Articles tagged with Young People
A new study suggests that a video game designed to raise teens' awareness of mental health issues can reduce symptoms of depression on par with in-school programs. The game, PlaySmart, was played by 269 students for up to six weeks, with significant reductions in symptoms reported after only six weeks.
A randomized controlled trial shows that an internet-based Master Your Worries programme significantly reduces anxiety symptoms and improves functional ability in children, even after two years. The study found the positive effects of therapy to be greatest among children with more severe symptoms.
A cohort study of 13,585 insured patients found racial disparities in endometrial cancer survival, with greater imbalances in risk of adverse tumor types and distant disease. Younger black patients had a 43% larger disparity compared to their white counterparts.
Teaching children emotional regulation and healthy friendships can provide a crucial buffer against social media's risks to mental health and self-worth. Strong childhood friendships are better equipped to navigate digital spaces, reducing the likelihood of online validation-based identity and self-worth issues.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that strong social bonds and public recognition for achievements can reduce suicidal thoughts and behavior among teenagers. The study analyzed data from nearly 200,000 Pennsylvania teens and found that personal connections with family, school, and community can decrease suicide risk.
All 50 US states have introduced bills to regulate social media and digital platforms for minors. A new public database, the Youth Digital Policy Repository, categorizes state legislation by location, year, and topic, providing a centralized source of regulations to inform future legislation.
A study of 3786 children found no significant associations between screen use and developmental difficulties, except for very high use of electronic games. Early high screen use was associated with greater difficulties at 10 years old, but not sustained at 15 years.
This study analyzed 9845 Ukrainian refugee children aged 5 and under in Southern Poland, identifying 5 distinct health care utilization profiles. The findings suggest that refugee-hosting countries must prioritize emergency and inpatient care following a crisis to rapidly adapt health care resources.
This study found that young, non-Hispanic white women who are physically active and drink heavily are more likely to engage in intentional outdoor tanning. Intentional tanning is associated with increased risk of sunburn and skin cancer, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to reduce this behavior.
A recent study published by the University of Sydney found that dexamphetamine and methylphenidate are equally effective in treating ADHD in children, with no significant differences in symptom improvement. However, children taking dexamphetamine experienced greater weight loss compared to those taking methylphenidate.
Adolescents in the US are unaware of the dangers of fentanyl misuse, emphasizing the importance of public education programs and clinical communication. The study reveals a significant portion of younger adolescents are not aware of the risks associated with fentanyl use.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that longer sleep is linked to more stable blood sugar levels in healthy 18-year-olds, even among those with no previous health issues. The researchers tracked participants over two weeks and found a two-way relationship between sleep duration and blood sugar stability.
Researchers warn that teens' reliance on AI chatbots may bypass opportunities for developing essential relationship skills. The technology offers immediate, nonjudgmental guidance but lacks needed safeguards, potentially reinforcing unhealthy relationship patterns and increasing vulnerability to mental health problems.
A new Cornell University study found that young adults who reflected on their life story and connected it to different stages reported reduced symptoms of depression. The intervention involves writing about motivations, passions, or goals at various life stages over two weeks, with participants summarizing their identity in a word.
Researchers are developing a new gene therapy to treat CTLA-4 insufficiency, a life-limiting inherited immune disorder. The treatment involves replacing a faulty gene in a patient's own immune cells using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.
The article explores ways clinicians can deliver care tailored to each patient's unique needs, priorities, and identities. Research highlights the importance of considering life transitions in supporting adolescents and young adults with cancer.
Transition-age youth experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors face substantial mental health care access disparities, with Asian, Black, and Latine youths receiving significantly lower treatment rates than white peers. Structural barriers are believed to drive these inequities rather than clinical or patient-related factors.
A study found that a commonly used framework for assessing social-emotional skills in youth does not work equally well across cultures. The framework's structure changes with age and varies significantly by culture, highlighting the need for age-appropriate and culturally-sensitive approaches to measure these skills.
Injectable peptides marketed online for enhancement purposes are raising concern due to lack of regulation and limited research. The use of these substances is blurring the line between legitimate treatment and enhancement use, complicating enforcement and creating uncertainty for clinicians, regulators, and consumers alike.
Half of parents track their adult kids' locations occasionally, with 1 in 4 saying it increases anxiety. While tracking provides reassurance, constant access to information can also fuel anxiety and blur the lines between safety and privacy.
A new study suggests a novel electronic health record-based marker, MLVI, can help identify transplant patients at high risk for organ rejection due to non-adherence. The study found that using MLVI as a risk marker reduced overall rejection rates by bringing them down to levels typically seen in low-risk patients.
Leading child psychologist Dr. Barish argues that grandparents have a crucial role to play in helping children develop a sense of purpose beyond personal success and in providing emotional support. He recommends practices like volunteering together and frequent family conversations about kindness and understanding.
A study by University College London found that physical punishment is associated with detrimental outcomes for children's development and wellbeing. Children who experienced physical punishment were more likely to engage in risky behaviors and have poorer educational attainment.
A new Canadian study reveals that social anxiety disorder now affects nearly 1 in 7 adults, up from 8% in 2002. Young people are most at risk, and early life experiences, such as childhood trauma, and lack of social support play a significant role.
A study of 80 concussed teens found that moderate screen time in the first 3 days after a concussion is linked to faster recovery. The researchers analyzed data and found that an average of 141 minutes of daily screen time sped up symptom resolution by 35%. Balanced use, rather than total avoidance, may be helpful for concussion recovery.
A cross-sectional study found early age–onset colorectal cancer patients with improved overall survival but delayed treatment experienced worse outcomes. Language barriers may be a modifiable risk factor contributing to these delays.
A new book titled SocialsVoice presents a complex portrait of the relationship between social media content and mental health from the perspective of Latino youth. Through participatory research, youth share their experiences online, including both negative stigmatizing content and supportive voices.
Researchers at Pennington Biomedical published the first study to estimate pediatric obesity prevalence among US children and adolescents aged 5-18 years using the new Lancet Commission definitions. The study found that many children are already experiencing measurable health impairments associated with obesity.
A new book by a Cambridge child psychotherapist argues that treating parents alongside children is crucial for addressing the youth mental health crisis. The author highlights the importance of considering an 'ecological system', including families, communities, and environment, in understanding young people's wellbeing.
A nationally representative survey of US adolescents and young adults found that a fifth used AI chatbots for mental health advice. Proactive discussion with parents and clinicians about chatbot use is necessary to promote safety and linkages to evidence-based care.
Two new international studies found that healthy lifestyles can have a protective effect on childhood cancer survivors, reducing the risk of chronic health problems. The studies suggest that physical activity, a healthy weight, and other lifestyle factors can significantly reduce the burden of disease in adulthood.
Chlamydia notifications decreased in seven European countries, with significant declines among young people. The decline was mainly seen in Sweden, Denmark, England, Finland, Ireland, Norway and the Netherlands, with case numbers dropping by up to 32% in some countries.
A new study published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport found that most children meet guidelines for restrained sitting, but urban children and those with more vehicle time are less likely to meet the guideline. Higher levels of physical activity were associated with greater likelihood of meeting the recommended guideline.
A cohort study found that Medicaid prescription caps were associated with lower overall prescription medication use and greater frequency of acute care visits among young adults with opioid use disorder. This suggests that the implementation of these caps may have unintended consequences for individuals struggling with addiction.
A new study maps how 29 factors influence one another in young adults aged 18-40, revealing self-reinforcing loops that worsen depressive symptoms and disrupt sleep. The model highlights the complexity of these interactions and suggests a nuanced approach to breaking the cycles.
Research shows that intrinsic motivations, such as enjoying physical activity and feeling healthy, consistently matter most in predicting aerobic fitness. Teenagers who value these factors are significantly fitter at 17 than those motivated primarily by winning or external rewards.
A study of over 20,000 South Australian students found that wellbeing declined across every measured domain, including happiness and life satisfaction, after transitioning to secondary school. The decline was independent of developmental changes associated with adolescence.
A new Northwestern Medicine study found that young adults whose mothers had high blood pressure during pregnancy had more signs of early arterial injury, higher blood pressure, and higher body mass index. This suggests that cardiovascular risk may be transmitted across generations through a combination of biological, environmental, and...
The University of Pennsylvania has been awarded a three-year, $650,000 Institutional Challenge Grant to support a research-practice partnership focused on addressing youth homelessness across the Commonwealth. The partnership aims to examine the effectiveness of state policies in reducing homelessness and create an evidence-based polic...
A new study from the University of Mississippi found that younger teens are most likely to try psychoactive inhalants like nitrous oxide. The study also linked inhalant use to certain behaviors such as smoking tobacco and getting into fights, with teenage girls having the highest odds of developing inhalant use disorder.
