Troubled Teens

Are Violent Teens Actually Seeking Acceptance?

Teenagers who resort to violence may be seeking respect and appreciation among their peer groups, according to a new study from Spain.

Dr. David Ruiz and his colleagues studied 1320 teenagers in Valencia, Spain.
One of their main findings was that if teens experience lowered social status and social rejection, they suffer loneliness, low self-esteem, and lowered satisfaction with their lives.
This results in many teenagers using relational violence to gain acceptance.
Relational violence is defined as behavior designed to provoke harm within another person's circle of friends or damage their perception of belonging to a group.

"Having high self-esteem is a key aspect because this is important in inhibiting teenagers from indulging in behavior that involves relational violence between peers at school," the author wrote in the study, which was published in the journal Psicothema.

Labels: motivation, research, violence

TV Violence Linked to Aggression in Toddlers

In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that children under two years old should not watch any television. Now a new study finds that television watching may increase aggression in children under three years old.

Dr. Jennifer Manganello and her colleagues conducted telephone surveys with parents of more than 3,100 children ages 1 to 3 years old.
Sixty-five percent of the three-year-olds were watching more than two hours of TV per day, and in most homes, the television set was on more than seven hours a day.
Dr. Manganello, of the University of Albany School of Public Health, found that "for every hour a child watched TV, his or her aggression went up 0.16 on a scale of zero to 30," after she screened out other factors such as living in an unsafe neighborhood or being spanked.

This study appeared in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Labels: aggression, television, violence

Chicago Schools Chief Hopes to Improve Lives of At-Risk Students

Ron Huberman, the chief executive officer of Chicago’s violence-plagued public school system is working to improve the lives of students who are at greatest risk. A Nov. 4 editorial in the New York Times lauded the Huberman’s efforts:

The ambitious plan will offer mentoring, counseling and jobs to high-risk students. To determine who they are, Mr. Huberman analyzed the cases of more than 500 young people who were killed or wounded in gun violence over the last two years. The analysis suggests that nearly 10,000 of the city’s 113,000 high school students are at risk of becoming victims of gun violence and need help.

Their lives follow a clear pattern. They are absent from school more than 40 percent of the time, on average. They have fallen behind and are more likely to be enrolled in special education. And they generally attend 38 of the city’s nearly 140 public high schools. …

The plan … deserves full and enthusiastic support from the city, community groups and from the business community, which could play an essential role by providing the young participants with jobs.

Labels: at_risk, chicago, schools, violence

South Carolina Community Seeks Solutions to Teen Violence

A meeting held Thursday night in Rock Hill, South Carolina, sought ideas for stemming the tide of youth violence. During the sixty-minute gathering, ideas included scholarships for teens who report violent crimes and a community march.

"The meeting came less than a week after a shootout on Catherine Street in Rock Hill that left one teenager dead, another injured and one more charged with murder," South Carolina newspaper The Rock Hill Herald reported. "Days before, another teen was robbed, shot and killed on a Byars Street porch.”

The Emmett Scott Center’s community room was filled to near-capacity as residents, pastors, parents and police officers came together to search for solutions, the paper noted. Though many good suggestions were generated, meeting organizers say the real measure of success will be implementation of these ideas.

Labels: prevention, violence

Association Between Childhood Sweet Tooh & Adult Violence?

A controversial study from Cardiff University in Great Britain found that children who eat sweets and chocolate every day are more likely to become violent adults.

Dr. Simon Moore and his colleagues evaluated data on 17,500 people and found that almost 70 percent of those who had eaten sweets every day as children became violent adults by age 34 years old.

"Not being able to delay gratification may push them towards more impulsive behavior, which is strongly associated with delinquency," said Dr. Moore. "Targeting resources in improving children's diet may improve health and reduce aggression."

Labels: behavioral_issues, diet, violence

Dating Violence Increasing Among U.S. Teens

A new survey of teenagers reports that they are experiencing an increase in teen dating violence and other types of abuse from within their peer groups.

About one-third of surveyed teens told researchers that they have experienced sexual or physical abuse and threats. Almost half said their girlfriend or boyfriend has shown overly controlling behaviors, and one in four has been a victim of abuse through technology. The survey was conducted by the Family Violence Prevention Fund and the Liz Claiborne Foundation.

Some experts believe that dating violence and peer abuse is increasing because of stress caused by the current economic recession.

Since 2007, all public school districts have been required to have dating violence policies and education for students in grades seven through 12.

