A program that teaches impulse control can help teens who have a gene linked to risky behaviors, according to a study that was published in the journal
Child Development. People who have the 5-HTTLPR gene are twice as likely to have poor self-control, and engage in risky behaviors such as drug abuse and binge drinking, the study reported.
"The findings underscore that 'nurture' can influence 'nature' during adolescence," said Dr. Kenneth Warren of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The study was performed in conjunction with the University of Iowa and Vanderbilt University.
Researchers evaluated 641 families in rural Georgia, concentrating on 11-year-olds:
- Some study subjects had the 5-HTTLPR gene.
- A control group without the gene had no intervention.
- After two and a half years, children with the gene who participated in the program were no more likely to engage in risky behaviors than were those in the control group.
As summer vacation approaches, many parents worry about the effect that excess free time and a lack of structured activities will have on their children. One option for potentially delinquent teens during the summer -- an option that can help improve their behavior year-round -- is to enroll the child in a reputable and effective therapeutic
summer camp for trouble teens.
Labels: research, genetics, troubled_teenagers
Posted By: Aspen/CRC