4 Troubled Teens Blog

The rise in childhood obesity has lead to countless studies, books and articles about proper nutrition. But as Julius Pokomandy reported in a Sept. 9 North Shore News article, childhood eating habits can also affect whether or not young people will engage in adolescent substance abuse:

Studies from the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University have been looking at the tremendous impact that family meals have on children. Their research repeatedly shows how children suffer when they don't spend regular, casual time with their families gathered around the dinner table.

Here is a quote from their summary:

"Compared with teens who frequently had dinner with their families (five nights or more per week) those who had dinner with their families only two nights per week or less, were twice as likely to be involved in substance abuse. They were 2.5 times as likely to drink alcohol, and nearly three times as likely to try marijuana."

Family members who eat together also have healthier relationships with each other, Pokomandy wrote, and children in these families report less tension at home.

Labels: prevention, family, substance_abuse, meals, communication

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Teen birthrates increased for the second year in a row, according to a report from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. About 750,000 U.S. teens become pregnant annually, or three in every ten teenage girls. The United States continues to have the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the developed world.

As the experts continue to work on a more effective means of reducing the rate of teen pregnancy, the U.S. government has indicated that federal funding will be directed in a different direction that has been the case in previous years. U.S. President Barack Obamas administration is cutting two $100 million abstinence-only sex education programs, and is replacing them with a $110-million sex education program that emphasizes pregnancy prevention.

Though many parents might mistakenly believe that their teens have no interest in their opinions about issues such as dating, sex, and teen pregnancy, experts continue to advise that engaging in open and honest communication with your child on topics related to teen dating and pregnancy greatly increases the likelihood that they will make better decisions and engage in healthier behaviors.

Labels: parental_involvement, teen_pregnancy, communication

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Contrary to popular belief, relationships between parents and teenagers are getting better. Results from surveys of 5,500 teens found that nine out of ten say their mothers carry a "high" level of influence and more than eight in ten say the same thing about their fathers. Both of these statistics are up by about ten percent since the 1980s.

Weekly arguments are down from 52 percent a decade ago to 42 percent, the survey shows. Teens are also reporting a greater degree of understanding between themselves and their parents: just 39 percent are troubled about not being understood, compared with 58 percent in 1992. (Source: The Vancouver Sun)

These results were released by sociologist Reginald Bibby of the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. Though the survey evaluated the quality of parent-teen relationships in Canada, experts estimate that the results are indicative of what would be found in the United States.

The survey statistics are good news for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that effective parent-teen communication has been cited as a strong positive influence in the effort to keep kids from engaging in a wide range of dangerous teen behaviors.

Labels: relationships, parental_involvement, communication

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Many college girls experience depression. But what affects them in college starts long before they get there, and parents can help prevent those issues by cultivating a close relationship with their teenagers.

"Recognize that to be in touch requires new communications skills, and they have to be learned if you expect to connect with and understand these kids. All the skills that worked up to this point no longer work."

Building the relationship takes time that many parents feel they don't have. But the long-term benefits to both parents and children indicate that time spent in conversation is time well spent. Source: Psychology Today

Labels: parental_involvement, depression, communication

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It's a title sure to capture the attention of any teen that sees the ad. "Sex... With Mom and Dad" is the name of a new show on MTV feature Dr. Drew Pinsky.

"...the half-hour long show will feature Celebrity Rehab's Dr. Drew, who will discuss certain tips and guidelines when it comes to parent-children dialogue involving teens and topics such as sex, dating and relationships."

The show will also cover specific issues related to sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, and other topics. The show was scheduled to premiere on September 29. Source: BuddyTV

Labels: parental_involvement, sex, communication

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Currently, there are many stories in the news about teenagers who have violently acted out against either a peer or an adult. Teens are beating up fellow students, threatening to kill teachers, and some are committing suicide.

"We can't look at these situations as isolated and mere anecdotal examples of dysfunctional kids. After all, suicide is still among the leading causes of teenage deaths. And too many youths resort to resolving their beefs by trying to snuff somebody out or bust them up."

