In his new book, Teen Brain, David Gillespie suggests anxiety and other problems are on the rise among teenagers due to smartphones and tablets. This could be true, but his claims are overblown.
When teenagers sleep for less than eight hours a night, they are at increased risk of suicide, being overweight, high rates of injury, poor sustained attention and low school grades.
Teens get a bad rap as selfish, dangerous risk-takers. But neuroscience and psychology research is revising that image: Adolescents are primed to help those around them, with positive benefits for all.
Navigating friendships as a teen can be hard. Parents can help by modelling good behaviour and making sure their teen feels they can talk to them about their friendships.
Researchers tracked adolescents’ sleep and scanned their brains. As expected, better sleep went with healthy brain development. Unexpected was the importance of one aspect of where teens slept.
Melissa Kang, University of Technology Sydney dan Lena Sanci, The University of Melbourne
The My Health Record brings a unique set of confidentiality concerns for young people under 18. These need to be better addressed to ensure teens don’t forego important health care.
While the study found a link between high rates of digital media use and inattention and hyperactivity, it didn’t find that one caused the other. Nor did it look specifically at clinically diagnosed ADHD.
Obesity and malnutrition now coexist across sub-Saharan Africa thanks to a transition to Western diets. “Gamifying” nutrition programs can help nudge youth towards healthier eating patterns.
Adolescents have important developmental work to do. Despite what worried grownups think, taking needless risks isn’t the goal for teens. Being risky is part of exploring and learning about the world.
In recent years, the notion of a structurally imbalanced teenage brain has been faulted for bad choices. A review of studies suggests that a deficit in brain development is not to blame.
Professor, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary
Assistant professor, School of Psychology, Scientist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa