Research on teenage health, behavior, and development. Covers vaping and smoking, youth mental health, social media, and emergency-care trends.
A new study by the University of Birmingham found that everyday stress, loneliness, and childhood trauma are significant risk factors for dissociation in teenagers and young adults. The research identified four key risk factors, with everyday stress being the most significant.
A Finnish cohort study found that higher physical activity and lower screen time in childhood are associated with reduced perceived stress and depressive symptoms in adolescence. The findings emphasize the importance of promoting physical activity and reducing screen time to support mental health in youth.
Small increases were observed in childhood obesity rates and severe obesity among US adults between 2013 and 2023. The study found no significant changes in waist circumference or other obesity-related measures during this period.
A new study finds that female adolescents face barriers such as societal pressures, body image concerns, and limited sports options, leading to a 60% dropout rate in Australia. Interventions that consider girls' cultural norms can increase engagement and retention, highlighting the need for more research and tailored programs.
A University of Córdoba study identifies how peer pressure can spur adolescents to participate in cyberbullying, recommending humanization and dignification of cybervictims as a strategy to prevent this form of harassment.
A study published in Appetite found that positioning main course options from lowest to highest calorie amounts increases the likelihood of adolescents choosing healthier meals. The experiment showed a significant reduction in calorie content when lower-calorie options were made more accessible.
Adolescents who perceive themselves as overweight face triple the risk of self-harm compared to those who do not, regardless of objective weight. The study also highlights the critical role of schools and communities in creating supportive environments.
A new study suggests that self-collected test kits could increase reproductive health access among youth due to their convenience, privacy, and comfort. The findings highlight the need to prioritize STI testing among young people to address disparities in health care access.
A pilot study will explore whether a ketogenic diet helps stabilize mood symptoms in teens and young adults with bipolar disorder. Preliminary research suggests improvements in mood and executive function among older adults.
A new study finds that parents' own screen habits significantly increase the likelihood of preteens engaging with mature media. Proactive parental monitoring and clear media rules are linked to lower consumption of mature content.
A first-of-its-kind study found that restrictive school policies didn't lead to lower phone and social media use among students, nor better outcomes in mental health and wellbeing. The study suggests that reducing time spent on phones is crucial, but schools must consider phone use beyond their boundaries.
Early-onset type 2 diabetes incidence and disability-adjusted life years increased sharply in China from 1990 to 2021, primarily driven by high body mass index and ambient pollution. Targeted interventions are needed for males and younger age groups.
A recent study found that half of US adolescents spend at least 66 minutes per day on their smartphones during school hours, with the majority using messaging and social media apps.
A new study found that 81% of Brazilian adolescents had experienced some form of childhood trauma by age 18, with the more types of trauma experienced increasing the risk of mental health problems. The study highlights the need for early interventions to reduce trauma exposure and mitigate its long-term consequences on mental health.
A new study found that empathy responses peak in young adulthood, with increased sensitivity to social pain. This development demonstrates that empathy strengthens as people age, but also accompanies reduced ratings of pain for others, highlighting the complexities of empathic responses.
A cohort study from JAMA Network Open reveals an association between temperature exposure and increased psychiatric symptoms among adolescents in the Netherlands and Spain. The findings suggest a possible link between climate change and mental health, warranting further research across diverse climates.
A study by ISGlobal found that exposure to cold temperatures was associated with increased internalizing problems, while heat exposure was linked to attention problems in adolescents. Psychiatric symptoms affect about one in seven adolescents worldwide, and climate change may exacerbate these conditions.
A new study found that Colorado's parental notification law imposes emotional, physical hurdles on adolescents seeking abortion care, delaying access and increasing stress. The law disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including those with unstable family relationships or histories of trauma.
Between 2012 and 2022, the number of children and young people being admitted to general acute medical wards in England due to mental health concerns increased by 65%, from 24,198 to 39,925. This rise was greatest among girls aged 11-15 and for eating disorders.
The paper highlights the need for a critical re-evaluation of how we study digital technologies' impact on young people's mental health. Oxford researchers call for a collaborative evidence-based framework to regulate AI integration into online platforms, ensuring its safety and benefits for children and adolescents.
