Dads are supposed to be strong, steady and stoic, given how they’re portrayed in sitcoms and family entertainment. But in real life, fathers sometimes falter — and brushing it off can have a devastating impact on their kids’ development, a new study says. Undiagnosed or unaddressed depression in fathers can have negative social and behavioral effects on their children that can persist for years, researchers reported recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Five-year-olds whose fathers had symptoms of depression were significantly more likely by age 9 to exhibit restlessness, defiance and anger, researchers explained. They also had lower levels of cooperation and self-esteem, results showed. “We need to consider depression in both parents, not just mothers,” said lead researcher Dr. Kristine Schmitz, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J. “Depression is treatable, and to support the whole family, pediatricians must start talking with dads about it and developing father-focused interventions that meet their needs,” Schmitz added in a news release. Between 8% and 13% of U.S. fathers are affected by depression during their child’s early years, and that increases to 50% if a child’s mother experiences postpartum depression, researchers said in background notes. To explore the link between fathers’ mental health and children’s behaviors, researchers analyzed data on more than 1,400 kids enrolled in…  read on >  read on >

Dads are supposed to be strong, steady and stoic, given how they’re portrayed in sitcoms and family entertainment. But in real life, fathers sometimes falter — and brushing it off can have a devastating impact on their kids’ development, a new study says. Undiagnosed or unaddressed depression in fathers can have negative social and behavioral effects on their children that can persist for years, researchers reported recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Five-year-olds whose fathers had symptoms of depression were significantly more likely by age 9 to exhibit restlessness, defiance and anger, researchers explained. They also had lower levels of cooperation and self-esteem, results showed. “We need to consider depression in both parents, not just mothers,” said lead researcher Dr. Kristine Schmitz, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J. “Depression is treatable, and to support the whole family, pediatricians must start talking with dads about it and developing father-focused interventions that meet their needs,” Schmitz added in a news release. Between 8% and 13% of U.S. fathers are affected by depression during their child’s early years, and that increases to 50% if a child’s mother experiences postpartum depression, researchers said in background notes. To explore the link between fathers’ mental health and children’s behaviors, researchers analyzed data on more than 1,400 kids enrolled in…  read on >  read on >

Overuse of antibiotics might increase kids’ risk of developing asthma and allergies, by disrupting their gut bacteria during a crucial stage of child development, a new study says. Exposure to antibiotics prior to age 2 is associated with a 24% increased risk of asthma and 33% increased risk of food allergies in later childhood, researchers reported recently in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. “Antibiotics play a critical role in combatting bacterial infections, but physicians should be judicious when prescribing antibiotics to children under 2, as frequent use may affect long-term health outcomes,” lead researcher Dr. Daniel Horton of the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research said in a news release. For the study, researchers tracked the health of more than 1 million children in the U.K., comparing early antibiotic treatment to their later risk of allergies and asthma. Previous research has suggested that early and repeated antibiotic use can disrupt the development of health gut bacteria as a child ages, researchers said in background notes. This, in turn, can influence their risk of allergic conditions. Tracking the children through age 12, researchers found they were at higher risk of asthma and food allergies if they’d been exposed to antibiotics as babies. Babies given antibiotics also had a 6% increased risk of seasonal allergies, researchers said. “Antibiotics are important and sometimes life-saving…  read on >  read on >

Overuse of antibiotics might increase kids’ risk of developing asthma and allergies, by disrupting their gut bacteria during a crucial stage of child development, a new study says. Exposure to antibiotics prior to age 2 is associated with a 24% increased risk of asthma and 33% increased risk of food allergies in later childhood, researchers reported recently in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. “Antibiotics play a critical role in combatting bacterial infections, but physicians should be judicious when prescribing antibiotics to children under 2, as frequent use may affect long-term health outcomes,” lead researcher Dr. Daniel Horton of the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research said in a news release. For the study, researchers tracked the health of more than 1 million children in the U.K., comparing early antibiotic treatment to their later risk of allergies and asthma. Previous research has suggested that early and repeated antibiotic use can disrupt the development of health gut bacteria as a child ages, researchers said in background notes. This, in turn, can influence their risk of allergic conditions. Tracking the children through age 12, researchers found they were at higher risk of asthma and food allergies if they’d been exposed to antibiotics as babies. Babies given antibiotics also had a 6% increased risk of seasonal allergies, researchers said. “Antibiotics are important and sometimes life-saving…  read on >  read on >

