A new study of nearly 4,000 school children has found that youngsters who feel they have empathic support from their parents and caregivers are verging away from a wide range of delinquent behavior, such as committing crimes.

Across the U.S., many senior citizens have struggled to schedule appointments to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Whether it is due to a lack of access to a computer or a lack of the technical knowledge needed to complete the process, teens across the country have stepped up to help them. From Long Island, New York, to Seattle, Washington, teen volunteers have put out flyers at local senior centers to volunteer their services to schedule appointments for those in need.

Sisters Ava and Lily Weinstein, ages 15 and 16, of Roslyn, New York, realized they could help senior citizens navigate New York’s scheduling website after helping their own grandparents get vaccination appointments. As more vaccines become available, the sisters have a list of over 150 seniors they plan to help get an appointment. They, like others across the country, are encouraging teens everywhere to help guide seniors through the tech process.

As families settle back into a new school year, sleep experts are reminding parents about the importance of teenagers getting enough sleep, cautioning them that insufficient sleep can negatively affect their mental health.

Fetal exposure to antibiotics in mid to late pregnancy may be linked to a heightened risk of childhood asthma, suggests new research.

New research finds caffeine consumed during pregnancy can change important brain pathways that could lead to behavioral problems later in life. Researchers analyzed thousands of brain scans of nine and ten-year-olds, and revealed changes in the brain structure in children who were exposed to caffeine in utero.

Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) may not be at a higher risk of pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes, emergency cesarean section or stillbirth than women who do not have the disease, according to a new study.

Nearly a third of US teens and young adults prescribed a psychoactive drug misuse that drug, with the likelihood of misuse rising with age, suggests an analysis of national survey responses.

A recent study has found that to best help kids with autism maintain healthy rates of physical activity, interventions should be targeted during the ages of 9 to 13, as that's when kids show the biggest drop in active time.

Sofia Rathgen, a 13-year-old from Alberta, Canada, felt her school library was lacking in diversity. So, she applied for and received a government grant for $2,000 to add to the junior high library’s collection. Rathgen is using the money to buy new books by, and about, Black, Indigenous, and more people of color. She believes the new collection will build more diversity on the bookshelf, leading to more tolerance and understanding among students.

Rathgen believes books are a way to see the perspectives of others. She says, “There’s a metaphor about windows and mirrors. So, books are either a window into someone else’s perspective and experiences, or a mirror of your own. And so, I think that’s why I love reading so much. Because you get to read about so many different stories and experiences and put yourself in the shoes of other people.”

Sofia Rathgen, a 13-year-old from Alberta, Canada, felt her school library was lacking in diversity. So, she applied for and received a government grant for $2,000 to add to the junior high library’s collection. Rathgen is using the money to buy new books by, and about, Black, Indigenous, and more people of color. She believes the new collection will build more diversity on the bookshelf, leading to more tolerance and understanding among students.

Rathgen believes books are a way to see the perspectives of others. She says, “There’s a metaphor about windows and mirrors. So, books are either a window into someone else’s perspective and experiences, or a mirror of your own. And so, I think that’s why I love reading so much. Because you get to read about so many different stories and experiences and put yourself in the shoes of other people.”

Borderline Personality Disorder is treatable. New research is the first to show that adolescent borderline pathology follows a similar downward course after discharge from inpatient treatment previously demonstrated for adults.

Amanda Gorman is a 22-year-old poet and activist from Los Angeles, California. She began writing poems at a young age and submitting them to local competitions. At age 16, she was named the Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, and at 19 she became the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. On January 20, 2021, Gorman became the youngest inauguration poet in U.S. history as she delivered her poem “The Hill We Climb” from the U.S. Capitol as part of President Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony. In an interview with the New York Times, Gorman said she wanted to “use my words to envision a way in which our country can still come together and can still heal.”

