Research on teenage health, behavior, and development. Covers vaping and smoking, youth mental health, social media, and emergency-care trends.
A new study found that nonresident fathers who are involved with their adolescent children report lower levels of delinquency. The researchers also discovered that increased parental involvement can help adolescents develop self-control and self-competence, decreasing the likelihood of engaging in problem behaviors.
A study found that children who perceive their parents as antisocial are more likely to engage in similar behaviors. The researchers concluded that children learn antisocial behavior by observing and interpreting their parents' behavior, which provides a model for their own behavior.
A study of 562 young students found that girls experienced more depressive symptoms and stressors than boys, particularly in their interpersonal world. The researchers discovered that exposure to stressors and the way girls reacted to these events contributed to their higher levels of depression.
A recent study of 4,500 American adolescents found that sedentary activities and higher body mass index (BMI) are associated with higher systolic blood pressure. Encouraging adolescents to reduce their sedentary activity may improve their blood pressure and lower their later risk of cardiovascular disease.
A recent study found that engaging in various online behaviors is linked to online interpersonal victimization, with talking to strangers being a significant risk factor. The survey analyzed data from over 1,400 teens and found that sharing personal info or making rude comments online were not as harmful as previously thought.
A study of nearly 900 adolescents found that nearly 80% had multiple physical activity and dietary risk behaviors. Only 2% met all four health guidelines.
A new study conducted at NYU Medical Center found that lap band surgery is an effective procedure for combating obesity in adolescents. Patients who underwent the surgery lost approximately 50% of their excess weight within a year, with no significant complications.
A University of Minnesota study found that families who frequently eat fast food for dinner have poorer access to healthy foods, drink more soda, and are at a higher risk of obesity. Limiting fast food intake at home can help improve eating habits and overall health.
A new study suggests that skipping breakfast and consuming frequent fast food lead to an increased risk of weight gain in adolescents as they enter adulthood. Researchers analyzed data from over 20,000 teens and found a significant increase in both behaviors and associated weight gain during this critical period.
A landmark study found that inpatient length of stay for youth with mental illness decreased by over 60% between 1990 and 2000, despite increases in illness severity and self-harm. The average length of hospitalization for youth undergoing mental health treatment declined from 12.2 days to 4.5 days during this period.
Teens with cancer face poor survival rates due to limited clinical trial participation, lack of awareness about their risk, and delayed diagnoses. The 15-29 age group has seen no improvement in survival rates over the past 25 years.
A study of 8,404 children found that those with obesity used more healthcare resources and had higher charges than their healthy-weight counterparts. The average adjusted difference in charges was $172 for children with diagnosed obesity.
Researchers aim to identify genetic underpinnings of early-onset bipolar disorder, a mental illness affecting millions of Americans. The two-year study will analyze DNA from participants and their parents to develop more rational treatments.
A comprehensive study led by University of Colorado at Boulder Professor Delbert Elliott found that children growing up in high-poverty neighborhoods were doing much better than expected. The study, which analyzed data from 662 families and 820 youths in Denver and Chicago, showed a success rate of 52% for children from disadvantaged n...
A University of Illinois study reveals materialistic values develop differently among children and adolescents, increasing between ages 8-13 before dropping at 16. Self-esteem plays a crucial role in materialism levels.
A new study by Cornell University researchers found that teens ponder risks longer than adults, leading to a higher likelihood of engaging in high-risk behaviors. The findings suggest that interventions should focus on developing 'gist-based' thinking to avoid dangers rather than weighing pros and cons.
Adolescents who use substances alone are more likely to have health and behavioral problems as young adults than their peers who consume substances in social settings. Solitary users tend to report poorer physical health by age 23, lower grades, and less engagement with school.
Research suggests that adolescent brain maturation is associated with synaptic pruning, a process that eliminates weak connections between neurons. Delta wave activity declines during adolescence, beginning at around age 11, with a 25% decrease by age 14, and is related to age but not physical growth or sexual maturation.
A University of Minnesota study found that frequent self-weighing in teenage girls predicts increased rates of binge eating, smoking, vomiting, and skipping meals. The researchers suggest strategies focusing on behavioral change rather than weight may be more helpful for teens.
A RAND Corporation study found that adolescent Asian immigrants improved their preventive health behaviors, such as physical activity and nutrition, across generations. In contrast, Latino teens showed poorer or worsening habits over time, particularly in nutrition, which may contribute to high obesity rates among the Latino community.
A study found that teenagers who take daily multivitamin supplements have healthier diets and lifestyles compared to non-users. Vitamin users were more likely to engage in physical activity, eat a balanced diet, and watch less TV.
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.