Research on teenage health, behavior, and development. Covers vaping and smoking, youth mental health, social media, and emergency-care trends.
The NIH is conducting a clinical trial to evaluate the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine's safety and immune response in adolescents aged 12-17. The trial, launched at George Washington University, aims to determine if the vaccine can protect teens from this painful and sometimes deadly disease.
A recent study published in eClinicalMedicine found that eating walnuts on a regular basis can improve attention functions, fluid intelligence, and behavior in adolescents with ADHD. The research, led by the IISPV, suggests that following a healthy diet is crucial for cognitive development during adolescence.
A study found that sleeve gastrectomy decreases bone mineral density and strength in adolescents and young adults. Participants who underwent weight loss surgery lost significant amounts of weight and experienced reductions in abdominal fat tissue and muscle mass.
A recent study found a significant rise in cannabis exposures in suspected suicide attempts, with the majority involving other substances. The data highlights the need for increased mental health services and awareness about the risks of cannabis use, particularly among youth.
Concurrent vaping in early teen smokers may lead to persistent and heavier smoking in late teens, according to two UK and US studies. The 'entrenchment hypothesis' suggests e-cigarettes deepen early patterns of smoking, increasing the risk of continued tobacco use.
The USPSTF finds the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of visual skin examination by a clinician to screen for skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S., with melanomas causing the most skin cancer deaths.
A new Twitter analysis reveals that medical dramas like New Amsterdam, Chicago Med, and Grey's Anatomy influenced hundreds of people's thoughts on vaping dangers. The study found that nearly half the tweets commented on the realism of the storylines, with some even expressing intention to quit vaping.
A multi-state study confirms the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness in children and adolescents against moderate and severe COVID-19 outcomes. The study found that vaccination provided significant protection, but effectiveness decreased during Omicron dominance, with a booster dose increasing protection.
A new study found that sedentary time increases cardiac mass by 3.8g/m2.7, while moderate-to-vigorous physical activity results in a smaller increase of 1.2g/m2.7. Light physical activity shows no effect on cardiac mass but improves cardiac function.
A nationwide study found that poor family cohesion among bereaved youth is strongly associated with negative psychological effects years after the loss. The research highlights the importance of supporting families during parental illness and immediately after the loss to improve long-term health and well-being.
A new study found that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant increase in weekday screen time among school-aged children, with boosts of up to 1.35 hours per day. This finding suggests that children used screens to fill time previously spent at school or participating in extra-curricular activities.
A Penn Medicine study identified a developmental sequence in brain maturation during adolescence, revealing regions supporting cognitive and social functions remain malleable until late adolescence. The study found that socioeconomic environments have a significant impact on brain development in these regions.
A new study found that more than 60% of parents had heard of PrEP, with relatively low levels of knowledge and high intentions to discuss and support their adolescents' PrEP care. The study highlights the importance of educating parents about PrEP to increase self-efficacy and uptake among at-risk populations.
Researchers at the University of São Paulo used artificial intelligence and Twitter to develop a database and models that can detect depression and anxiety before clinical diagnosis. The study found that BERT performed best in predicting depression and anxiety, with a statistically significant difference from LogReg.
A study published by the University of Washington found that a community-based prevention system called Communities That Care (CTC) reduced handgun carrying among adolescents growing up in rural areas. By the 12th grade, adolescents in CTC communities were 24% less likely to report carrying a handgun than those in control communities.
A study of high school students in Brazil found that excessive smartphone use is associated with thoracic spine pain (TSP), affecting girls more than boys. The research highlights the importance of health education programs to combat this issue and promote physical activity and good posture.
Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa have limited access to digital devices, with varying rates of mobile phone ownership across countries. The study found that wealthier households and homes with high maternal education had greater access to digital technology.
Cornell University researchers found that teens' trust in COVID-19 news on social media is key to their well-being. Higher levels of trust are linked to a positive sense of social well-being and lower levels can lead to stress. News literacy programs are crucial for young people to discern fact-based sources from misinformation.
A new study suggests that exposure therapy can be an effective treatment for adolescents with eating disorders, particularly in reducing anxiety towards food. The study found that exposing patients to feared foods, such as candy bars and pizza, helped decrease their anxiety levels and improved their relationships with food.
A Marshall University researcher has received a $388,500 NIH grant to study the effects of binge drinking on brain development and its long-term cognitive consequences. The two-year grant will allow her team to identify mechanisms that drive changes in brain function and explore novel targets for prevention and treatment.
