Research on teenage health, behavior, and development. Covers vaping and smoking, youth mental health, social media, and emergency-care trends.
A new study finds that working more than 20 hours a week in high school can lead to declines in school engagement, increases in problem behavior, and negligible effects on academics when working 20 hours or less per week. Researchers recommend monitoring and constraining work hours for enrolled students.
A study published in Psychological Science found that poor adolescents living in communities with high social capital are less likely to smoke and be obese. Strong social connections can help offset the disadvantage of poverty, according to Cornell researcher Gary W. Evans.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that poor adolescents living in communities with high social cohesiveness are less likely to smoke and have lower body mass indexes. This suggests that social capital may help mitigate the negative effects of childhood poverty on health outcomes.
Research from Brigham Young University found that girls who played video games with a parent exhibited better behavior, stronger family connections, and improved mental health. The study suggests that co-playing can account for up to 20% of these outcomes.
A study by University of Nottingham researchers found that areas with pharmacy emergency birth control schemes saw a five percent increase in STIs among teenagers and a 12 percent hike in under-16s. The study also suggests that EBC schemes may be associated with a small increase in teenage pregnancies.
A new study by Temple University psychologists Jason Chein and Laurence Steinberg found that the presence of peers heightens teens' sensitivity to rewards, leading them to take more risks. The researchers used fMRI to measure brain activity in adolescents, young adults, and adults while playing a simulated driving game.
Researchers recorded neuron activity in adolescent rat brains during a reward-driven task, showing that teen brains react with erratic excitement above adult levels. This finding could explain why teenagers are more prone to rash behavior, addiction, and mental diseases.
A new study has identified a link between bullying and substance use in adolescent girls, primarily through the mechanism of depression. The research, based on data from a nationally representative sample of 1,495 tenth graders, found that bullying can have serious consequences for young girls.
A recent study found that approximately one-third of adolescents with any mental disorder received services for their illness, while only half of those with severely impairing mental disorders had ever received mental health treatment. The study highlights the urgent need to address barriers to recognizing and treating mental health co...
Children are at risk of severe eye injuries from bottle rockets, which can lead to permanent visual impairment. The study reports on 11 cases where children were injured by bottle rockets, with eight requiring surgical interventions.
A study published in Journal of Nutrition found that breastfed adolescents had stronger leg muscles and better performance in horizontal jumping. Prolonged breastfeeding was associated with increased lower body explosive strength during adolescence.
A national survey of over 4,500 children found that nearly half of U.S. youth who experience violence or abuse have at least one incident known to school, police, or medical authorities. The study suggests that authorities are more aware of severe incidents like sexual abuse, but still underestimate many cases.
A national survey found that 58.3% of children and teens reported at least one direct victimization in the past year, with 45.7% known to authorities. School authorities were more likely to be aware than police or medical authorities.
A new Université de Montréal study examines early indicators of a criminal lifestyle in preteens. The findings reveal that children with conduct disorders are six times more likely to sell illicit drugs, nine times more likely to join a gang, and eight times more likely to be arrested.
A new study published in Journal of Youth and Adolescence found no link between violent video games and serious acts of youth aggression or violence. Instead, depression was identified as a strong predictor of youth violence and aggression.
A new nonverbal response card has been developed to improve the accuracy of data collection on teenage sexual behavior. The device reduces reporting bias and provides confidential responses, resulting in higher accuracy rates for HIV risk assessment.
A school-based program helped New York City high school students with moderate to severe asthma better manage their symptoms, dramatically reducing the need for urgent care. The program participants experienced significant reductions in acute medical visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and night awakenings.
A study found that Medicaid-funded ADHD treatment in primary care clinics was often infrequent and ineffective, with many children receiving inadequate follow-up visits and medication management. In contrast, specialty mental health clinics provided more comprehensive care, but still faced challenges in improving continuity of care.
The Asthma Self-Management for Adolescents (ASMA) program, an eight-week intervention, significantly improves asthma management and quality of life among participating students. ASMA participants reported reduced asthma-related activity restrictions, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations.
A Yale University study found that LGB adolescents are 40% more likely to be punished by school authorities, police, and the courts. Girls who identified as lesbian or bisexual were especially at risk for unequal treatment, with twice as many police stops, arrests, and convictions.
