4 Troubled Teens Blog

A Harvard study has determined that adolescents whose parents smoke are more likely to begin smoking themselves. A team from the Harvard School of Public Health reached this conclusion after studying the habits of 559 boys and girls ages 12 to 17.

"The longer a parent smoked, the greater an adolescent's likelihood of starting smoking. Whether or not the parent was actually dependent on nicotine didn't affect the strength of the relationship."

Researchers also found that a father who smoked had a stronger effect on his son's risk that a mother's smoking had on her daughter. Source: ABS-CBN News5

Labels: parents, smokers, influences

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Watching violence on television and in movies and video games is linked to violent behaviors in teenagers, according to a new study from Rutgers University.

Dr. Paul Boxer and his colleagues surveyed 820 teens, parents and teachers. Half of the teens were juvenile offenders in detention centers. Participants reported about their favorite TV shows, movies and video games starting at age seven. Those who preferred the more violent fares were more likely to engage in violent behaviors as teenagers.

The researchers took into consideration other factors such as academic failures, emotional problems, and exposure to real-life violence when they calculated their results.

"Even in conjunction with other factors, our research shows that media violence does enhance violent behavior," Dr. Boxer said. "On average, adolescents who were not exposed to violent media are not as prone to violent behavior. There can be very little doubt that exposure to violence in the media has a consistent and substantial impact on aggressive behaviors."

This study appeared in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

Labels: violence, behavioral_issues, influences

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Early life experiences can "cascade" into violent behaviors in teenagers, according to a new study from Duke University. However, early interventions or positive life events can prevent such problems.

"Our findings indicate that these trajectories are not inevitable," said Professor Kenneth Dodge of Duke's Center for Child and Family Policy. "Successful early intervention could redirect paths of anti-social development to prevent serious violent behaviors in adolescence."

• Dr. Dodge and his colleagues studied 754 children from kindergarten to 11th grade.
• The researchers' goal was to understand how serious violent behavior develops.
• One of their key findings was that children from disadvantaged backgrounds were more likely to experience harsh and inconsistent parenting that impeded their cognitive development when they entered school.
• From that point, behavior problems worsened significantly. Some children managed to avoid these problems, depending on their life events.

This study appeared on the website of the journal Child Development.

Labels: violence, trauma, influences

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Religious teens are less likely to use drugs, according to a study that was published in the Journal of Drug Issues.

The researchers found that individual religiosity is linked to a lowered likelihood of using alcohol or smoking, and decreases a teen's chances of using marijuana by half. However, religiosity did not affect cocaine or heroin abuse.

Researchers from Brigham Young University looked at answers to two questions that were posed to more than 14,000 teens: How often do you attend church? and How important is religion to you?

"Previously it was thought that if someone grew up in a religious community and went to church, then the community's religious strength would make a difference," said Professor Stephen Bahr, co-author of the study. "We basically found that was not the case. Individual religiosity is what makes the difference."

Labels: drug_use, influences, religion

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Teens who watch medical documentaries and medical dramas like "ER" on television are more likely to worry about their health, according to a Belgian study of 1,300 teens.

Teens who watch these programs increase their level of health fears by as much as 10 percent, the study found, and girls are more affected than boys.

Labels: health, influences, TV

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Maternal depression increases a teenager's risk for depression, even if the teen is adopted, according to a study from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Erin Tully and colleagues studied 568 adopted adolescents and 446 teens who were living with their biological parents. Depression in mothers, but not fathers, increased the likelihood of the teen having depression and behavioral problems, including juvenile delinquency. This was true in both groups, but especially in non-adoptees, which implied a genetic component as well.

If a mother responded successfully to interventions, such as medication and psychotherapy, her child's mental health improved too.

This study appears in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Labels: depression, mothers, influences

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Social networking sites can be great places for teenagers to make friends and find acceptance. But they can also enhance feelings of grief, sorrow and despair.

"Cyberspace is fertile ground for suicide contagion. It provides a forum for prolonged and excessive grieving in a highly charged, emotional atmosphere - precisely the kind of atmosphere psychologists warn to avoid. ... It is also unmonitored by all but the most vigilant parents."

Psychologist and counselor Scott Poland warns that continued exposure to tragedy, especially suicide, puts a teenager at increased risk. It's a healthy warning for parents to pay attention to the social networking worlds in which their children spend so much time.

Labels: depression, internet, influences

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Vigo County, Indiana, has declared 2008 the "Year of the Child." Its focus for the month of August is drug prevention, and several large events have been planned, including a back to school carnival.

