Heartland Happenings from www.heartlandcounseling.org

Teenage girls still experience harassment

2008-05-16T21:42:04Z

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/sfri-tgs050808.php

Girls and women have made dramatic strides toward gender equality in the United States. Role models and opportunities for girls in science, technology, and sports exist today that were not available 50 years ago. Despite these advances, results from a new study show that teenage girls from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds continue to experience sexism. The findings are from a study of 600 girls between the ages of 12 and 18 from California and Georgia. The girls were Latina (49%), White (23%), African American (9 %), Asian American (7.5%), and multi-ethnic or other (7.5%), and came from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. The study, the first to examine social and individual influences on girls’ personal experiences of sexism, was carried out by researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz and the University of Kentucky. It appears in the May/June 2008 issue of the journal Child Development.

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Obesity tied to risk of psychiatric disorders

2008-05-16T21:40:35Z

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL56139920080515

Obesity is a well known risk factor for certain physical health problems, but a new study suggests that heavy adults also have higher rates of psychiatric disorders.

Using data from a national health survey of more than 40,000 Americans, researchers found that obese adults were up to twice as likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions as normal-weight adults.

In addition, even moderately overweight people had elevated rates of anxiety disorders, the study found.

Young children with OCD benefit from family-based treatment

2008-05-16T21:39:24Z

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/l-ycw051508.php

Although children as young as 5 can be diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), few research studies have looked at treatments specifically geared toward young children with this disorder. Now, a new study from the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center provides some of the first evidence-based data on a successful intervention for early childhood OCD. According to the study’s findings, published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children with OCD between the ages of 5 and 8 may benefit from a form of psychotherapy, known as family-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), that is uniquely tailored to the child’s developmental needs and family context. The overall focus of family-based CBT is to provide both child and parents with a set of tools to help them understand, manage and reduce OCD symptoms. “If left untreated, early childhood OCD can severely disrupt and impair a child’s development and functioning and can extend into adulthood. Despite this risk, clinicians do not have a proven treatment model for these young children,” says lead author Jennifer B. Freeman, Ph.D., of the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center and an assistant professor of psychiatry/human behavior (research) at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

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Association for Psychological Science

2008-05-16T21:37:57Z

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/media/releases/2008/smith.cfm

New research appearing in the May issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests that being put in a low-power role may impair a person’s basic cognitive functioning and thus, their ability to get ahead.

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Could Violent Video Games Reduce Rather Than Increase Violence?

2008-05-16T21:36:47Z

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080514213432.htm

Does playing violent video games make players aggressive? It is a question that has taxed researchers, sociologists, and regulators ever since the first console was plugged into a TV and the first shots fired in a shoot 'em up game.

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Teens, does popularity matter?

2008-05-16T21:30:54Z

http://www.newsweek.com/id/137033

Perhaps no period of life is more fraught with obsessive worries about popularity, social hierarchies and reputations than that treacherous, three-year period known as middle school. The social anxieties of adolescence have driven plotlines from "The Wonder Years" to "Hannah Montana" where teens and pre-teens spend entire hours and episodes agonizing over what their peers think. Figuring out whether you'll end up being a cool prom king or queen bee--or the kid who eats alone in the cafeteria--is an integral part of becoming a teenager. Turns out, it doesn't necessarily matter. Whether or not your high class voted you "most popular," teenagers who perceive themselves as well liked are just as socially successful over time as the kids who actually are part of the in-crowd, according to a new study in the May-June issue of Child Development. In fact, the overlap between the kids who believe they're popular and those who are deemed popular by their peers is pretty small. "Certainly there's a subset that feels good about themselves and is also popular, but that isn't the majority," says Kathleen Boykin McElhaney, a research associate in psychology at University of Virginia who conducted the study. Her findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that our perception of how we fit into the social world is just as important--if not more important--than our real-life position in the social world. The researchers asked 164 students at a public middle school to tackle a nerve-wracking question: how well liked were they among their class? McElhaney gauged the students' popularity within the class with assessments from the teenagers' peers, asking them who they would "most like to spend time with on a Saturday night." She also had close friends rate the subjects' aggression and hostility, saying whether statements like "is mean to others" applied to the teen in question. The study began with a group of 13-year-olds; McElhaney checked back in with them a year later to gauge whether each teen was doing better or worse socially. "We were measuring their aggression and hostility, along with a peer rating of whether people want to hang out with the teen," she explains. Half of her finding wasn't particularly surprising: the popular kids fare great socially, with their peers becoming more interested in hanging out with them over the year. But the teenagers who felt good about their place on the social ladder did just as well; they became less hostile and their peers became more interested in spending Saturday night with them even if they weren't ranked as particularly well liked. "If you're popular, sure, you do well, but the same is true if you felt that you were socially accepted," says McElhaney. "And if you look at both of those effects together--popularity and self-perceived social acceptance, we found that either one was OK." The one group of teenagers who did not fare well socially were those who did not perceive themselves as well liked and were not ranked as popular by their peers. These kids were viewed as more hostile toward their peers as the year went on and they were less sought out by their classmates over time. "They're not at all on the radar screen," says McElhaney. "They don't see themselves as accepted and that's where it's most problematic, when you don't have either that popularity or sense that you're well liked."