Researchers link accepting family attitudes towards LGBT children to better overall health in adulthood. Family behaviors like advocating for their child's rights and supporting gender expression protect against depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and attempts.
Research found that one in five high school students reported physically assaulting their partner, peers, or siblings. The study suggests that adolescents who engage in physical dating violence are more likely to also perpetrate violence towards siblings and peers.
A Cardiff University study reveals that living in a deprived area increases the risk of violence more sharply for girls than boys. The researchers found that assault injury rates were uniformly higher in the most deprived areas, and that the risk to girls was three times more sensitive to material deprivation.
A new study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that adolescent males who engage in heavy drinking are more likely to exhibit risk-taking behavior. The research followed over 500 first-grade boys from Pittsburgh until age 20 and found a significant correlation between heavy drinking and impulsive behavior.
New research finds that adolescents with a family history of alcohol abuse demonstrate decreased neural activity in the frontal lobe, suggesting a subtle vulnerability to future alcoholism. This study suggests that youth with familial alcoholism may have a less mature frontal system, making it harder to manage real-life situations.
A new study found that social pressures differ for teens in different racial/ethnic groups and that school characteristics play a role. For African American and Native American teenagers, higher GPAs led to decreased feelings of social acceptance, while White teens and others saw increased social acceptance with higher GPAs.
A study by Donald Redelmeier and colleagues found that male teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, or oppositional defiant disorder are more likely to be seriously injured in a road traffic crash. The researchers suggest that practical recommendations, such as avoiding excess speed and using seatbelt...
A recent study published in Neurology found that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are unlikely to outgrow handwriting problems into their teenage years. Researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute also discovered that perceptual reasoning skills are a key predictor of handwriting performance in adolescents with ASD.
Research reveals that teenagers' brains respond differently to drugs than adults, with greater cognitive shortfalls and altered stress responses. Long-term effects of adolescent drug use on brain chemistry are also being explored.
A new study by Yale University researchers found that gaming is associated with lower odds of smoking regularly in boys, but links to getting into serious fights and carrying a weapon to school in girls. Problematic gaming is also linked to regular cigarette smoking, drug use, depression and serious fights in both boys and girls.
Researchers found that cutting back on salt in teenagers' diets by just one-half teaspoon per day could reduce the number of young adults with high blood pressure by 44-63 percent. Lowering dietary salt can also have numerous benefits, including reducing incidents of coronary heart disease and strokes.
A new study published in Neurology suggests that children with autism are likely to continue experiencing handwriting problems into their teenage years. The research found that teenagers with autism scored significantly lower than those without autism on a handwriting assessment test.
Researchers project a significant reduction in high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke among adults if teenagers consume less salt each day. A study suggests that reducing sodium intake by 3 grams per day can decrease hypertension rates by 44-63% and coronary heart disease cases by 7-12%.
As children develop, brain regions that make up the default-mode network start functioning together, leading to increased introspection and perspective-taking. This development coincides with emerging introspective mental activity during adolescence.
A Swedish study found that teenagers attribute bullying to individual characteristics, such as the bully's inner flaws and desire for power. Meanwhile, 42% of teens blamed the victim for bullying, with girls more likely to blame the bully than boys. The study has implications for bullying prevention efforts.
A recent study found that fewer than 30% of eligible young women choose to receive the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. The majority of those who start the vaccination process fail to complete the recommended three doses. African-American women are less likely to complete all three doses compared to white women.
Research found that obese adolescents are more likely to develop severe obesity in adulthood, with higher risks for women and black women. The study tracked 8,834 individuals from adolescence to adulthood, finding a significant association between adolescent obesity and severe obesity in adulthood.
Adolescents are more likely to engage in unprotected sex, despite early education promoting safe practices. Research also finds a decrease in age at contraction of sexually transmitted diseases among younger individuals.
A recent study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers found that students' educational and career goals are related to their eventual level of education attainment. Extracurricular activities also played a significant role in shaping these expectations, which in turn influenced the students' behaviors and academic choices.
A study found that high-calorie beverages are still widely available in elementary schools in the US, with 61.3% of schools offering them for sale in competitive venues. Despite this, only 16.1% of students had access to low-calorie options
A study of depressed adolescents found that nearly all recovered from their depression after treatment, but nearly half relapsed within five years. Females were at significantly higher risk of another major episode than males.
