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UrduA new study suggests the rise in mental health disorders in children and teens is attributed to a decline over decades in opportunities for them to play, roam and engage in activities independent of direct oversight and control by adults. Although well intended, adults’ drive to guide and protect children has deprived them of the independence they need for mental health, contributing to record levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide among young people.
Tag: Teens
Physicians Should Screen Youth for Cyberbullying, Social Media Use
Researchers recommend primary care physicians screen adolescents and young adults for inappropriate or misuse of social media and cyberbullying utilizing screening tools developed for use in the health care setting. Physicians also can ask about the many symptoms that could be warning signs of cyberbullying such as sleep disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, self-harm behaviors, academic problems, fatigue and headaches. They also can undergo training to detect bullying and ensure that their staff is trained appropriately.
Risky business: Teenage chimps risk it all, like humans
For young chimpanzees, gambling on the possibility of a big payout is an attractive prospect, whereas adult apes are more likely to hedge their bets, a new University of Michigan study shows.
Close Relationships with Parents Promote Healthier Brain Development in High-Risk Teens, Buffering Against Alcohol Use Disorder
For teens at elevated risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), close relationships with parents can help mitigate their genetic and environmental vulnerability, a new study suggests. The offspring of people with AUD are four times more likely than others to develop the disorder. Increasing evidence suggests that this heritable risk may be either amplified or mitigated by the quality of parenting.
Youngest Girls Who Get Pregnant Have Highest Risk of Poor Outcomes, Study Finds
Pregnant teens in the U.S. have long been known to face increased health risks and pregnancy complications, but a new study for the first time finds that girls ages 13 or younger who get pregnant face even greater risks. These very young girls are significantly more likely to experience preterm birth, cesarean delivery, and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) compared to older pregnant teens.
Pandemic Escalated Teen Cyberbullying – Asian Americans Targeted Most
A study of U.S. middle and high school students shows that about 17 percent were cyberbullied in 2016 and 2019, but that proportion rose to 23 percent in 2021. Notably, 19 percent of Asian American youth said they had been cyberbullied, and about 1 in 4 (23.5 percent) indicated they were victimized online because of their race/color. Asian American youth were the only racial group where the majority (59 percent) reported more cyberbullying since the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In 2019, Asian American youth were the least likely to have experienced cyberbullying.
With Back to School Comes Back to Sleep: Third Annual Student Sleep Health Week to be Held Sept. 12-18
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is holding the third annual Student Sleep Health Week Sept. 12-18, 2022, to educate students, parents and educators about the importance of sleep for success, well-being and overall health.
Greater Empathy in Adolescents Helps Prevent Bias-based Cyberbullying
Little is known about cyberbullying and empathy, especially as it relates harming or abusing others because of race or religion. A study is the first to examine general cyberbullying, race-based cyberbullying, and religion-based cyberbullying in young adolescents. Results show that the higher a youth scored on empathy, the lower the likelihood that they cyberbullied others. When it came to bias-based cyberbullying, higher levels of total empathy were associated with lower odds of cyberbullying others based on their race or religion.
75% of teens aren’t getting recommended daily exercise
Three out of every four teens aren’t getting enough exercise, and this lack is even more pronounced among female students. But new research from the University of Georgia suggests improving a school’s climate can increase physical activity among adolescents.
Study Provides New Insights into How Acculturation Affects What Teens Eat
A new study has revealed how acculturation — the process of assimilating to a different culture — can affect the dietary patterns of adolescents who move to the U.S.
Five New Studies Examine Eating Behaviors in Teens and Young Adults
The developmental changes and growing independence that characterize adolescence and young adulthood can make these stages of life both exciting and challenging. New studies at NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE shed light on the eating behaviors and diets of teens and young adults around the world.
Featured Research from NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE
Press materials are now available for NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN).
Both Mothers and Friends Shape Adolescent Self-esteem
A new longitudinal study takes a deep dive into adolescent self-esteem and the role that parents – specifically mothers – and friends play in shaping how youth feel about themselves.
Rutgers Expert Available to Discuss the Mental Health Impacts of Social Media on Children
A Rutgers child and adult psychiatrist, Muhammad Zeshan, M.D., is available to discuss the negative impacts of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter on teenagers. “I’ve seen the negative psychological impacts of social media, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic…
Study examines teens’ thoughts, plans around suicide
New research by the University of Washington and New York University explored gender, racial and ethnic differences among teens who think about and/or attempt suicide, as well as associated behavioral and environmental factors.
TEEN ATHLETES PREPARE FOR FALL SPORTS WITH GOOD NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS CELEBRATES KIDS EAT RIGHT MONTH™
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages parents and caregivers to guide teens on how to safely resume sports and properly fuel their bodies to continue growing and maturing.
