Jim Liebelt's Youth Culture Watch

A Poor Diet in College Can Lead to a Lifetime of Bad Health

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by StudyFinds.

University students often get a reputation of living on a diet of microwavable meals and energy drinks. While these questionable decisions are usually chalked up to the college lifestyle, a new study is stressing the importance of ditching these habits after graduation. Researchers from the University of British Columbia Okanagan suggest poor dietary habits established during college can contribute to future health issues years and even decades later — including obesity, respiratory illnesses, and depression.

Dr. Joan Bottorff, a professor with UBCO’s School of Nursing, is one of several international researchers involved with this multi-site study that assessed the eating habits of university students. Nearly 12,000 medical students from 31 universities in China took part in this project, which aimed to determine the association between eating behaviors, obesity, and various diseases.

We know many students consume high-calorie meals along with sugary foods and drinks and there is lots of evidence to show those kinds of eating behaviors can lead to obesity,” Dr. Bottorff says in a university release. “These are not the only habits that lead to obesity, but they are important and can’t be ruled out.”

A typical student diet consisting of high-sugar or high-calorie foods can be a long-term issue; these habits often lead to obesity. Dr. Bottorff adds there is evidence suggesting stress and anxiety can cause overeating, and overeating is also known to lead to stress and depression.

The study was published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports.

Source: StudyFinds
https://studyfinds.org/poor-diet-college-bad-health/

Eating Disorders in Teen Girls Doubled During the Pandemic

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedPage Today.

According to a new study, eating disorders in teen girls doubled during the pandemic, and increases were also seen in anxiety disorders, ADHD, and depression.

Among teenage girls, the prevalence of anxiety disorders, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and eating disorders all increased, with the prevalence of diagnosed eating disorders more than doubling, from 0.26% in March 2020 to 0.36% in October 2020 and 0.56% in March 2022, reported Loreen Straub, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues.

"Female youth, especially female adolescents, represented the most vulnerable population with regard to marked increases in the prevalence of MH [mental health] diagnoses during the pandemic, the most pronounced being the prevalence of eating disorders," the authors wrote in a research letter published in JAMA Network Open.

Asked what could be behind the rise in mental health diagnoses, Straub said she and her colleagues could only speculate. The pandemic disrupted nearly everyone's daily routines, increased social isolation and financial strain on families, and reduced healthcare access. Among younger people in particular, it led to a "general lack of structure" that may also have been a contributor, she added.

In all, about 1.7 million youths contributed data to each calendar month; 440,722 were girls ages 6 to 12, 410,373 were girls ages 13 to 18, 461,331 were boys ages 6 to 12, and 426,358 were boys ages 13 to 18.

One limitation to the study was that it included only commercially insured youths; therefore, "patterns might look different" for publicly or uninsured populations, Straub said.

Source: MedPage Today
https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/eatingdisorders/104649

Social Media Can Create 'Profound Risk' for Teenagers, Surgeon General Says

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by Washington Examiner.

The United States surgeon general said that social media can pose substantial and meaningful risks to the mental health of teenagers, a statement that will give extra motivation to members of Congress calling for new rules for Big Tech.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory that reviewed the risks of social media use on teenage brains and bodies. Murthy said that while the effects on teen mental health are not entirely understood, there are indicators that social media can harm the mental health of teenagers and children.

"More research is needed to fully understand the impact of social media; however, the current body of evidence indicates that while social media may have benefits for some children and adolescents, there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. At this time, we do not yet have enough evidence to determine if social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents,

"Frequent social media use may be associated with distinct changes in the developing brain in the amygdala (important for emotional learning and behavior) and the prefrontal cortex (important for impulse control, emotional regulation, and moderating social behavior), and could increase sensitivity to social rewards and punishments," the report says.

Other noted harms include excess exposure to inappropriate content, such as suicide or self-harm, and damage caused by features designed to promote addictive behavior.

The report also notes the positive benefits for teenagers, including creating online communities for those with similar identities and interests.

Source: Washington Examiner
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/technology/social-media-can-create-profound-risk-for-teens-surgeon-general-says

Which Kids Face the Highest Risk of Self-Harm?

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay.

Growing numbers of American kids and teens are cutting or burning themselves, banging their heads against walls, pulling out their hair and even trying to die by suicide. But figuring out who is at highest risk for harming themselves has been a daunting challenge until now.

Researchers report they have developed risk profiles that can help doctors pinpoint which kids or teens are in the most danger.

"The U.S. is in the midst of a mental health crisis, with mental health diagnoses and hospitalizations surging over the past few years, and many of these hospitalizations are for self-harm events or concern for future self-harm," said study author Dr. James Antoon, an assistant professor of pediatrics and hospital medicine at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

"Self-harm is a big bucket of events from mild things like cutting on the arms or thighs to taking so much Tylenol that you die on purpose or jumping out of a window, and we wanted to find out which kids require hospitalization and more intensive treatment and monitoring," he said.

His team developed four risk profiles for serious self-harm based on age, gender, and psychiatric and medical conditions. Of nearly 1,100 children hospitalized for psychiatric reasons at two children's hospitals from April 2016 to March 2020, 37% were there for self-harm.