A new national survey found nearly all parents (97%) felt stress related to parenting in the past month, with children's behavioral issues and emotional/mental health being top sources of that stress. The Kids Mental Health Foundation offers free resources to help parents build healthy homes and reduce stress.
Cancer cases are on the rise among younger adults in England, with a significant increase in bowel and ovarian cancer rates. The study found that excess weight is a key contributor, but it's unlikely to fully explain this trend, as trends in risk factors such as smoking and diet have been stable or improving over the past decade.
A new study found significant socio-economic inequalities in accessing mental health care, with children from deprived areas more likely to have their referrals rejected or experience worse clinical outcomes. Younger children under 11 are also less likely to receive help, hindering early intervention efforts.
The study found that out-of-state Chicago Abortion Fund callers traveled more than 3 times the distance to Illinois after Dobbs compared to before. These callers were also more likely to have private or no insurance, be from rural areas, and receive hospital-based care during their pregnancy.
A cross-sectional study found no association between longer breastfeeding duration and cognitive performance in unadjusted models, however, a positive correlation emerged after controlling for socioeconomic factors. Longer breastfeeding durations were more common among low-income families, highlighting the need for continued support.
The study found significant reductions in suicide mortality among adolescents and young adults after the US launched its 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Larger reductions were observed in states with the highest adoption of the 988 Lifeline services.
A cohort study found that bullying and restrictive legislation were associated with higher rates of psychotic-like experiences in gender-diverse youths. The study suggests that supportive environments and policies can help alleviate mental health concerns among this population.
A recent study found that children from rural China are more prone to emotional issues, while urban children show more behavioral problems. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and underscore the impact of environment on mental health outcomes.
A nationally representative study found nearly 1 in 10 U.S. adults with heavy drinking and obesity conditions, highlighting the need for preventive efforts in younger and middle-aged adults without insurance or Medicaid coverage to curb rising rates of alcohol-associated liver disease deaths.
A nationwide study reveals that individuals with lower educational attainment are more likely to die from colorectal cancer at a younger age. The disparity in young-onset CRC mortality nearly doubled over the past three decades among those with 12 years or less education compared to those with 16 or more years of education.
A notable minority of US youth and young adults, particularly those facing structural disadvantages and mental health distress, engage in intentional online searches for gun-related harm. Public health strategies combining digital interventions with structural reforms offer promise to reduce gun-related harm among vulnerable populations.
The Pennington Generation study aims to explore the impact of physical activity, nutrition, and sleep on children's health and growth. The study will examine how these behaviors relate to weight gain and obesity over time.
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is enrolling adolescent and young adult cancer patients in various trials, including genetic services and treatment studies. These trials aim to address longstanding gaps in care and improve outcomes for AYAs with cancer.
The report proposes new strategies for digital safety, including AI-powered tools to detect and intervene in harmful situations. Experts also recommend involving children and youths in the design process, particularly schools, to promote agency and well-being.
A binational study found most psychotherapists lack adequate knowledge and confidence treating eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia in boys and men. Clinicians identified a need for specialized training on assessing unique risk factors, tailoring treatment to male-specific experiences, and addressing stigma.
A new systematic review found that screen time use among children and adolescents has dramatically risen over the past three decades, with a clear increase occurring after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The review analyzed 60 peer-reviewed studies and found that older children and adolescents reported higher screen time than young...
Researchers developed a video modeling program to enhance romantic relationship skills in young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The study found that participants significantly improved their decision-making skills across four relationship domains, averaging 76% accuracy after the intervention. The findings high...
A recent study by Pompeu Fabra University reveals that socioeconomic conditions significantly impact young people's ability to detect algorithmically personalized advertising. The study finds that lower socioeconomic status is linked to decreased critical capacity, exacerbating structural inequalities.
A recent study by Melissa Villodas and Gilbert Gimm found that youth in foster care with disabilities received special education and mentoring services at higher rates than others. In contrast, those without disabilities used room and board financial assistance more frequently. The researchers' interdisciplinary collaboration aims to i...
The study identified six sleep health dimensions in young adolescents: irregularity, timing, duration, social jetlag, weekend oversleep, and continuity. Greater irregularity was associated with higher concurrent transdiagnostic mental health symptoms, while shorter duration was linked to increased symptoms at follow-up.