Researchers found that surrogates have a greater chance of being diagnosed with a mental illness during and after pregnancy compared to women carrying their own offspring.
The researchers conducted experiments revealing that therapy chatbots exhibit increased stigma toward conditions such as alcohol dependence and schizophrenia compared to depression, indicating systemic issues.
The researchers note that although the concept is frequently used within Western popular culture to describe an 'intense connection,' there is less supporting academic research, partially due to the lack of a comprehensive definition of the term.
Melissa Milanak, a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, noted that while pets can be comforting, many pet owners report sleep disturbances caused by their animals, revealing a complex relationship between pet companionship and sleep quality.
"I think they'd be less inclined. If one actually did a survey on this sort of thing nationally, I think you would find that white, privileged kids would be more likely to [transitioning]."
A global survey of 30,000 pet owners found that 65 percent of people would prefer to de-stress in the company of their dog, cat or other household pet - significantly more than those who said their partners.
Freymann and her colleagues uncovered evidence that chimpanzees in Budongo Forest practice self-medication and first aid on themselves and others, raising questions about their empathy.