More American parents of teens are purchasing firearms during the pandemic, study finds
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 10% of all households with high school-age teens reported buying a firearm, and 3% of U.S. households with teens became first-time gun owners. For households that already owned a firearm, these new firearms were more likely to be acquired by those who already reported storing at least one gun unlocked and loaded. This concerned researchers, as the single biggest risk factor for adolescent firearm injuries is access to an unsecured firearm.
Tennessee health care and public health leaders urge immediate action to protect state’s children from vaccine-preventable diseases
Tennessee health care providers, public health professionals and community stakeholders today issued an urgent call to action to protect Tennessee children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
mRNA Vaccinations vs COVID-19 Risk in Teens – Vaccinations are Safer
Case Western Reserve University researchers have demonstrated that the risk for myocarditis/pericarditis (heart inflammation) among male teens (12-17) diagnosed with COVID-19 is nearly 6 times higher than their combined risk following first and second doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
The risk for myocarditis/pericarditis among girls (ages 12-17) is 21 times greater from COVID-19 than from vaccines.
FOOD EXPERT TIPS FOR HEATHFUL EATING, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING GROWTH SPURTS
As children’s bodies grow, so do their nutritional needs. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages parents and caregivers to help children establish healthful habits that can last a lifetime. In August, the Academy and its Foundation celebrate Kids Eat Right Month™.
Nurturing an early interest in neuroscience
Last year’s lockdowns confined most people to their homes. For teenagers on summer break, a season usually dedicated to recreation and outdoor exploration, this meant long days of boredom. But for Nikhita Kaushik, who just finished her sophomore year at Irvine’s Arnold O. Beckman High School, the free time was a blessing. It enabled her to dive into her passion for neuroscience and establish the Southern California Youth Neuroscience Association.
Sexual violence raises e-cigarette use among sexual minority teens, but not heterosexual peers
Experiencing sexual violence is significantly linked to increased e-cigarette use among sexual minority high school students, but not heterosexual students, according to a University at Buffalo study.
How Kids Eat: Five New Insights on Daily Habits and Childhood Obesity
What we eat during childhood can affect the health of individuals—and populations—for years to come. As rates of childhood obesity continue to rise, five studies being presented at NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE bring new insights into the diets of children and teens around the world.
Smartphone Use Associated with Unhealthy Eating and Overweight in Teens
Even moderate smartphone use may influence teens’ diet and weight, according to a new study of more than 53,000 Korean adolescents. Teens who used a smartphone for more than 2 hours per day were significantly more likely to eat more junk food and fewer fruits and vegetables than those spending less time on their phone. Teens spending more than 3 hours per day on a smartphone were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese.
Adulting 101 Course Helps Teens Transition to a Successful Future
The University of Kentucky is offering a web-based course this summer to help students hone important life skills to make the transition to adulthood easier.
Adulting 101 is an eight-week summer course beginning on June 15 and meeting every Tuesday through Zoom. Organized by the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the UK Cooperative Extension Service, the course is open to teenagers nationwide, no matter their goals. Adulting 101 originated as a county-based family and consumer sciences extension program piloted in Central Kentucky.
Mindfulness program in campus dorms, groups improved students’ mental health
Amid a growing mental health crisis among teens and young adults nationwide, a pilot program teaching mindfulness and coping techniques to students at the University of Washington has helped lower stress and improve emotional well-being.
Vaping marijuana associated with more symptoms of lung damage than vaping or smoking nicotine
Adolescents who vape cannabis are at greater risk for respiratory symptoms indicative of lung injury than teens who smoke cigarettes or marijuana, or vape nicotine, a new University of Michigan study suggests.
UNH Receives Nearly $3 Million to Research Effectiveness of Wilderness Therapy
The University of New Hampshire’s Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center will receive $2.97 million in grants to conduct a first-of-its-kind randomized study looking at the effectiveness of outdoor behavioral health (OBH), or wilderness therapy, a prescriptive treatment for teens struggling with depression, anxiety and substance use disorders.
McLean Hospital Webinar Series: Mental Wellness for Kids and Teens
January 7 @ 11am EST Dr. Lisa W. Coyne Addresses the Challenges of Youth Mental Health Growing up is difficult—it always has been. But more recently, the challenges that kids and teens face seem even more daunting. From cyberbullying to…
Virginia Tech researchers show teens with risk-averse peers make safer choices
In a new study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Virginia Tech neuroscientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC show that observing peers making sound decisions may help young people play it safe. The discovery may one day inform measures to help teens make healthy decisions.
Trick-or-treat for Halloween? Here’s What You Need to Know
Terry Adirim, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine, provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions and offers helpful tips regarding COVID-19 and “trick-or-treating” during the pandemic.
