Earlier Puberty in Girls

This Chicago Tribune article entitled "U.S. Girls Keep Hitting Puberty Earlier" reveals the age of puberty for girls keeps falling, to an average of 9 for African American girls and 9 1/2 for Caucasian girls. Researchers speculate that lack of exercise, diabetes precursors, and environmental chemicals may all play a role. What other factors might be at play? How could this secular trend be modified?

Mealtime Rituals Impact Obesity

This Chicago Tribune article entitled "Mealtime Rituals Might Make a Difference in Obesity, Researchers Say," reviews research that found families who ate dinners in the kitchen or dining room had lower BMI rates than families who ate elsewhere (e.g., in front of the TV). What factors might be involved? If research keeps showing that family mealtime is a positive activity (it also reduces risk of childhood substance abuse, for example), how do we help families respect mealtimes and sit down together?

Clue to SIDS in Hearing

The Puget Sound Business Journal published an article entitled "Seattle Children's researcher finds a clue to the mystery of SIDS" that discusses the work by Dr. Daniel Rubens, who explores the role of inner ear dysfunction in SIDS. He proposes that babies who die of SIDS may not have neurological issues, but rather a issue with hearing and the inner ear. What is the implication of this research for SIDS prevention? What are the challenges in applying this research in practice?

1 in 3 Older Adults Experience Discrimination

This Chicago Tribune article entitled " One in three older adults report age discrimination" explores research that finds one-third of older adults have experienced one of five types of discrimination, including being treated with less respect, receiving poorer service in public stores/restaurants, poorer service in hospitals, being treated as less clever and overt harassment. What are the implications of this research? How can we change attitudes towards aging and reduce age discrimination?

Sunshine linked to lower rates of ADHD

This Columbus Dispatch article entitled "Sunshine, lower rates of ADHD correlated" looks at research indicating that sunshine is correlated strongly with lower rates of ADHD, even when ruling out other factors. The researchers speculate that the role of sunlight exposure in sleeping difficulties is the underlying variable relating to both. What do you think? What third variable could contribute? What are the flaws in this study?

Yelling Equivalent to Spanking?

This research study reviewed in the Washington Post, entitled "Study says yelling as harmful as spanking in disciplining kids" reveals that harsh verbal discipline is shown to contribute to depression for children. What is the best way for parents to discipline children?

To Boost Reading, Learn a Beat

This Chicago Tribune article entitled "To boost those reading skills, learn to keep a beat" reports on research that finds that beat-keeping skills and reading skills are in sync in the brain. How could incorporating music into reading classes in school improve skills of students? What downfalls might exist?

Spanking and Mental Health

New research discussed in the Chicago Tribune reveals that spanking in childhood is linked to a higher incidence of mental illness in adulthood. The article, entitled "Spanking Linked to Increased Risk of Mental Health Problems" reveals that spanking and harsh physical punishment in childhood are linked to higher rates of mania, alcohol or drug abuse/dependency, and personality disorders. What are other factors that could be linked here? How would you explain the relationship between spanking and SES that seems contrary to past research?

Obesity Gene Linked with Hunger Hormone

This Chicago Tribune article entitled "Researchers link 'obesity gene' to hunger hormone" examines recent research finding that individuals who have a high-risk version of the FTO gene also have higher levels of the hormone ghrelin, which is an appetite-stimulating hormone, in their bloodstream. Researchers are not sure of the exact link, but believe it may by why some individuals are at much higher risk for obesity than others. Could manipulation of these genes or hormones influence obesity and if so, how much? How much is epigenetics involved in this kind of hormone/gene combination?

Food And Addiction

This CNN article entitled "What Milk Shakes Teach Us About Food Addiction" reports on recent research indicating that food triggers the same brain areas that other addictions (alcohol, drugs or gambling) do. The research explore the glycemic index and how that  triggered the response in the brain. What do you think this research means for people who want to lose weight? How might you change your own behaviors in response to this research?

Binge Drinking and Heart Disease

The Chicago Tribune reports on a study that reveals "College Binge Drinking Raises Risk of Heart Disease." The study found that four years of heavy drinking between ages 18 and 25 may permanently increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and atherosclerosis. This may be the link between excess alcohol, binge drinking and hypertension. How can college students' awareness be raised of the risks of excess alcohol? What might work to change behavior, given the social pressures and cognitive status of college students?