The researchers found that boys aged 10 to 13 with ADHD, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, or another developmental disorder were 80% more likely to engage in serious self-harm behavior that requires hospitalization. Meanwhile, teen girls aged 14 to 17 with depression and anxiety, substance- and trauma-related disorders, and personality and eating disorders were also at high risk for serious self-harm, the study showed.

Suicide attempts comprised the majority of serious self-harm behaviors in the study.

In a counterintuitive finding, kids who were at moderate risk for serious self-harm didn't necessarily have depression, Antoon said. "It is assumed that if you are suicidal, you must be depressed, but there are other things that can drive self-harm and suicide, including anxiety disorders," he noted.

The study was published online in the journal Pediatrics.

Source: HealthDay
https://consumer.healthday.com/self-harm-2659908631.html

Leisure-Time Physical Activity May Improve Mental Health in Teens

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by News Medical.

A recent study led by the University of Eastern Finland suggests that regular leisure-time physical activity, even in small doses, is associated with lower odds of depression, anxiety, chronic stress, and school psychologist visits among Finnish adolescents. However, the relationship between active school transport, i.e., walking or cycling to school, and mental health remains inconclusive. The findings were published in the prestigious Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

Regular physical activity can improve mental health through various pathways, such as increasing the production of “feel-good” hormones, enhancing sleep quality, and boosting self-confidence. While mental health problems are common, few large population-based studies have examined the relationship between physical activity and adolescent mental health. Furthermore, it is currently unknown whether active school transport can have beneficial effects on mental health.

The researchers observed that leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with better mental health among nearly 33,000 15-to-16-year-old adolescents. Compared with inactivity, as little as 30 minutes of weekly physical activity was associated with 17% lower odds of chronic stress symptoms. In addition, the odds of depression and anxiety symptoms were 22% and 32% lower, respectively, for adolescents who reported an hour of weekly physical activity. The most physically active youth (i.e., those reporting at least 4 hours of physical activity a week) had the lowest odds of mental health symptoms.

The association of active school transport with mental health differed from leisure-time physical activity. No associations were found between low-to-moderate doses (less than 30 minutes) of daily active school transport and mental health. However, walking or cycling to school for more than 30 minutes a day was, surprisingly, associated with higher odds of depression symptoms and school psychologist visits.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the nationwide School Health Promotion study.

Source: News Medical
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230426/Leisure-time-physical-activity-may-improve-mental-health-in-teens.aspx

Suicide Rates Among US Adolescents Doubled in 10 Years

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress.

Suicides among the youngest U.S. teenagers were rising for years before the pandemic—with school stress, social media, and guns standing as potential factors, according to a new study. Researchers found that between 2008 and 2018, the suicide rate among 13- and 14-year-olds nationwide more than doubled—from roughly two deaths per 100,000 teens in 2008 to five per 100,000 a decade later.

It was a stark reversal of a decline that began in the late-1990s.

And if fact, suicide is now the leading cause of death for 13- and 14-year-olds in the United States, said senior researcher Dr. Sarah Wood, a professor of pediatrics at Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine.

The study published online recently in the Annals of Pediatrics and Child Health comes amid growing concerns about U.S. kids' mental well-being.

"In my mind, this study is another warning bell," Wood said. "Things are not improving. They're getting worse."

The study found certain other patterns, too. One was related to geography, with suicide rates being higher in rural areas than in big cities, specifically when it came to firearm deaths: There are 2.3 such deaths per 100,000 in rural areas versus 1.6 per 100,000 in large cities.

The researchers also found that young teens' suicide rates spiked during the school year and dropped off in the summer, suggesting that school stress may be a factor.

Although studies paint a grim picture, Wood also pointed out that teen suicide remains relatively rare. She sees findings like these as a way to raise awareness and "mobilize us."

Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-05-suicide-adolescents-years.html

Good Sleep is Key to Pre-Teen Mental Health

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress.

For many kids, the period between childhood and early adolescence can be difficult.

This transitional period is commonly known as "pre-adolescence" and can be a vulnerable time for the development of mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.

So many of our young adolescents need support to navigate this time as they develop. Improving a young person's sleep behavior could be one tool to do this.

Adequate, good-quality sleep is crucial for mental health and well-being for everyone—from infancy to old age. On the other hand, experiencing sleep problems, like insomnia, recurrent nightmares and breathing problems during sleep are associated with poorer mental health.

A new study published recently in JAMA Psychiatry set out to investgate the role of a range of sleep problems on the emotional and behavioral well-being of pre-adolescents.

Researchers analyzed data from a longitudinal study of more than 10,000 children and their parents or caregivers, which assessed children aged 9 to 11 and again two years later when they were 11 to 13. Parents and caregivers were asked about their child's typical sleep patterns, sleep problems and any changes to sleeping, as well as any emotional and behavioral problems they were experiencing.

The study found that one in four pre-adolescents experienced very low levels of sleep disturbance, while the majority (about two in five pre-adolescents, or 42%) experienced moderate levels of a range of problems. A minority experienced difficulties specifically in falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night (about one in seven, or 16%), or high levels of problems in general (17%).