"The other large event for the month is a family-based celebration provided by Families by Choice, led by Murial Ryan, called 'Celebrate the Family Table'. There will be food and activities, and the event will take place at Gilbert Park..."

Several studies have found kids in families that eat dinner together are less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Source: Tribune Star (Terre Haute, IN)

Labels: drugs, prevention, influences

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Two decades ago, Frederica Wilson established the organization that would become 5000 Role Models of Excellence, a mentorship program for at-risk youth in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Legislation has recently been introduced that would expand this program, as well as other programs like it.

"Advocates for the dropout intervention strategies say they envision Role Models someday taking root in every county, and possibly every school, in the state. The idea is to match at-risk minority youth with successful black men in school-based programs. The goal is to reduce the number of African-American youths who drop out of school and enter prison."

If passed, the legislation would create a state-sanctioned method of funneling both private and public money into Role Models and other similar programs. Source: Miami-Dade Sun-Sentinel

Labels: mentoring, influences, role_models

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Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, and Lindsay Lohan are celebrities that many teenagers, at one point, liked and admired. But recently interviewed high school students expressed concern about the examples these celebs are setting for them and their peers.

"[Yvonne] Santiago said stars like Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Amy Winehouse, who have publicly gone in and out of rehabilitation for addiction, make it seem as if drugs and alcohol are less serious problems than they really are. 'I think it makes kids think, "OK, if I do drugs and get messed up, then I can just go to rehab like Britney, and be all better, hooray,"' she said."

Teens are worried about the way some celebrities downplay the seriousness of drug and alcohol addiction and make rehab look easy. Many adults worry, too, because teens don't see the negative consequences of addiction in the lives of celebrities.

Labels: media, influences, role_models

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The average teen hears 84 references to drugs, alcohol or tobacco every day just by listening to popular music, according to a study from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine.

Researchers went through the lyrics of the most popular songs of 2005 to find explicit references to drugs, alcohol or tobacco. About 77% of rap music had such mentions, followed by 36% in country music, and 14% of rock music. Because the average teen listens to 2.4 hours of music a day, the researchers were able to come up with the 84 references per day figure. This study appears in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Worried about the negative influences on your teenager? Learn how to be a positive role model and other free parenting tips at ByParents-ForParents.com.

Labels: media, music, influences

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Though the holidays are officially over, many children and teenagers are still recovering from extended periods of time with family members. The holidays are hard for teenagers who come from extremely dysfunctional homes. They will likely to be looking to teachers, counselors, school administrators and other adult influencers for advice and guidance.

"For children who attempt to regulate problem drinking or to stop family fights, teach them that young people are not equipped to solve serious family problems. The more you can lighten the heavy responsibilities that these children carry, the more you may be able to help lessen the depression, despair or withdrawal that the child experiences."

It's also helpful to remind teens that the holiday images conveyed by advertising and marketing campaigns are unrealistic. Very few (if any) families have that picture perfect holiday celebration. Talk about this, and help the teen develop more realistic expectations for future family gatherings.

The Academy at Swift River is a private high school for teens in New England. If your teen would benefit from a structured, therapeutic boarding school environment, then the Academy at Swift River is a great choice.

Labels: depression, trauma, influences

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American teens are talking and blogging about the pregnancy of 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears, a sister to pop star Britney Spears.

According to stories in the New York Times and other newspapers, teen girls feel let down by Jamie's pregnancy because they identify her with the character she plays on Nickeleon's Zoey 101. Zoey is a straight-A, virginal student, an empowered young teen who leaves home at age thirteen to enter a formerly all-boys boarding school.

Google recently reported that online searches for "Britney Spears" are second only to searches for "God," as people keep track of the celebrity's trials of divorce, public nudity, career failures, pregnancy, and so forth.

Jamie was always the "good sister" and a role model for preteens. Some teachers and parents are using Jamie's pregnancy as a "teachable moment."

If you're dealing with a pregnant teen, you might want to learn more about Youth Care. Youth Care is a residential treatment center with a program for pregnant girls.

Labels: pregnancy, influences, role_models

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Steve and Lynelle are advice columnists for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson, Indiana. They recently received a cry for help from someone worried about a little sister (14-years-old) who become rebellious and may be involved in drugs and alcohol.

"What should you and your family do? You need to enter into her life, get to know her again and ignore the abuse she's going to dish out while you attempt to bring her back into the fold. Do things with her, include her in family matters and don't take no for an answer."

They also suggest that it's time for this teen to be cut off from the friends who are encouraging her rebellious behavior. They acknowledge that she will kick and scream at these changes but that, in the long run, she will benefit from them. Read more at TheHeraldBulletin.com.

Need help for your troubled teen? Turn-About Ranch offers programs for troubled teens that have been proven to work.

Labels: risky_behaviors, prevention, influences

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Nineteen-year-old Robert Hawkins, who opened fire in an Omaha, Nebraska mall this week, spent most of his life moving and out of the foster care system. Psychologist warn that a lack of parental involvement in a child's life can make a child feel like he has no one to turn to, and affects how teens respond to negative attention. A lack of healthy emotional bonding with a parent hinders a child's ability to view people as more than just objects.

"[Psychologist Dr. Louis] Mortillaro said some warning signs for potential violent outbursts in children include feelings of not fitting in, kids who are teased constantly, those who are sent to the office for harming classmates or animals and those who are not afraid to act on their violent tendencies"

Parents are encouraged to develop appropriate, healthy emotional bonds with their kids, even if the parents are separated, divorced or never married at all.

Need parenting tips for your troubled teen? Visit ByParents-forParents.com for free parenting tips, advice, and resources for parents of teenagers.

Labels: violence, parental_involvement, influences

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Latino youth that need alcohol or drug abuse treatments could be hindered by cultural stereotypes, according to a new study conducted by the PIRE Behavioral Health Research Center.

"The study obtained first-hand information from practitioners to propose the development of culturally relevant, quality care for rural adolescent populations that have limited access to behavioral health care. Researchers...found four commonly held cultural stereotypes that health care providers' believed inhibited Hispanic youth from seeking help for substance abuse - family, religion and spirituality, gender roles and socioeconomic factors."

These stereotypes affect the kind of treatment that's offered to Hispanic youth, and the researchers hope to provide suggestions for improving behavioral health care. Possible suggestions include cultural training, and the hiring of health care providers who represent the cultural backgrounds of the communities in which they'll be working.

Find an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program at www.Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: treatment_programs, influences, culture

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Having a childhood mental disorder, especially hyperactivity, conduct and substance abuse disorders, puts a person more at risk for adult criminality, according to a study from Duke University's Center for Developmental Epidemiology.

Social scientists at the Center interviewed and tested children at ages 9 and 10, and again at ages 11 and 13, and then reassessed them every year until they were 16 years old. About one-third of these children met the criteria for at least one childhood mental disorder at any of the three assessment points.

By the time the children had become young adults (ages 16 to 21 years), about a third had been arrested. Among this group, about one-half had been diagnosed with mental disorders during those earlier assessments. Children with disruptive behavior disorders and substance abuse disorders were more likely to get into trouble with the law later on, especially those with emotional disorders comorbid with substance abuse.

The researchers were quick to point out that their results mean only that a large percentage of young adults who get arrested had a mental disorder at some point in their adolescence. It does not mean that most youths with mental disorders will be arrested. However, the study may have implications for the necessity to treat children with mental disorders.

This study appears in the November issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Think a military school can help your struggling teenager turn their life around? Learn about military schools at www.militaryschoolalternatives.com.

Labels: behavioral_issues, influences, criminals

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Fourteen years ago, as school principal Frederica Wilson was driving to school, she was shocked to find herself hoping that one her more disruptive students would be absent that day. The thought caused her to start asking questions, and eventually asking for help. Her initial effort has become the 5000 Role Models of Excellence and has helped more than 15,000 troubled young men.

"The program is funded by the [Miami] school system and by private and corporate sponsors. Its components are many: workshops; scholarships; a basketball tournament; peer, group and one-on-one mentoring; and field trips, including to those opposite poles of black male potential; colleges and penitentiaries."

Kionne McGhee participated in the program. While in school he was suspended 47 times and was labeled emotionally handicapped. Today, he's an assistant state attorney.

Parents, teachers, and other role models can find help and information about adolescent drug treatment at Adolescent-Susbstance-Abuse.com.

Labels: mentoring, influences, role_models

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Students from Clinton Middle School in Utica, New York, recently spent two weeks learning about the law and criminal behavior. The students also sat in on court room proceedings in Onieda County Criminal Court. They were then asked to give their opinions on why some young people turn to crime.

"The path to criminal behavior might begin with a bad childhood. If a child is raised in a community that is poor and the only people there to look up to are drug dealers or criminals, this sets an image for the child."

Most of the students agreed that an abusive or neglectful home life and poverty are two possible causes. They also agreed that it's important to get those kids away from abusive or neglectful parents, or have the parents seek counseling, and help them get the education and resources they need for a better life. Read more at UticaOD.com.

