Psychological abuse puts children at risk
Child abuse experts say psychological abuse can be as damaging to a young child’s physical, mental and emotional health as a slap, punch or kick.
While difficult to pinpoint, it may be the most challenging...
Childhood defiance correlated with drug dependence whereas inattention suggests susceptibility to smoking
Children who exhibit oppositional behaviour run the risk of becoming addicted to nicotine, cannabis and cocaine whilst inattention symptoms represent a specific additional risk of nicotine addiction. Nevertheless, hyperactivity in itself does not seem...
Adolescents’ personalities and coping habits affect social behaviours
Infants innately relieve stress by crying, turning their heads or maintaining eye contact. Adults manage emotional tension using problem-solving or by seeking support. A new study by a University of Missouri human development expert...
Speaking multiple languages can influence children’s emotional development
On the classic TV show I Love Lucy, Ricky Ricardo was known for switching over to rapid-fire Spanish whenever he was upset, despite the fact Lucy had no idea what her Cuban husband was...
Childhood obesity may affect puberty, create problems with reproduction
A dramatic increase in childhood obesity in recent decades may have impacts that go beyond the usual health concerns– it could be disrupting the timing of puberty and ultimately lead to a diminished ability...
One in five new mothers experiencing exhaustion
Extreme tiredness and chronic exhaustion is experienced by one in five new mothers, as long as 18 months after the birth of their first child, a study by Murdoch Childrens Research Institute has found.
The...
Parents can increase children’s activity by increasing their own
Parents concerned about their children’s slothful ways can do something about it, according to research at National Jewish Health. They can increase their own activity. In the July 2012 issue of the Journal of...
Two out of three very obese kids already have heart disease risk factors
Two out of three severely obese kids already have at least one risk factor for heart disease, suggests research published online in Archives of Disease in Childhood.
The prevalence and severity of childhood obesity has...
Cognitive changes may be only sign of foetal alcohol exposure
Most children exposed to high levels of alcohol in the womb do not develop the distinct facial features seen in foetal alcohol syndrome, but instead show signs of abnormal intellectual or behavioural development, according...
The financial impact of divorce
Joint research led by the Australian Institute of Family Studies has found that equivalised household income after divorce declined for women but not for men.
The research found that some women were able to recover...
