Weekly Top Five Articles
The Novel’s Legacy, Building Bonds, and Helping Teens Battling Depression
Here’s what stood out this week:
(1) “Kicking an Open Door,” by Bruce Robbins, The Baffler, December 10, 2024
What was the twentieth-century novel?In Stranger Than Fiction: Lives of the Twentieth-Century Novel, Edwin Frank explores the innovations and cultural impact of the twentieth-century novel, balancing high modernist aesthetics with an appreciation for popular bestsellers. His analysis highlights the beauty of individual sentences, from Kafka's nervously surprising run-ons to Proust’s labyrinthine explorations of meaning, showing how novels invite readers to slow down and savor the art of storytelling.
Frank argues that the novel offers solace for life’s uncertainties, proposing that if a story can reach resolution, so can the reader’s own struggles. While his optimism about the novel’s enduring relevance contrasts with apocalyptic fears about the death of reading, critics like Bruce Robbins find this approach overly deferential and incomplete, particularly in addressing the global and political dimensions of literature.
Frank’s narrative, while Eurocentric and leaning heavily on canonical figures like Woolf, Joyce, and Kafka, emphasizes the novel’s role in reflecting collective experiences like war and self-awareness. However, Robbins questions whether themes like “war is bad” or “self-uncertainty is good” offer meaningful insights in a world saturated with moral ambiguity.
Ultimately, Frank celebrates the novel as a resilient and thriving form. Yet, Robbins suggests that a broader and more critical engagement—beyond genial appreciation—could better capture the richness and challenges of the genre’s history.
Does the twentieth-century novel still resonate today? Frank believes it does, but Robbins pushes us to ask: At what depth, and for whom?
(2) The eugenicist of UNESCO, by Stefan Bernhardt-Radu, Aeon (December 2, 2024)
Why did Julian S Huxley, first director of the UN agency, think eugenics held the key to a more evolved, harmonious world?
Julian S. Huxley, the first director of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), envisioned a global future guided by science, cooperation, and evolutionary progress. As a prominent advocate for eugenics, Huxley’s ideas about shaping humanity's future through genetic "harmonization" were both ambitious and controversial. While distancing himself from the racist eugenics of Nazi Germany, he championed a vision of progress rooted in controlling overpopulation, promoting birth control, and fostering "genetically endowed" individuals.
Huxley believed that cultural and biological integration could advance humanity, echoing ideas of evolutionary harmony from thinkers like Herbert Spencer and Henri Bergson. For Huxley, UNESCO was not just an educational and cultural organization but a tool to align humanity with a greater evolutionary purpose. He called this vision "scientific world humanism," where increased global cooperation and a focus on science would drive progress.
However, Huxley's eugenic ideals faced immediate resistance. Many countries, especially those with strong religious affiliations, opposed his support for birth control and his evolutionary framework. UNESCO's Preparatory Commission rejected his 1946 manifesto as a personal view, forcing Huxley to temper his rhetoric. Nevertheless, his belief in eugenics as a future-oriented endeavor persisted, with Huxley predicting that a more educated world would eventually embrace his ideas.
Today, Huxley's legacy is complex. While his focus on education and global cooperation remains central to UNESCO’s mission, his eugenics-driven vision of progress continues to provoke ethical debates. Modern advancements like genetic counseling, IVF, and selective reproduction reflect elements of his ideas, raising questions about the enduring influence of eugenics in shaping our choices and the future of humanity.
Huxley’s tenure at UNESCO reminds us of the delicate balance between visionary ambition and ethical responsibility in guiding global progress.
(3) “Building muscle strength and mass may help reduce depression risk,” study suggests, by Eric W. Dolan, PsyPost (December 19, 2024)
A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders reveals that building muscle might do more than boost physical fitness—it could also help protect against depression. Analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers found that adults with greater muscle strength and mass were significantly less likely to experience depressive symptoms.
Key findings include:
Grip Strength and Depression: For every 5-kilogram increase in grip strength, the likelihood of depression decreased by 5.7%. Those in the top quartile of grip strength had a nearly 40% lower risk of depression compared to those in the lowest quartile.
Muscle Mass and Depression: A 1-kilogram increase in appendicular lean mass reduced depression risk by 5.5%, with the highest quartile showing a 44% lower risk compared to the lowest.
Demographic Insights: The protective effects were especially strong among men, individuals aged 40–59, and those with a healthy BMI.
