Research on teenage health, behavior, and development. Covers vaping and smoking, youth mental health, social media, and emergency-care trends.
A recent brain imaging study has found evidence of weakening connections between key brain areas in adolescents at high genetic risk of developing bipolar disorder. This study suggests that early intervention strategies may be effective in preventing the progression towards major changes in the brain.
A survey of nearly 30,000 Korean high school students found a strong association between non-academic internet usage and mental health issues such as stress and suicidal ideation. Students who spent more time online reported better health, reduced stress, and fewer feelings of sadness and suicidal thoughts.
Medication for opioid use disorder was lowest among adolescents and adults ages 50 or older, with only 13% of adults in this age group receiving treatment. The study highlights substantial gaps in access to medication treatment, particularly among people of color and those with at least some college education.
A study found that only 28% of individuals needing opioid use disorder treatment received medication, with significant disparities among racial and ethnic groups. The findings highlight critical gaps in treatment engagement and access to effective medications like methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone.
A recent study has found that adolescents are increasingly attempting to quit cigarettes and e-cigarettes, with a notable increase in unsuccessful attempts between 2019 and 2020. The study suggests that these attempts may be linked to an increased risk of nicotine addiction among youth.
A new study from the University of Illinois suggests that whether adolescents believe drug use is wrong has twice the magnitude of impact compared to other risk and protective factors. This finding highlights the importance of instilling a negative belief about drug use in young people as a key strategy for preventing substance use.
According to a systematic review of over 16 million young people from 25 countries, children with disabilities experience higher rates of violence, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. The study highlights the urgent need for collaborative efforts to raise awareness and strengthen prevention efforts.
Teenagers involved in arts activities are less likely to engage in antisocial behaviour up to two years later. They also exhibit better self-control scores and view antisocial behaviour negatively.
A study of over 7,000 adolescents found that consuming a high-quality diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, was associated with significantly lower wheezing odds among those exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. This suggests that targeted public health interventions focused on improving access to higher quality foods may be effectiv...
The study found that 43% of transgender and gender diverse students identified as nonbinary, with similar numbers identifying as pansexual (1.7%) as gay or lesbian (1.6%). Many LGBTQ+ youth reported depressive symptoms and experiences of identity-based bullying.
A recent study from North Carolina State University found that experiencing racism is stressful for Black youth, while taking action to address racism also contributes to stress. The study suggests a reciprocal relationship between racism-related physiological stress and high-risk activism among emerging adults.
Children and adolescents with disabilities experience physical, sexual, and emotional violence at higher rates than those without disability. The study highlights the urgent need for collaborative efforts to raise awareness of all forms of violence against children with disabilities.
A new study found that e-cigarette use significantly increases adolescents' risk of cannabis use, especially among those with externalizing mental health problems. However, for those with internalizing mental health issues, the relationship is reversed, and they are less likely to begin using cannabis.
Mayo Clinic researchers used AI to predict antidepressant outcomes in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder. They identified six depressive symptoms and assessed them using the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised to predict treatment outcomes.
A new study found that e-cigarette policies in US middle and high schools are not effective without staff training on implementing such policies. Staff who received training were more likely to recognize JUUL devices and intervene in student e-cigarette use, highlighting the need for additional support.
The US Preventive Services Task Force concludes that there is not enough evidence to recommend routine screening for eating disorders. Eating disorders such as binge eating disorder, bulimia, and anorexia nervosa are associated with short- and long-term adverse health outcomes including physical, psychological, and social problems.
A study by Tohoku University researchers found that adolescent carers in the UK reported higher psychological distress and lower mental well-being scores during the pandemic. The study highlights the urgent need for better psychosocial support for young carers, including psychoeducational sessions to build resilience.
A dramatic increase in suicidal ingestions was reported among preadolescent children over the past two decades. The analysis of national poison data showed a significant rise in this trend, highlighting the need for increased awareness and prevention strategies.
A study found that adolescents with insecure toddler-mother attachment overestimate the trustworthiness of strangers and have reduced brain activity when viewing untrustworthy faces. Securely attached youth, on the other hand, are more open to processing negative social cues.
A new study found that music and auditory beat stimulation can significantly reduce state anxiety in people with moderate trait anxiety. The treatment was more effective than music alone or pink noise for reducing somatic anxiety, while music alone was more effective for reducing cognitive state anxiety.