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Nonfatal Maltreatment of Infants --- United States

2008-05-16T12:52:10Z

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5713a2.htm

approximately 905,000 U.S. children were victims of maltreatment that was substantiated by state and local child protective services (CPS) agencies (1).* Approximately 19% of child maltreatment fatalities occurred among infants (i.e., persons aged <1 year) (1), and homicide statistics suggest that fatality risk might be greatest in the first week of life (2).

Improving Your Sexual Relationship

2008-05-15T00:06:46Z

http://gettingtheloveyouwant.com/connections/2008_05/article2.html

Exploring Sexual Curiosity with Empathy
The possibility of waking up a partnership and experiencing that erotic charge again sometimes feels impossible. And yet, throughout our life cycle, we continue to have erotic needs and crave intimacy through sex.
The way to increase the erotic connection in a relationship is to begin talking about sex and learning to empathize with our partner. We all have curiosity about things that are sexual, and we explore erotic thoughts and fantasies in our minds all the time, even if we don’t share these thoughts with our partner.
Sexual empathy is when we understand that our partner’s fantasies, just like individual tastes in food, may differ from ours. Empathy creates safety in a relationship and means that we work toward seeing our partner as a fully alive sexual being.
Exercise - Starting to Talk about Sex
One of the ways that you can begin to share desires and fantasies is through this next exercise. Start by sharing appreciations. You will simply mirror your partner’s words. Mirroring is a basic dialogue skill, but may feel awkward and forced. Don’t worry. Let the exercise feel awkward for now.

Step One
Sender: Tell your partner one thing you appreciate about your relationship.
Receivers: Mirror back what your partner says. How does it make sense to you that they would appreciate this? Can you validate that for your partner?
Switch.

Step Two
Senders: Tell your partner one thing you appreciate about your sexual relationship.
Receivers: Mirror back what you hear. Does it make sense to you that your partner would feel this way? Remember, you don’t have to agree.
Switch.

Step Three
Senders: Tell your partner one thing you really like in bed and would like more of.
Receivers: Just mirror. Does it make sense, knowing your partner the way you know them, that this would be something they would like more of? Just validate that feeling. You do not need to agree, make promises, refuse, make excuses, or respond in any way, except by showing sexual empathy through mirroring, validation and empathy.
Switch.

Step Four
Now that you have shared your appreciations for each other, how do you feel? Can you tell your partner what it was like to hear those things?
Sender: One thing I appreciated about this dialogue….
Receiver: Mirror back.
Switch.

Try not to judge what you heard or disagree. Just sit with what you heard. And try to soak up the appreciation and erotic energy.
Most of us want passion in our relationship. Passion makes us feel alive. We have to work at that erotic connection, just like we do the other parts of the relationship. To create passion, we have to make a decision to commit to a deeper connection. The way we do this is through intimate, erotic communication with our partner.
Sex is the physical language in which we express intimacy. It shows trust and openness and can express attraction and affection. Throughout the lifespan of a relationship, sex can repair hurt, heal grief, bond us after arguments, provide tenderness, comfort us, and help with self-esteem and self-confidence. Best of all, sex is an expression of love.

