Latest news with #FutureofFamiliesandChildWellbeingStudy
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How having a sleepy teen could save your kid from a future heart attack
For parents with a sleepy teenager, less variable sleep patterns could be a sign of a healthier future for their child. Teens who had better sleep habits at age 15 were found to have improved heart health seven years later, researchers at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine said on Monday. The healthy sleep habits include falling asleep and waking up earlier, spending a lower percentage of time in bed awake, and having lower variability in total sleep time and sleep onset. Average total sleep time did not predict future cardiovascular health. In teens, cardiac incidents are rare, but they can occur. Approximately 2,000 young and seemingly healthy people under the age of 25 die each year of sudden cardiac arrest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart attacks in people under 40 have been increasing over the past decade, the Cleveland Clinic notes. 'Given the importance of sleep health for physical health and well-being in the short-term, we were not surprised to see a lasting association between adolescent sleep timing, sleep maintenance efficiency, and sleep variability with cardiovascular health in young adulthood,' Dr. Gina Marie Mathew, a senior post-doctoral associate in public health at Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine, explained in a statement. 'It was unexpected, however, that with and without adjustment for potentially confounding factors, total sleep time during adolescence was not a significant predictor of cardiovascular health during young adulthood,' she added. 'This single null finding, of course, does not indicate that total sleep time is unimportant. Rather, when paired with other studies, these findings underscore the complexity of sleep health and the need to consider multiple sleep dimensions as potential targets for promoting and maintaining cardiovascular health.' Mathew was the lead data analyst and author of the National Institutes of Health-backed research that was presented on Sunday at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting. To reach these conclusions, the researchers analyzed data from Princeton and Columbia University's Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study: the longest-running and only contemporary U.S. birth cohort study of young adults based on a national sample. Their data included 307 adults, the majority of whom were girls. At age 15, participants wore a device on their wrist for a week to measure sleep variables. At age 22, their cardiovascular health was assessed using their diet, physical activity, exposure to nicotine, body mass index, and measurements of fats in the blood, blood sugar, and blood pressure. They were scored based on these factors using the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8. Teens between the ages of 13 and 18 years old should sleep eight to 10 hours regularly to promote optimal health, the academy said. Getting the recommended number of hours is associated with improved attention, behavior, memory, mental and physical health, and other positive outcomes. However, Mathew pointed out that the results highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach to address the relationship between adolescent sleep health and cardiovascular health. 'Future research and recommendations should emphasize the importance of multiple dimensions of sleep health, including earlier sleep timing, higher sleep maintenance efficiency, and lower sleep variability as protective factors for long-term heart health,' she said.
Newsweek
17-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
I Interviewed 1,400 Depressed Dads—What I Learned About How It Affects Kids
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In popular culture, fathers are often portrayed as strong, stoic and endlessly reliable. But new research has outlined a different reality, one where fathers struggle too. As an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Kristine Schmitz spent years studying how parental mental health affects children. Recently, Schmitz and her colleagues published a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, revealing that children exposed to paternal depression around age five are far more likely to experience behavioral challenges in grade school. The study analyzed data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national birth cohort that tracked children and their parents from birth. The investigation specifically focused on 1,422 fathers who were screened for depressive symptoms when their children were five years old, Schmitz told Newsweek. Four years later, when the children were nine, their teachers reported on their behavior. "Children of fathers who were depressed around the time the child entered school were more likely to display behavioral challenges such as hyperactivity, oppositional behavior and ADHD symptoms," she said. Essentially, when dads struggled, their children often did too. The study used a standardized screening tool to identify symptoms of paternal depression, such as sadness, loss of interest in activities and low energy. Portrait of father and little daughter on playground. Portrait of father and little daughter on playground. Renata Angerami What mattered was not which symptoms the fathers experienced, but whether they met the threshold for likely depression. One of the most surprising aspects of the findings was timing, Schmitz told Newsweek. Most previous research has focused on paternal depression during the postpartum period. "Behavior problems were observed years later, when the children were nine, suggesting that paternal mental health continues to matter well beyond infancy," she said. Children facing emotional or behavioral challenges at this stage may struggle to build healthy peer relationships, which can affect their learning and self-esteem. The impact of paternal depression on a child is significant, as depression can hinder a father's capacity to interact positively with his child. It may lead to less emotional support, more conflict at home or simply a lack of presence—fathers who are mentally unwell may become withdrawn. "However, the pathways may differ due to differing parenting roles and societal expectations," Schmitz said. "While both are impactful, fathers have historically been less studied and less likely to be screened or supported, despite their equally critical role in a child's development." Mothers and fathers often have distinct roles in a child's life, and children may respond differently to each parent's emotional state. The findings outlined that paternal mental health is just as critical as maternal mental health. To address this issue, it's essential to acknowledge the importance of fathers' mental health. Healthcare providers, including pediatricians and family physicians, should implement screening protocols for depression that encompass both parents, rather than focusing solely on mothers. But it's not enough to simply identify depression. Schmitz told Newsweek there's a need father-specific interventions. "Programs should be accessible, father-friendly and designed with their voices heard," she said. In the end, addressing paternal depression is not just about helping fathers, it's about supporting entire families. When fathers are mentally healthy, they are better able to provide emotional support, model resilience, and build strong, loving relationships with their children. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about mental health? Let us know via science@ Reference Schmitz, K., Noonan, K., Corman, H., Nguyen, J. M., Jimenez, M. E., & Reichman, N. E. (2025). Paternal Depression at Kindergarten Entry and Teacher-Reported Behavior at Age 9 Years. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