Research suggests that frequent external childcare can lead to behavioral issues in children, including aggression, ADHD symptoms, and anxiety. However, these problems typically disappear by the age of 13. The study also found no strong link between external childcare and substance use or delinquency in adolescents.
A recent study published in Addiction journal found no association between e-cigarette use and regular smoking among young adults in England. The researchers used time series analysis to assess the gateway effect of vaping on smoking uptake, ruling out substantial increases or decreases in smoking prevalence.
A study by the University of Otago found that 15-year-olds who had conversed with their mothers about everyday past events reported fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. These adolescents also narrated difficult events from their lives with more insight.
A new study found significant associations between student discomfort and being weighed by physical education teachers compared to school nurses. Student dissatisfaction with their weight and perceived overweight status were linked to increased discomfort with the weight measurement process.
A study of 448,000 children aged 5-18 found that sustaining a concussion increased the risk of mental health issues, psychiatric hospitalization, and self-harm. The research highlights the potential long-term effects of concussions on young people's mental well-being.
A new study finds that conversion therapy has significant economic costs and psychological harms for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning youths in the US. The therapy is also associated with increased rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide attempts among this population.
A team from UNIGE demonstrates that a reduction in gamma wave activation is correlated with the emergence of psychotic symptoms in children and adolescents at genetic risk. This study makes it possible to envisage an early diagnosis and identifies potential therapeutic targets for treating schizophrenia.
A new study by University of Cologne researchers reveals that computer games can significantly boost educational success when used effectively in the classroom. The study found that personal characteristics of pre-service teachers play a crucial role in their intention to adopt digital game-based learning, with perceived effectiveness ...
A study evaluating Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness found significant protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in adolescents. The vaccine was administered in two doses to 542 participants between 12 and 18 years old, demonstrating high efficacy.
A new study from North Carolina State University found that feeling inclusive in the classroom is key to promoting STEM education and student engagement. Students who felt their classrooms were inclusive were more likely to feel like they belonged and engage with their STEM classes.
A new study by EPFL researchers finds that stress during early adolescence leads to increased body fat and reduced sociability in males, but not females. The researchers identified a biological link between stress-induced fat gain and impaired brain function, specifically the NAD+/Sirtuin-1 pathway.
A recent survey found that out of 21 million vaccinated children, only 21 cases met the definition of MIS-C. The risk of MIS-C after vaccination is estimated to be 1 in 1 million for all children and 1 in 3 million for those without known COVID exposure. This study provides reassurance on the safety of COVID vaccines in children.
A new study estimates that over 5.2 million children worldwide have experienced the death of a parent or caregiver as a result of COVID-19. The number of affected children has nearly doubled in the six months from May 2021 to October 2021, with adolescents aged 10-17 years being disproportionately affected.
Two-thirds of surveyed teens in Scotland reported visual or verbal harassment, while one-third experienced personally invasive behaviors in the past three months. Students often normalize behaviors, and effective interventions are needed to change attitudes and behaviors that persist into later life.
A 16-year study of over 2,000 Australian children shows that young people who use drugs but quit before adulthood have similar life success as those who never used drugs. The study highlights the importance of stopping drug use in early adulthood to prevent adult health and wellbeing issues.
A study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health found that reported cases of multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in children and adolescents who had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose were rare. Only one case was estimated per million vaccinated individuals in this age group, according to the CDC.
Researchers at University of Missouri found a long-term association between adolescent psychological well-being and adult cardiovascular disease risk. People who are more optimistic in their youth can lower their chances for heart disease as adults.
A new study published in Circulation finds that vaping has a significant and long-term cardiovascular effect on adolescent males, reducing heart function over time. In contrast, female mice exposed to e-cigarette aerosol showed no significant changes in heart function or levels of the enzyme CYP2A5, which breaks down nicotine.
A study by McGill University researchers found that child marriages in 14 US states violated statutory rape laws, often due to exemptions allowing sex between married couples. The research highlights the need to reexamine marital exemptions and raise the minimum legal age for marriage to avoid inconsistencies.
A recent online survey found that pandemic-related school closures have a disproportionate negative impact on students with autism. The study reveals differences in the psychological impact of the pandemic on neurotypical and autistic children, highlighting the need for alternative ways to support autistic children's educational goals.