The Science Behind the Connection
Depression, a leading cause of global disability, often resists traditional treatments like medication and therapy. Muscle health, known to decline with age, could provide a preventive edge. The study highlights a potential "threshold effect," where surpassing a certain muscle strength level yields diminishing returns, underscoring the importance of consistent, moderate improvement.
Although the cross-sectional design of the study limits causal conclusions, the researchers propose that physical activity's role in releasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor—a protein that supports brain function and mood regulation—may explain the link.
Implications and Next Steps
The findings suggest that public health initiatives could incorporate muscle-building exercises to mitigate depression risk, particularly in midlife adults. However, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm whether stronger muscles directly prevent depression or if depression itself contributes to weaker muscle health.
This research underscores the value of integrating physical fitness into mental health strategies, offering hope for a holistic approach to combating one of the most pervasive mental health challenges of our time.
(4) “New study examines strategies people use to strengthen desirable friendships,” by Mane Kara-Yakoubian, PsyPost (December 18, 2024)
A recent study published in Evolutionary Psychological Science uncovers seven strategies people use to deepen friendships they value most. Conducted by Menelaos Apostolou and colleagues, the research highlights how intentional actions can foster deeper connections, providing a framework that churches can use to strengthen intergenerational relationships among men and boys.
Key Strategies for Deepening Friendships
The study identified the following seven strategies for strengthening friendships:
Providing Support: Offering emotional, material, or practical help during times of need.
Increasing Interaction Frequency: Spending more time together through shared activities.
Maintaining Regular Communication: Keeping in touch through calls, texts, or other forms of outreach.
Giving Gifts: Demonstrating care through thoughtful gestures.
Showing Trust: Sharing vulnerabilities and keeping confidences.
Creating Family Ties: Inviting friends into family life or treating them as family.
Showing Agreement: Aligning on values and expressing validation in conversations.
Insights from the Research
The study found significant differences based on age, sex, and personality traits:
Gender Differences: Women were more likely than men to use all seven strategies.
Age Factors: Younger participants focused on trust and interaction, while older individuals leaned toward offering support.
Personality Traits: Agreeableness strongly predicted support-oriented behaviors, while openness was linked to adopting multiple strategies.
These findings suggest that while the ways people approach friendships may vary, intentional effort to strengthen bonds is universal.
Implications for the Church: Cultivating Intergenerational Friendship and Connection
The study’s insights offer a powerful framework for churches to foster intergenerational friendships and a sense of camaraderie among men and boys of all ages. By intentionally weaving these seven strategies into the fabric of church life, communities can cultivate deep, meaningful relationships that strengthen the body of Christ as a whole.
Creating Intergenerational Bonds Through Shared Activities
Churches can organize events that bring older men, younger single men, married men, teenage boys, fathers, and male children together. Activities like service projects, outdoor adventures, or sports tournaments allow these groups to interact naturally, fostering camaraderie and mutual respect.
Example: A church-wide mentorship weekend could pair older men with younger single men or fathers with teenage boys for skill-sharing, life advice, and spiritual guidance.
Building Connection Through Storytelling and Trust
Facilitated storytelling events where older men share life lessons, struggles, and faith journeys can inspire younger men and boys. Conversely, younger participants can feel valued by sharing their own hopes and challenges, creating a space for trust and vulnerability across generations.
Example: A monthly “Fireside Fellowship” could feature intergenerational small groups discussing a biblical theme or life topic, fostering shared understanding and empathy.
Strengthening Relationships Through Mutual Support
Churches can emphasize the importance of providing practical and emotional support across generational lines. Older men might mentor younger men in career or spiritual matters, while younger men could assist older members with technology or physical tasks. Fathers can model servant leadership by including their sons in acts of service that benefit the community.
Example: A "Helping Hands" ministry could connect teenage boys with older men for home repair projects, teaching skills while fostering mutual appreciation.
Fostering Camaraderie Through Regular Interaction
Encouraging frequent and meaningful interaction is key to building lasting bonds. Regularly scheduled intergenerational events—such as church picnics, movie nights, or Bible studies—can help friendships grow organically.
Example: A multi-age men’s group could meet weekly to pray, study Scripture, and share updates from their lives, ensuring consistent connection.
Celebrating Relationships Through Shared Milestones
Churches can create traditions that honor important life milestones across generations, such as celebrating 21st birthdays, marriages, or retirements. These events can be opportunities for older men to affirm younger men’s achievements and for younger men to honor the wisdom of their elders.
Example: Host an annual "Generations Dinner," where men and boys share meals, stories, and blessings, highlighting the strength of intergenerational community.
