Articles tagged with Adolescents
Dextromethorphan abuse among California teens increased tenfold between 1999 and 2004, with 74.5% of cases involving youth aged 9-17. The trend was attributed to easy access and perceived safety of the medication.
Two Stanford/Packard studies confirm pro-eating disorder websites promote dangerous behaviors among adolescents, while also finding pre-teens with eating disorders tend to lose weight more quickly. Pediatricians and parents should be vigilant about internet use and recognize early signs of weight loss in pre-teen children.
A recent study reveals that 86% of the decline in US teen pregnancy rates is attributed to improved contraceptive use, with most progress seen among older teens. The study suggests that public policies should promote access to accurate information on contraception and support responsible behaviors.
A new study found that adolescents playing violent video games exhibited increased emotional arousal and decreased executive function compared to those playing nonviolent games. The researchers used fMRI scans to measure brain activity during tasks requiring concentration and emotional processing.
Researchers found that adolescent smokers are more vulnerable to AUDs due to nicotine's impact on the brain's central reward circuitry. The study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, suggests smoking can make adolescents more susceptible to addictions beyond just alcohol.
A weeklong intervention in schools reduced adolescents' inclination to drink by teaching them critical thinking skills and strategies to question alcohol ads. The program, led by Penn State's Marvin E. Goldberg, equipped students with persuasion knowledge and processed advertising messages.
Adolescents who smoke regularly have a significantly increased risk of developing asthma, with a four-fold increase in risk for those who smoked 300 or more cigarettes per year. The study found that exposure to cigarette smoke in the womb and later smoking habits also significantly raised the risk of asthma.
Children who smoke cigarettes have nearly four times the risk of developing asthma in their teens, and those exposed to cigarette smoke in utero face an even higher risk. The study draws on data from the Children's Health Study, a longitudinal study of respiratory health among children in southern California communities.
Researchers found that adolescents with a history of arrest were more likely to engage in unprotected sex acts and use substances during sex. This increased risk was attributed to higher rates of substance abuse, mental health issues, and unfavorable attitudes towards risky behavior.
New research finds that siblings' feelings of closeness with each other change across childhood and adolescence, influenced by parents' warmth and conflict. Siblings often turn to each other for support during difficult family circumstances.
A new report suggests that adolescents make decisions based on weighing risks and benefits, similar to economists' ideal, but also relying on intuitive reasoning. This challenges the common notion of adolescents being reckless and impulsive.
A study published in CANCER reveals that adolescent and young adult cancer patients value social connections with peers as a high priority, contrary to physician beliefs. Researchers found that meeting other young people who share a common experience helps address concerns such as coping with uncertainty and body changes.
A recent study by the University of Toronto found a statistically significant link between TV viewing and physical inactivity in Canadian adolescents. The study, which tracked over 7,982 participants aged 12-19, revealed that more hours spent watching TV were associated with less energy expended on physical activity.
The Kennedy Krieger Institute is establishing a Learning Disabilities Research Center to examine the causes of reading disorders in children grades three through eight. The center aims to improve literacy by developing effective educational interventions.
A study found that one-third of Ugandan adolescents use the internet for health-related information, while another third would go online to learn about HIV/AIDS if it were free. The findings suggest initiatives improving online access and tailored content for young people could make a difference in Africa.
A study of 188 students found that poor readers were three times more likely to consider or attempt suicide and six times more likely to drop out of school than typical readers. Researchers identified reading difficulties as an independent risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behavior, regardless of psychiatric conditions.
A study found that adults with depressive disorder, Bipolar Disorder, or anxiety disorder are at risk of having undiagnosed Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with 32.0% comorbid in those with depression and 21.2% in those with bipolar disorder. Researchers analyzed medical claims data to identify this comorbidity.
Research suggests that teenage brains can quickly adapt to the effects of alcohol, leading to a disconnect between behavioral and physiological responses. This may result in teenagers being less impaired by alcohol but also more likely to engage in binge drinking, which poses significant risks to brain development.
A new study by Wake Forest University psychologist Lisa Kiang suggests that positive feelings toward one's ethnic group can provide an extra boost of positivity in individuals' daily lives. Adolescents with higher ethnic regard rated their daily happiness levels higher than those with lower ethnic regard.
Nicotine exposure at a young age can alter brain development, leading to future addiction risk. The study found molecular changes in the brain that break down nerve cell membranes, especially in males.
Juvenile hamsters on low doses of fluoxetine exhibit longer and more intense attacks compared to adults. The study suggests that brain maturity during puberty affects drug response, leading researchers to investigate potential negative effects on developing nervous systems.
A University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study suggests that teens with higher media literacy scores are nearly half as likely to smoke. The results provide quantitative evidence linking media literacy to smoking and hold promise for schools and community organizations seeking to implement effective tobacco control programs.
Researchers surveyed 212 teenagers from Cincinnati neighborhoods with high lead concentrations and found a significant correlation between elevated childhood blood-lead levels and the risk for multiple, unintentional injuries later in life. The study suggests that early-life exposure to lead can cause lasting health effects impacting f...
A study of 438 children and adolescents with bipolar spectrum disorders found that those with short episodes of mania were similar to those meeting full diagnostic criteria, suggesting a need for revised diagnostic criteria. The study's results will inform changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV.
A major national study found that about 154,000 of 80.7 million children and adolescents nationwide had diabetes in 2001. Non-Hispanic white children had the highest diabetes rate, with type 1 diabetes being the most common form.
According to a report in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, approximately one-third of boys and girls aged 12-19 in the US do not meet physical fitness standards. The study found that regular physical activity is essential for maintaining good health, as low-fit youth are at increased risk of chronic diseases.
Research suggests that low birth weight infants, even those without disabilities, may face motor skills difficulties and lower cognitive abilities by adolescence. Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal factors such as white matter injury and mechanical ventilation are associated with these outcomes.
Teenagers who drink alcohol are more likely to be victims of violence, a Cardiff University study has found. The research, which surveyed over 4,000 children aged 11-16 in England, showed that drinking habits can increase the risk of injury.
Researchers found that most multi-racial adolescents change their reported racial category over time, with some identities, like Native-American, being more fluid. This challenges common assumptions about race and its stability, highlighting the need for nuanced measurements in social sciences and government analyses.
Research found that immigrant children from different racial/ethnic groups have varying levels of verbal development, with some experiencing a significant disadvantage compared to non-immigrant peers. Despite this, most immigrant children make individual progress in their verbal ability over time.
A study published in JAMA found that recent syncope, QTc interval duration, and sex are significant independent predictors of cardiac arrest and sudden death in adolescents with LQTS. The study identified nearly 12 times the risk for life-threatening events among patients with 1 syncopal episode in the last 2 years.
A new study from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center and Brown Medical School reveals that African American adolescents with depressive symptoms are at a higher risk of engaging in risky sexual behavior. The study concludes that assessing depressive symptoms can help prevent future emotional disorders and HIV/STI transmission...
Researchers found that small-town and rural school-based intervention programs significantly reduced short-term and lifetime methamphetamine use among adolescents. These findings suggest that brief but effective prevention programs can be effective in addressing the growing methamphetamine problem among teens.
Nearly all U.S. children aged 12-17 years were exposed to tobacco use through movie advertisements televised in 2001-2002. The study analyzed 216 movie trailers, finding that 95% of young people saw at least one trailer with images of tobacco use.
Research supported by NIDA shows that prevention programs in middle school can reduce methamphetamine abuse among rural adolescents. The study found significant effects on both lifetime and past-year methamphetamine abuse, with a relative reduction of 65% compared to controls.
According to researchers at the US Department of Agriculture and the National Cancer Institute, most Americans do not meet daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. The new MyPyramid recommendations are 2 to 6 ½ cups per day, with only 17 percent of women age 51-70 meeting their combined recommendation. Salad consumption is p...
Researchers discovered that teens have similar numbers of unprotected sex acts with both casual and main partners, despite using condoms more often with casual partners. This highlights the importance of targeting adolescents' attitudes towards casual sexual partners in HIV intervention programs.
A study of over 6,000 teenage school pupils found that one in ten girls engage in deliberate self-harm each year. The research revealed that girls are more likely to self-harm than boys and that self-cutting is a common form of self-harm reported by teenagers.
A large representative survey found that 3.5% of adolescents in the US had ever exchanged sex for drugs or money, with higher rates among African American youths and those from non-traditional family setups. The study also showed a significant link between exchanging sex and drug use, as well as depression and having been forced into sex.
A University of Minnesota study found that teens with low body satisfaction are more likely to engage in unhealthy weight control behaviors, such as binge eating and smoking, which can lead to obesity and poor health. In contrast, those with a positive body image tend to prioritize healthy eating and exercise.