A new study has discovered that as brains mature, the precise ways in which two key memory regions communicate make us better at forming lasting memories. The findings also suggest how brains learn to multitask with age, with slower oscillations in older participants and faster oscillations in younger ones.
The REACH study found that nearly all adolescent girls and young women accepted the option of using a monthly dapivirine vaginal ring or daily oral PrEP. Most preferred the ring, but most were able to use their chosen product some or most of the time. The study suggests that choice is crucial for adherence in HIV prevention.
Only 1.9% of Chinese children and adolescents exhibit ideal cardiovascular health status, with socioeconomic factors impacting behavior. Researchers recommend strategies like household smoking control and physical activity promotion to improve cardiovascular health in young generations.
A study led by Yekaterina Chzhen at Trinity College Dublin found that poverty directly affects both children and parents, leading to economic pressure and psychological distress. This challenges mainstream theoretical models of poverty and calls for a more nuanced understanding of the impact of economic hardship on families.
A recent study found that behavioral treatments can reduce ADHD symptoms and improve behavior in children, but not all children respond equally well. Priority should be given to those with more severe ADHD, conduct disorder symptoms, or from single-parent families, as they are at risk of deterioration without treatment.
A study by the Brazilian High-Risk Cohort Study for Childhood Psychiatric Disorders found an association between child poverty and externalizing disorders in adolescence and early adulthood. Child poverty was particularly harmful to women, increasing their risk of developing mental health problems and affecting educational attainment.
The study analyzed changes in outpatient mental health care services among children and adolescents during the pandemic. The results showed a significant increase in mental health care use among this age group.
A new study finds that adolescents with frequent suicidal thoughts are at risk for a range of psychological and social issues, including depression, anxiety, attention disorders, and more. Pediatricians can use screening tools to identify teens who need help, regardless of whether they will attempt suicide.
A new study from King's College London found that lonely teenagers are at a greater risk of poor educational outcomes and negative mental health issues. Participants who experienced loneliness during early adolescence were more likely to finish school with lower grades and experience problems such as depression and anxiety by age 18.
The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded pre-existing inequalities among refugee adolescents in Jordan, leading to increased stress and high rates of depression. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to support these vulnerable populations.
Dr. David G. Nichols has been recognized with the inaugural APS Health Equity Award for his outstanding contributions to advancing child and adolescent health, well-being, and equity. He will receive the award during the APS Presidential Plenary at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in Denver.
A recent study estimates that unintentional drug overdose deaths among US adolescents and young adults from 2015 to 2019 resulted in a substantial loss of years of life. The study found that this demographic group bears an disproportionate burden of these overdose-related fatalities.
A study by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center analyzed years of life lost due to unintentional drug overdose among adolescents (13-19) and young adults (20-39) in the US. The findings suggest a significant burden of overdose-related mortality in this age group, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 500,000 adolescents across 80 nations and found consistent sex differences in career aspirations, with boys dominating 'things-oriented' occupations and girls preferring 'people-oriented' roles. The study also revealed larger differences in gender-equal countries, such as Finland, Norway, or Sweden.
A recent survey by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that about 22% of young sexual minority males and transgender females engage in transactional sex. The practice is associated with HIV exposure, substance use disorder, and unstable housing. Researchers plan to develop interventions to address economic and social vulnerabilities.
A new Penn State study found that Black youth with high BMIs reported fewer weight concerns when they had a strong sense of racial identity. Fathers also played a role in shaping their daughters' body image, particularly when involved in teaching about Black culture. The findings suggest that services promoting youth racial identity an...
A large multi-year study found that 21.8% of US children have one or more common mental, emotional, and behavioral health conditions. Relational and social risks were associated with a fourfold range in rates of mental health problems among US children.
A randomized controlled trial of combinatorial pharmacogenetics testing found no significant improvement in depressive symptoms among adolescents with depression. However, the study suggests that testing results may influence physician decision-making and could be useful in specific cases where individual gene-drug pairs impact clinica...
A longitudinal survey of over 3,000 adolescents aged 11-14 found that supportive relationships with family and friends, physical activity, and better sleep helped shield against the pandemic's negative impact on mental health. Girls were more likely than boys to experience psychological distress during the pandemic.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that 20% of teens and young adults seeking treatment for addiction had elevated social impairment scores, indicating previously unrecognized autistic traits. These individuals were more likely to experience stimulant and opioid use disorders.