A new survey conducted by researchers at UCSF and UC Merced found that half of teens who have oral sex during the ninth grade will have intercourse by the end of the 11th grade. The study also suggests that oral sex can influence the onset of riskier sexual behavior, highlighting the need for comprehensive sex education programs.
A recent study published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that non-medical prescription drug use is more prevalent among rural teens compared to urban peers. The study analyzed data from 17,872 adolescents and found that 13% of rural teens reported ever using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes, compared to...
A new study from the University of California, San Diego, and Harvard University suggests that a specific variant of the DRD4 gene may contribute to liberal political views. Researchers found that individuals with this genetic variant were more likely to be liberal if they had an active social life in adolescence.
A recent study found that total health care expenditures for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) per 10,000 covered lives grew by 32.8% from $1,270,435 in 2000 to $1,686,938 in 2003. The treated prevalence of autism increased by 32.2% during the same period.
A new research center will study the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates on infant and adolescent development, cognition, and behavior. The center aims to determine if exposure to these chemicals alters hormone signaling and affects sex differences in brain development and behavior.
A new study suggests that excessive alcohol use in adolescents can selectively damage the frontal lobe, leading to problems with attention and executive functioning. Abstinence from alcohol may help recover lost function in brain cells.
Research published in the Oxford Journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience found that exposure to violent media can lead to decreased brain activation in regions involved in emotions and emotional responses. This desensitization can result in increased acceptance of violence and a reduced likelihood of forming consequences wi...
A national study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that approximately one in five children in the US will experience severe mental disorders, which disrupt daily life. Anxiety disorders were the most common condition, followed by behavior disorders and mood disorders.
A Concordia University professor argues that nurses can advocate for better healthcare and services for teenagers who are LGBTIQ, reducing transmission of sexually transmitted infections by discussing safe sex practices. Nurses should be nonjudgmental, tolerant and supportive of LGBTIQ individuals in the clinic and community.
A recent study found that only 58% of young people with mental health problems successfully transitioned to adult care services, highlighting a significant gap in provision. The research team identified key factors contributing to the poor transition experience, including inadequate information transfer and inconsistent documentation.
A study found that Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations for suspected child maltreatment are associated with increased household risk factors, including poverty and maternal depressive symptoms. However, CPS investigations were not linked to improvements in social support, family functioning, or common modifiable risk factors.
A new study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found family-based treatment to be the most effective approach for treating anorexia nervosa. More than 50% of patients who received this type of treatment were in full remission after a year, compared to 23% of those who received individual therapy.
A study of 15-year-olds in seven Eastern European and 16 Western countries found that drunkenness levels increased in Eastern Europe and among girls, but decreased in Western countries and boys. This decline was attributed to changes in socioeconomic conditions and alcohol marketing practices.
A nationwide survey of over 5,800 individuals ages 14 to 94 found diverse patterns of sexual acts, condom use, and same-sex encounters. Condoms were used by one in four men and one in three women, with increased usage among some groups.
A six-session school-based program in South Africa reduced rates of unprotected sex and sex with multiple partners among sixth-graders. The intervention also had a positive impact on HIV/STD prevention behaviors, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions for young adolescents.
A recent case study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition suggests a potential link between gastric bypass surgery in adolescent girls and an increased risk of neural tube defects. Malabsorption caused by the surgery can lead to nutritional deficiencies, particularly folate deficiency, which...
Research found that two-thirds of suicidal adolescents see a mental health professional within two months after an initial ED visit. Adolescents with pre-existing mental health conditions are more likely to access follow-up care, but one in five require subsequent inpatient psychiatric admissions.
A study found that having an incarcerated father is associated with substantially elevated risks of marijuana and other illegal drug use in adolescence and early adulthood. Young people with incarcerated fathers also exhibited elevated trajectories of marijuana usage, extending into their mid-twenties.
A University of Montreal study found that teenagers who are well-accepted and sensitive to social codes are more likely to consume drugs and alcohol. The study, which tracked over 500 students from ages 10 to 15, showed a two-fold increase in consumption among the most popular kids with very popular friends.