive declines associated with reduced brain connectivity.