ScienceDaily: Teen Health News

Estrogen replacement therapy helps reduce anxiety in anorexia nervosa

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:09:09 EDT

Estrogen replacement therapy is associated with a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms among girls with anorexia nervosa, a new clinical trial finds.

Medical marijuana not the answer for teens with chronic pain, doctors say

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:09:09 EDT

Adolescents can have chronic pain, just like adults. As patients, their parents and physicians search for solutions, there is one increasingly available option they should avoid, researchers say: medical marijuana.

Tobacco laws for youth may reduce adult smoking

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:17:17 EDT

States that want to reduce rates of adult smoking may consider implementing stringent tobacco restrictions on teens. Scientists discovered that states with more restrictive limits on teens purchasing tobacco also have lower adult smoking rates, especially among women.

Every 10 tobacco ad sightings boost teens' risk of starting to smoke by almost 40 percent

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:42:42 EDT

Tobacco ads really do persuade teens to take up smoking, with every 10 sightings boosting the risk by almost 40 percent, reveals new research.

Doubling of deaths among sick moms-to-be amid poor evidence on drug safety in pregnancy

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:42:42 EDT

The lack of hard data on the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of drugs in pregnancy has hindered the treatment of pregnant women, contributing to a doubling of deaths amongst mums-to-be with an underlying health problem over the past 20 years, argues a new editorial.

Cyberbullying puts teens at risk

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Teenage victims of cyberbullying, defined as the use of the internet or cell phones to send hurtful and harassing messages, are more likely to develop symptoms of depression, substance abuse and internet addiction, reports a new study.

Parents' activity unlikely to influence teen fitness

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Teens don’t necessarily follow in their parents’ footsteps when it comes to physical activity, finds a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Teens have unsupervised access to prescription drugs

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Most teens have unsupervised access to their prescription drugs at home, including drugs with potential for abuse, finds a new study.

Partial livers from deceased donors saving the lives of infants

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:38:38 EDT

New research reveals that transplantation of partial livers from deceased adult and teen donors has become less risky for infants and young children, helping to save these young lives. New findings indicate that risk of organ failure and mortality from partial or split liver transplant was comparable to whole organ transplant in this pediatric population.

Dogs help improve moods among teens in treatment

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:36:36 EDT

Researchers have come up with a new, mood-boosting therapy for teenagers in drug and alcohol treatment: Shelter dogs. Dog-interaction activities have been found to improve mood among teenagers living in residential treatment centers.

Living in poor area as teen could increase risk for chlamydia in young adulthood

Wed, 29 May 2013 19:07:07 EDT

Living in a poor neighborhood as an adolescent is linked to an increased risk of getting the sexually transmitted infection (STI) chlamydia in young adulthood, according to new research.

Childhood bullying increases the propensity to self-harm during adolescence, study finds

Tue, 28 May 2013 09:21:21 EDT

A new study has shown that being bullied during childhood directly increases the likelihood of self-harm in late adolescence.

Youth with type 2 diabetes at much higher risk for heart, kidney disease

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:20:20 EDT

The news about youth and diabetes keeps getting worse. The latest data shows that children with type 2 diabetes are at high risk to develop heart, kidney and eye problems faster and at a higher rate than adults with diabetes.

More than one in five parents believe they have little influence in preventing teens from using illicit substances

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:35:35 EDT

A new report indicates that more than one in five parents of teens aged 12 to 17 (22.3 percent) think what they say has little influence on whether or not their child uses illicit substances, tobacco, or alcohol. This report by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also shows one in ten parents said they did not talk to their teens about the dangers of using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs -- even though 67.6 percent of these parents who had not spoken to their children thought they would influence whether their child uses drugs if they spoke to them.

Laws to lower alcohol limits mean lower fatalities says trauma expert

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:02:02 EDT

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing that the legal limit for a driver’s blood-alcohol content be reduced from 0.08 to 0.05, but and that may not be far enough say experts.

One in 10 teens using 'study drugs,' but parents aren't paying attention

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:44:44 EDT

Just one in 100 parents believe their kids have used prescription stimulants to boost grades, according to a new poll.

Youth who have their first drink during puberty have higher levels of later drinking

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:37:37 EDT

The earlier the age at which youth take their first alcoholic drink, the greater the risk of later alcohol problems.

Toddlers from socially-deprived homes most at risk of scalds, study finds

Thu, 09 May 2013 09:08:08 EDT

Toddlers living in socially-deprived areas are at the greatest risk of suffering a scald in the home, researchers at have found.

Nearly 20 percent of suicidal youths have guns in their home

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Nearly one in five children and teens found to be at risk for suicide report that there are guns in their homes, and 15 percent of those at risk for suicide with guns in the home know how to access both the guns and the bullets, according to a new study.

Many parents multi-task while driving kids

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Many parents are putting their precious cargo at risk while driving, according to survey results.

Don't txt n drive: Teens not getting msg: 43 percent of youths admit to texting while driving

Sat, 04 May 2013 16:33:33 EDT

Teens can get hundreds of text messages a day, but one message they aren't getting is that they shouldn't text and drive. Nearly 43 percent of high school students of driving age who were surveyed in 2011 reported texting while driving at least once in the past 30 days, according to a new study.

