Boarding Schools for Girls

Teen pregnancy is on the rise again this year, and many girls admit to getting pregnant so they can "have someone to love." But parenting isnt all cuddles and warm fuzzies. A unique parenting class aims to get that point across.

"Since last Thursday& a Vidalia High School [MS] sophomore has been caring for a mechanical baby that needs all the tender, loving care a newborn baby needs. She fed, soothed, cleaned and changed the diaper of her lifelike doll equipped with sensors that recorded her every move 24 hours a day. Her parenting class teacher will receive a report from the electronic doll that will be used to determine [the students] final grade." [Source: The Natchez (Missouri) Democrat]

The student admitted to the newspaper that she has been spending a lot less time with her friends, and that caring for the baby is harder than she expected.

"I'm not having kids anytime soon," she said.

Labels: pregnancy, mothers, teenagers

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Teenage girls are driving more aggressively, even as teenage boys are taking fewer risks behind the wheel, according to new research from Allstate Insurance Company.

• 16 percent of the girls said they were very aggressive while driving, compared to only 9 percent of girls in 2005
• Among boys, reports of aggressive driving declined from 20 percent in 2005 to 13 percent in 2009.
• Almost 30 percent of girls admit to speeding 10 miles per hour over the speed limit compared to 20 percent of boys
• 25 percent of girls said they text while driving, compared to 15 percent of boys.

"As more young women participate in activities like competitive sports and take on a more assertive lifestyle, they are narrowing the gender gap when it comes to risk taking in all the aspects of their life, " said Dr. Alan Williams of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Car crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers in the United States, and most crashes involve speeding, driver distraction, and driver error.

Labels: teenagers, driving

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A study of teenage girls in Great Britain found that 46 percent did not get the minimum daily requirements for nutrition, and only one in 10 consumed the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables daily.

The study also found that most teen girls did not eat enough food, and when they did, they consumed mostly sodas, sweets, and chocolate.

The study, from the National Center for Social Research, collected data from more 1,000 people who kept food diaries.

Labels: teenagers, nutrition

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The teenage pregnancy rate in the United States increased by 3 percent in 2006, the latest year for which reliable statistics are available. The nation recorded a 4 percent increase in births and a 1 percent increase in abortions among adolescent girls, according to a new study from Guttmacher Institute.

This is the first time in 10 years that pregnancy rates among teens has not gone down.

• Between 1990 and 2005, the pregnancy rate declined 41 percent among females ages 15 to 19 years old .
  
• This represented a drop from 117 pregnancies per 1000 girls to 70 per 1000.
  
• Abortions declined 56 percent among teenagers during that same period.

"It is too soon to tell whether the increase in teen pregnancy between 2005 and 2006 is a short-term fluctuation, a more lasting stabilization or the beginning of a significant new trend, any of which would be of great concern," said Lawrence Finer, director of domestic research at the Institute.

A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published in the journal Pediatrics found an increase of 1 percent in the teen birth rate in 2007.

Labels: pregnancy, health, teenagers, abortion

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A Czech study involving 82 teen girls has revealed an association between low-dose oral contraceptives and abnormally low levels of bone growth and density. The study was led by Dr. Jan Stepan of Charles University in Prague.

A Sept. 14 article by MedPage Today Senior Editor John Gever provided the following details about the study and its possible ramifications:

• In a randomized, crossover trial, bone mineral density (BMD) failed to increase in girls 15 to 19 years old who took pills with a low dose (15 micrograms) of ethinyl estradiol for nine months.
• Bone density increased normally in participants taking pills with a high dose (30 micrograms) of ethinyl estradiol.
• In a presentation at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Dr. Stepan said that based on these findings, girls who need oral contraceptives "could be counseled toward preparations with higher estrogen levels."
  

Labels: health, teenagers, birth-control, research

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Already a published author at age 15, a Massachusetts girl is working hard to spread the message that bullying isn't acceptable -- and that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teens face a particularly pervasive form of harassment.

