Teens and Young Adults

Teen health care covers a myriad of physical, mental and developmental issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note six critical health behaviors for teens: nutrition, alcohol and drug use, tobacco use, injury and violence (including suicide), sexual risk behaviors and physical activity. (Photo: Los Angeles Times)

Teens and Young Adults

Latest in teens and young adults

Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students

Research, Reports & Data — August 27, 2010, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

From 2000 to 2009, cigarette use and experimentation declined for middle school and high school students. However, the overall decline in tobacco use stalled from 2006 to 2009, suggesting that the current rate of smoking decline is relatively slow.

Challenge! Health Promotion/Obesity Prevention

Research, Reports & Data — July 30, 2010, Pediatrics

The study evaluates a community-based obesity prevention program with an eye toward determining if home and community activities can reduce the prevalence of pediatric obesity among urban, black adolescents.

Parenting Style and Adolescent Drinking

Research, Reports & Data — July 07, 2010, Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

Researchers say parenting style influences adolescent drinking patterns.

Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use and Childbearing

Research, Reports & Data — June 08, 2010, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Approximately 71 percent of females and 64 percent of males said they “agree” or “strongly agree” that “it is okay for an unmarried female to have a child.”

Race/Ethnic Differences in Effects of Family Instability on Adolescents' Risk Behavior

Research, Reports & Data — May 12, 2010, Journal of Marriage and Family

The study suggests that adolescents who experience family instability are more likely to engage in risky behaviors.

24 Hours: Unplugged

Research, Reports & Data — May 12, 2010, International Center for Media & the Public Agenda

The study, which required participants to abstain from media devices for 24 hours, suggests that college students are addicted to social media.

Parent Behavior Can Influence Overweight Adolescent Body Image

Research, Reports & Data — May 12, 2010, Journal of Adolescent Health

The study underscores the strong association between parent body satisfaction and adolescent body satisfaction.

Title IX

Research, Reports & Data — May 12, 2010, Carol Guensburg

Why Title IX's impact extends beyond athletics.

Teens and Mobile Phones

Research, Reports & Data — May 12, 2010, Internet & American Life Project, The Pew Research Center

The report finds that 1 in 3 teens sends more than 100 text messages a day, or 3000 texts a month.

Births: Preliminary Data for 2008

Research, Reports & Data — May 12, 2010, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The analysis finds that the teen birth rate in the United States fell 2 percent between 2007 and 2008, after rising the previous two years.

State Test Score Trends Through 2007-08, Part 5: Are There Differences in Achievement Between Boys and Girls?

Research, Reports & Data — March 29, 2010, Center on Education Policy

The study finds that boys and girls perform similarly in math, but boys lag behind in reading.

State Estimates of Underage Alcohol Use and Self-Purchase of Alcohol

Research, Reports & Data — March 26, 2010, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)

The survey finds that nearly 30 percent of youth ages 12 to 20 drank alcohol in the past month, about 9 percent of whom made their own purchases.

Camel No. 9 Cigarette-Marketing Campaign Targeted Young Teenage Girls

Research, Reports & Data — March 16, 2010, Pediatrics

The study finds that a recent campaign for Camel cigarettes attracted the interest of teen girls, despite the 1998 ban against marketing tobacco to youth.

What Works for Older Youth During the Transition to Adulthood

Research, Reports & Data — March 12, 2010, Child Trends

The fact sheet examines the effectiveness of specific programs aimed at promoting positive development and self-sufficiency for older youth.

The Nation’s Children 2010

Research, Reports & Data — March 04, 2010, Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)

A compilation of the latest statistics on the health and welfare of U.S. children, including individual fact sheets on each state.