A new study finds that Latinx students experienced higher rates of depression and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a risk of 1.5 to 2 times more likely than their peers. The study highlights the need for practical and efficacious programs to address the mental health needs of adolescents in school settings.
A new study found that LGB preteens ages 10-14 reported 10.4 hours of daily recreational screen time, which was nearly four hours more than their straight peers. The researchers argue that parents should regularly talk to their children about screen usage and develop a family media use plan.
High blood pressure in children is a significant health concern, potentially leading to cardiovascular problems in adulthood. The American Heart Association recommends monitoring blood pressure levels and implementing lifestyle modifications such as a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and weight management.
A global study analyzing height and BMI data from 71 million children and adolescents found that urban areas are no longer healthier than rural areas, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Rural areas have been closing the gap in recent decades due to improvements in nutrition and healthcare.
A new study from University of Illinois evaluates the implementation of two prevention programs using a mixed-methods approach with multiple sources. The researchers identified four themes that had a positive impact on delivery, including instructor attentiveness, student involvement, and flexibility in program scheduling.
A new research letter highlights how quickly Colorado's children and teenagers can access a loaded gun, increasing the risk of adolescent suicides and firearm injuries. Nearly one-third of middle and high school students report having access to a gun within 24 hours or under 10 minutes.
A new tool has been developed to identify adolescent girls in developing countries who are at risk of nutritional deficiency, with a focus on Bangladesh. The tool uses a simple metric and can be applied online, avoiding the need for costly finger prick blood sampling.
A new national study finds that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth are twice as likely to report trouble falling or staying asleep than their straight peers. This is attributed to greater depression, stress, and family conflict among LGB youth, which can make it harder for them to get a good night's sleep.
A new report reveals that children born into the poorest fifth of families in the UK are 12 times more likely to experience poor health and educational outcomes by age 17. This clustering of adverse outcomes is linked to early childhood disadvantage, with modest reductions seen when lifting families out of poverty.
A study from Karolinska Institutet found that melatonin prescription was associated with a lower risk of self-harm in young people with psychiatric disorders, particularly adolescent girls. The risk of self-harm increased before treatment initiation and decreased afterwards.
Adolescents with positive parent-adolescent relationships exhibit favorable outcomes in young adulthood, including better physical and mental health. Investing in improving these relationships may have substantial benefits for the young adult population's overall health.
CHOP researchers found that adolescents with strong relationships with their parents have improved mental and physical health, lower substance use, and higher relationship satisfaction. The study analyzed data from over 15,000 participants and controlled for various factors.
Research from the University of Minnesota Medical School found weight stigmatizing experiences are common among adolescents and associated with higher prevalence of disordered eating behaviors. Positive family and parenting factors can help alleviate this stressor but cannot completely protect young people from negative effects.
A recent study found that adolescents living in areas with healthier built environments are less likely to be obese and have healthier eating habits. The study suggests that strategies for addressing childhood obesity should focus on improving built environments.
Most treatments offered to teenagers with persistent back pain are outdated and focus solely on physical factors, ignoring the impact of mental health and lifestyle on back pain. The study calls for a more holistic approach to treating back pain in teens, considering sleep, mood, stress, and relationships.
A study published in Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that the incidence of type 1 diabetes among Finnish children increased by 16% during the pandemic. Researchers believe that social isolation and lockdowns rather than SARS-CoV-2 infection may have contributed to this increase.
A new study has found that increased rumination is a predictor of greater severity of suicidal ideation in young people with major depressive disorder. The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggests that elevated cognitive rumination is associated with lower cortical surface area and suicidal ideation.
A new study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a long-lasting impact on adolescent mental health and substance use, with increased depressive symptoms and negative effects observed up to two years into the pandemic. Parental social support and adequate sleep duration were associated with better mental health outcomes.
Researchers found that long-term antibiotic use during adolescence disrupts the healthy gut microbiome, leading to changes in liver metabolism that promotes central fat accumulation. The study suggests that antibiotic treatment may have lasting detrimental effects on liver metabolism and promote adiposity.
A digital health platform has been shown to reduce injury incidence in youth athletics by providing valuable information on adolescent growth and training loads. The study found that clubs with access to the platform had significantly lower injury rates, with injuries occurring twice as long after the start of the season.