Brigitte Berman addressed these topics in her book, Dorie Witt's Guide to Surviving Bullies, and has continued her advocacy through a string of personal appearances and media interviews. According to an Aug. 6 article by Hannah Clay Wareham of the Bay Windows newspaper, Berman blends statistics and personal experiences when discussing the problem of bullying:

In the reference section at the back of the book, the author supplies some statistics: "In a national survey conducted on teens 12 to 17 years old by the National Mental Health Association, 78 percent of kids reported that gay or thought-to-be-gay teens are teased and bullied in their schools or communities. Furthermore, 93 percent hear derogatory words about sexual orientation."

"Unfortunately, people are using gay or lesbian as an insult, but its not an insult. Its just your sexual orientation," Berman said. "It shouldnt make a difference [to the way] people view their peers."

Bermans 13-year-old sister Margot was the target of cyber-based LGBT slurs in the past year. "I remember that she was quite distressed because ... people have posted lesbian remarks about her and her friends, and hinted at them on profiles and on [AOL Instant Messenger]. She was really hurt," Berman recalled.

Labels: teenagers, bullying, gay teens

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Teenage pregnancies increased in 2006 and 2007, according to a new government study. Rates had been declining since 1991. Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at data from 2002 to 2007, and found that sexually transmitted diseases were also increasing among teenagers.

• The number of cases of syphilis increased among people ages 15 to 24 years old.
• About one million people in that age group had chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis.
• One in four females ages 15 to 19 had a human papillomavirus infection.
• The number of AIDS cases among males 15 to 24 years old is also increasing.

"This report identifies a number of concerns regarding the sexual and reproductive health of our nation's young people," said Janet Collins, director of CDC's national Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "It is disheartening that after years of improvement with respect to teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, we now see signs that progress is stalling and many of these trends are going in the wrong direction."

The study appeared in the journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Labels: pregnancy, teenagers

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Just in time for Fathers Day, a study has found a significant link between a father's involvement in his teen's life and teen sexual activity. The five-year study involved surveys of more than 3,000 teens, who rated parental involvement on a five-point scale.

According to an article on the study that appeared in The Joplin (Missouri) Globe, researchers found that for each point of knowledge that dads had [of their childs friends and activities], teens were seven percent less likely to be sexually active.

Results of the study emphasize the importance of caring for kids, not just providing for them. Many parents are so busy working long, stressful hours to provide for their families that aren't able to spend enough time together. But being actively engaged in a teenager's life can have more of an impact than most parents realize.

Labels: parenting, teenagers, sex, fathers

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Summer is a time for cookouts, grilling, and -- unfortunately -- teen pregnancies. Pregnancies among teenagers typically rise during the summer months, mostly because teens have more free time and are less supervised.

[Psychotherapist Mary Jo] Rapini says a simple way to keep your child from becoming a parent before they are ready is to get and stay involved in their lives. She says parents who share their lives with their children and who show interest in their kids' lives are less likely to have a teen who becomes a parent. (Source: MyFox Houston)

Teenage girls who feel alone or isolated are more likely to engage in various types of risky teen behavior, including sex. Staying connected and aware of what your teenager is doing, and who shes with, can help prevent this type of behavior.

Worried that your teen daughter's unhealthy attitudes and inappropriate behaviors are leading her down a dangerous path? Take a moment to learn how a wilderness program can help teen girls get back on track toward a happy and healthy future.

Labels: pregnancy, teenagers, girls, summer

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The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court has been a significant source of pride within the Hispanic community. But other recent news hasn't been nearly as hopeful for Hispanic parents and children.

A June 6 article by Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje of the (San Antonio) Express News reported that Latina girls are at considerable risk for suicide:

Latinas age 12 to 17 make up the largest and fastest-growing minority group of girls in the nation. And they are more at risk of trying to take their own lives than any other racial or ethnic group their age.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 percent of Latina teenagers have contemplated suicide and around 15 percent have attempted it, compared with 10 percent of Anglo and African-American teen girls who have attempted. Some studies put the percentage of Latina [suicide] attempters even higher. ...

Leticia Flores Canchola, director of nursing at Southwest Mental Health Center, a psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents, said 60 percent of girls who are admitted for suicide attempts are Latina, which is proportional to their local population numbers. "The majority of those who come in are sad, hopeless, helpless," she said. "They say, 'Nobody wants me.' It's a way out for them."

As is often the case with suicide, the cause of rising suicide rates among young Latina girls escapes easy identification. Luis Zayas, a researcher Latino psychology expert, told the Express News that "cultural expectations, gender issues, ethnic identity and adolescent-parental conflict converge in a toxic brew to push young Latinas to the edge."

Labels: teenagers, girls, latina, suicide

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A decades-old Montana program that helps teen mothers complete their education may be forced to close due to financial difficulties that are affecting the county's public school system.

A June 3 article by Michael Moore of The Missoulian News Online reported on the dire straits facing Sentinel High School's "Young Family" program:

The program, which has been around since the early 1980s, is now threatened by the $1 million budget shortfall in the Missoula County Public Schools.

"We've been going for 25 years, and it would be a tragedy for the girls and their children if we lost it," said Lois Reimers, the Sentinel teacher who directs the program.

The program provides licensed day care for the children of teens, and that's a savior for young mothers, six of whom are now using the program. The children are on campus, so the moms can see them during the day without missing classes.

Amy Rober, who works for a service that provides home learning opportunities for pregnant teens and teen mothers, told The Missoulian that the dropout rate for pregnant high school students is about 80 percent.

Teen pregnancy remains a cause of great concern in the United States, with teen parents facing a number of daunting educational, financial, and developmental challenges.

Labels: education, pregnancy, teenagers

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A study that was conducted by a University of Buffalo sociologist indicates that risk-taking behavior during the teen years can have a strong impact on the likelihood of marriage later in life. According to a May 20 article by Patricia Donovan of the UB Reporter, sociologist Sampson Lee Blair reached this conclusion after analyzing more than a decade's worth of data:

A national study of data collected over 12 years finds that delinquent teens marry earlier than their peers, while substance-abusing teens -- especially girls who abuse marijuana -- marry later than peers, if at all. ...

Delinquency was defined as anti-social behavior, including frequency of running away, arrests, physical fights, and behavioral problems in school.

The study analyzed data from a U.S. Department of Education survey collected from a nationally representative sample of 9,813 young adults from 1988 to 2000. The results were presented at the March conference of the Eastern Sociological Society in Baltimore.

Are you looking for help with an adolescent daughter who beginning to use alcohol or other drugs, exhibit defiance, or engage in other behaviors that are putting her on an unhealthy path? A residential middle school for girls can provide the structure, support, and guidance that your daughter needs.

Labels: teenagers, girls, behaviors

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An Australian study has led researchers to conclude that teen girls who have sex before they are emotionally ready are likely to regret the experience.

According to a May 20 article on the Indian Express website, a research team from the University of Western Australia interviewed reached this conclusion after interviewing 68 teen girls (ages 14 to 19).

"If they have sex at a young age, before they are ready, it is reflected on as an unpleasant experience which they regret. This is an undesirable outcome in itself," said Dr Rachel Skinner, the study's lead researcher.

Early sexual activity, the article reported, has been associated with a number of risk factors, including unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Mental health experts have also noted that teen sex can lower self-esteem and damage a young person's emotional health.

Labels: teenagers, sex, self-esteem

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Teens have stronger ties to their parents today than any time in the past 30 years, according to a study from Project Teen Canada. Researchers said the results would probably be the same for the United States.

Every eight years, researchers with Project Teen Canada ask 5,500 teens the same questions about their relationships with their parents.

