Topic description and stories

Teenager holding a smartphone

Cambridge leads governmental project to understand impact of smartphones and social media on young people

16 Jan 2025

Cambridge researchers are leading the first phase of a new research project that will lay the groundwork for future studies into the impact on...

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Time alone heightens ‘threat alert’ in teenagers – even when connecting online

13 Nov 2024

Scientists say the findings might shed light on the link between loneliness and mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, which are on the...

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Young people who experience bullying are more likely to fantasise about committing acts of violence – study

28 Apr 2021

Experiencing bullying and forms of aggression in late adolescence and early adulthood is linked to a marked increase in the likelihood of having...

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Boy wearing face mask

Pandemic restrictions aggravating known triggers for self-harm and poor mental health among children and young people

10 Mar 2021

Experts have issued a stark warning about the effects of the pandemic on the mental health of children and young people.

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Brain development during adolescence: red brain regions belong to the “conservative” pattern of adolescent development, while the blue brain regions belong to the “disruptive” pattern

Brain networks come ‘online’ during adolescence to prepare teenagers for adult life

29 Jan 2020

New brain networks come ‘online’ during adolescence, allowing teenagers to develop more complex adult social skills, but potentially putting them at...

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Male

Cuts to mental health services putting young people at risk, say experts

15 Sep 2017

Funding cuts and austerity measures are damaging young people’s access to mental health services, with potentially long-term consequences for their...

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Lonely teenager

Teenagers who access mental health services see significant improvements, study shows

18 Jan 2017

Young people with mental health problems who have contact with mental health services are significantly less likely to suffer from clinical...

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Portrait

Teenagers could see long-term benefits from new treatments for depression

01 Dec 2016

More than two-thirds of adolescents who suffer from depression could see long-term benefits from receiving one of three psychological treatments – of...

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Teenagers in Oslo, Norway

Positive teacher-student relationships boost good behaviour in teenagers for up to four years

09 Aug 2016

The first study to look at the impact of the relationship with teachers on adolescent behaviour finds that a positive teacher-student relationship...

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Teenager

Changes in brain structure during teenage years provide clues to onset of mental health problems

25 Jul 2016

Scientists have mapped the structural changes that occur in teenagers’ brains as they develop, showing how these changes may help explain why the...

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The orbitofrontal cortex (blue) and medial temporal cortex (red) were more similar in terms of thickness in youths with Conduct Disorder than in typically-developing youths, suggesting that the normal pattern of brain development is disrupted.

‘Map’ of teenage brain provides strong evidence of link between serious antisocial behaviour and brain development

16 Jun 2016

The brains of teenagers with serious antisocial behaviour problems differ significantly in structure to those of their peers, providing the clearest...

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Zoe and Friend

Support from family and friends important to help prevent depression in teenagers

20 May 2016

The importance of friendships and family support in helping prevent depression among teenagers has been highlighted in research from the University...

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