RAND Research Topic: Child Health 2012-05-24T14:12:43Z Copyright (c) 2012, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation http://www.rand.org/topics/child-health.html Influence of Peers and Friends on Children's and Adolescents' Eating and Activity Behaviors http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201200114.html Jun 1, 2012 Jun 1, 2012 In this article, we synthesize the empirical literature on the influence of peers and friends on youth's eating and physical activity. Webcast: Getting to Outcomes in Underage Drinking Prevention http://www.rand.org/blog/2012/05/webcast-getting-to-outcomes-in-underage-drinking-prevention.html May 21, 2012 May 21, 2012 In honor of National Underage Drinking Prevention Day, there will be a live, interactive webcast today (May 21) about successful approaches and resources to prevent underage drinking. The issue of underage drinking may sometimes be overshadowed by other forms of substance use, but it remains a steady and significant problem in the United States. How Do Soldiers&rsquo; Deployments Affect Children&rsquo;s Academic Performance and Behavioral Health? http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9651.html Apr 9, 2012 Apr 9, 2012 With regard to Army families, the study examines the effects of long and frequent parental deployments on children&rsquo;s academic performance as well as their emotional and behavioral well-being in the school setting. Concurrent Mental Health Therapy Among Medicaid-enrolled Youth Starting Antipsychotic Medications http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120033.html Apr 1, 2012 Apr 1, 2012 The authors of this study examined the extent to which youths being prescribed antipsychotic medications were receiving concurrent mental health therapy. Scheduling of Newly Emerging Drugs: A Critical Review of Decisions Over 40 Years http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120050.html Apr 1, 2012 Apr 1, 2012 This study seeks to assess more comprehensively the results of decisions on whether and how to 'schedule' (i.e. to determine their legal status and penalties to be applied for sale or possession) newly emerging drugs. Junk Foods in Schools and Childhood Obesity http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120030.html Apr 1, 2012 Apr 1, 2012 The availability of junk food does not significantly increase BMI or obesity among a group of fifth-graders even though they are likely to buy junk food. Intergenerational Relationships Between the Smoking Patterns of a Population-Representative Sample of US Mothers and the Smoking Trajectories of Their Children http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100285.html Apr 1, 2012 Apr 1, 2012 The authors assessed intergenerational transmission of smoking in mother-child dyads. Web-Based Tool for Parents of Children with Flu-Like Symptoms Piloted at DC-Area Hospitals http://www.rand.org/news/press/2012/03/15.html Mar 15, 2012 Mar 15, 2012 Researchers from the RAND Corporation and other institutions have begun pilot-testing a web-based tool designed to help parents and adult caregivers determine whether to seek urgent medical attention for a sick child with flu-like symptoms. Resisting Smoking When a Best Friend Smokes: Do Intrapersonal and Contextual Factors Matter? http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100222.html Feb 29, 2012 Feb 29, 2012 The strong link between having a best friend who smoked and increased adolescent smoking isn't affected by individual factors such as self-esteem, depressing and access to cigarettes. Voluntary After-School Program Can Reduce Alcohol Use Among Middle School Children http://www.rand.org/news/press/2012/02/08.html Feb 8, 2012 Feb 8, 2012 If prevention researchers build programs with developmentally relevant content, and provide this content in an engaging, confidential, and non-judgmental way, it can help middle school-aged children avoid alcohol. Does Neighborhood Food Environment Predict Youth Diets? http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120028.html Feb 29, 2012 Feb 29, 2012 It's widely assumed that living near fast-food restaurants and convenience stores encourages overconsumption, while supermarkets encourage healthier diets. However, an analysis found no robust link between food environment and consumption in youths, indicating a more complicated relationship than some theories suppose. The Association of Health Insurance and Disease Impairment with Reported Asthma Prevalence in U.S. Children http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120011.html Feb 1, 2012 Feb 1, 2012 This article tests the hypotheses that reported asthma prevalence is higher among insured than uninsured children and that insurance-based differences in asthma diagnosis, treatment, and health care utilization are associated with disease severity. Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Patterns of Evolving Care During the First Treatment Episode http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120025.html Feb 1, 2012 Feb 1, 2012 This study sought to better understand factors associated with different patterns of treatment among children starting treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Support for Students Exposed to Trauma (Japanese translation) http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR675z1.html Jan 13, 2012 Jan 13, 2012 Japanese translation of <em>Support for Students Exposed to Trauma</em>, including a series of teacher- or school counselor–led lessons aimed at reducing distress for middle school students who have been exposed to a traumatic life event. The program includes skill-building techniques geared toward changing maladaptive thoughts and promoting positive behaviors. Social Distance and Homophily in Adolescent Smoking Initiation http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120067.html Jan 1, 2012 Jan 1, 2012 The association between peer smoking and adolescent smoking initiation appears to be due to both peer selection and direct influence. Voluntary After-School Program Can Reduce Alcohol Use Among Middle School Children http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120042.html Feb 8, 2012 Feb 8, 2012 If prevention researchers build programs with developmentally relevant content, and provide this content in an engaging, confidential, and non-judgmental way, it can help middle school-aged children avoid alcohol. Is the Intergenerational Transmission of Smoking from Mother to Child Mediated by Children's Behavior Problems? http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120041.html Jan 1, 2012 Jan 1, 2012 In this paper, we examine the possibility that maternal smoking during pregnancy may set off a behavioral trajectory for the child that increases the likelihood of problem behaviors generally, of which smoking is one manifestation. Association of Childhood Abuse with Homeless Women's Social Networks http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120032.html Jan 1, 2012 Jan 1, 2012 The effects of childhood physical abuse should be more actively investigated in clinical settings, especially those frequented by homeless women. Targeting Anti-Smoking Messages: Does Audience Race Matter? http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201200107.html Jan 1, 2012 Jan 1, 2012 This study examined whether an adolescent's self-identified race moderates the perceived effectiveness of anti-smoking messages. Take-up of Public Insurance and Crowd-Out of Private Insurance Under Recent CHIP Expansions to Higher Income Children http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120099.html Jan 1, 2012 Jan 1, 2012 The CHIP expansions to children in higher income families were associated with limited uptake of public coverage.