It Might Be True That 'Men Marry Their Mothers'

2008-05-12T15:31:14Z

Whether a young man's mother earned a college degree and whether she worked outside the home while he was growing up seems to have an effect years later when he considers his ideal wife, according to a study by University of Iowa sociologist Christine Whelan. High-achieving men -- those who earn salaries in the top 10 percent for their age and/or have a graduate degree -- are highly likely to marry a woman whose education level mirrors their mom's. Nearly 80 percent of the high-achieving men whose mothers had college degrees married women with college degrees, and 19 percent of them married women with graduate degrees. Of men whose moms had graduate degrees, 62 percent tied the knot with graduate degree holders, and 27 percent said "I do" to women with college degrees. Sixty-eight percent of high-achieving men agreed with the statement, "Smart women make better mothers."
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Make Marriage a Top Priority - Elburn Herald

2008-05-10T12:38:25Z

http://www.elburnherald.com/features2008/momsanddads1002.asp

Make marriage a top priority by Gwen Allen
As said in a once famous song, “Love and marriage… love and marriage, it's an institute you can't disparage.” Marriage is sacred, especially in the beginning when the hope of a happy future arrives in the exchange of “I do.” But as the years wear on and children enter the picture, bringing a lack of sleep and sometimes sanity, marriage can change, occasionally for the worse. “Most marriages hit a low point when their kids are little, because their lives revolve around the needs of the children,” said Michael Mangis, PhD, licensed psychologist and director of Heartland Counseling. “So it is easy to let the relationship go. The problem is, when the kids get older and take less of their parents' time, some couples never reconnect.” To preserve and protect the once-sacred union, Mangis said couples should take care early, before problems begin to develop. “We like to call it marriage enrichment,” Mangis said. “We want couples to begin communicating before they have a problem, either with an older couple that serves as a mentor, their pastor or a counselor. Every relationship can benefit from an outside ear, even if it is just once or twice.” With this approach, couples, especially those with little children, keep marriage front and center rather then letting it take a back seat, he said. In addition, Mangis advises couples to connect with one-on-one communication at least one night a week and to take at least one date-night out a month. “The time alone, together, should be spent in a relaxing, fun way without the focus on the kids,” Mangis said. “Don't spend this time airing frustrations, either about the kids or the relationship, because the other person may start dreading the time together.” In another way to connect, he advises couples choose a hobby that is mutually enjoyed and done preferably without children. “Dancing or a cooking class are great examples, because they allow you to do something fun together while sneaking in another date night,” Mangis said. Even better are outdoor dates, he said. It is an easy way to get exercise, reconnect with nature and each other. Couples tired of dinner and a movie may find renewed energy in the relationship from a daytime date. Mangis said although time together is good for a marriage, he also encourages time apart. “Each partner needs to have separate friends, that they enjoy separate activities with, like bowling or going out for coffee,” Mangis said. “Having their own hobby or separate friends actually helps the marriage, as long as it is equal time out.” Although time away from kids, either together or apart, is needed for a healthy marriage, he said a lot of couples remain reluctant in fear of hurting their children. “It's actually good and healthy (for children) to learn and cope with other caring adults other then their parents,” Mangis said. “It builds their confidence, so you're not taking something away from them; rather you are modeling a healthy relationship.” Heartland Counseling, in Elburn, is a nonprofit organization that provides a full range of psychological services for all ages. For ideas to stay connected to your spouse, turn to page 7B 05/09/2008

Cool kids can help others avoid smoking: study | Health | Reuters

2008-05-09T21:31:14Z

Getting the cool kids to talk to their peers about the dangers of smoking cut the number of young people who started using cigarettes in one study by nearly 25 percent, British researchers said on Friday.

The study published in the journal Lancet took a different approach than most tobacco cessation programs aimed at youths by asking students to nominate others they viewed as influential or leaders to spread the anti-smoking message.