"Eat Everything On Your Plate" = Obesity

This CNN article entitled "Pushing Kids to Eat May Cause Obesity Later" discusses research that finds parents who push their children to eat everything on their plates, or eat beyond when they said they were full actually contributes to obesity in later years. Restricting food can also have a similar outcome. How can parents teach and model healthy eating behaviors?

As Men Lose Economic Ground

This is a very interesting NY Times article entitled "As Men Lose Economic Ground, Clues in the Family" that reports on research that seems to indicate that men who are raised by single mothers are less likely to be successful or attractive to partners in adulthood. There seems to be a clear gender difference in outcomes between sons and daughters of single parents. What factors do you think this study is missing? How could this trend be changed?

1 in 50 Have Autism

This AP News article entitled "Health Officials: 1 in 50 School Kids Have Autism" explores new research that states that 1 out of 50 school-aged children have autism, rather than the 1 in 88 statistic that was previously cited. This data is based on a national phone survey, rather than on medical diagnosis data, and less than a quarter of the parents who answered the phone actually responded to the survey. What do you think is the best way to get data on how many children have been diagnosed with Autism?

Exercise and Sleep

This Chicago Tribune article entitled "Exercise, less sitting time, linked to better sleep" reveals that even 10 minutes/day of exercise can improve quantity and quality of sleep. Exercise has previously been revealed as a way to assist with insomnia, but this study also indicates that even a small amount of exercise, no matter what time of day, would assist with sleep.

Fast Food Consumption

This Chicago Tribune article entitled "Adults cut back fast food, but U.S. kids still eat too much fat: CDC" reveals that although adults have cut down somewhat on calories from fast food, children have not. Overall, Americans still consume more calories than any other country in the world, and are sedentary. How can we help children learn more about healthy eating? What strategies will be effective?

Long-Term Impact of Bullying

This NY Times article entitled "Effects of Bullying Last Into Adulthood, Study Finds"reveals that adults who were bullied as children report significantly higher levels of anxiety disorders and depression. Individuals who were bullies (but never bullied themselves) had higher rates of anti-social personality disorders. How can parents, educators and psychologists intervene in youth to change this type of outcome?

Praise for Children

This Chicago Tribune article entitled "In Praise of  A Child's Effort" discusses research that shows the way that parents praise children can impact their problem-solving skills. Praising children for effort is correlated to later beliefs that success results from hard work, rather than luck. The way that parents praise children seems to also differ by gender, with boys receiving more effort-based praise. How could this research be used to help children be more independent and successful? What are the flaws in this study?

Lack of Counseling by Doctors for Obese

This Chicago Tribune article entitled "Doctors Often Don't Counsel the Obese" reveals that despite the increases in obesity rates in our country, doctors often avoided the topic all together in their visits with patients and did not counselor about the impact of weight. There are numerous reasons that the study speculated this could occur. What are ways that doctors could be sensitive to the weight of their patients while counseling about weight-related health issues? How do you think motivational interviewing, a technique discussed by the article, can assist with approaching sensitive issues?

Growing Through Grief

This Chicago Tribune article entitled "Growing Through Grief" discusses recent research on bereavement. The article reveals that individuals who lose a spouse are more resilient than researchers previously believed, and often can cope well after an initial grieving period. The article also discusses complicated grief. How do you think cultural expectations impact the experience of grief? Does gender play a role?

The Drug-Dose Gender Gap

This NY Times Well Blog Article entitled "The Drug-Dose Gender Gap" reveals that there are significant differences between the genders -- in regards to dosage, side effects, and metabolism. Much research is done on young, Caucasian males and women are eliminated from research studies for various reasons. How might new research on how gender, ethnicity, age, etc. and drug dosages change the future of healthcare?

Impact of China's One-Child Policy

The NY Times reports on a recent study that looked at the one-child policy enacted there in 1979 ("Study Measures Impact of China's One-Child Policy"). The research indicates that children born after this policy was enacted are less trusting, less trustworthy, less competitive and more risk-averse than older children. What are the implications of this for future generations? Does this have any implications for children in other parts of the world?

More to Meal Delivery Than Food

This NY Times New Old Age Blog article, entitled "Study: More To Meal Delivery Than Food" reveals that the Meals on Wheels program, often staffed with volunteers, provides more than just a hot meal for older adults. Research reveals that it often keeps older adults in their own homes longer, instead of them needing to go to a long-term care facility. It also provides social interaction and an emotional benefit. Is there anything else that these programs could offer older adults? What might we be able to do to help older adults stay in their homes longer?

Here is a more detailed review of the article.