A UConn study found that Black adolescent girls experience higher levels of hair dissatisfaction and related depression compared to their peers. The research suggests that targeted interventions, such as positive messaging about hair and texture, may help improve hair satisfaction and reduce depressive symptoms.
A cluster randomized trial involving 31 Canadian high schools and 3,800 students found that delivering personality-targeted brief cognitive behavioral interventions to students in the 7th grade reduced risk for substance use disorders by the end of high school. The intervention was associated with a 23%-80% reduced odds of SUD compared...
Researchers found that the percentage of female students identifying as LGBQ more than doubled between 2015 and 2021, correlating with a rise in suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts among females. This trend is not observed among male students, emphasizing the need for targeted support for LGBQ youth.
A new study finds that improving adolescent mental health can lead to increased labor force participation and lower public assistance usage, resulting in significant economic benefits. Clinically significant psychological distress in adolescence is associated with lower annual wages and reduced labor force participation 10 years later.
Diane Santa Maria, dean of Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, has received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Her innovative research program focuses on HIV prevention among youth experiencing homelessness.
According to UTHealth Houston research, adolescent and young adult men with cancer have a slightly elevated risk of having preterm birth and children with low birth weight. However, the likelihood of live birth was highest for fathers who had thyroid cancer and lowest for those with gastrointestinal cancer.
The Cognitive Neuroscience Society conference will feature keynote addresses, award lectures, and symposia on various topics in cognitive neuroscience. Researchers will present the latest findings on sleep, emotional experiences, brain connectivity, and more.
A new study reveals that armed conflict significantly reduces girls' years of schooling by adolescence, with effects even at low-intensity conflict levels. Exposure to nearby conflict is linked to reduced female education, with bigger impacts at closer distances and ages 6 and 11.
Researchers found that adolescent rodents fed a high-fat diet showed poor control during motor inhibition tasks and conservative decision-making in adulthood. The study suggests that a high-fat diet in adolescence can provoke long-term changes in impulsive behavior.
A new study found that only 11% of children and young people received a clinical diagnosis of an emotional disorder from CAMHS. Only 44% had their referral accepted, highlighting delays in receiving help.
Dr. Carrie Bearden's groundbreaking work combines genetic and brain development insights to identify early warning signs of psychosis in adolescents. Her research has exciting implications for personalized medicine and targeted preventive treatments.
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and colleagues reveals that less than 0.1% of privately insured US adolescents receive puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones. No TGD patients under age 12 were prescribed hormone treatment, indicating low access to care among this population.
A study of nearly 10,000 adolescents found distinct brain structural differences between those who used substances before age 15 and those who did not. These differences appeared to exist prior to any substance use, suggesting a role for brain structure in substance use risk.
Between 2020 and 2023, buprenorphine dispensing to adolescents increased, while prescribing declined among young adults. These changes are attributed to improved outreach, telehealth prescriptions, and elimination of waiver requirements.
A study found significant racial disparities in child abuse identification, with Black children suspected at higher rates. The findings highlight the need for further research to understand these disparities and reduce them in child abuse treatment.
A cohort of 1,500 children found cardiovascular health scores began to decline at approximately age 10, associated with health behaviors. This study identifies modifiable health behaviors for prevention efforts to optimize CVH in early life and may contribute to disparities in adulthood.
The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown created space for trans and gender diverse youth to explore and resolve their gender identity, with the most prevalent theme being a 'time for identity development'. This research found largely positive impacts on gender identity development in this age group.
A new study finds that cardiovascular health scores start to decline around age 10, driven by health behaviors rather than health factors. Improving these health behaviors, especially between mid-childhood and early adolescence, could help optimize CVH.
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior reveals a significant influence of home food environments on adolescent dietary patterns. Home food availability, particularly fruits and vegetables, promotes healthier eating habits, while neighborhood fast-food options negatively affect dietary quality.
Researchers from the University of Granada and the Public Health Agency of Canada identified the most important physical fitness tests for children and adolescents, with a degree of scientific agreement exceeding 85%. The top tests include the 20-meter shuttle run test, handgrip strength test, standing long jump test, and body mass index.
