http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/child_psychology/ Child psychology and medical research. From how massage can help infants cry less, to the effect of chemical pollution on children, read the latest child psychology news here. en-us Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:05:01 EST Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/child_psychology/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215142825.htm Hospitalization for underage drinking is common in the United States, and it comes with a price tag -- the estimated total cost for these hospitalizations is about $755 million per year, a new study has found. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215142825.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214171121.htm We like to think of ourselves as rational creatures, absorbing information, weighing it carefully, and making thoughtful decisions. But, as it turns out, we're kidding ourselves. Over the past few decades, scientists have shown there are many different internal and external factors influencing how we think, feel, communicate, and make decisions at any given moment. One particularly powerful influence may be our own bodies, according to new research. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:11:11 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214171121.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214134620.htm Women with advanced degrees in math-intensive academic fields drop out of fast-track research careers primarily because they want children – not because their performance is devalued or they are shortchanged during interviewing and hiring, according to a new study. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:46:46 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214134620.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214122035.htm Scientific research has shed new light on dissociative symptoms and dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder. This condition seems to arise most often when a vulnerable person meets a therapist with a suggestive line of questioning or encounters sensationalized media portrayals of dissociation. Research shows that people with rich fantasy lives may be especially susceptible to such influences. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:20:20 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214122035.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214121726.htm Researchers uses eye-tracking technology to chart oral-to-silent reading transition. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:17:17 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214121726.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213154057.htm At an age when "ba-ba" and "da-da" may be their only utterances, infants nevertheless comprehend words for many common objects, according to a new study. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:40:40 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213154057.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133439.htm Older maternal and paternal age are jointly associated with having a child with autism, according to a recent study. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:34:34 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133439.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210111258.htm A recent study examining whether speaking French influenced how children assigned gender to objects yielded some interesting observations. Researchers found some differences between the monolingual English children and the bilingual French-English children they surveyed. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210111258.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210110510.htm New research finds that 16- to 18-year-olds perform better academically when they shave about two hours off what current guidelines prescribe. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:05:05 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210110510.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210105901.htm Authoritarian parents whose child-rearing style can be summed up as “it’s my way or the highway” are more likely to raise disrespectful, delinquent children who do not see them as legitimate authority figures than authoritative parents who listen to their children and gain their respect and trust, according to new research. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:59:59 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210105901.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172922.htm Underserved youth athletes report more life skill and character development when their coaches place greater emphasis on creating caring climates instead of focusing on competition, according to new research. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172922.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172605.htm Valentine’s Day can be pretty painful for kids who don’t get their share of heart-shaped cards. An expert offers tips for parents when their kids come home empty-handed. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172605.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135343.htm Children who display multiple psychosomatic symptoms, such as regular aches and pains and sleep and appetite problems, are more than twice as likely to be experiencing physical abuse at home than children who do not display symptoms. Researchers who studied 2,510 children found a strong association between reported physical abuse and three or more psychosomatic symptoms. The association was highest in children who were physically abused and also witnessed intimate partner violence. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:53:53 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135343.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135058.htm Young adults who easily engage in rewarding conversations with their partners are less likely to hold onto anger and stress and more likely to be satisfied with the relationship, according to new research. Researchers are also looking at factors that relate to positive dating relationships or problematic relationships. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:50:50 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135058.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209102007.htm When you see a picture of a hand, how do you know whether it's a right or left hand? This "hand laterality" problem may seem obscure, but it reveals a lot about how the brain sorts out confusing perceptions. Now, a new study challenges the long-held consensus about how we solve this problem. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:20:20 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209102007.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208152250.htm When low-income cohabiting couples with children decide to no longer live together, that doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their romantic relationship, a new study suggests. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208152250.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132850.htm A voluntary substance prevention program held after school and presented by trained facilitators can help reduce alcohol use among young adolescents, according to a new study. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132850.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207095535.htm There’s a dark side to puppy love. Teen dating: it’s a subject that causes many parents to shudder and shy away, but parents can use Valentine’s Day to start important conversations with their teens or pre-teens. There are ways to make dating and relationships safer for them – not just now but throughout their lives. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:55:55 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207095535.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092626.htm In one year alone, over 4,500 children in the United States were hospitalized due to child abuse, and 300 of them died of their injuries, researchers report in a new study. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092626.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092555.htm Programs that support parents during their child’s early years hold promise for obesity prevention, according to a new study. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092555.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203141507.htm People who suffer a traumatic experience often don't talk about it, and many forget it over time. But not talking about something doesn't always mean you'll forget it; if you try to force yourself not to think about white bears, soon you'll be imagining polar bears doing the polka. A group of psychological scientists explore the relationship between silence and memories. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:15:15 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203141507.