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Fathers and family men low on testosterone: Study

A new study shows that men who spend time with their children have lower levels of testosterone than single guys. The study shows that family men experience a biological shift that may awaken their nurturing side.

13 Sep 2011

Parental stress strongly associated with DNA methylation in children

Researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Child & Family Research Institute have shown that parental stress during their children's early years can leave an imprint on their sons' or daughters' genes - an imprint that lasts into adolescence and may affect how these genes are expressed later in life.

31 Aug 2011

Divorce and strict parenting leading to binge drinking among teenagers: Report

A long term study carried out by the British think tank ‘Demos’ which looked at how parenting styles affect the behaviour of children as they grow up showed that teenage binge drinking and its potentially deadly consequences may be caused in part by bad parenting or divorce.

30 Aug 2011

Restricting kids' unstructured play may actually cause harm

Hovering helicopter parents who restrict their kids' unstructured play may actually harm, rather than help, children according to the latest issue of the American Journal of Play, a scholarly journal which has gathered a distinguished group of experts to probe the near-extinction of free play and its effects on children and society.

26 Aug 2011

Supermom myth could put working mothers at greater risk for depression

Working moms have lower rates of depression than their stay-at-home counterparts, but buying into the supermom myth could put working mothers at greater risk for depression, suggests new research to be presented at the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association.

20 Aug 2011

Key Assets' new fostering agency now open in Kentucky

Key Assets Kentucky, a newly established fostering agency, is now open and ready for the challenge of placing children in Kentucky with complex needs into family based foster homes.

16 Aug 2011

Report highlights issues that affect Aboriginal maternal, child health in various regions

Today, the Health Council of Canada released Understanding and Improving Aboriginal Maternal and Child Health in Canada, a commentary highlighting the continuing health inequities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians as well as promising practices for change.

10 Aug 2011

Marital instability impacts child's sleep patterns

When parents fight, infants are likely to lose sleep, researchers report. "We know that marital problems have an impact on child functioning, and we know that sleep is a big problem for parents," said Jenae M. Neiderhiser, professor of psychology, Penn State.

3 Aug 2011

Childhood mistreatment may increase risk of coronary heart disease in middle age

For all the ills that result from bad parenting, new evidence from an epidemiological study of thousands of people suggests coronary heart disease (CHD) might be added to that list.

3 Aug 2011

New birth control guidelines in U.S.

Planned parenting groups are cheering while some religious organizations are unhappy with the move that would require health insurance companies to provide women free birth control, in keeping with new Obama administration guidelines. The Department of Health and Human Services call it “historic” and also say that insurance companies must provide women with other preventive services free of charge.

1 Aug 2011

Study looks at bed-sharing and effect on child behavior

According to a new study parents who let their toddlers sleep in the same bed as them are not slowing their learning and behavior development.

19 Jul 2011

Women exposed to domestic violence during childhood may experience PTSD as adults

Children who witness domestic violence are more likely to be in abusive intimate relationships and experience psychological problems such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adulthood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

8 Jul 2011

First audio data of naturally occurring spanking of children

In one recording, a mom spanks her 3-year-old 11 times for fighting with his sister. In another, a mom slaps her son for turning the page of a book while she reads to him. In still another, a mom spanks her 5-year-old when he refuses to clean up his room after repeated warnings to do so.

23 Jun 2011

Young fathers more willing to ask for parenting help

Men are sometimes criticized for being unwilling to ask for directions when they travel, but they can benefit from looking for help as they begin their journeys as fathers, according to a researcher on fatherhood at the University of Chicago.

16 Jun 2011

High-quality fathering reduces risky sexual behavior by daughters

Father's Day this Sunday is a chance to recognize dads for putting up with all manner of nonsense that kids manage to cook up on the way to adulthood.

15 Jun 2011

Childhood obesity study points to fathers' nutritional ignorance

This Father's Day, dad's choice of where to eat could literally tip the scales on his children's health. A father's use of restaurants and his perceptions of family meals carry more weight, so to speak, than mothers', according to a Texas AgriLife Research study, published recently in The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

10 Jun 2011

Leadership Reads Initiative to minimize teen alcohol consumption and drug use

The incidence of alcohol poisoning, alcohol-related violence, and alcohol-impaired driving is increasing at an alarming rate among teens. If teens start to drink early, they are six times more likely to develop alcohol dependence.

9 Jun 2011

Pacific Reproductive Center celebrates Annual Baby Reunion in Torrance

When April Gooding was born 19 years ago in Torrance, infants like her were called "test tube babies" and in vitro fertilization was still considered experimental. Nearly two decades later, almost 4 million IVF babies have been born, including several hundred who will join April and the fertility expert who helped create her as one of his first successes.

1 Jun 2011

Annual meeting of Society for Prevention Research to be held in Washington, DC

The mass shooting in Tucson that left six people dead and many more injured, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, brought significant attention to availability, accessibility and quality of treatment services for serious mental, emotional and behavioral disorders and substance abuse.

31 May 2011

Parents' work influences how often family meals are eaten outside of home

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Americans are spending about half their food budget in restaurants. As it is widely known, food prepared away from home, as compared to food prepared at home, is often higher in calories, saturated fat, and sodium.

6 May 2011