• This year only 42 percent of the surveyed teens said they had arguments at least once a week with their parents; in 1992, 52 percent of surveyed teens reported weekly arguments with their parents.
• Eighty percent of teens said they enjoyed their parents' company, compared to 70 percent in 1992.
• Fewer than 40 percent said their parents did not understand them, compared to 58 percent who answered this way in 1992.

Reginald Biddy, a sociologist at the University of Lethbridge, said that todays parents are doing a better job of balancing careers and family lives.

"Relational enjoyment requires focus, and focusing requires time," Dr. Biddy said in a May 14 article on the website of the New York Times Magazine. Parents are putting more time into their children, enjoying them more and having more influence over them, thus lowering stress for everyone, Dr. Biddy said in the Times article.

Positive relationships between parents and teens have been cited as among the most important positive influences in the effort to reduce issues including teen substance abuse, teen eating disorders, and teen pregnancy.

Labels: relationships, teenagers, parents, communication

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On May 3, KTRK-13 (an ABC affiliate in Houston, Texas) aired a news segment by about teen dating violence that demonstrated a startling disconnect between the prevalence of teen dating violence and parents' awareness of the degree to which the problem has permeated today's youth culture. In the segment, KTRK's Sharron Melton cited the following statistics:

According to the US Bureau of Justice, about one in three high school girls have been, or will be pushed, slapped or hit by a boyfriend. And 40 percent of girls between the ages of 14 and 17 know someone their age who has been abused. ...

According to a survey by the National Teen Dating Violence Prevention Initiative, 81 percent of parents say they do not believe dating violence is an issue, and 54 percent admit they have not even spoken to their child about dating violence.

Though dating violence is a significant problem among young people, many adolescents and teenagers are not able to identify signs that they are in an abusive relationship -- and many who are being abused do not know how to escape the violence.

Experts advise all parents of teenagers to educate themselves and their children about the signs and dangers of teen dating violence, and to take action if they suspect that their teen is involved in an abusive relationship.

Labels: relationships, teenagers, violence, dating

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The teen pregnancy rate is rising in the U.S. state of Georgia, and pediatric health advocates are arguing that ineffective outreach efforts are creating a crisis within the state. In a May 5 post on the website of Georgia television station WMGT-41, Liz Foster reported that at least one expert predicts that the situation may not improve any time soon:

Three in ten girls in the U.S. become pregnant at least once before age 20. That's according to the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention's website, which also says Georgia has the 8th highest teen birth rate in the nation.

Dr. David Harvey with the North Central Health District, says part of that can be blamed on state budget cuts, which have trimmed family planning program funds by almost 20 percent. He calls the issue a "major problem" in Middle Georgia and says it will get worse before it gets better. ...

Dr. Harvey says teen pregnancy rates permeate all socioeconomic statuses and affect everyone. From hospital space to medical costs, he says each pregnancy has an impact on society.

Many experts have warned that continued increases in teen sex rates have been associated with a wide range of social, developmental, and health problems.

Labels: pregnancy, health, teenagers, sex

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MEI Futures Academy, a residential charter school for teenage mothers in Washington, D.C., has been ordered to close because of chronic truancy, curriculum problems, and questions about the quality of services that were provided for special education students.

The school, which had been in operation for the past two years, provided both boarding and day school services to young mothers (ages 14 to 21), as well as kindergarten and pre-K programs for students' children who were between the ages of three and five.

According to an April 21 article by Bill Turque on the Washington Post's "DC Wire" blog, the D.C. Public Charter School Board claimed that MEI Futures Academy was in "material violation" of its operating agreement:

MEI had struggled to establish an acceptable curriculum, officials said, adding that none of its high school students were on track for a diploma. Last year, not one of the 15 tenth graders who took the DC-CAS standardized test achieved proficiency levels in either reading or math. Enrollment has dwindled to just 31 students from 66 in fall 2007.

Chronic truancy was an especially serious issue. An unannounced audit earlier this year showed that 17 of the 31 students were not there.

