Published: February 1, 2008
In one of the largest epidemiologic studies of insomnia among adolescents ever conducted in the United States, a study published in the February 1 issue of the journal SLEEP allows for an estimation of the impact of chronic insomnia on future functioning of adolescents. Youths with insomnia, particularly chronic insomnia, are at greater risk of future somatic and especially psychological problems, the study found.Robert E. Roberts, PhD, professor of behavioral sciences at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, and lead author of the study, collected data from 4,175 youths between 11-17 years of age, who completed diagnostic interviews and questionnaires that inquired about symptoms of disturbed sleep, focusing primarily on symptoms of insomnia, their frequency and duration. Dr. Roberts and his colleagues then examined selected risk and protective factors and their ability to prospectively predict incidence of insomnia over one year, specifically age, sex, family income, ethnicity, and physical and mental problems.
The follow-up one year later consisted of 3,134 of these youths. [continue reading…]
Published: January 24, 2008
It’s not the advertising that bothers teens when it comes to online news, it’s the news itself that they find troubling, according to a Northwestern University study on the online news experiences of teenagers.
While the 14- to 18-year-old study participants described time spent on YouTube or social networking and music downloading sites as a treat or time-out, they described their online news experiences as stressful or a reminder of the world’s dangers. [continue reading…]
Published: January 10, 2008
As more and more people turn to the Internet to find out what ails, a University of Alberta researcher is looking into the role the web is playing in helping adolescents cope with thoughts of suicide.According to Elaine Greidanus, a Faculty of Education child and adolescent counselling graduate student, teens dealing with suicidal thoughts are difficult to reach, with few services available that directly target them. She says while teens don’t seek out traditional modes of support, her research is showing that they seem to be logging on for emotional support. [continue reading…]
Published: January 9, 2008
Where a teenage girl sees herself on her school’s social ladder may sway her future weight, a study of more than 4,000 girls finds. Those who believed they were unpopular gained more weight over a two-year period than girls who viewed themselves as more popular. Researchers said the study showed how a girl’s view of her social status has broader health consequences.The girls in the study were still growing — their average age was 15 — and all of them gained some weight. However, those who rated themselves low in popularity were 69 percent more likely than other girls to increase their body mass index by two units, the equivalent of gaining about 11 excess pounds. (The body mass index, or BMI, is a calculation based on height and weight.) [continue reading…]