Recent data from the Monitoring the Future Survey show stable and declining trends in substance use among young people, with reported use of most drugs holding steady since 2021. The survey found that adolescents most commonly reported use of alcohol, nicotine vaping, and cannabis, with levels generally declining over the past few years.
Researchers found that a blunted response to reward feedback in teens predicts the first onset of depression, but not anxiety or suicidal ideation. This study contributes to understanding neural risk factors for mental health disorders and developing new methods to assess mental health risks.
A new study by Murdoch Children's Research Institute found that 64% of adolescents reported symptoms three or more times across their adolescent years. Girls were at increased risk and more likely to have a chronic course. Preventive strategies are urgently needed to address this public health problem.
The Pfizer-BioNTech XBB vaccine provided protection against severe COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations among children aged 5-17 during the 2023-2024 season. The vaccine showed an estimated vaccine effectiveness of 63-73% in preventing severe illness.
Research from Rutgers University-New Brunswick found that screen time has no effect on suicidal thoughts, but rather the content teens engage with and experiences they have. Positive social media interactions can protect against suicidal ideation, while negative ones increase risk.
Research from 2008-2020 shows an increase in emotional/mental health and suicide prevention in schools, but a decrease in substance use prevention, particularly among middle schools. This shift highlights the need for targeted teacher training and resource allocation to address emerging trends in school mental health.
A new UK study analyzed data from three generations of adolescents and young adults to assess preconception health trends. The study found that while some unhealthy behaviors like smoking and soda consumption decreased over time, rates of overweight and obesity increased across the generations.
A study published in JACC found that children who started tobacco smoking at age 10 were significantly more likely to experience premature cardiac injury and increase their risk of cardiovascular mortality. Researchers also discovered that continued smoking from childhood can cause lasting damage to heart muscle and function.
Researchers found significantly higher levels of p16INK4a in young people with sickle cell disease, indicating accelerated cellular aging. This discovery may lead to new treatments targeting cell aging and improved quality of life for SCD patients.
A single-session intervention, E-MIND, was developed to cultivate a growth mindset about emotions in teenage girls. The study found that the E-MIND group showed significant improvements in emotion regulation self-efficacy and strategy use, with more girls reporting proactive handling of negative emotions.
A study of over 6,000 adolescents found that those with symptoms of gaming addiction showed lower brain activity in the decision-making and reward processing region. This suggests a link between reduced sensitivity to rewards and problematic gaming behaviors.
A recent study published in Nature Communications Medicine found that around 25-30% of young people met the research definition of long Covid 24 months after their initial PCR test. However, 70% of those who had long Covid three months after the infection had recovered within two years.
A new long-term study of gun usage found that most gun carriers began to carry in adulthood, not adolescence. Adult-onset carriers were more persistent in their carrying and had a different pattern of exposure to violence, whereas adolescent-onset carriers were associated with direct exposure to gun violence.
A major US study found that around a third of Chicago residents carry concealed firearms by middle age, with differences in gun carrying between men and women. Gun carrying in adolescence often occurs in response to direct experiences of violence, while adults are more likely to carry due to perceived threats to public safety.
Research reveals transgender and gender-diverse preteens are 15% less physically active than cisgender peers, with 1,394 fewer steps taken daily. This disparity may be due to stigma and discrimination discouraging team sports participation.
A multinational study of 14 countries found that having a personal social media account was linked to higher total sedentary time in both males and females. Adolescents who reported less recreational screen time lived in walkable neighborhoods and had better perceptions of safety.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds significant associations between suicidal behavior and externalizing behaviors, as well as violence exposure among US high school students. The study's authors suggest that stronger firearm protections are needed to protect youth health.
A new study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found a significant association between adolescent suicidal behavior and externalizing behaviors, as well as violence exposure. The study assessed the impact of state-level access to firearms on suicide rates among U.S. high school students.
A two-week arts intervention found to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being in adolescents with depression. The study suggests that engaging in the arts offers a pathway for exploring new ways of thinking, developing insights, and sparking self-discovery.
Research reveals a strong correlation between psychotic-like experiences and depressive symptoms in adolescents, highlighting the need for systematic surveying and consideration of individual factors. The study's findings suggest that brief cognitive psychotherapy can help alleviate symptoms and improve mental health outcomes.