Labels: dating, teen_issues, violence

Survey Says Many Teens Blame Victims of Domestic Violence

A survey conducted by the Boston Public Health Commission found some chilling results. Nearly half of the kids surveyed said they think R&B star Rihanna was "responsible" for the beating she received during a fight with her boyfriend Chris Brown:

"Every single one of the 200 12- to 19-year-old kids surveyed had heard about the incident involving the two R&B starts that took place hours before the Grammys on Feb. 8... 46 percent of the kids surveyed said they thought Rihanna was to blame for the beating."

Many parents and advocacy organizations expressed their misgivings when Rihanna and Brown got back together again after the fight. Many report being fearful that this is one more incident that "normalizes" relational and domestic violence. Source: The Boston Globe

Labels: abuse, relationships, violence

Mom Wants Dating Violence Curriculum in NY Schools

Maria Pesin knows firsthand the dangers of dating violence, which she experienced when she was a teenager. Today, as the New York state leader for MADE (Moms and Dads for Education to Stop Teen Dating Abuse), she's pushing for dating violence curriculum in all New York middle and high schools.

"As estimated 62 percent of 'tweens' (ages 11 to 14) who have been in a relationship say they know friends who have been verbally abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend, and one in three teenagers reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped or choked by their partner..."

Few young people realize that harassment (such as calling or texting multiple times a day) is not only unacceptable, but is also a form of abuse. Liz Claiborne Inc, a sponsor of the anti-violence campaign, has developed a curriculum intended for use in health classes. Source: The Journal News (NY)

Labels: dating, schools, violence

Cincy Cops Warn Community about Gang

Cincinnati Police are warning a local community about a local gang that has been linked to a series of beatings and robberies. "The gang is implicated in violent beatings and robberies in Westwood. One woman was attacked outside the library, another by a school. Seven teens have been arrested so far." Police say the gang members range in age from 12 to 15-years-old and have likely gotten involved because gang life offers the friendship and protection they don't get at home. Source: Local 12 (Cincinnati)

Labels: gangs, juvenile crime, violence

Dating Violence Remains a Problem for Adolescents, Teens

Because teenagers don't have a lot of relationship experience, they can easily find themselves in a situation involving physical or emotional abuse:

"I've seen a lot of students that think that really jealous behavior is appropriate, and they think 'this person loves me so much that they want to know where I am all the time, what I'm doing, they don't want me to be with anyone else but them.' And after a while... [they]...start to feel very controlled, claustrophobic and they don't know how to get out,' said Wendy Falvey, a family and consumer science teacher."

Teens may not be aware that their relationship is abusive, so they need friends and family members to be watching for warning signs. If you suspect that something isn't right, don't be afraid to ask questions or get help. Source: News 10 Now (Syracuse, NY)

Labels: relationships, violence

Dating Violence Among Teens is on the Rise

Dating violence among teenagers might be increasing, even leading to homicides in some cases, according to a report in the Jan. 4, 2009, edition of the New York Times.

Statistics from public health agencies indicate that one in ten relationships involves violence or abuse.
However, a 2008 survey of 1,000 middle school students suggested the figure could be closer to 25 percent.
A study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that one third of 920 college students surveyed said they had been victims of physical and emotional abuse.
In a study by the Center for Disease Control, eight percent of teens said they had been forced into sexual intercourse.
Within the past two years, several high school girls have been murdered by their boyfriends.

Not all dating abuse is physical: It can include verbal harassment, name-calling and ridicule, sometimes done over the Internet or via cell phone text messages.

Besides being at increased risk for physical violence, abuse victims suffer from emotional problems as well. They are also twice as likely to abuse alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and are at increased risk of suicide.

Public middle schools in many parts of the country are working to initiate programs to educate young people about safe relationships, and to make them aware of protections that are available to them.

Labels: dating, violence

High Self-Esteem in Kids Leads to More Aggression

High self-esteem in children may increase their aggression toward others when they feel ashamed, according to a new study from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and the University of Michigan.

Researchers tested 163 children 10 to 13 years old for self-esteem, and then had them play in a fake video game tournament. Some were randomly selected to be "shamed." The team told that group that they were playing against poor players and that their scores would appear on a website that everyone could see. The narcissistic children in the study who felt ashamed became aggressive.

"Narcissists seem highly motivated to create and maintain a grandiose sense of self," said co-author Brad Bushman, a psychologist at the University of Michigan. This finding opposes conventional wisdom that children with high self-esteem are better at handling criticism and insults.

This study appears in the journal Child Development.