Study Highlights Ties Between Racism and Activism in Black Youth
A new study finds that experiences with racism are associated with increased social consciousness and social justice activism in Black youth.
Frequent soft drink consumption may make adolescents more aggressive
Soft drink consumption is a likely predictor of aggressive behavior, according to a new study from UAB.A study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham has shown that frequent soft drink consumption by adolescents may contribute to aggressive behavior over time. Previous studies have shown associations between soft drink consumption and mental health problems in adolescents.
When can kids return to sports after COVID-19? Doctors weigh in
Pediatric cardiologists are offering important advice on if and when it is safe for children and teens to return to playing sports after recovering from COVID-19.
FREE McLean Hospital Webinar Series: Ask Me Anything About Teen & Child Mental Health
Dr. Lisa Coyne Answers Questions About Youth Mental Health June 25 @ 11am EST Mental health is an enormous component of overall health for both children and teens alike. The World Health Organization reports that across the globe, 10-20% of…
Being Fun is No Laughing Matter
A longitudinal study examined whether children who are well-liked and children who are popular got that way by being fun to hang around with. Results clearly underscore the importance of being fun. Across a two-month period, primary school children perceived by classmates as someone who is fun to be around experienced an increase in the number of classmates who liked them and the number who rated them as popular. In the eyes of peers, “fun begets status and status begets fun.”
Tips for Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis at Home with Teens, Young Adults
Compared to young children, teenagers and young adults living and learning at home during the COVID-19 crisis may be feeling the loss of social connections and life experiences while struggling to manage their time.
Ann Murphy, director of the Northeast & Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) and an associate professor at Rutgers School of Health Professions, addresses how to navigate five key challenges.
Another Unintended Consequence of COVID-19: Cyberbullying Could Increase
School districts nationwide are now providing K-12 education online. Stuck at home all day, students will be using apps even more than they already do, which could cause an increase in cyberbullying among youth. Many cyberbullying targets will hesitate to get help from their parents and will suffer silently because they can’t readily stop by the guidance counselor’s office or chat with a teacher after class. A cyberbullying expert provides important tips and advice for teachers and parents.
How sleep helps teens deal with social stress
A first-of-its-kind study from Michigan State found that a good night’s sleep does adolescents good – beyond helping them stay awake in class. Adequate sleep can help teens navigate challenging social situations.
Many Teens are Victims of Digital Dating Abuse; Boys Get the Brunt of It
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, but there is nothing romantic about new research illuminating how teen dating abuse is manifesting online. A study of U.S. middle and high school students showed that 28.1 percent had been the victim of at least one form of digital dating abuse. More than one-third had been the victim of traditional dating abuse (offline). Boys in heterosexual relationships experienced all forms of digital dating abuse more than girls and were even more likely to experience physical aggression.
Involving family in care for bipolar disorder helps children and teens stay healthier, longer
In a UCLA-led study, children and adolescents with a high risk for developing bipolar disorder stayed healthier for longer periods when their family members participated in their psychotherapy sessions.
Healthy commercial ads don’t change teens’ desire to eat junk food
How teens’ brains respond to TV commercials for fast food can predict what they are going to eat for dinner, according to new University of Michigan research.
Cornell develops educational toolkit for testing e-cigarettes
To complement the wide range of information on the potential dangers of vaping, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine has developed a new learning module for high school classrooms that encourages students to directly test the effects of e-cigarette vapor on living cells.
Concussions in high school athletes may be a risk factor for suicide
Concussion, the most common form of traumatic brain injury, has been linked to an increased risk of depression and suicide in adults. Now new research published by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) suggests high school students with a history of sports-related concussions might be at an increased risk for suicide completion.
Turkey Drop: When Thanksgiving Break Turns Into a Break Up
Rutgers experts offer tips to prepare parents and students for the emotional fall out that can follow this first semester rite of passage some experience.
Study: Teens who have a loving relationship with their mother are less likely to enter abusive relationships
A mother’s warmth and acceptance toward her teenagers may help prevent those children from being in an abusive relationship later in life, even if her own marriage is contentious, according to a new University at Buffalo study.
‘Junk Food’ Diet May Predict Future Depression Symptoms in Teens
An innovative study finds that sodium and potassium levels—reflections of a person’s typical diet—may be predictors of future depression in teens. The first-of-its-kind study is published in Physiological Reports.
Expert Available to Discuss Back-to-School and Mental Health: Helping students handle stress of a new school year
WHO: Cindy Jones, director, Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC) at Children’s of Alabama, is available for interviews about coping with the stress and anxiety that a new school year can cause for students and parents. WHY: Returning to school can…