This peer selection proved more effective than conventional programs and greatly reduced the number of students likely to start smoking, the researchers said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSL0811076420080508

Teens, Marijuana Use & Depression

2008-05-09T12:06:33Z

Millions of teens report feeling hopeless and losing interest in everyday activities for weeks at a time. And many of these teens are making a bad situation worse by using marijuana and other drugs in an effort to make themselves feel better. Research shows that using marijuana can worsen depression and lead to more serious mental health problems. In fact, teens who used marijuana at least once a month in the past year are three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than teens who don’t use marijuana.1 For parents, this means it’s critical to pay closer attention to your teen’s behavior and mood swings, and recognize that marijuana and other drugs could be playing a dangerous role in your child’s life. Follow these steps to help prevent and recognize marijuana use in your home: 1. Talk to your teen -- Young people who learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50 percent less likely to try drugs than those who don’t get that same information from their parents.2 You are the most important influence in your teen’s life when it comes to drugs, so make sure your teen knows the facts about marijuana. 2. Set clear rules -- Discuss your expectations with your children, setting rules with clear consequences for breaking them, as well as praising and rewarding good behavior. 3. Recognize signs and symptoms -- There are a number of ways to identify whether your child is having psychological problems related to marijuana use. Look for signs of depression, withdrawal, hostility, etc. If you think your child might be depressed, be on the lookout for these symptoms: loss of appetite, feeling blue, loss of interest in things that used to be of interest, being bothered by things that previously were not bothersome, and not feeling hopeful about the future.3 You should also note if your child is doing well in school, getting along with friends, or taking part in sports or other activities. If there have been marked changes in your teen’s activities, it’s time to do some more homework. Look for evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers and so on; missing prescription drugs—especially narcotics and mood stabilizers; and bottles of eye drops, which mask bloodshot eyes. 4. Get help -- Depression is one of the most common emotional problems for teens and the good news is that it’s also one of the most treatable conditions. If you recognize any of the above signs in your child’s behavior, there are many helpful organizations for families. Consult these resources for more information or turn to your family physician for advice.
http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/mjmh-depression.asp

Psychiatric Profile Of Teenagers At Risk For Committing Violent Acts, School Shootings

2008-05-08T13:20:34Z

Oregon Health & Science University psychiatrist Jerald Block, M.D., will present new research on the psychiatric factors that can lead to school shootings.There have been at least a dozen school shootings in American schools and universities within the past three years, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 students. In 1998 Oregon's Thurston High School in Springfield was the scene of a school shooting in which two students were killed and 25 others wounded.
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After Divorce, Stable Families Help Minimize Long-term Harm To Children

2008-05-08T13:18:37Z

For children of divorce, what happens after their parents split up may be just as important to their long-term well-being as the divorce itself. A new study found that children who lived in unstable family situations after their parents divorced fared much worse as adults on a variety of measures compared to children who had stable post-divorce family situations. “For many children with divorced parents, particularly young ones, the divorce does not mark the end of family structure changes – it marks the beginning,” said Yongmin Sun, co-author of the study and associate professor of sociology at Ohio State University’s Mansfield campus.
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Prayer alone may not treat depression

2008-05-02T11:48:12Z

DEAR DR. GRAHAM: Is it a sin to be depressed? The doctor says I have a chemical imbalance in my brain that he can treat with medication, but a friend of mine says I shouldn't do this because I just need to pray and have more faith. Who is right? I can't stand this much longer. -- Mrs. A.B.
DEAR MRS. A.B.: Let me ask you a question: If you broke your arm in an accident, do you think your friend would claim it was a sin for you to have a broken arm, and all you needed to do was pray? I doubt it. Neither is it a sin for you to seek treatment for a chemical imbalance in your brain. The Bible says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) -- and it's true: Our bodies and minds are very complex. Although doctors can't solve all our problems, we should be grateful that God has enabled them to understand more about our bodies and minds, and has given them new ways to overcome many of our problems. Don't feel that you are somehow sinning by seeking treatment for your depression; it would be wrong for you not to seek treatment. Don't misunderstand me, however. God has given us the gift of prayer, and prayer should be an important part of your life as you struggle with this problem. Through prayer we draw near to God, and the closer we get to Him, the more we will realize that He loves us and wants to help us. Make sure of your commitment to Christ, and then ask Him to guide you as you seek treatment. In addition, let God's promises saturate your mind and heart. The psalmist wrote, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? ... Put your hope in God" (Psalm 42:5). Contact the Rev. Billy Graham c/o Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201, phone 877-247-2426, or see the Web site billygraham.org.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/graham/358240_billy502.html