Stan Simpson, a columnist for The Hartford Courant, believes these troubled kids all have a couple of things in common: an unstable home and the feeling that no one understands them or cares. He urges adults to take time to remind the young people in their lives how valuable they are and how much they are loved and appreciated. Source: The Hartford Courant

Labels: violence, communication, self-esteem

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Though it's been around for about five years, the "party pact" is rarely used by parents in London and the surrounding communities. Police would like that to change.

"The party pact contract sets guidelines for a teen staying in the home [alone] and authorizes police to enter if they receive a complaint from neighbours. 'It's not like we'll be driving by consistently, but the parents and the teenager are aware that we can go in if we are needed,' [Constable John] Reurink said."

When used, the Party Pact is signed by parents who are going out of town and suspect that their teenage child might throw a party while they're away. It gives local police the authority to enter the home and press charges for drug or alcohol offenses. Read more at LFPress.ca.

Worried about what may happen at your house when you're away? If your child was at a private boarding school, then a teen house party would be one less thing to worry about. Visit BoardingSchoolsInfo.com for a comprehensive list of the best private boarding schools.

Labels: communication, responsibilty, agreements

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Smoking is linked to hearing loss in teens, according to a new study from Yale University.

Researchers tested 67 smokers ages 13 to 18 years old and found that they had problems in focusing and interpreting sounds and spoken language, especially when there were distractions in the area. Scientists already know that tobacco smoke affects the amount of the brain's "white matter," the region responded for communication.

This study appears in New Scientist Magazine.

Worried that your teen is engaging in smoking and other risky behaviors? Pine Ridge Academy offers adolescent behavior modification programs to help teens break bad habits.

Labels: communication, smoking, focusing

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About 2,000 teenagers registered with a text-based emotional support service in its first 48 hours of operation. The service, created in Ireland by an organization called Rehab, provides confidential information about sexual issues, suicide and other issues to young people.

"Designed for 16-24 year olds, Rehab says it is the first service of its kind in Ireland and highlights the way in which 21st century communication can benefit young people."

The numbers were released during a seminar on Suicide and the Internet, which marked the beginning of a five-day 'congress' called "Preventing Suicide Across the Lifespan: Dream and Realities". Read more at Online.Ie.com.

Island View offers programs for troubled teens that help them deal with their emotional and behavioral issues that are preventing them from finding happiness and success.

Labels: support, text_messaging, communication

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Most young people feel like they're invincible. But most also know the truth - that they're not. Still, some engage in risky and sometimes life-threatening behavior because they have little sense of their own mortality. The untimely death of a 14-year-old boy in Ohio has prompted warnings about risky behavior from some experts.

"[Dr. Steve] Liptak said it is important for parents to know their children and be more watchful of those they have found to be risk-takers. A working relationship with the child - knowing what they are doing and where they are going, not interrogating them - is even more important for known risk-takers, he said."

Dr. Bob Barcus also suggests that parents be honest with their teens about what can realistically happen when people take extreme risks. Read more at DaytonDailyNews.com.

If your child in engaging in risky behaviors, such as teen drug use, visit Adolescent-Substance-Abuse.com for ways you can help.

Labels: parental_involvement, risky_behaviors, communication

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Most parents fear that when their teens reach the teenage years, they're going to develop relationships that lead them down destructive paths. Most teens have at least one friend that encourages bad behavior, but if things get out of control, what should parents do?

"One frequently useful stance is to focus less on the 'evil' friend, and more on the behavior that you want your teenager to avoid. Maybe Danielle's parents don't want her hanging out with Ariel - but more to the point, they don't want her drinking or staying out late."

Addressing the behavior rather than the relationship prevents the teen from becoming defensive about her friend. Through it, you're also communication not just about the types of friends you want her to have, but the way you want her to behave no matter who she's with. Read more at TheGlobeandMail.com.

Getting your child away from negative influences, like friends, TV, and the internet can help your child get to the root of their problems and discover a new way to live. A brat camp, like Sage Walk or Turn-About Ranch, have proven to help even the most difficult teen.

Labels: communication, influences, friends

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