Along with flashlights, sleeping bags and bug repellent, many kids will take a smartphone to camp this summer. But this could ruin their camp experience, a new study suggests. Researchers surveyed 620 camp directors, nurses and other staff members at 331 camps in the United States and Canada. Many said campers were so fixated on… read on >
Depression in the man may reduce the chances that a couple struggling with infertility will ultimately conceive, new research suggests. Depression among women was not linked to lower conception rates, the study authors said. But women being treated for infertility who also took a type of antidepressant known as non-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (non-SSRIs) were… read on >
Daily chores give a child a sense of responsibility and help the child understand that life is a mix of work and play, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Chores should be appropriate for the child’s age, such as cleaning the room, making the bed and clearing the table, the physician group says. The AAP… read on >
Teens who watch more medical marijuana ads are more likely to smoke pot themselves, new research indicates. “Our findings suggest that increased exposure to medical marijuana advertising is associated with increased marijuana use and related negative consequences throughout adolescence,” said study lead author Elizabeth D’Amico, of the RAND Corporation. “This work highlights the importance of… read on >
While much attention has been paid to the dangers of e-cigarette use among teens, new research shows that more than half of all tobacco smoked by young people comes from hookahs. The researchers warned that smoking cessation strategies should include these water pipes, which are gaining popularity in this age group. “Most hookah smokers in… read on >
In a troubling sign that anxiety and depression are taking hold of America’s youth, new research shows a doubling since 2008 in the number of kids and teens who’ve been hospitalized for attempted suicide or suicidal thoughts. Study author Dr. Gregory Plemmons said the findings “are not surprising,” and that “colleges have also reported a… read on >
About 1 in 1,000 children has some type of chronic arthritis, the American College of Rheumatology says. Arthritis can affect children of any age, although rarely during the first six months of life. In the United States, a common medical term for the joint disease in children is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Typical symptoms include:… read on >
Progress made in limiting kids’ exposure to secondhand smoke could be undermined by the increasing popularity of pot, a new study suggests. “As we are removing cigarette smoke — and that’s a major public policy achievement — that success will be attenuated by increasing exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke,” said lead researcher Renee Goodwin. The… read on >
Parents are more likely to let their kids see violent PG-13 movies if they feel the mayhem is “justified,” a new study suggests. The study, of 610 U.S. parents, found that moms and dads were less disturbed by gun violence in PG-13 movies when they deemed it justified. That included the typical action-movie scenario where… read on >
Sun damage puts children and teens at risk for deadly melanoma, so parents need to protect their youngsters from the sun and teach them about sun safety, oncologists say. “Don’t assume children cannot get skin cancer because of their age,” said Dr. Alberto Pappo, director of the solid tumor division at St. Jude Children’s Research… read on >
