Masturbation has long been considered a normal sexual behavior for children, and now the first nationally representative study of the practice finds — er, confirms — that teen boys, more so than girls, do it early and often.
teens
Most Teens Taking Prescription Drugs Do It Right
Most students taking prescription medications for pain, sleep, anxiety or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not misuse the drugs, a new study finds. And proper use of these medications was not associated with a …
Secondhand Smoke Associated with Hearing Loss in Teens
It’s not news that second-hand smoke can be dangerous—even deadly. Now add one more price nonsmokers pay for living around people who light up: According to a new study from New York University’s Langone Medical Center, teens …
Who Are Teens’ Sexual Role Models? Turns Out, It’s Their Parents
Parents may think their teens aren’t listening to them about anything, let alone sex, but new research shows that 45% of teens consider their parents — not their friends or celebrities — their sexual role models.
CDC: Why Gay and Bisexual Teens Are More Likely to Risk Their Health
In the largest study of its kind, government health officials report that gay, lesbian and bisexual teenagers are significantly more likely to engage in risky, unhealthy behaviors — such as smoking, drinking, using drugs, …
Study: Internet Use, but Not TV Watching, Linked to Sleeplessness in Teens
Many studies (along with casual observation in any home with a teenager) have associated nighttime media use — video gaming, Internet surfing and TV time — with sleep deficits in teens. But the latest research fine tunes …
Increasingly, Internet Activism Helps Shutter Abusive ‘Troubled Teen’ Boot Camps
For the last 40 years, teens with drug problems, learning disabilities and other behavioral issues have been sent to residential facilities to endure “tough love” techniques that are widely known to include methods of outright …
Pediatricians Should Discuss ‘Facebook Depression’ with Kids
Don’t be surprised if the next time you head to the pediatrician, somewhere between listening to your child’s heart and lungs, the doctor slips in a question or two about Facebook.
Dealing with Cyberbullying: 5 Essential Parenting Tips
Cyberbullying is back in the news, most recently because of a so-called “smut list” published online that targeted 100 teenage girls, some as young as 14, for being promiscuous.
Lessons on Cyberbullying: Is Rebecca Black a Victim? Experts Weigh In
It may be Friday, but it’s doubtful that 13-year-old Internet sensation Rebecca Black is excitedly singing about wanting to party in her car right now.
Will the FDA Ban Menthol Cigarettes?
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee is due in the coming week to submit to the agency its final report on the health effects of menthol cigarettes. The FDA is considering a ban …
How to Find the Best Drug Treatment for Teens: A Guide for Parents
Getting your child treatment for, say, cancer presents numerous challenges — but most of them don’t involve determining whether the therapies offered by major medical organizations are backed by data. Unfortunately, that’s …
Can You Get High on Gingerbread? The Truth About Nutmeg
Holiday memories are often laced with the scent of spices: for me, a whiff of baking gingerbread can bring back the comforts of childhood in an instant. But a rash of recent media reports suggests that the allure of gingerbread …