Charter schools such as MEI are not the only option for teen mothers who are struggling to complete their education. For example, at Youth Care, Inc., a private therapeutic boarding school in Draper, Utah, students can enroll in a unique teen pregnancy program that features counseling, behavior therapy, academics, and parenting education.

Labels: education, pregnancy, parenting, teenagers, girls

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Teen girls who have struggled to find fashionable clothing in larger sizes may be in for a more enjoyable shopping experience, as two large retailers have announced upcoming lines that will be geared toward plus-sized girls.

Forever 21's line, Faith 21, will have sizes ranging from XL-2X, while Target's Pure Energy line will go up to a size 30.

Faith 21 will feature of-the-moment pieces like sheer peasant blouses, denim leggings and curve-hugging mini dresses. Pure Energy will have skinny jeans, maxi dresses and sleeveless party tops.

"In the past we've had XL sizes and we would sell out of them so quickly," said Heidi Canalizo, a regional manager at Forever 21. "Our customers have been asking for this for so long and in the past few years we've really decided it's time to get into it. Not everyone is a size 2." (Source: CNN, April 29, 2009)

Clothing market analyst Marshal Cohen told CNN that the move toward larger sizes makes good financial sense. "You're looking at an under $2 billion business that could easily grow to a $4 billion, $5 billion business within ... a year or two," Cohen said.

The U.S. and many other nations have experienced significant increases in teen overweight and obesity rates in recent decades.

Labels: teenagers, girls, overweight

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An 11-member panel of Canadian health care experts has determined that young women who smoke tobacco or who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for developing breast cancer later in life. According to an April 23 article by Canwest News Service writer Sharon Kirkey, inhaling tobacco smoke early in life can result in cancer decades later:

"Even moderate exposure to passive smoking, such as living or working with a smoker early in life, increases a woman's risk of breast cancer when she is in her 30s, 40s and 50s," panelist and University of Toronto public health expert Dr. Anthony Miller says. ...

After reviewing ... more than 100 studies ... the panel concluded that all women who smoke, particularly young women, are at increased risk of breast cancer, and that even young women who don't smoke are at increased risk if they're exposed to second-hand smoke.

"An estimated 80 to 90 percent of women have been exposed to tobacco smoke in adolescence and adulthood," says panel chairman Neil Collishaw, of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada. "Those women face an increased risk of breast cancer because of that exposure."

In addition to the heightened likelihood of developing breast cancer, teens who smoke are at increased risk for suffering from a wide range of health problems and engaging in a variety of dangerous behaviors.

Labels: health, teenagers, girls, cancer, smoking

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that it will not challenge a court order that requires it to ease restrictions on access to Plan B, the so-called "morning after" contraception pill. As a result of this decision, 17-year-olds will soon be able to purchase the drug without a prescription.

An April 23 article by Reuters writer Susan Heavy reported that 17-year-olds should have access to the medication within the year, a decision that was hailed by womens health and reproductive rights advocates:

The FDA on [April 22] said it would allow nonprescription access to 17-year-olds as soon as it received necessary information from the drug's maker, Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc, now part of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Teva said it would comply with FDA's request, but it could still take 10 months before the drug is available without a prescription for younger buyers.

Women's health advocates cheered the FDA's decision, with some adding that access should be loosened even more, to allow shelf sales without age restrictions. They along with company officials argue it is critical for women to have quick access to the drug, which aims to prevent pregnancy when used within 24 hours of sexual intercourse.

The FDA decision was announced less than six months after two studies documented an increase in the prevalence of sexual behavior among teens and adolescents.

Labels: health, teenagers, sex, contraception, medications

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Very few teens interact with strangers they meet online, and instead use the Internet to keep in touch with face-to-face friends, according to a new study from the University of California.

Researchers interviewed 251 high school students about how they use social networks, instant messaging, and other means to access friends online. Only five percent said they had friends they knew only from online exchanges. Most teens use the Internet to interact with their existing friends.