Labels: agression, self-esteem, violence

One in Four Teens Says It's Okay To Use Violence Sometimes

A study from Princeton University found that 25% of today's teenagers believe you can justify violent behavior some of the time, and 20% say that they did so themselves at least once in the past year. Over 40% said someone had behaved violently toward them in the past year.

The top two reasons for justifying violent behavior were self-defense or to help a friend, although 34% said it was okay to use violence to get revenge.

Dr. David Miller, director of Princeton's Faith and Work Initiative, surveyed 750 people ages 12 to 17 years old, using pollsters from Opinion Research.

"Employers will have their hands full, if a quarter of teens grow up willing to resort to violence and other unethical behavior when it comes to decisions about how to settle differences, protect their interests or get ahead," he said. He noted that over 75% of those who justify violence say they are ethically prepared to enter the workforce.

Labels: aggression, violence

Study: Media Violence Linked to Violent Behavior in Teens

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: behavioral_issues, influences, violence

Violent Teens Enjoy Watching Others in Pain

A study from the University of Chicago indicates that teenagers with histories of violent behavior get pleasure from watching others suffer.

"They're not only indifferent to pain - they love it," said Dr. Benjamin Lahey, lead author of the study.

Dr. Lahey and his colleagues used MRI scans to monitor brain activity of sixteen boys, ages 16 to 18 years old. Half had histories of aggression and violence, such as using weapons, stealing or starting fights, and the other half did not. Both groups watched videos of one person inflicting pain on another while they were hooked up to the brain scanning devices. The amgydala and ventral striati (the two parts of the brain linked to feelings of reward) of the aggressive teens became very active when they watched the videos. The differences between the two groups were significant, Dr. Lahey said, but he noted that the study was small.

Dr. Lahey said these results mean that the aggressive teens "experience seeing pain in others as exciting, fun and pleasurable." He and his colleagues had been expecting to find that aggressive teens were cold and indifferent to the pain of others, and not that they enjoy watching it.

This study appeared on the website of the journal Biological Psychology.

Labels: ethics, mental_health, violence

Violence in Teens Linked to Negative Early Life Experiences

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 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: influences, trauma, violence

Mental Health Linked to Youth Violence

A landmark "Roots of Youth Violence" study that was conducted in Ontario, Canada, found that mental health issues affect youth violence far more than most people realize.

"'Folks are saying, "The young kids are just hyperactive and they need some more exercise." But many of them are traumatized...' [said Alvin Curling]."

Curling and his associate, retired Ontario chief justice Roy McMurtry, submitted 29 recommendations - many of them having to do with mental health issues - along with their report. Source: The Toronto Star

Labels: mental_health, violence

'Typical' School Shooter, is Younger Brother of High Achiever

A professor at Yeshiva University has put together a profile of the typical school shooter in his new book, Ceremonial Violence.

According to Dr. Jonathan Fast, the typical student who goes on a shooting rampage at a school is a male in a rural, evangelistic community who has a high-achieving brother or sister.

The typical shooter suffers from "malignant narcissism," depression and paranoia, and has a severe learning disability.

He spends part of his school day in a "resource room" with other disturbed children, and feels like "damaged goods."

He appears impulsive and overly dramatic, and demonstrates little feeling toward others.

He may have tried to date girls, but was always rejected.

He has one or two friends at most.

He is likely to dress in black and wear piercings.

Part of his plan is to kill himself after the rampage.

Dr. Fast believes that while some parents are able to recognize danger signs of mental illness in their children and get them into therapy, most cases result in the child becoming sicker and sicker. Though he believes that reform schools and boot camps only teach teens to become adult criminals, he writes that therapeutic boarding schools can help many of these boys, even at the "eleventh hour."

Labels: angry, juvenile_crime, violence

Archdiocese Warns Teens about Sexual Violence

In the wake of the Catholic church's priest-abuse crisis, the Philadelphia archdiocese has released a short film that seeks to educate teens about sexual abuse, and urge them to report sexual violence. In the film, teens are reminded that victims of sexual abuse are never to blame.

"Cardinal Justin Rigali introduced the film to an audience of several hundred people at St. Joseph's University, including selected students. He said afterwards that the goal was to give hope to victims, not to dwell on abusers."

The film will be shown to sophomores, juniors, and seniors at all 21 of the archdiocese's Philadelphia-area high schools. Source: Associated Press

Labels: abuse, sex, violence

Study Looks at Lives of Young Men Who Commit Dating Violence

Though there are numerous studies on the effect dating violence has on women, little is known about what causes men to act violently towards their partners. To that end, a recent study tries to find some answers.