The pediatric death rate in the US sharply rose between 2019 and 2021, offsetting years of progress in medicine and public health. The alarming spike is primarily due to deaths from homicide, accidental drug overdoses, motor vehicle accidents, and suicide among those ages 10-19.
Researchers found that maternal autonomy support positively predicts adolescents' basic psychological needs satisfaction, while adolescent-reported controlling parenting negatively predicts depressive symptoms. The study highlights the importance of understanding the relative impact of parents' and adolescents' perceptions on mental he...
Researchers found that autistic adolescents in states without Medicaid waivers had a higher risk of disenrollment, especially after age 22. In contrast, those living in waiver-enabled states remained more likely to stay enrolled.
Researchers say parents' well-intentioned efforts to protect children from harm have inadvertently deprived them of independence and opportunities for self-directed play. This decline in 'child's play' is linked to rising anxiety, depression, and suicide rates among school-aged children.
A seven-component treatment program, including prompt medical assessment and co-constructing a formulation with the child and family, has been successful in managing FND in children and adolescents. Most healthcare professionals can easily add an FND-informed skill set to their current clinical practice.
Adolescents with blood pressure above 130/85 mmHg are at risk of premature heart damage, which doubles in prevalence over a 7-year period. The study found significant differences in heart damage risks between males and females.
A new study from George Mason University College of Public Health found that mental health symptoms worsened in Black youth who interacted with the juvenile justice system during transition to adulthood. Connectedness, particularly to family and community, was a protective factor against declining mental health.
A new study published in International Journal of Drug Policy found that widespread naloxone access is not associated with an increase in adolescent lifetime heroin or injection drug use. The research suggests that naloxone expansion may actually lead to decreases in heroin and IDU rates among adolescents.
A new study published in Hypertension journal found that irregular sleep patterns contribute to higher blood pressure among teens with extra belly weight. The research suggests that maintaining a regular sleep schedule may help protect adolescents from cardiovascular consequences of obesity.
A new study published in BMC Public Health suggests that problematic social media use in preteens is linked to both positive and negative alcohol beliefs. Researchers found that 97% of social media posts display alcohol in a positive context, contributing to positive perceptions among adolescents.
A study of over 1,300 children aged 9-13 found a significant increase in substance use when combining hair analysis with survey results, nearly doubling the estimated number of child drug users. This suggests that hair analysis is a more accurate method for assessing adolescent substance abuse than self-reporting alone.
A recent MRI study by the CNIC has established reference values for anatomical and functional parameters in adolescents' hearts, providing a crucial resource for clinical practice. The study involved 123 adolescents and aimed to fill the knowledge gap on 'normal' cardiac parameter values in this age group.
Primary care physicians recommend screening adolescents and young adults for cyberbullying and social media misuse, citing the need for timely intervention due to underreported incidents. Screening tools like R-OBVQ, CBVS, CABS, and MARC can help identify potential risks.
A new study examines the concerns of parents of sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents regarding HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. Parents cited effectiveness and adverse effects as key factors in their decision-making, while also expressing questions about how to discuss PrEP with their children.
Research shows that parental social support and psychological control significantly impact LGBTQ youth's depressive symptoms. High psychological control, however, was linked with more depressive symptoms in those whose parents did not know their identities.
A study of 1.65 million BNT162b2 vaccinations among Ontario adolescents found a rare but significant risk of myocarditis or pericarditis. The researchers emphasize that while the events are uncommon, they should be weighed against the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.
A study of 11,633 children aged 9-11 found that increased screen time was associated with a higher risk of developing suicidal behaviors two years later. Each additional hour of screen time led to a 9% higher risk of reporting suicidal behavior.
Researchers re-examine molecular characteristics of WNT-subgroup patients to identify optimal treatment strategies for low-risk medulloblastoma. Key findings suggest that therapy-related late toxicity remains a concern, despite comparable survival rates between children and adolescents with this disease subtype.
A recent study from the University of South Australia found that teenagers with a 'late sleep chronotype' who use technology before bed on weekends are at greater risk of disturbed sleep. This can lead to a serious sleep deficit, negatively impacting their daily tasks and wellbeing.
The number of US minors receiving hormone treatment and surgeries has risen significantly, despite concerns over the lack of strong evidence. Experts are questioning the evidence underpinning guidelines from organizations such as WPATH and the Endocrine Society.