Adolescent substance abuse is a serious matter that can affect an entire family. Learn how you can help at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: parental_involvement, influences, criminals

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Recently, at the National Lieutenant Governors Association's annual conference, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder presented a resolution suggesting that states use the Missouri Model as a guide for state-wide mentoring programs.

''A wonderful seed planted right here in Missouri is now to bear fruit all across America. See what happens when we all work together, reaching across party lines to do what is good and right for the people,' Kinder said."

The Missouri Model consists of three parts; a program for children of incarcerated parents, a mentor initiative for state employees, and a partnership between the Department of Corrections and mentoring programs. Read more at News-Leader.com.

If your teen isn't getting the guidance he or she needs, you may want to consider boarding schools. TeenBoardingSchools.com lists schools to help teens with emotional and behavioral issues.

Labels: mentoring, education, influences

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School and police officials in Wyoming are working to determine how best to help teens understand the risks of underage drinking. They're finding that the most common approach - showing shocking images of accident scenes - may not be the most effective.

"'From what I've read, I think the approaches which try to shock students, either through videos of terrible accidents or other videos that emphasize the gruesome nature of things, the conclusions there are they are not effective and may be counterproductive,' [First Lady Nancy] Freudenthal said. Freudenthal isn't exactly sure why that's the case, but said it might be because students typically don't believe bad things can happen to them."

On city has implemented an incentive-based plan that rewards kids who stay drug and alcohol free. Indications are that 80 percent of the students there are participating in the program. Officials also emphasize the importance of parental involvement in the fight against underage drinking and substance abuse. Read more at CasperStarTribune.net.

DrugRehabTreatment.com offers news and information about adolescent substance abuse and underage drinking. Learn more about how parental attitudes influcence their child's choices today.

Labels: prevention, education, influences

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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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At a recent gathering, Staten Island parents talked about the sharp drug use increase they've seen lately among their teenage children. Borough President James Molinaro expressed concern that most parents choose to ignore the early warning signs.

"Dr. Kipnis summarized the attitude of many parents he has spoken with as, 'We live in a great place. There's no one selling heroin on the corner, so I can't believe that my child is addicted.'"

Some parents also said that, because they grew up in the 1960s and 1970s - and may have used drugs themselves, they feel their authority as parents is compromised. However, Joe  the parent of a teen who started using marijuana but quickly progressed to harder drugs  says that's no excuse, explaining that a parent can't know if their kid will be the one who can't stop using. Read more at SILive.com.

Adolescent drug treatment programs can help get your teen's life back on track. Learn about the myth's of alcohol and teen drug abuse at AdolescentSubstanceAbuse.com.

Labels: drug_use, influences, role_models

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Research from the University of Illinois indicates that the environment of a school has a small but significant effect on aggression among teenagers.

Janet Reis and her colleagues examined information from 111,662 middle school students to determine what factors predict school violence. An individual's personal traits and peer interactions have the most direct effect on whether a student becomes violent. However, the culture at a school can slightly decrease or increase aggressive tendencies. Schools that fostered student participation had less violence.

This study appears in the current issue of Youth & Society.

Labels: schools, peers, influences

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The new movie 'Daddy's Little Girls' tells the story of a father who fights for shared custody of his daughters with his ex-wife. The movie brings to the forefront an important fact that's often overlooked - a father's involvement has dramatic effects in his kids' lives.

"A just-released Boston College study found that when nonresident fathers are involved in their adolescent children's lives, the incidence of substance abuse, violence, crime, and truancy decreases markedly... The study also found that when teens begin to slide towards delinquency, nonresident fathers increase their involvement in response. The researchers found such involvement to be effective - the impact of father involvement was the greatest on the kids who had previously been the most troubled."

Studies have also determined that father involvement is a greater predictor of juvenile crime than the family's socio-economic status. Read more at PostChronicle.com.

Labels: parental_involvement, fathers, influences

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Only 20 percent of teenagers have meaningful relationships with coaches, mentors or adults other than their parents, according to a survey from the Search Institute.

Researchers surveyed 1,860 people ages 15 years old from area of Twin Cities, Minnesota. Although 50% could identify one or more adult who "understands me," most of their relationships with these adults were not meaningful.

"Caring adults beyond the immediate family really do matter for a variety of outcomes that Americans care about, including school success," said Peter Benson, president and chief executive officer of the Search Institute, a policy center for child and family development. He said that teenagers show more academic achievement and hope for their futures when they have positive adult role models in their lives.
 

Labels: mentoring, influences

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 2 Comments