Health News
- More Overweight Teens Don't Consider Themselves Fat; The Problem Is That They Compare Themselves To Those Around Them
Another study has found that overweight teens in the U.S. don't realize they are overweight, and this lack of self-awareness has gotten worse in the past decade, Roberto A. Ferdman reports for The Washington Post The study, at Georgia State University,...
- Teens Sensitive To Light Or Noise After A Concussion Are More Likely To Suffer Anxiety Or Depression, Uk Study Finds
Teens who are sensitive to light or noise after a concussion may also have increased emotional symptoms, such as anxiety or depression, according to a study at the University of Kentucky. ?While most people recover from a concussion within a week,...
- Parents Should Talk To Children About Alcohol; Study Shows Teens Do Listen
Two recent studies highlight how important it is for parent to talk with their teens about the risks of alcohol use, which leads to more than 4,500 deaths nationwide every year. In the first study, Mothers Against Drunk Driving found that fewer than...
- Kentucky Teens Attempt Suicide More Often Than Those In All U.s.
In a 2011 update of a study done four years ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) surveyed America's teenagers about their physical health and potentially risky behaviors. Broken down state-by-state,...
- Parents Should Talk To Children About Drugs And Alcohol Often, And Firmly, But Spend More Time Listening
Talking about drugs and alcohol often, and when children are at a young age, are two of the best things parents can do to prevent substance abuse by teenagers. "As much as parents want to be the 'anti-drug,' as media campaigns encourage, the...
Health News
Almost one-third of teens have changed their health habits after looking up information on the Internet, study suggests
A decade-long study by researchers at Northwestern University about how teenagers use the Internet for health information found that almost one-third of adolescents report changing health habits after looking for information online, Lena H. Sun writes for the Washington Post.
The study also found that almost 25 percent of teens check the Internet to find information about health conditions their family and friends have. "While most teens rely on digital resources to learn more about puberty, drugs, sex and depression, among other issues, a surprising 88 percent said they did not feel comfortable sharing their health concerns with friends on Facebook or on other social networking sites," Sun writes.
"I mainly find it kind of moving because it really illustrates that a lot of teens are grappling with very real, very important health challenges and that the Internet is empowering them with the information they need to take better care of themselves," said Vicky Rideout, a co-author of the study.
Although the study found that parents are still the leading source of health information?55 percent of teens reported learning "a lot" of health information from parents?and health classes in school, doctors and nurses came in second and third, the Internet is the fourth-largest source of health information. "Eighty-four percent of teens said they turned to the Internet for health information," Sun reports.
Teens are still asking their parents health questions, and only 13 percent of those surveyed said they consult the Internet because they couldn't talk to their parents. "The Internet is not replacing parents, teachers and doctors; it is supplementing them," the researchers wrote.
Participants in the study were 1,156 American teenagers between 13 and 18 years old. "We need to make sure there is good information for teens online," Rideout said. Teenagers need to learn digital literacy skills and acquire the ability to tell the difference between advertising and content. (Read more)
The study also found that almost 25 percent of teens check the Internet to find information about health conditions their family and friends have. "While most teens rely on digital resources to learn more about puberty, drugs, sex and depression, among other issues, a surprising 88 percent said they did not feel comfortable sharing their health concerns with friends on Facebook or on other social networking sites," Sun writes.
"I mainly find it kind of moving because it really illustrates that a lot of teens are grappling with very real, very important health challenges and that the Internet is empowering them with the information they need to take better care of themselves," said Vicky Rideout, a co-author of the study.
Although the study found that parents are still the leading source of health information?55 percent of teens reported learning "a lot" of health information from parents?and health classes in school, doctors and nurses came in second and third, the Internet is the fourth-largest source of health information. "Eighty-four percent of teens said they turned to the Internet for health information," Sun reports.
Teens are still asking their parents health questions, and only 13 percent of those surveyed said they consult the Internet because they couldn't talk to their parents. "The Internet is not replacing parents, teachers and doctors; it is supplementing them," the researchers wrote.
Participants in the study were 1,156 American teenagers between 13 and 18 years old. "We need to make sure there is good information for teens online," Rideout said. Teenagers need to learn digital literacy skills and acquire the ability to tell the difference between advertising and content. (Read more)
- More Overweight Teens Don't Consider Themselves Fat; The Problem Is That They Compare Themselves To Those Around Them
Another study has found that overweight teens in the U.S. don't realize they are overweight, and this lack of self-awareness has gotten worse in the past decade, Roberto A. Ferdman reports for The Washington Post The study, at Georgia State University,...
- Teens Sensitive To Light Or Noise After A Concussion Are More Likely To Suffer Anxiety Or Depression, Uk Study Finds
Teens who are sensitive to light or noise after a concussion may also have increased emotional symptoms, such as anxiety or depression, according to a study at the University of Kentucky. ?While most people recover from a concussion within a week,...
- Parents Should Talk To Children About Alcohol; Study Shows Teens Do Listen
Two recent studies highlight how important it is for parent to talk with their teens about the risks of alcohol use, which leads to more than 4,500 deaths nationwide every year. In the first study, Mothers Against Drunk Driving found that fewer than...
- Kentucky Teens Attempt Suicide More Often Than Those In All U.s.
In a 2011 update of a study done four years ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) surveyed America's teenagers about their physical health and potentially risky behaviors. Broken down state-by-state,...
- Parents Should Talk To Children About Drugs And Alcohol Often, And Firmly, But Spend More Time Listening
Talking about drugs and alcohol often, and when children are at a young age, are two of the best things parents can do to prevent substance abuse by teenagers. "As much as parents want to be the 'anti-drug,' as media campaigns encourage, the...