One of Gorman’s earlier poems focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the grief of such hard times can weigh us down. She wrote her poem, “The Miracle of Morning,” about the pandemic to acknowledge the promise of healing, like the light of morning, that springs from despair. She says, “Do not ignore the pain. Give it purpose. Use it.”

The first inoculation in the U.S. of the new Pfizer-BionNTech vaccine for COVID-19 was administered in Queens, New York, on December 14, 2020. A massive rollout effort followed to allow vaccinations for health care workers and the elderly across the country. The vaccinations began after the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency authorization. According to the chief operating officer for the federal effort to develop a vaccine, over 500 sites had received the vaccine for distribution by December 16.

Vice President Pence, President-elect Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell all publicized their injections as part of a campaign to remind Americans that the vaccines are safe and effective. They also all reminded the public that distributing the vaccine is going to take time and that everyone should continue to follow the recommended guidelines to wear masks, wash hands, and socially distance.

Both adults and kids who vape were more likely to report difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions than their non-vaping, non-smoking peers on two annual national surveys. Survey results also suggest that kids were more likely to experience mental fog if they started vaping before the age of 14.

According to recent surveys, teens’ mental health may be the most impacted by the COVID-19 changes being experienced this year. Teens tend to need the highest dose of friend connections and consistency with parent connections — both of which may be harder to maintain this year. Depression and anxiety are particularly high as teens struggle to cope with being at home with few options to break up their day. The holiday break is typically a time when teens spend more time with their friends, so this year the sense of isolation may be increased.

If you are feeling anxious or isolated, reach out to a trusted friend or family member. Explore opportunities online to blog, socialize, or read about ways other teens are coping with their mental health. It may be helpful to reach out to your doctor, school social worker, or a therapist if you feel you need professional help. Finding online activities, volunteer opportunities, or mindfulness resources can also help you feel less isolated and strengthen your mental health.

Depressed children and teenagers have an increased risk of suffering from premature death and a wide range of illnesses later in life. That is according to a large observational study. The findings highlight the need to look for other potential diseases following childhood or adolescent depression. Other psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and substance misuse, can explain part of the association.

Chronic sleep disruption during adolescence can lead to depression in both males and females and alters stress reactivity in females, according to a new study. Their findings are particularly relevant in the context of a pandemic when adolescents' mental health is already under strain.

New research shows that American teens’ use of tobacco cigarettes and smokeless tobacco has dropped to record lows, even as teen use of electronic cigarettes has increased. Researchers reported a 17 percent decline in smoking rates from 2012 to 2019. The overall daily smoking rate for 12th graders fell to about 2 percent in 2019. Results were similar for boys and girls in all grades, as well as for both Black and white teens.

While the increases in e-cigarette use by teens is concerning, the across-the-board decline in cigarette smoking is still something to highlight and celebrate. After concerns that increased e-cigarette use among teens could lead to a resurgence in the use of traditional cigarettes and other tobacco products, this report suggests that the general pattern is that teens just are not into smoking anymore.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, teens already had limited opportunities for adult-free socializing. Many of them had already found ways to connect online, but during the pandemic gaming and chat platforms gained popularity and are starting to show some positive things about digital gathering spaces. Platforms including Discord and Roblox transformed to respond to teen and young adult users’ needs during the lockdowns, and Discord has contributed to an increase in multiplayer use for online gaming such as Minecraft and Among Us.

Discord, a gaming chat platform that has 100 million monthly users, allows for teens to voice chat while playing online. Roblox, an online gaming and game design platform, has 150 million monthly active users and allows players to create their own games. Mojang Studios reported that Roblox had a 25 percent increase in new players and a 40 percent increase in multiplayer use during spring 2020. One thing many online games and platforms have in common is the ability to organize online spaces into digital rooms where in-real-life (IRL) and online friends can hang out. During the pandemic, researchers and adults have seen the legitimacy of these platforms in providing isolated teens a chance to socially connect with their peers.

Infants' brains may be shaped by levels of stress their mother experiences during pregnancy, a brain scanning study has revealed.