"[Elizabeth] Miller and [Elizabeth] Reed said that the study is from an urban sample of boys in programs for dating violence perpetration and, therefore, does not represent all boys who perpetrate abusive behaviors towards girlfriends. However, it offers some important, initial insights into the life contexts of boys that may contribute to dating violence."

Some of those life contexts include having a violent home life or living in a violent neighborhood, engaging in peer relationships that encourage the mistreatment of women, and experiencing inadequate support at school, the researchers said. Source: Science Blog

Labels: dating, violence

Mother of Slain Teen Takes Stand Against Violence

Brenda Porter's 17-year-old son was shot and killed by another teenager. The tragic death moved Porter to action, and she developed a program to reach out to children and prevent more needless deaths.

"A random shooting took the life of a successful teenage commercial artist. Today, his memory lives on through a youth program Porter created called Choice Time. Children, many of them with troubled pasts, help raise money to support awareness for juvenile crime. In the process, kids learn to make positive choices..."

Children in the program also go on field trips, attend bible classes, and learn about job skills. Porter said she feels responsible for pointing kids in a positive direction, and has put this sense of responsibility into action. Source: CW Arkansas

Labels: prevention, violence

Study Finds Increased Dating Abuse among Young Adolescents

A survey conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited has found disturbing trends of dating abuse among "tweens" ages 11 to 14. The survey was commissioned by Liz Claiborne, Inc., loveisrespect.org, and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.

"Among tweens that have dated, 62 percent say they know friends who have been verbally abused; 41 percent know friends who have been called names, put down, or insulted via cell phone, instant messaging or social networking sites; and 20 percent have been struck in anger by a boyfriend or girlfriend."

The survey's alarming results have prompted the National Association of Attorneys General to pass a resolution requiring teen dating violence and abuse curriculum in every school. It has also prompted child psychologists to remind parents about the important role they play in educating their children about sexual health and appropriate relational behavior. Source: CBS News

Read When Teen Romance Turns Violent for more information.

Labels: danger, dating, violence

Values Can Serve as a Buffer

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found that a teenager's values helped determine how he would respond to violent behavior at school. The study was conducted via questionnaires that were given to 907 Jewish and Arab students in grades 10 through 12 that attended separate schools.

"In both Arab and Jewish schools, adolescents who value power... reported more violent behavior than their peers. Teenagers who valued universalism... and those who valued conformity... reported less violent behavior than their peers."

The study's findings emphasize the important role parents and other caregivers have in teaching their kids about good, moral behavior. Source: MediLexicon News

Turn-About Ranch is a real working teen ranch camp were teenagers learn about traditional values such as honesty and hard work. Visit TurnAboutRanch.com to learn more.

Labels: risky_behaviors, values, violence

Teen Dating Violence: Love is Not Abuse

When Ashley was 18 years old, she was raped by her high school boyfriend. Now, over a decade later, the emotional scars haven't completely healed. She has begun speaking to teens and parents, hoping to raise awareness about teen dating violence.

"According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, 13 percent of teenage girls in relationships say they've been physically abused. Only 33 percent of teenagers in abusive relationships ask for help, and less than 25 percent say they've talked about dating violence with their parents."

That's why Ashley has become a public speaker. She hopes that if she talks first, young girls who are in unhealthy relationships will feel the freedom to start talking, too. Source: KBTX

Labels: abuse, dating, violence

Showing Kids a Life Outside Gangs

Charlotte Mills of Modesto, California, spends her days talking to kids who are caught up in drugs, gangs, and violence. She's not a cop or a court-appointed attorney; she's more like a "life coach" for at-risk teens.

"The key, she said, is to show them alternatives to lives of violence and crime. She helps them work toward their high school diplomas. She helps them find jobs. As novel as it might seem, Mills takes them on field trips: to colleges, to museums, to tourist spots... In other words, she tries to give them a taste of what other kids experience - those who aren't hanging out in parks, flashing colors and dodging bullets."

The program is a collaborative effort between Stanislaus County Juvenile Probation and the Center for Human Services where Mills is an employee. Jerry Powers, probation chief for Stanislaus County, believes programs like this are vital, and far less expensive than the cost of keeping someone in jail. Source: Modesto Bee

Labels: at_risk, gangs, violence

Ohio Endorses Dating Violence Bill

Representative Edna Brown (D., Toledo) recently introduced a bill to the Ohio House of Representatives which expands the protection offered to teens that are or have been in an abusive dating relationship. House Bill 247 was approved on Wednesday and is now headed to the Senate for consideration.