Building Family-Like Ties
Churches can intentionally encourage friendships that transcend age or life stage, treating the church community as a spiritual family. Older men can “adopt” younger men or boys as spiritual sons, while younger men can view older men as fathers or grandfathers in faith.
Example: Implement a “Brotherhood Partners” initiative that matches men across generations for prayer partnerships, shared meals, and accountability.
Unifying Through Shared Values and Purpose
Church leadership can emphasize the shared mission of embodying Christ’s love and advancing the Kingdom of God, fostering unity despite generational differences. By focusing on shared values—like service, faithfulness, and humility—members can transcend their individual life stages to form a cohesive, supportive community.
Example: Organize intergenerational service projects where men and boys work side by side to serve their local community, reinforcing their shared purpose in Christ.
A Vision for a Thriving Brotherhood in the Church
By integrating these strategies into church life, communities can create an environment where men and boys grow together in faith, wisdom, and friendship. Intergenerational bonds are more than just a nice addition to church life—they are a vital expression of the unity of the body of Christ. Through intentional efforts, churches can build a culture where every man and boy feels seen, valued, and deeply connected, creating a legacy of faith and friendship that spans generations.
(5) “Depressed and lonely students gain fewer emotional and physiological benefits from social interactions” by Mane Kara-Yakoubian, PsyPost, (December 14, 2024)
A new study published in Psychophysiology sheds light on why social interactions may not provide the same emotional and physiological benefits to teens struggling with depression and loneliness. Conducted by Elizabeth Jelsma and colleagues, the research highlights how mental health challenges impact the ability to connect and benefit from social engagement, offering valuable insights for parents seeking to support their teens.
Key Findings
Intimate Interactions Offer Less Comfort
Teens with lower levels of depression and loneliness found emotional comfort and physiological relaxation in intimate settings, such as spending time with close friends or romantic partners. However, depressed or lonely teens showed little to no physiological relaxation, suggesting they struggle to feel safe or comforted even in supportive one-on-one interactions.Group Dynamics Are Less Energizing
Socializing in group settings was energizing for teens with better mental health, marked by increased physiological arousal. For depressed or lonely teens, this same dynamic was muted, indicating they may find group interactions draining or unengaging rather than energizing.The Role of Physiological Arousal
The study used wristband sensors to measure electrodermal activity (EDA), a marker of arousal in the sympathetic nervous system. Teens with mental health challenges showed muted responses in both intimate and group settings, suggesting a diminished ability to engage fully and benefit emotionally or physiologically from social interactions.
How Parents Can Help Their Teens
This research highlights the importance of tailored support for teens struggling with depression and loneliness. Here are practical ways parents can help:
Prioritize Safe, One-on-One Connections
What to Do: Encourage your teen to spend time with one trusted friend or family member in a low-pressure environment. Avoid overwhelming them with group activities initially.
Why It Helps: Intimate settings can be less intimidating and offer opportunities for gradual emotional reconnection, even if the benefits aren’t immediate.
Provide Emotional Validation
What to Do: Listen actively to your teen’s feelings without trying to “fix” them. Acknowledge their struggles and let them know you’re there for them.
Why It Helps: Depressed teens may feel misunderstood or isolated. Validation helps create a safe space for open communication.
Ease Into Group Settings
What to Do: Start with smaller, structured group activities where your teen can observe without pressure to participate, such as family game nights or small church youth groups.
Why It Helps: Gradual exposure to group dynamics can help your teen build confidence and re-engage socially at their own pace.
Encourage Movement and Engagement
What to Do: Suggest activities that involve light physical activity and shared goals, like walking with a friend or participating in a creative project.
Why It Helps: Movement and shared experiences can subtly boost mood and reduce the emotional barriers to connection.
Seek Professional Support
What to Do: If your teen’s depression or loneliness persists, consider reaching out to a counselor or therapist who specializes in adolescent mental health.
Why It Helps: Professional guidance can provide tailored strategies to address your teen’s unique challenges and help them rebuild emotional resilience.
A Path Forward for Teens and Families
This study underscores the complexities of supporting teens with depression and loneliness. Social interactions, while vital for emotional well-being, may not automatically provide the expected benefits for those struggling. Parents can play a critical role by fostering safe, supportive environments that meet their teens where they are—whether through one-on-one moments, gentle encouragement, or professional help. Over time, these intentional efforts can help teens regain their capacity for meaningful connection and emotional growth.