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Articles from January 2011

• Study: Teens' access to morning-after pill may increase risky behavior

  A new report reveals that the morning-after pill has not reduced the number of teen pregnancies and may be linked to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). more...

• Many teens exposed to discriminatory behavior through politics, media

  Teen bullying has become a hot topic among communities throughout America. As politicians jockey over immigration policies and debate the role of Muslims in America, many adolescents are entering a society that is conflicted on many fronts. more...

• Study: Parents who smoke pass on habit to children

  Parents' smoking habits can significantly enhance the likelihood of their children using tobacco products, according to new research. more...

• Study: Presence of friends leads to riskier decisions among teens

  A recent study in the journal Developmental Science reveals that many teens are more likely to take risks when they are around their peers. more...

• Helping others may help problem teens stay sober, research reveals

  Millions of adolescents in America abuse alcoholic substances, which may lead to illegal drug use, severe emotional disorders or even death. Many alcoholics and addicts never recover from their disease because their treatment plan - or lack thereof - is ineffective. more...

• Study: Alarming rate of diabetic teens use tobacco products

  Many teens who smoke cigarettes are at risk of developing addictive behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse. These dangers compound the various health problems that can stem from smoking. more...

• Non-alcoholic energy drinks dangerous for teens, researchers say

  Energy drinks have become more popular among children in recent years, and many problem teens mix the beverages with alcohol in an attempt to balance the effects of each substance. more...

• Study: Shared caregiving duties may lead to problems between parents

  Parental conflict may lead to various emotional and behavioral problems among children. Furthermore, a tense environment at home may lead some problem teens to engage in unhealthy activities, such as substance abuse or bullying. more...

• Increasing number of problem teens abuse bath salts

  A recent report by The Associated Press reveals that many problem teens are abusing bath salts in order to hallucinate. more...

• Psychopaths lack empathy, much like individuals with brain damage

  Many teens who misbehave at home or torment their peers at school are accused of showing a a blatant lack of respect to other people's feelings or emotions. more...

• Study: Level of self-control in children may reveal future behavior problems

  A new study reveals that children who have limited self-control are more likely to have health problems, substance dependence and financial troubles in adulthood. more...

• Study shows that humans can acquire fears during infancy

  Many children grow up anxious and fearful of certain aspects of life, no matter how threatening the situation is in reality. Some of these behaviors are caused by their upbringing and their environment. more...

• PTC urges federal lawmakers to investigate controversial new MTV show

  The Parents Television Council (PTC) has sent a letter to federal officials that calls for an investigation into the new MTV show "Skins." more...

• Bullying and inadequate mental health services can lead to violence among teens

  A new study that examined the causes of the 2007 Virginia Tech (VT) shootings reveals that social problems, such as bullying and lack of treatment for mental health disorders, are potential contributors when young people turn to violence. more...

• Offspring of divorced parents more likely to have suicidal thoughts, study says

  A new study reveals that children of divorced parents are at a higher risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts later in life, compared to individuals whose families remained intact. more...

• Study: Food-deprived teens more likely to relapse

  Many problem teens who are addicted to drugs do not consume a healthy amount of food on a daily basis. Furthermore, some adolescents who abuse illegal substances also suffer from eating disorders. more...

• Study: Teens motivated by round numbers

  A new study reveals that many teenagers are self-motivated to achieve round numbers on their SATs. more...

• Gene variations may lead to alcohol abuse among teenagers, researchers say

  A new study suggests that there may be a genetic explanation as to why some problem teens regularly indulge in binge drinking. more...

• Study links sporting events and drunkenness

  Many social events in high school revolve around athletic events, such as football, basketball or baseball games. Some problem teens choose to drink at these gatherings because, unlike school or home, many adolescents are not strictly supervised at these locations. more...

• Video game addictions can lead to social problems in kids, researchers say

  Children and teens who are addicted to video games are more likely to develop psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety and other social phobias, according to a new study. Furthermore, adolescents who engage in this unhealthy behavior are also more likely to perform poorly in school. more...

• Law office hopes to combat underage drinking and driving with scholarship challenge

  A law office in North Carolina will award more than $37,500 in college scholarships in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving among high school students. more...

• Parent group condemns MTV show for its risky content

  The new MTV series Skins has been called the "most dangerous television show for children that we have ever seen" by the Parents Television Council (PTC). more...

• Courses aim to help parents of children with ADHD

  Adolescents who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk to underachieve in school, exhibit aggressive behavior and make impulsive decisions. more...

• More programs for low-income kids can help society, researchers say

  Some children who live in low-income neighborhoods are at risk of developing emotional and behavioral problems because of their high exposure to violence, substance abuse and domestic conflict. more...

• Cafeteria menu may contribute to behavioral problems in children, nonprofit claims

  New research suggests that the chemicals that are used in school lunches may contribute to behavior, learning or health problems among children. more...

• Study: Listening to music triggers dopamine release

  Many problem teens experiment with drugs because of the physical sensation, or body high, that certain substances create. A lot of these drugs produce high levels of dopamine in the human brain, which may cause short-term feelings of euphoria. more...

• Caffeine does not mitigate effects of alcohol, researchers reveal

  Many problem teens in the U.S. mix energy drinks with alcohol because they believe the caffeine will offset the sedating effects of beer or liquor. more...

• Middle school friendships can shape a child's future, study says

  A child's group of friends in middle school may influence his or her future academic success, according to researchers from the University of Oregon. more...

• Many school social workers unequipped to tackle cyberbullying, survey says

  A new study shows that almost half of social workers feel that they are unequipped to prevent cyberbullying. more...

• Study: Many anti-psychotic medications may be ineffective, costly

  Some teenagers who suffer from mental conditions such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety are prescribed anti-psychotic medications by their doctors. more...

• Baltimore Sun columnist says societal acceptance of marijuana leads to more teen use

  A drug abuse expert is worried that society's lax attitude toward marijuana leads many problem teens to use the illegal substance. more...

• Teenagers' brains suppress fear more than kids and adults, study says

  A new study reveals that many teenagers may act brashly because their brain suppresses certain fearful thoughts that were present prior to adolescence. more...

• GoodGuides serve as mentors for troubled teens

  Goodwill Industries International is recognizing National Mentoring Month by promoting their GoodGuides program. more...

• New security service helps parents monitor harmful online behavior

  Safe Communications has introduced an online security service that aims to protect children from cyberbullying and other vulgar messages. more...

• College receives millions of dollars to combat risky teen behavior

  A Kentucky-based university's school of social work has received its largest grant ever, which will be used to combat risky behavior among problem teens. more...

• FDA calls for review of tobacco products released since 2007

  The National Center for Biotechnology Information reports that adolescents who experiment with tobacco products are more likely than nonsmokers to experience behavioral problems by grade 12. more...

• Child advocacy group says FDA should carefully examine smokeless tobacco

  The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids recently released a statement that emphasized the important role the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has in ensuring responsible marketing of tobacco products. more...

• Bully prevention campaign cracks down on gossip

  Elementary schools that adopted a three-month anti-bullying program have reported a 72 percent decrease in malicious gossip, according to researchers from the University of Washington. more...

• STD study shows that some teens who claim abstinence test positive

  A new study reveals that many American teenagers are not being honest about their past sexual activity, and regular testings may be necessary in order to better detect sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among adolescents. more...

• Study says that many adults don't understand bullying's effects

  A new study from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management reveals that many people do not understand the lingering social trauma that is caused by bullying, which leads to many victims not getting the support or treatment that they need. more...