Puberty brings a cascade of changes—physical, emotional, and social. New research suggests that teens who feel prepared to handle these changes experience better mental health through puberty. [Read more…]
What Kids Need Most from Adults, and How to Deliver It
January 24, 2026 By
“Every child needs at least one adult who is irrationally crazy about him or her.”
That quote comes from developmental psychologist and long-time Cornell Professor Urie Bronfenbrenner. It’s the foundation for hundreds of youth interventions worldwide, including Cornell’s Residential Child Care Project (RCCP), a program that provides evidence-based support to staff at youth residential facilities across the globe. [Read more…]
Making a Meaningful Contribution Boosts Mental Health
January 23, 2026 By
Research finds that youth mental health has been on a downward spiral since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, 40 percent of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and 20 percent seriously considered attempting suicide. [Read more…]
How the Pandemic Changed Puberty’s Impact on Girls’ Mental Health
December 5, 2025 By
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of the U.S. in March 2020, life came to a standstill and millions of people experienced drastic changes in their lifestyles. For adolescents, this meant continuing to grow and develop despite different daily routines and circumstances, including virtual classes as schools were shut down. [Read more…]
What We Know About Residential Care for Vulnerable Youth
November 19, 2025 By
In the United States, an estimated 33,000 youth ages eight and older live in residential care facilities. And across the globe, researchers estimate that some 2.7 million young people live in residential care. [Read more…]
What Cell Phone Bans Mean for Students
November 18, 2025 By
In public schools across the country, states are implementing “bell-to-bell” cell phone bans—policies that restrict smartphone use among students throughout the entire school day. As of this fall, 30 states and territories prohibit phones, tablets, and smart watches during school hours. [Read more…]
Can We Train Students’ Brains to Be Less Biased?
October 7, 2025 By
Everyone employs bias—otherwise known as cognitive shortcuts—in their lives every day. Imagine you’re scrolling through your social media feed and immediately dismiss a news article because it comes from a source you don’t typically trust. Or maybe you’re convinced your favorite restaurant is the best in town, remembering all the great meals you’ve eaten there while forgetting that mediocre dinner last month. [Read more…]
What’s Driving Suicidal Thoughts in Young People?
September 23, 2025 By
It’s well-established that mental health among adolescents has declined over the past two decades, and researchers have been working to understand why more young people are dying by suicide. [Read more…]
How Childhood Resources Affect Risk-Taking Later in Life
September 23, 2025 By
It’s no surprise that individual families provide different types of resources to their children; for example, some are able to provide more financial resources, while others offer more robust social supports. [Read more…]
What We Know About Self-Regulation and Technology Among Kids
September 22, 2025 By
Nearly half of teenagers report being online nearly constantly, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. And “screen-time” is pervasive among younger children, surveys show.
There’s no question that today’s youth are growing up in a culture ruled by digital technology. This phenomenon affects almost every aspect of their lives, including educational opportunities, social interactions, and personal development. Self-regulation—the ability to control impulses, organize behavior, and problem-solve constructively—is an important aspect that affects how young people interact with digital technology. [Read more…]
Black Students Still Receive More Punishment in Schools
September 16, 2025 By
In 2018, a ground-breaking analysis of federal education data clearly established that Black students are disproportionately disciplined in public schools.
Since then, researchers have documented the negative effects of this disparity—encouraging defiance; harming academic achievement, school climate, and mental health; and accelerating exposure to the juvenile justice system. In response, some schools have implemented new policies and practices designed to reduce racial disparities in punishment. [Read more…]
Does Online Therapy Work For Kids?
April 29, 2025 By
Approximately 20% of teens in the U.S. experience depression by age 17. And data shows that among youth across the globe, the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms has doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more…]
