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Air pollution is associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents. Researchers at the University of Denver found that even in neighbourhoods that met air quality standards, exposure to ozone gas lead to symptoms like sadness, difficulties concentrating and thoughts of suicide in adolescents over time. [More]

Adolescents who spend too much time sitting still and engaging in sedentary behaviour are at an increased risk of depressive symptoms. [More]

Marriage is common and so is divorce. Over two million marriages occur in the U.S. per year. By the time a person turns 50 years of age, over 90 per cent of people in the U.S. have tied the knot. According to the American Psychological Association, a happy home gives a child the chance to be a healthier adult in all ways - mentally, physically, and emotionally. So what happens to teens whose parents’ divorce? Is it possible to create a happy home post-divorce? A recent Norwegian study published in the Journal of Public Health aimed to answer that question particularly when it came to divorce and conversational difficulties with parents and the effects on adolescent health and self-esteem. [More]

Research from Washington State University has found that boredom in adolescents is on the rise. Every year rates of boredom for those in 8th, 10th and 12th grades is increasing, especially in girls. [More]

Worried that your teen is spending too much time alone in their room? Turns out, alone time is good for them, and you too, as long as you're not forced into it. According to a new study, when people seek solitude willingly, they're actually enhancing their creativity, identity development and emotional regulation skills. Worried that your teen is spending too much time alone in their room? Turns out, alone time is good for them, as long as they're not forced into it. According to a new study, when teens seek solitude, they're actually enhancing their creativity, identity development and emotional regulation skills. The study, titled, Motivation matters: Development and validation of the Motivation for Solitude Scale - Short Form (MSS-SF), was recently published in the Journal of Adolescence. Theravive spoke with one of the authors of the study, Margarita Azmitia, a professor of psychology at the University of California. [More]

Summertime is known to be a time of relaxation, fun, family time, and long and lazy days. It is also a time when children are a little more independent, as they are off with friends, away at camp, on vacations and field trips, and learning and trying new things. Generally speaking, parents are prepared to send children on their adventures. Their backpacks are armed with bug spray, bottled water, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and with extras of everything just in case. But what is often missed is the opportunity to arm them with safety from those who may try to harm them. [More]

American youth are growing up in a society where competition and the pressure that comes with it, begin at the very beginning of their life experiences. It is not uncommon for parents to go to classes, read books, do research, and gather as much information as they can about parenting. Well-meaning parents want the best for their children. There are programs for babies to read, infants to swim, even sports that begin in toddlerhood. Often, parents will pick homes in good school districts so they can ensure a good education for their children. [More]

With the number of adolescents and even younger children developing obesity rising over the past years, the question of the best way to address it has been examined recently. The “Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery” study concluded this year and results have been published (Micalsky, et al., 2015). This study focused on cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents who were severely obese, along with safety and health effects of weight-loss surgery procedures for that population. [More]

Many of us have heard someone say they “are OCD”. We may have also told someone, “You are so OCD!” Some people do, in fact, have minor characteristics of OCD. They like things tidy, or they like to do things in a certain order and in a particular way. But clinical Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be a serious, even debilitating, mental illness for both adults and children. It can create significant distress, and interfere with daily functioning. People with severe symptoms of OCD may find it difficult to work, go to school, or carry out other daily activities. [More]

Hiring a babysitter can be a downright frightening thought. We will break it down for you to do it right, so you can give yourself that much needed downtime with peace of mind. [More]