The more time kids spend in day care, the greater their risk for problem behaviors in primary school, according to a Swiss study. But, parents can take heart: The study also found that such problems generally disappear by the end of primary school. “It’s possible that external childcare may lessen the strength of child-parent attachment…  read on >  read on >

Even “safe” levels of ozone air pollution may increase adolescents’ risk of depression, a new study shows. Researchers analyzed four years of mental health data from 213 adolescents, ages 9-13, in the San Francisco Bay area and compared it with air quality data for their home addresses. Those who lived in areas with relatively higher…  read on >  read on >

A fresh review of recent government surveys suggests the well-being of 73 million American kids is under strain and seems to be getting worse. The upshot: anxiety, depression and behavioral problems appear to be on the rise, while the amount of time kids spent being physically active or getting preventive care has been on the…  read on >  read on >

Taken correctly, prescription drugs used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can help teens and young adults navigate their condition, but a new study finds many are dying from overdosing on these medications. In 2019, benzodiazepines like Xanax and stimulants like Adderall accounted for more than 700 and 900 overdose deaths, respectively, in the United States,…  read on >  read on >

A recently identified hybrid of the Omicron and Delta coronavirus variants is unlikely to become a serious threat, scientists say. The new hybrid, first found in samples collected in France in January, is formally called the AY.4/BA.1 recombinant but has been nicknamed Deltacron by some. Thirty-three samples of the new variant have been found in…  read on >  read on >

A number of COVID medications have proven their mettle against the “stealth” BA.2 Omicron variant in lab tests, but it’s not clear how effective they would be in real-world use, researchers report. Some evidence suggests that BA.2 can spread more quickly than the already highly contagious earlier BA.1 variant. In lab experiments using non-human primate…  read on >  read on >

If Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left your children confused and frightened, there are several ways to help them feel more secure, a psychologist says. First and foremost: Talk to your kids, and be honest, said Christopher Lynch, director of Pediatric Behavioral Medicine for Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, N.J. Kids can often tell when…  read on >  read on >