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203141505.htm Refugee children have scant access to medical care and are particularly vulnerable to disease. New research from Denmark show that just a few hours of schooling a week may have a pronounced positive impact on their health not only in childhood but later in life when they achieve adulthood. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:15:15 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203141505.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202094604.htm The disparity in stroke-related deaths among black and white children dramatically narrowed after prevention strategies changed to include ultrasound screening and chronic blood transfusions for children with sickle cell anemia, according to new research. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:46:46 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202094604.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202092259.htm Researchers have found that multiple exposures to anesthesia at a young age are associated with higher rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202092259.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201181453.htm What does being committed to your marriage really mean? A psychology professors answer this question in a new study based on their analysis of 172 married couples over the first 11 years of marriage. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:14:14 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201181453.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201135314.htm A new study sheds light on why some children may need to urinate more often during the rest cycle. Researchers found sleep deprivation caused healthy children, ages 8-12, to urinate significantly more frequently, excrete more sodium in urine, have altered regulation of the hormones important for excretion. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:53:53 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201135314.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201094317.htm Common infections in children pose a high risk of ischemic stroke, according to new research. In a review of 2.5 million children, the researchers identified 126 childhood ischemic stroke cases and then randomly selected 378 age-matched controls from the remaining children without stroke. They discovered that 29 percent of those who suffered a stroke had a medical encounter for infection in the two days preceding the stroke versus one percent of controls during the same dates. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:43:43 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201094317.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130170147.htm School-age children whose mothers nurtured them early in life have brains with a larger hippocampus, a key structure important to learning, memory and response to stress. The new research, by child psychiatrists and neuroscientists, is the first to show that changes in this critical region of children’s brain anatomy are linked to a mother’s nurturing. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:01:01 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130170147.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130131204.htm The first few weeks of college are a critical time in shaping students' drinking habits. Now researchers have a tailored approach that may help prevent students from becoming heavy drinkers. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130131204.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130102522.htm Scientists have made a major genetic breakthrough that could change the way pediatric cancers are treated in the future. The researchers identified two genetic mutations responsible for up to 40 per cent of glioblastomas in children. The mutations were found to be involved in DNA regulation, which could explain the resistance to traditional treatments, and may have significant implications on the treatment of other cancers. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130102522.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120129232827.htm Attentiveness in kindergarten accurately predicts the development of "work-oriented" skills in school children, according to a new study. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120129232827.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127162800.htm The eyes are the window into the soul -- or at least the mind, according to a new article. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127162800.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127162411.htm When parents of middle school students participate in school-based, family interventions, it can reduce problem behavior, according to new research. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:24:24 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127162411.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127135938.htm Girls are not as good at playing football as boys, and they do not have a clue about cars. Instead they know better how to dance and do not get into mischief as often as boys. Prejudices like these are cultivated from early childhood onwards by almost everyone, a researcher asserts. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:59:59 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127135938.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126133959.htm Could depression in adulthood be tied to a parent's level of education? A new study by a medical sociologist suggests this is the case. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:39:39 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126133959.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126123703.htm Measuring brain activity in infants as young as six months may help to predict the future development of autism symptoms. In their first year of life, babies who will go on to develop autism already show different brain responses when someone looks at or away from them. The findings suggest that direct brain measures might help to predict the future development of autism symptoms in infants as young as six months. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:37:37 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126123703.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126115937.htm "Stand by me" is a common refrain when it comes to friendship but new research demonstrates that the concept goes beyond pop music: keeping friends close has real physiological and psychological benefits. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:59:59 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126115937.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126092542.htm Survivors of Hurricane Katrina have struggled with poor mental health for years after the storm, according to a new study of low-income mothers in the New Orleans area. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126092542.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125195530.htm New research by Australian scientists reveals that males who are exposed to high levels of testosterone before birth are twice as likely to experience delays in language development compared to females. The research, published in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, focused on umbilical cord blood to explore the presence of testosterone when the language-related regions of a fetus' brain are undergoing a critical period of growth. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:55:55 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125195530.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125143115.htm Children with autism spectrum disorders tend to be fascinated by screen-based technology. A new study found that adolescents with autism (64.2 percent) spend most of their free time using solitary, or non-social, screen-based media (television and video games) while only 13.2 percent spend time on socially interactive media (e-mail, Internet chatting). Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:31:31 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125143115.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125142210.htm Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) tend to be preoccupied with screen-based media. A new study looks at how children with ASDs spend their “screen time.” Researchers found a very high rate of use of solitary screen-based media such as video games and television with a markedly lower rate of use of social interactive media, including email. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125142210.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125131118.htm Research continues to support a connection between instability in the home and school performance in adolescents, but a new study takes the research a step further by exploring how the relationship between family structure change and adolescent academic careers is also affected by the kinds of schools they attend. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:11:11 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125131118.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124200103.htm Teaching children with autism to "talk things through in their head" may help them to solve complex day-to-day tasks, which could increase the chances of independent, flexible living later in life, according to new research. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:01:01 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124200103.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124151207.htm A new report examines the possible association between school-based childhood obesity prevention programs and an increase in eating disorders among young children and adolescents. In a new poll, 30% of parents report at least one worrisome behavior in their children that could be associated with the development of eating disorders. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124151207.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124140311.htm Researchers have found a genetic variation predisposing children to six-times greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome when taking second-generation anti-psychotic medications. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The study showed a close association with two conditions in particular: high blood pressure and elevated fasting blood sugar levels, which is a precursor to diabetes. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:03:03 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124140311.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124134425.htm Every year between 3 and 10 percent of school-age children in this country are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Increasingly, families are using natural or complementary therapies to improve their child’s attention or behavior, and often seek advice from an integrative pediatrician, according to a new study. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:44:44 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124134425.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124113051.htm While it may appear that infants are helpless creatures that only blink, eat, cry and sleep, one researcher says that studies indicate infant brains come equipped with knowledge of "intuitive physics." Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124113051.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124113047.htm A young researcher had long been drawn to conflict -- not as a participant, but an observer. In 1994, while doing volunteer work in South Africa, he witnessed firsthand the turmoil surrounding the fall of apartheid; during a 2001 trip to visit friends in Sri Lanka, he found himself in the midst of the violent conflict between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan military. He is now exploring how longstanding conflict influences empathy for others. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124113047.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124112925.htm Scientists looked at blood levels of lipids and fatty acids in two groups of South Korean children – one group of typically developing boys and another group of boys with an autism diagnosis. Even though there were no major differences in what these children ate, those with autism had a lower omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio and lower levels of high density lipoprotein, more commonly known as HDL. For both levels, it’s often believed, the higher the better. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124112925.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124093144.htm Working mothers may be busy, but they like it that way. A recent study of employed moms finds that most would work even if they didn't have to, but they're also looking for new ways to negotiate the demands of mothering and the pressures to be an "ideal" employee. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:31:31 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124093144.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124092532.htm New studies describe which teens are likely to drive with multiple friends, and how these passengers may affect teen drivers right before a crash. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124092532.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123152510.htm Children at risk for dyslexia show differences in brain activity on MRI scans even before they begin learning to read, finds a new study. Since developmental dyslexia responds to early intervention, diagnosing children at risk before or during kindergarten could head off difficulties and frustration in school, the researchers say. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123152510.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123123917.htm Nurturing mothers have garnered accolades for rescuing skinned knees on the playground and coaxing their children to sleep with lullabies. Now they're gaining merit for their offspring's physical health in middle age. While children raised in families with low socioeconomic status frequently go on to have high rates of chronic illness in adulthood, a sizable minority remain healthy across the life course, new research shows. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:39:39 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123123917.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123115523.htm A spoonful of medicine goes down a lot easier if there is a dog or cat around. Having pets is helpful for women living with HIV/AIDS and managing their chronic illness, according to a new study. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:55:55 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123115523.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120184525.htm Getting an autism diagnosis could be more difficult in 2013 when a revised diagnostic definition goes into effect. The proposed changes may affect the proportion of individuals who qualify for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, according to preliminary data. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:45:45 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120184525.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120183040.htm The solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE) widely used in industry and to dry clean clothes is a neurotoxin known to cause mood changes, anxiety, and depression in people who work with it. To date the long-term effect of this chemical on children exposed to PCE has been less clear, although there is some evidence that children of people who work in the dry cleaning industry have an increased risk of schizophrenia. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120183040.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120182922.htm For the first time research is being carried out on the degree to which dual-earner families in Norway share paid and unpaid work. It is a key aim of Norwegian policy to promote an equal distribution of paid and unpaid work among dual-earner couples with children. The researchers conclude that roughly 40 per cent of the couples have a gender-equal relationship in that the mother and the father share both unpaid and paid work equally. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120182922.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119143334.htm A study of discordant twins -- twins in which one has autism spectrum disorder and one doesn't -- finds the lower birth weight twins are more than three times as likely to have ASD than heavier twins. Though genetic effects are of major importance, say researchers, the study suggests a non-genetic influence associated with birth weight may contribute to development of ASD. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:33:33 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119143334.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119133745.htm Adults who participated in a high quality early childhood education program in the 1970s are still benefiting from their early experiences in a variety of ways, according to a new study. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:37:37 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119133745.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119101242.htm A new national report reveals that 45.9 million American adults aged 18 or older, or 20 percent of this age group, experienced mental illness in the past year. The rate of mental illness was more than twice as high among those aged 18 to 25 (29.9 percent) than among those aged 50 and older (14.3 percent). Adult women were also more likely than men to have experienced mental illness in the past year (23 percent versus 16.8 percent). Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119101242.htm