Vitamin C may head off lung problems in babies born to pregnant smokers

Sat, 04 May 2013 16:33:33 EDT

Pregnant women are advised not to smoke during pregnancy because it can harm the baby's lungs and lead to wheezing and asthma, among other problems. If a woman absolutely can't kick the habit, taking vitamin C during pregnancy may improve her newborn's lung function and prevent wheezing in the first year of life, according to a new study.

Dieting youth show greater brain reward activity in response to food

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:26:26 EDT

Research results imply that dieting characterized by meal skipping and fasting would be less successful than weight loss efforts characterized by intake of low energy dense healthy foods.

Focus on STD, not cancer prevention, to promote HPV vaccine use

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:04:04 EDT

The HPV vaccine can prevent both cervical cancer and a nasty sexually transmitted disease in women. But emphasizing the STD prevention will persuade more young women to get the vaccine.

Secondhand smoke presents greater threat to teen girls than boys

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:14:14 EDT

When teenage girls are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, they tend to have lower levels of the "good" form of cholesterol that reduces heart disease risk, according to a recent study.

Early dialogue between parents, children stems teen smoking

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

Early, substantive dialogue between parents and their grade-school age children about the ills of tobacco and alcohol use can be more powerful in shaping teen behavior than advertising, marketing or peer pressure, a researcher has shown.

Teen years may be critical in later stroke risk

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:11:11 EDT

The teenage years may be a key period of vulnerability related to living in the "stroke belt" when it comes to future stroke risk, according to a new study.

Teens' brains are more sensitive to rewarding feedback from peers

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:50:50 EDT

Teenagers are risk-takers -- they're more likely than children or adults to experiment with illicit substances, have unprotected sex, and drive recklessly. But research shows that teenagers have the knowledge and ability to make competent decisions about risk. So what explains their risky behavior? Scientists argue that this risky behavior may reflect the unique effect of peer influence on the still-developing teenage brain.

Light drinking in pregnancy not linked to development problems in childhood, study suggests

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:47:47 EDT

Light drinking during pregnancy is not linked to adverse behavioural or cognitive outcomes in childhood, suggests a new study. This study collated data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a national study of infants born in the UK between 2000-2002, to assess whether light drinking (up to two units of alcohol per week) in pregnancy was linked to unfavourable developmental outcomes in 7-year-old children.

Parents can help their children avoid alcohol pitfalls during transition from high school to college

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:18:18 EDT

The transition from high school to college is a particularly vulnerable time for alcohol experimentation. A new study looks at which student characteristics may enhance parent-based interventions. Results indicate that teens who perceive their friends as more approving of alcohol consumption also seem to be more influenced by communication with their parents about drinking.

Twelve principles for effective contraceptive counseling

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

New research has led experts to suggest 12 evidence-based principles that can be used to improve contraceptive counseling of adolescents in US health care clinics, doctor's offices, and health service organizations.

Ten-year follow-up of physical activity among adolescents

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:59:59 EDT

New research shows that the drop in boys’ physical activity during the teenage years levels off in early adulthood.

Teenage smoking behavior influenced by friends' and parents' smoking habits

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

The company you keep in junior high school may have more influence on your smoking behavior than your high school friends, according to newly published research.

Debunking a myth: IUDs proven safe birth control for teenagers

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:45:45 EDT

Intrauterine devices are as safe for teenagers -- including those who have never given birth -- as they are for adults, according to new research.

Smoking may negatively impact kidney function among adolescents

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:29:29 EDT

New research finds the effects of tobacco smoke on kidney function begin in childhood.

Rising melanoma rates among adolescents, children are subject of new study

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:27:27 EDT

A new study looks at the increase of melanoma, a form of skin cancer, in children and adolescents and what those trends might be telling us.

Findings from most in-depth study into UK parents who kill their children

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:44:44 EDT

Experts have revealed their findings from the most in-depth study ever to take place in the UK into the tragic instances of child killing by parents, known as filicide. The research found 37 per cent of parents and step-parents who killed their children were suffering from some form of mental illness and 12% had been in contact with mental health services within a year of the offense.

National teen driving report in U.S. finds safety gains for teen passengers

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:21:21 EDT

A new report measured a 47 percent decline in teen driver-related fatalities since 2008. Still, as recent high-profile crashes illustrate, crashes remains the leading cause of death for US teens. Risky behaviors- like smartphone use while driving, driving after drinking, and low seat belt use- remain serious problems, and experts see specific opportunities to "apply the gas" to these common factors in crashes involving teen drivers.

Smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls are 'red flag' for postmenopausal osteoporosis

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:26:26 EDT

Depression, anxiety, and smoking are associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) in adults, but these factors have not previously been studied during adolescence, when more than 50% of bone accrual occurs. This longitudinal preliminary study is the first to demonstrate that smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls have a negative impact on adolescent bone accrual and may become a red flag for a future constrained by low bone mass or osteoporosis and higher fracture rates in postmenopausal years.

Gynecomastia has psychological impact on adolescent boys, researchers report

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:43:43 EDT

Persistent breast enlargement (gynecomastia) negatively affects self-esteem and other areas of mental and emotional health in adolescent males, researchers report.

Genetics might determine which smokers get hooked

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:32:32 EDT

Researchers have identified genetic risk factors that may accelerate a teen's progression to becoming a lifelong heavy smoker.

Family dinners nourish good mental health in adolescents

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:49:49 EDT

Regular family suppers contribute to good mental health in adolescents, according to a new study. Family meal times are a measurable signature of social exchanges in the home that benefit adolescents' well-being -- regardless of whether or not they feel they can easily talk to their parents.

Antidepressants for pregnant moms don't affect infants' growth, study suggests

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:52:52 EDT

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants taken by a woman during pregnancy do not impact her infant's growth over the first year, reports a new study. There had been concern that antidepressants during pregnancy reduced growth the first year. But the new study showed infants born to mothers who took SSRIs had a similar weight, length and head circumference over the first year as infants born to non-depressed women who did not take antidepressants.

Pre-college talk between parents and teens likely to lessen college drinking

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:43:43 EDT

Teen-age college students are significantly more likely to abstain from drinking or to drink only minimally when their parents talk to them before they start college, using suggestions in a parent handbook.

Sleep study reveals how the adolescent brain makes the transition to mature thinking

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:27:27 EDT

A new study conducted by monitoring the brain waves of sleeping adolescents has found that remarkable changes occur in the brain as it prunes away neuronal connections and makes the major transition from childhood to adulthood.

More parents say they won't vaccinate daughters against HPV

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:47:47 EDT

Parents are increasingly concerned about potential side effects, a new study shows.

Cancer doesn't change young girls' desire to have children, study shows

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:48:48 EST

Researchers have found that healthy adolescent females have predetermined expectations for becoming parents in the future, but have concerns about fertility and childbearing should they develop a life-threatening illness, such as cancer.

Closer personal relationships could help teens overcome learning disabilities

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:34:34 EST

A new study from Israel says that children with learning disabilities develop less secure attachments with mothers and teachers, and that closer and more secure relationships with parents and adults may help them overcome these disabilities.

NHL drafts the wrong players due to birthday bias, study suggests

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:35:35 EST

A hockey player's birthday strongly biases how professional teams assess his talent, according to a new study.

Research explores factors that impact adolescent mental health

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:12:12 EST

Research indicates that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, well before adulthood. Three new studies investigate the cognitive, genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to mental health disorders in adolescence.

IQ loss linked to schizophrenia genes, study finds

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:43:43 EST

People who are at greater genetic risk of schizophrenia are more likely to see a fall in IQ as they age, even if they do not develop the condition, according to new research.

Prevention efforts focused on youth reduce prescription abuse into adulthood

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:42:42 EST

Middle school students from small towns and rural communities who received any of three community-based prevention programs were less likely to abuse prescription medications in late adolescence and young adulthood.

Parents of teen girls more accepting of birth control pills than other contraceptive methods, study finds

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:58:58 EST

Parents are more accepting of their teenage daughters using birth control pills than any other form of contraception, including condoms, according to a recent study. The most effective contraceptive methods, the implant -- a matchstick-sized rod that is inserted in the arm to prevent pregnancy -- and the intrauterine device (IUD), were acceptable to a minority of parents.

Large study shows substance abuse rates higher in teenagers with ADHD

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:48:48 EST

A new study revealed a significantly higher prevalence of substance abuse and cigarette use by adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) histories than in those without ADHD. Researchers also found that, contrary to previous findings, current medications for ADHD do not counter the risk for substance abuse or substance abuse disorder.

Preemptive treatment of severe morning sickness decreases suffering for moms-to-be

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:22:22 EST

Preemptive treatment effective for hyperemesis gravidarum and severe morning sickness.

Around 1 in 10 young mentally ill teens drinks, smokes, and uses cannabis, Australian research finds

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:45:45 EST

Around one in ten young teens with mental health issues also drinks alcohol, smokes cigarettes, and uses cannabis on a weekly basis, indicates Australian research.

Obesity may increase risk of multiple sclerosis in children and teens

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:36:36 EST

Being obese may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in children and teenage girls, according to new research.

Peer pressure trumps 'thin' ideals in the media

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:36:36 EST

Peers exert a greater influence on teenage girls' dissatisfaction with their bodies than do thin ideals in television or social media use, according to new research.

Best friends influence when teenagers have first drink

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:31:31 EST

Researchers have found that teenagers who exhibit problem drinking likely got their first drink from a friend. The reason, the researchers explain, is that friends who drink are more likely to have access to alcohol and are more likely to influence when their buddies first drink. The finding is part of a formula that may help specialists intervene before problem drinking arises in at-risk adolescents.

Penicillin, not the pill, may have launched the sexual revolution

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:29:29 EST

The rise in risky, non-traditional sexual relations that marked the swinging '60s and advent of readily available contraception actually began as much as a decade earlier, during the conformist '50s, suggests a new analysis. The analysis strongly indicates that the widespread use of penicillin, leading to a rapid decline in syphilis during the 1950s, is what launched the modern sexual era.