Dr. Stephanie Reich, author of the study, said that her research indicates that sexual predators would have a harder time approaching teenagers than their parents may believe. Most young people do not seek out friendships with strangers on the Internet.

Teen online safety remains a pressing concern among parents and pediatric mental health experts, who worry about issues ranging from cyberbullying to video game addiction.

Labels: teenagers, online, internet

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Two high school girls in Minnesota were featured in the April 20 edition of the Duluth News Tribune for the effort and determination that led them to achieve success in an interscholastic sport that is usually dominated by male participants:

Girls who choose to pursue wrestling face solitude long before they step on the mat. Competing in a sport supercharged with high doses of testosterone and cultural bias, they are relegated to their own locker rooms and scales to dress and weigh in apart from their teammates. Then, often their male peers will refuse to compete against them, forfeiting a match rather than wrestling a girl and risk losing.

But Kristina Erickson and Jolynne Denman accept the challenges of competing in a male-dominated sport and focus on its rewards, such as gaining discipline and self-confidence, making lifelong friends, staying fit and learning how to accept both victory and defeat.

Erickson, 14, and Denman, 15, followed up a season of wrestling mostly boys for the junior varsity team at Cloquet High School with a strong showing against girls. Erickson, an eighth-grader, and Denman, a ninth-grader, finished first and second, respectively, at the USA Wrestling state womens tournament, and Erickson brought home a national title from the USA Wrestling national womens tourney in her 135-pound weight class in Oklahoma City last month.

"The fact that they make it through the boys program really speaks highly of their discipline and inner strength," Cloquet HS wrestling coach Al Denman (who is also Jolynnes father) told Duluth News Tribune writer Rick Lubbers. "A lot of guys quit because they cant handle it, and these girls have not quit. Against all the odds, they keep at it. I wish I had a hundred of them."

Labels: school, teenagers, girls, sports, wrestling

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The British government plans to supply teenage girls with long-acting contraception injections and/or implants without their parents' permission. British girls have the highest rate of unplanned pregnancies in Europe, resulting in almost 40,000 abortions per year.

Teenagers in Great Britain have access to condoms, morning-after pills, and birth control pills in one out of every three high schools. However, an expert from the British National Institute of Health said that the main problem is that girls are getting pregnant after they forget to take their birth control pills as prescribed.

Birth control implants and injections can render a female infertile for as long as three years.

The new measure is controversial because some doctors believe that using such forms of birth control may have a detrimental effect on bone growth in young women.

Labels: teenagers, birth-control

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The stories and videos are all over the news and YouTube: teenage girls beating each other up over issues including boyfriends and “dirty looks.” The increase in violent behavior among teen girls is concerning to many, but not surprising to some.

“Girls, like boys, are citizens of our violent world… The resulting message to young girls is that they are vulnerable and that they must learn to be violent to survive. That misguided belief is often reinforced in the smaller world of highly dysfunctional home lives where kindness is confused with weakness.” [Source: Gloucester (MA) Times]

Teens are also strongly influenced by their peers. Dr. Thomas Berndt of Purdue University refers to a “contagion effect,” similar to a mob effect, that causes teenagers to do things in groups that they would never do alone.

 

Labels: teenagers, violence

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Girls who are allowed to drink soda at age 5 become teenagers who have unhealthy diets, according to a new study from Pennsylvania State University.

• Dr. Laura Fiorito and her colleagues followed 170 girls for ten years.
• Those who were allowed to have soda at age five showed much lower intake of fiber protein, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium magnesium, phosphorus and potassium throughout the ten-year study than those not allowed to have soda at age five.
• All the girls in the study had inadequate levels of recommended nutrients as teenagers.
• By age 15, nearly all were drinking soda, although the "early soda drinkers" were drinking twice as much.

"We think that the patterns develop when they are younger," Dr. Fiorito said. "Some studies show that children are already drinking soda or carbonated beverages by age two."

The study appears in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
 

Labels: teenagers, nutrition, children

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