Psychreg - Bias and Credibility (original) (raw)


Detailed Report

Bias Rating: **PSEUDOSCIENCE (-1.0)**Factual Reporting: MIXED (6.1) Country: United Kingdom MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE Media Type: Website Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY

History

Psychreg is a UK-based blog focused on mental health, psychology, and wellness. Founded in 2014 by Dennis Relojo-Howell, who also serves as its editor, it publishes articles, opinion pieces, and research summaries alongside an open-access psychology journal. The site features a mix of expert contributions, general health advice, and sponsored content.

Read our profile on UK government influence on media.

Funded by /Ownership

Dennis Relojo-Howell owns Psychreg, which generates revenue through advertisements and sponsored content.

Analysis / Bias

Psychreg publishes a range of health-related articles with varying levels of sourcing and credibility. For example, the article “Doctor Reveals Hot Showers Are Bad for You – Here’s Why” cites Dr. Deborah Lee, who claims that hot showers can remove the skin of natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. However, the article references Cult Beauty, an online beauty retailer, rather than a medical or scientific authority. Cult Beauty specializes in beauty products, not health research.

Similarly, the article “1 in 7 Britons Have Never Cleaned Their Sex Toys, Study Reveals” once again cites Dr. Deborah Lee, but this time in association with Condoms UK, an online retailer. While the topic itself may be valid for discussion, the reliance on a commercial entity rather than independent public health organizations raises concerns about the potential for promotional framing rather than purely informational content.

In contrast, the article “How Dementia Impacts the Brain and Cognitive Function” cites sources such as ninds.nih.gov and Creyos, a cognitive assessment platform. This article is better sourced, citing established authorities in the medical field, which enhances its credibility.

Additionally, Psychreg offers sponsored promotional content but often fails to clearly label sponsored articles. Some articles may promote products or services without proper disclosure, potentially misleading readers about the objectivity of the content.

Finally, there is evidence this source promotes pseudoscience, such as this Lunar Radiance: Syncing Beauty Routines with the Moon. This article promotes pseudoscience because it falsely claims that the moon’s phases influence skincare effectiveness despite no scientific evidence supporting a connection between lunar cycles and skin health. It also relies on astrology and appeals to “ancient wisdom” rather than dermatological research, misleading readers into believing celestial positioning impacts biological processes.

Failed Fact Checks

Overall, we rate Psychreg as a pseudoscience source based on the promotion of misleading information related to science. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to inconsistent sourcing and lack of clear labeling for sponsored content. While some articles cite credible sources, others rely on questionable references or may be promotional. (M. Huitsing 02/01/2025)

Source: https://www.psychreg.org/

Last Updated on February 1, 2025 by


Do you appreciate our work? Please consider one of the following ways to sustain us.

MBFC Ad-Free

or

MBFC Donation




Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources