The act and victimization of bullying continues to be a problem among today’s youth. While many children are experiencing this form of violence, it is more prevalent in children that are different from the social norm. As medical professionals continue to further their understanding of bullying, research shows a high rate of sexual minority youth who experience this harmful activity.

A new study conducted by doctors at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that sexual minority youth, or teens that identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, are bullied two to three times more than heterosexuals. [continue reading…]

Chronic and severely stressful situations, like those connected to depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, have been associated with smaller volumes in “stress sensitive” brain regions, such as the cingulate region of the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory formation. A new study, published by Elsevier in Biological Psychiatry, suggests that chronic insomnia may be another condition associated with reduced cortical volume. [continue reading…]

The Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP has released a new report involving UQ researchers and focusing on women’s reproductive health.

The study is the latest research from the ground-breaking Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH).

Now in its 16th year, the ALSWH has surveyed over 40 000 women drawn from three age groups. Women in the youngest age group – born between 1973 and 1978 – were aged 18 to 23 when the first survey was made in 1996 and 28 to 33 when Survey 4 was conducted in 2006.

Report co-author Associate Professor Jayne Lucke from the School of Population Health at The University of Queensland said that the report provided an interesting insight into women’s desires for children. [continue reading…]