When the adolescents were assessed two years later, there was a marked shift in the prevalence of sleep problems experienced by adolescents overall.

The number of young teenagers having difficulties specifically falling and staying asleep now made up one-third of the sample and one-third experienced low levels of problems. In contrast, one in five experienced moderate levels of "mixed" problems (down from 42%).

Notably, when adolescents experienced an increase in their sleep problems, they also experienced increases in both emotional and behavioral problems.

This effect was much stronger for emotional problems (like feelings of anxiety or a depressed mood), highlighting the importance of getting a good night's sleep for adolescents' emotional well-being.

When adolescents' sleep problems improved, so too did their mental health.

The findings indicate that treating sleep problems could be an effective way to improve mental health symptoms in young teens, and highlights the importance of good sleep for their mental well-being and may have long-lasting benefits throughout adolescence and beyond.

Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-good-key-pre-teen-mental-health.html

COVID-19 Pandemic Saw Major Increase in Children and Adolescents Attempting Suicide by Poison

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress.

The rate of suspected suicide attempts by poisoning among children and adolescents ages 10-19 reported to U.S. poison centers increased 30% during 2021—the COVID-19 pandemic's first full year—compared with 2019, a new University of Virginia Health study has found.

The researchers published their findings in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The rate of suspected suicide attempts by poisoning among children ages 10-12 increased 73% during 2021 compared with 2019. Among adolescents ages 13-15, the rate of suspected suicide attempts by poisoning in 2021 increased 48.8% over 2019. The rate of suspected suicide attempts by poisoning among females ages 10-19 increased 36.8% in 2021 over 2019.

The findings are based on a review of cases reported to the National Poison Data System by U.S. poison centers as "intentional suspected suicide," which encompasses both suspected suicide attempts and intentional self-harm. Girls accounted for 81.2% of the suspected suicide attempts among adolescents ages 10-19 in 2021, compared with 77% in 2019. These increases in suspected suicides occurred while overall calls to the nation's poison centers decreased 3.1% from 2019 to 2021.

"This significant increase in suicide attempts during the pandemic surprised us," said Christopher Holstege, MD, medical director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center at UVA Health and chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. "We are alarmed at the dramatic increase in suicide attempts in such a young population, which continues to escalate according to our data."

The two most common substances involved in the reported suicide attempts were acetaminophen and ibuprofen, two commonly available, over-the-counter pain relievers.

Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-covid-pandemic-major-children-adolescents.html

Sleep Problems in Adolescence Linked to Future Mental Health Issues

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by Medical Dialogues.

Sleep problems in childhood and adolescence are highly correlated with psychopathological symptoms, according to a recent cohort study published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Sleep problems have been shown to have a significant impact on youth mental health, both in terms of the emergence and exacerbation of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The study aimed to investigate individual changes in sleep issue profiles and their predicted relationships with psychopathology symptoms as children progress into adolescence.

The study involved 10,313 individuals aged 9 to 11 years at baseline and followed up at ages 11 to 13 years.

The study found that individuals with disrupted sleep profiles displayed a greater risk of concurrent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Changes in sleep problems across the transition to adolescence were associated with later internalizing and externalizing symptoms.

"Our study highlights the importance of sleep for mental health and suggests that targeting sleep problems in early adolescence may be a key strategy for preventing later mental health problems," said the lead author of the study, Dr. Rebecca Cooper.

Source: Medical Dialogues
https://medicaldialogues.in/psychiatry/news/sleep-problems-in-adolescence-linked-to-future-mental-health-issues-study-urges-targeted-intervention-109668

Upward Comparison on Social Media Harms Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Psychological Well-Being

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by PsyPost.

New research examining 15 years’ worth of research indicates that comparing ourselves to people who seem better off than us on social media can result in several negative psychological outcomes. The new findings appear in the journal Media Psychology.

To examine the outcomes of social media use, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis — a statistical technique used in research to combine data from multiple studies that have investigated a similar research question. It involves synthesizing the results of individual studies, using statistical methods to calculate a pooled effect size that represents the overall magnitude and direction of the relationship between variables of interest.

The researchers were particularly interested in examining the consequences of social comparisons made on social media. When we compare ourselves to someone else who we perceive to be superior in some way, our reactions can take two dominant forms. We can either feel inspired and motivated by the person we’re comparing ourselves to (assimilation) or we can feel a sense of inferiority (contrast).

The authors conducted a systematic search to find relevant articles for their meta-analysis. Forty-eight studies were included, which represented data from 7,679 participants.

This study found that when we compare ourselves to others on social media, we are more likely to feel worse (contrast) than to better (assimilation). This is in line with previous research on social comparison in other contexts.

Upward comparison had the largest effect on body image, followed by self-esteem, mental health, and subjective well-being. These effects were not dependent on the age and gender of participants.

The study, “A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Social Media Exposure to Upward Comparison Targets on Self-Evaluations and Emotions,“ was authored by Carly A. McComb, Eric J. Vanman, and Stephanie J. Tobin.

Source: PsyPost
https://www.psypost.org/2023/03/upward-comparison-on-social-media-harms-body-image-self-esteem-and-psychological-well-being-74424