"Ms. Brown's bill... expands the list of allegations that could allow an alleged victim to seek protection to include felonious assault, aggravated assault, menacing, aggravated menacing, menacing by stalking, or a sexually oriented offense or its equivalent within a dating relationship."

The bill also allows foster parents to request protection orders on behalf of a teen that is in their care. Source: Toledo Blade

Labels: dating, legislation, violence

Let Kids Know They're Valued

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: communication, self-esteem, violence

Childhood Trauma Linked to Teen Smoking

Teens are more likely to smoke if they have been victims of trauma, such as unwanted sexual contact, physical abuse, or interpersonal violence.

Dr. Bernard Fuemmeler, a Duke University professor, looked at the records of more than 15,000 people ages 15 to 22 and found that those who had experienced childhood trauma were more likely to smoke in their early teen years. Witnessing or being a victim of physical assault nearly doubled the chances of a teen starting to smoke in the same year.

This study appears in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

If your child has suffered a traumatic event and hasn't been able to fully recover from it, a high quality, therapeutic boarding school may help. Boarding schools that offer therapy can help teens with a variety of issues while they still earn school credits. Visit BoardingSchoolsInfo.com for a list of therapeutic boarding schools.

Labels: smoking, trauma, violence

Study Finds Decline in School Violence

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released hopeful results of a study on school violence. The report found that school-associated homicide rates decreased significantly from 1992 thru the 2006 school year.

"The report shows a decline in the rates of single-victim school-associated homicides, while multiple-victim homicide rates, which were much fewer in number, remained stable... 'The decline in episodes of school-associated violence is promising and encouraging,' said Dr. Ileana Arias, Director of the CDC's Injury Center."

The study also found that schools are still safe, with homicides accounting for less than 1% of the total number of homicides that occur within that age group.

Labels: schools, violence

Friends Don't Support Teens Involved in Dating Violence

Teens turn away when friends bring up dating violence, according to a new study from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.

Researchers surveyed 224 high school students about whom they turn to with their problems involving romantic relationships. Most talked things over with friends rather than family members. However, the teens told researchers that if they tried to bring up dating violence, their friends would change the subject.

"Peers might feel threatened when hearing of severe violence because they might fear the abuser or might be reminded that they too are vulnerable to severe violence in their relationships," said the study's co-author, Professor Richard Toman at Michigan's School of Social Work.

This study appears in the Journal of Adolescence.

Worried that your teen is experimenting with drugs or alcohol? Visit Adolescent-Substance-Abuse.com to learn how to recognize the signs and learn how to help your teenager.

Labels: dating, friends, violence

Dating Violence Linked to Mental Health Problems

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have found a link between teenage dating violence and health problems like binge eating, cigarette smoking, alcohol and marijuana use, and depression.

Dr. Diann Ackard of the University of Minnesota surveyed 23 boys and 102 girls who had experienced dating violence and compared their health to that of 671 boys and 102 girls without such a history in interviews in 1999 and then again in 2004.

Dr. Ackard, writing in the Journal of Pediatrics, reports that about 20% of teenage girls and 10% of teenage boys are abused sexually or physically by dating partners every year.

Concerned your teen may be suffering from depression? Visit AboutTeenDepression.com to learn more.

Labels: dating, mental_health, violence

Teen Dating Violence Leads to Risky Health Behavior

Teens that have been abused by dating partners are more likely to develop risky behaviors like eating disorders and suicidal thoughts. A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis compared the behaviors of boys and girls who had experienced dating violence with those who hadn't.

"Both boys and girls who had experienced dating violence were more likely to display three or more of 10 behavioral and psychological health problems including binge eating, cigarette smoking, alcohol or marijuana use, depressive symptoms and low self-esteem, the researchers found. The relationship was particularly strong for girls."

Dr. Diann Ackard suggested that parents ask questions about teens' relationships; particularly how they feel when they're with certain people – which can help determine whether the teen is at risk of being abused.

Copper Canyon Academy is a residential treatment center for troubled girls. By offering accredited academics and therapy, Copper Canyon helps girls get back on track.

Labels: dating, risky_behaviors, violence

Absent Parents can Cause Violent Kids

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: influences, parental_involvement, violence

Media Violence Could be Considered a Public Health Threat

Children exposed to violence in video games, television and movies are more likely to be violent both short- and long-term, according to a study from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Rowell Huesmann compared the public health effect of media violence to exposure to cigarette smoke, asbestos and lead. He examined 41 media violence studies done between 1963 and 2007 and found that exposure raises the chances that a person will commit violent acts immediately and in the future.

He explained that the mass media has made violence available to a broad population.

"It is not just kids in bad neighborhoods or with bad friends who are exposed to bad things when they go out on the street," he explained. "A 'virtual' bad street is easily available to most youth now."

This study appears in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Labels: video_games, violence, virtual_worlds

Bullying Victims Offer Suffer Silently

Bullying in America's schools is more common than many parents would believe. A recent study found that 9 out of 10 elementary students reported being bullied, and 6 our 10 reported bullying a fellow student. Many children feel they can't talk about their situation, and so, they suffer in silence.

"But the danger of not talking about bullies or the victims of bullying is extreme, especially with the increasing use of violence to settle school-aged grudges. The fury once expressed by words and fists has manifested itself with a 15-year-old girl fatally stabbed on a Cleveland street, an alienated loner striding into school with weapons drawn, and an honor-roll student who left a seven-page suicide note saying he was killing himself because classmates who called him names like gay or faggot were unrelenting."

Though some may be tempted to brush off bullying as a "rite of passage", an increasing number of educators are speaking out - saying that the type and frequency of bullying is getting worse. Parents need to make sure their kids know it's ok to tell someone if they're being bullying and that it's not ok to pick on other kids for any reason.

Students with learning disabilities are often picked on; attending a school where everyone has some form of learning disorder or another can help. Learn more at LearningDisabilitiesInfo.com.

Labels: bullying, victims, violence

Arlington Addresses Gang Problem

Though its gang problem isn't as bad as some other cities, Arlington, Texas has its share of gang-related activity. Just last month a young man was shot and killed in what was believed to be gang-related activity.

"...Arlington police said that what concerns them most is that while the number of gangs in the city has remained fairly constant over the past few years, the violence seems to be escalating."

The Second Annual Gang & Youth Education and Awareness Conference addressed these concerns on Wednesday and Thursday with law enforcement officials from throughout North Texas. A possible sales tax increase will also help Arlington police be proactive in addressing gang-related issues.

A working teen ranch, like Turn-About Ranch in Utah, can help instill real values, such as hard work and honesty, in a teenager struggling with authority and direction. Visit TurnAboutRanch.com to learn more.

Labels: aggression, gangs, violence

Teenagers Who Behave Violently At Risk for Domestic Violence Later

A 20-year study of 800 people found that those who were violent as teenagers were more likely to engage in domestic violence as young adults.

Researchers at the University of Washington/Seattle began their study in 1985 when participants were in fifth grade. Those who were violent teenagers were more likely to partner with someone who had a similar history, and create a household in which people kicked, bit, and hit one another.

"Most people think youth violence and domestic violence are separate problems, but this study shows they are intertwined," said Professor Todd Herrenkohl, lead author of the study.

Dr. Herrenkohl said his work indicates that society could prevent domestic violence by teaching teenagers to be less aggressive.

This study appears in the journal Violence and Victims.

Labels: aggression, violence

Tearaway Teens

Teens in Scotland are become the subject of much talk and speculation. As teen violence increases and parental guidance decreases, teens are beginning to terrorize their communities.

"Closer to home, teenage gangs have disrupted life for residents in Granton Crescent, driving at least three families from their homes because of their wayward and uncontrollable behavior, while earlier this month a gang of around 20 teenagers attacked an elderly man in Minto Street before boarding a bus then smashing three of its windows."

Youth workers and other experts remind parents that setting boundaries in a necessary part of parenting. Children need to learn, at an early age, that some behavior is simply unacceptable. Building a solid relationship with your child will make the issue of boundaries an easier one. Read more at Living.Scotsman.com.

An increase in violence can be the result of teen drug and alcohol abuse. Learn how to keep you teen safe and away from drugs and alcohol at the Teen-Help-Directory.

Labels: behavioral_issues, risky_behaviors, violence

Teen Violence a Growing Problem

Calls from the Milwaukee school district to police have become a daily occurrence. Over 127 MPS employees reported being physically assaulted in the first semester of the school year.

"The violence is worst at a handful of schools, and is caused by a small percentage of the district's 90,000 students. But their actions are taking a tool on staff, teachers, taxpayers and students who want to learn."

The district has received an additional $1 million in funding which will, in part, cover the cost of a school policing pilot program. Read more at JSOnline.com.

Labels: police, schools, violence

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