Recreational use of “magic mushroom” psilocybin skyrocketed in the U.S. during the early 2020s, as states began toying with legalization of the psychedelic drug, a new study says. The number of adults 30 and older who had used psilocybin in the past year increased by 188% between 2019 and 2023, researchers reported April 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Likewise, the number of 18- to 29-year-olds who had used psilocybin in the past year increased by 44%, and the number of high school seniors who had used the drug by 53%, results show. “We found that since 2019, the number of people using psilocybin has gone up sharply,” co-lead investigator Karilynn Rockhill, a researcher at the University of Colorado School of Public Health, said in a news release. “This seems to line up with when some U.S. states began to decriminalize or legalize it.” Colorado became the first state to legalize psilocybin in 2019, and Oregon voters followed suit in 2020. Since then, psilocybin use has grown rapidly in the U.S., according to data researchers drew from five nationally representative sources. “Public views on psilocybin are shifting. However, that means we also need to make sure people understand the risks, know how to use it safely if they choose to and that health care systems are prepared,” co-lead researcher Joshua Black, a senior scientist…  read on >  read on >

Recreational use of “magic mushroom” psilocybin skyrocketed in the U.S. during the early 2020s, as states began toying with legalization of the psychedelic drug, a new study says. The number of adults 30 and older who had used psilocybin in the past year increased by 188% between 2019 and 2023, researchers reported April 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Likewise, the number of 18- to 29-year-olds who had used psilocybin in the past year increased by 44%, and the number of high school seniors who had used the drug by 53%, results show. “We found that since 2019, the number of people using psilocybin has gone up sharply,” co-lead investigator Karilynn Rockhill, a researcher at the University of Colorado School of Public Health, said in a news release. “This seems to line up with when some U.S. states began to decriminalize or legalize it.” Colorado became the first state to legalize psilocybin in 2019, and Oregon voters followed suit in 2020. Since then, psilocybin use has grown rapidly in the U.S., according to data researchers drew from five nationally representative sources. “Public views on psilocybin are shifting. However, that means we also need to make sure people understand the risks, know how to use it safely if they choose to and that health care systems are prepared,” co-lead researcher Joshua Black, a senior scientist…  read on >  read on >

Depression and anxiety have been increasing steadily among children and teenagers in recent years, a new study says. More than 1 in 10 children (10.6%) suffered from anxiety in 2022, up from 7.1% in 2016, researchers reported April 21 in JAMA Pediatrics. During the same period, depression among children increased to 4.6% from 3.2%, results show. “Our findings underscore the critical need to prioritize youth mental health, which continued to worsen even as we emerged from the pandemic,” lead researcher Marie Heffernan, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release. “Parents and schools need more support to be better equipped to help children suffering from anxiety or depression,” she added. For the study, researchers analyzed data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, which is funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. Results showed that some physical maladies among children decreased even as their mood disorders rose. Asthma declined from 8.4% to 6.5% between 2016 and 2022, and severe headaches or migraines declined from 3.5% to 2.6%, researchers found. Behavior and conduct problems remained at about the same levels, around 7%, researchers said. “Continued attention and resources are warranted at a national level to clarify and address the multitude of potential causes of worsening anxiety and depression in children and adolescents,” senior researcher Dr.…  read on >  read on >

Depression and anxiety have been increasing steadily among children and teenagers in recent years, a new study says. More than 1 in 10 children (10.6%) suffered from anxiety in 2022, up from 7.1% in 2016, researchers reported April 21 in JAMA Pediatrics. During the same period, depression among children increased to 4.6% from 3.2%, results show. “Our findings underscore the critical need to prioritize youth mental health, which continued to worsen even as we emerged from the pandemic,” lead researcher Marie Heffernan, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release. “Parents and schools need more support to be better equipped to help children suffering from anxiety or depression,” she added. For the study, researchers analyzed data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, which is funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. Results showed that some physical maladies among children decreased even as their mood disorders rose. Asthma declined from 8.4% to 6.5% between 2016 and 2022, and severe headaches or migraines declined from 3.5% to 2.6%, researchers found. Behavior and conduct problems remained at about the same levels, around 7%, researchers said. “Continued attention and resources are warranted at a national level to clarify and address the multitude of potential causes of worsening anxiety and depression in children and adolescents,” senior researcher Dr.…  read on >  read on >

The prevalence of depression decreased with older age and with increasing family income  read on >

Kids struggle with asthma as much at school as they do at home — possibly even more so, since it can be tough for them to access their medicine. So why aren’t all schools offering them asthma therapy? A new study says that school-based asthma therapy is effective in helping kids breathe easier while away from home. These school programs keep kids healthier, and can save millions in health care costs, researchers report in the May issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global. “We help families get better adherence to kids’ asthma control medication regimens by having the school nurses give them their meds on the days that they go to school,” lead researcher Kimberly Arcoleo, a professor at the Michigan State University College of Nursing, said in a news release. For the study, researchers tracked a school-based asthma therapy program implemented in two Columbus, Ohio, school districts between 2013 and 2019, involving 633 kids ranging in age from 5 to 19. “Students get two inhalers with controller medication, one that goes to school and one that stays home so it doesn’t have to move back and forth,” Arcoleo said. “The school nurse administers the medication to the kids each school day according to their health care provider’s instructions. Some kids need it once a day, some need it twice a day.”…  read on >  read on >