A pilot research study led by Marina Bers explores how virtual environments can promote positive development in post-transplant adolescents and encourage adherence to treatment protocols. The study uses a three-dimensional virtual world called Zora, where children create and control their own identities and interact with others.
A study found that parents of teenagers are more likely to store firearms unsafely in their homes compared to parents of younger children. The researchers surveyed 392 parents and found that nearly 42% of parents with teenage children had an unlocked firearm at home, whereas only 28.8% of parents with children under 12 had the same issue.
A study by Harvard researchers found that households with adolescents are more likely to store guns loaded and/or unlocked. Parents of older children may be less vigilant about securing firearms due to perceived responsibility.
A study found that adolescents who watch wrestling on TV are more likely to engage in date fighting and other violent behaviors. Exposure to violence on television can affect adolescents' behavior, particularly when combined with socialization, the study suggests.
Researchers found that young teens see pregnancy as an opportunity to enhance relationships, but also express concerns about the impact on their education, finances, and overall well-being. The study highlights the need for tailored intervention strategies to address teen-pregnancy prevention.
A culturally tailored HIV-prevention program reduces risky sexual behaviors among Latino adolescents, even a year after attendance. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of behavioral training in decreasing HIV transmission risk.
A tailored HIV prevention program was found to decrease risky sexual behavior among Latino adolescents, increasing condom use and abstinence. The program incorporated aspects of Latino culture into sexual health education messages, resulting in significant reductions in unprotected sex and multiple partners.
Severely depressed children and adolescents are 1.5 times more likely to attempt or complete suicide if treated with antidepressants compared to those not treated. In contrast, antidepressant use is not associated with increased risk of suicide attempts or deaths in adults.
A study found that symptoms of nicotine dependence can take hold before regular smoking in some cases. This information is crucial for developing effective intervention programs for young smokers. Experts emphasize the need for stronger public health efforts to prevent youth from starting smoking in the first place.
Teenage ridicule influences brand consciousness and consumer socialization, with kids learning to avoid expensive brands for acceptance. Mandatory school uniforms may reduce these pressures, supporting Wooten's policy proposal.
A study of female nurses found that a higher body mass index at age 18 was associated with greater risk for death than a normal BMI. Meanwhile, severely obese adolescents who received diet drug sibutramine along with behavior therapy lost an average of 14 pounds and improved heart risk factors.
A study found that adding medication to behavior therapy significantly improves weight loss and reduces disease risk factors in obese adolescents. The treatment group lost an average of 14 pounds, while the control group gained four pounds, with notable improvements in triglyceride levels and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
A new Harvard study reveals that being overweight as a teenager is associated with an increased risk of premature death in younger and middle-aged women. The research found that even moderately overweight adolescents faced a higher risk of mortality.
Youth-rated movies contain more images of cigarette smoking than R-rated films, with 75% of 2004 youth-rated films depicting smoking. Smoking on screen has decreased over time, but its depiction in youth-rated films remains a concern for public health.
Adolescents conform to aggressive and risky behaviors of highly popular peers when others observe, and privately internalize these attitudes even when alone. Social anxiety may exacerbate vulnerability to peer influence.
A study published in Child Development found that children's behavior from age 3 can predict their likelihood of using alcohol and illicit drugs in adolescence. Lower levels of behavioral control and slower increases in resiliency are associated with early drinking and drug use, while higher resiliency is linked to reduced risk.
Individuals who begin drinking at a young age are more likely to develop alcohol dependence throughout their lives. A national survey found that 47% of those who started drinking before age 14 experienced alcohol dependence during their lifetimes.
A study found that only 15% of adolescent sexual assault survivors completed the full 28-day course of antiviral medications, highlighting difficulties in prescribing therapies to this population. The lack of adherence is attributed to factors such as unclear risk assessment and psychiatric conditions.
Research from eight countries highlights the need for improved oral health services, particularly in juvenile detention and low-income communities. Key findings include the high prevalence of dental caries among young children and the importance of parental education and access to oral health promotion services.
Researchers identified distinct patterns of risk behavior among adolescent boys and girls, highlighting the need for targeted HIV prevention programs tailored to specific risk profiles. The study found that some high-risk adolescents have co-occurring mental health crises, substance abuse, and unsafe sex practices.