60秒科学:Hairdressers Hear Health Secrets

Hairdressers Hear Health Secrets
A report in the Journal of Applied¹ Gerontology shows that elderly people often discuss health issues with hairdressers, who could encourage clients to seek medical attention. Karen Hopkin reports

If you’ve ever been to a hairdresser, chances are you’ve found yourself scrambling² for things to talk about as your locks are expertly coiffed. One common topic of discussion, at least for older Americans, is their health. Which leads social scientists to conclude that hairstylists may be in a unique position to encourage their clients to seek medical attention.

Keith Anderson, a professor of social work at The Ohio State University, started to study seniors’ relationships with their stylists after hearing such sessions referred to as “salon³ therapy.” He conducted a survey of hairdressers near the campus and found that clients often unburden themselves to stylists who offer a sympathetic ear along with a trim and highlights. More than 80 percent of salon workers surveyed said that their older clients share their problems during appointments, results published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology.

The problem, of course, is that hairdressers aren’t equipped to offer medical advice, although two thirds say they’d be willing to refer clients to someone who can help. Given that medieval barbers were also surgeons, getting stylists back into primary care should be pretty cut-and-dried.

—Karen Hopkin

1 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

2 scrambling   

v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发，冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 salon   

n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室

参考例句：

• Do you go to the hairdresser or beauty salon more than twice a week?你每周去美容院或美容沙龙多过两次吗？
• You can hear a lot of dirt at a salon.你在沙龙上会听到很多流言蜚语。