Low Pre-Teen Self Esteem Often Leads to Drug Addiction
Look into the past of many 20-year-old drug addicts and you will find a child with low self-esteem.
Pre-teens with a bad self-image and the wrong circle of friends can end up with a drug problem by the time they clear their teenage years – according to a new study. Researchers at Florida State University say low self-esteem and approval of drug use by a child’s peers are a volatile mix.
“Low self-esteem is kind of the spark plug for self-destructive behaviors, and drug use is one of these, says FSU sociology professor John Taylor. “It’s a fundamental need to have a good sense of self.”
The researchers published their results after looking at a diverse group of nearly 900 boys over a nine-year period.
Source: Florida State University
More Girls Than Boys Ending Up with High School Diplomas
If trends continue, graduations will become an all-girl event.
According to the Manhattan Institute, about 72 percent of girls graduated in the high school class of 2003. Among boys in that same year, however, only 65 percent graduated.
And that gap is greater among minorities. The report says 59 percent of African-American girls graduated that year, compared to 48 percent of African-American boys – with similar statistics among Hispanic students.
Source: New York Times
Teens Lacking Required Sleep
Tired of dragging your exhausted teen out of bed in the morning? You’re not alone.
A new poll by the National Sleep Foundation says America is raising a generation of sleep-deprived teenagers.
According to the survey, only 20% of teens are getting the recommended nine hours of sleep on school nights. About a quarter of all teens also report dozing off while in class.
Many teens are late to class because they tend to stay up late and schools tend to start early, experts say.
Sources: Associated Press, Seattle Times
Teen Earnings Can Create Family Friction
Whose money is it?
Three out of four U.S. teenagers now hold part-time jobs that earn them at least $50 a week. And that take-home pay is creating dilemmas for some parents.
The issue, often, is whether a teenager’s earnings should be spent or saved. Two-thirds of high school seniors surveyed say they bank almost none of their earnings. According to a yearly survey by the University of Michigan, half the teens polled say they disagreed with their parents about money.
Source: Wall Street Journal
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