The focus of this research database is on how stress affects women's health,

and options for treatment using mind-body therapies. 

If you are not a health care professional, see new "Medical Glossary" below.  

To obtain full summaries of the articles, see "How to Get Abstracts" below. 

8243455 R,T

Reviews the endocrinology of stress and the stress response, with implications for adolescent development.

1993 Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 22;3:685-700

Dorn, L. D. and Chrousos, G. P.

11590986 JA

Negative social interactions had a more intensely negative effect on physical health symptoms than did life-event stress, daily hassles, or social support. "It was not the presence of positive social interactions, but the absence of negative social interactions that was associated with better physical health."

2001 J Am Coll Health 50;2:75-9

Edwards, K. J., Hershberger, P. J., Russell, R. K., and Markert, R. J.

11925704 JA

A Canadian college health resource center survey showed that students were most interested in learning about stress management, cold and flu prevention, ergonomics and lifestyle (exercise, nutrition) issues, rather than the presumed contraception, safe sex and STD/AIDS prevention topics.

2002 Can J Public Health 93;1:63-6

Katz, A., Davis, P., and Findlay, S. S.

11801885 R,T

Analysis of risk factors, recognition and management of adolescent suicidality. Teens with gender identity issues had a four fold increased risk for suicide than other teens. Protective factors were parent-family connectedness, emotional well being, and school connectedness.

2001 Curr Opin Pediatr 13;5:417-22

Catallozzi, M., Pletcher, J. R., and Schwarz, D. F.

11847837 JA

Explores how bereaved family survivors heal by the decisions they make and the healthy bonds they create and maintain between themselves and the deceased youth.

2001 J Holist Nurs 19;2:163-86

Kalischuk, R. G. and Davies, B.

10619543 RCT

Students with learning disabilities and test anxiety who underwent a program containing relaxation, guided imagery and test-taking skills, showed significant improvement in test anxiety, study skills and academic self-esteem.

1999 J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 30;3:191-8

Wachelka, D. and Katz, R. C.

CT

Middle school teachers were trained in how to teach relaxations response exercises and self-care strategies. Students who were exposed to more than two semesters of this training had higher grade point averages, work habits and cooperation scores.

2000 Journal of Research and Development in Education 33;3:Benson, H et al

[Top]

Of 3000 Turkish teens, 26.7% had irregular periods, and 11.3% had visited a gynecologist for irregular bleeding. 38.7% had dysmenorrhea, for which 41% used pain medication--half obtained from family members and half over the counter. 46.6% had PMS symptoms.

2000 J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 13;4:171-5

Demir, S. C., Kadayyfcy, T. O., Vardar, M. A., and Atay, Y.

Of 706 Hispanic teens in grades 9-12, 85% reported dysmenorrhea, with 38% having missed school. Although dysmenorrhea was also significantly associated with decreased academic performance (59%), sports participation (50%),and socialization (46%), only 14% had seen a physician. Article suggests health professionals screen routinely for this problem.

2000 Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 154;12:1226-9

Banikarim, C., Chacko, M. R., and Kelder, S. H.

8358522 JA

In this group of Philadelphia teens, PMS symptoms were significantly related to life emotional distress levels, but menstrual cramps were not.

1993 J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 14;1:41-50

Freeman, E. W., Rickels, K., and Sondheimer, S. J.

3381677 JA

Of 305 adolescents in India, those who had knowledge about menses prior to its occurrence felt it to be a normal physiological function, whereas those not told were "appalled" and "horrified". Those who did not have prior knowledge subsequently had more irregular periods and more cramping.

1988 Adolescence 23;89:149-54

Skandhan, K. P., Pandya, A. K., Skandhan, S., and Mehta, Y. B.

11496635 JA

Only 8.7% of male and 37.9% of female Canadian students had discussed with their family physicians whether they were sexually active or not.

2001 Can J Public Health 92;3:219-22

Langille, D. B., Murphy, G. T., Hughes, J., and Rigby, J. A.

11927699 JA

Regardless of pubertal status, boys with higher self-esteem were more likely to initiate intercourse, whereas girls with more self-esteem were more likely to abstain.

2002 Pediatrics 109;4:581-4

Spencer, J. M., Zimet, G. D., Aalsma, M. C., and Orr, D. P.

11413865 R,T

Comprehensive review of studies looking at risk factors for adolescent unsafe sexual activity, with suggestions for future research.

2001 Clin Psychol Rev 21;4:493-519

Kotchick, B. A., Shaffer, A., Forehand, R., and Miller, K. S.

11804433 JA

United States adolescents, compared to those in Great Britain, Canada, France and Sweden, had higher rates of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, multiple partners and lack of use of contraceptives, even though age of first intercourse was similar.

2001 Fam Plann Perspect 33;6:244-50, 281

Darroch, J. E., Singh, S., and Frost, J. J.

11694669 JA

In teenage girls, high scores of general psychological distress were significantly predictive in the following six months of high risk sexual behavior.

2001 Pediatrics 108;5:E85

DiClemente, R. J., Wingood, G. M., Crosby, R. A., Sionean, C., Brown, L. K., Rothbaum, B., Zimand, E., Cobb, B. K., Harrington, K., and Davies, S.

11889284 JA

Teens awaiting pregnancy test results who were most positive about a possible pregnancy had "perceived partner desire for pregnancy, limited future expectations, and lack of school engagement." Possible prevention strategies might involve enhanced educational or employment aspirations.

2001 Public Health Rep 116 Suppl 1;180-93

Hellerstedt, W. L., Fee, R. M., McNeely, C. A., Sieving, R. E., Shew, M. L., and Resnick, M. D.

11571067 JA

In Australian secondary school students, 70% drank alcohol. Alcohol related violence (17%) was associated with higher doses and frequency of alcohol and peer drinking. 15% either had had sex and later regretted it or had had unsafe sex while under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol-related sexual risk-taking was closely associated with depression and anxiety symptoms.

2001 Addiction 96;10:1485-96

Bonomo, Y., Coffey, C., Wolfe, R., Lynskey, M., Bowes, G., and Patton, G.

11748012 JA

Of 134 Swiss teens, 14.2% were positive for high risk HPV. This subgroup was statistically associated with more than one sexual partner, but not age at first intercourse, frequency of intercourse, smoking or alcohol consumption.

2001 J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 14;4:171-4

Ludicke, F., Stalberg, A., Vassilakos, P., Major, A. L., and Campana, A.

7947859 JA

Although sexually active adolescent girls are uniquely vulnerable to sexually transmitted disease, cervical cancer and AIDS, this study showed that secretory IgA antibody levels in teens' cervical mucous was not statistically different than that of adults.

1994 J Adolesc Health 15;5:423-5

McGrath, J. W., Strasburger, V. C., and Cushing, A. H.

11889284 JA

Teens awaiting pregnancy test results who were most positive about a possible pregnancy had "perceived partner desire for pregnancy, limited future expectations, and lack of school engagement." Possible prevention strategies might involve enhanced educational or employment aspirations.

2001 Public Health Rep 116 Suppl 1;180-93

Hellerstedt, W. L., Fee, R. M., McNeely, C. A., Sieving, R. E., Shew, M. L., and Resnick, M. D.

[Top]

Sexual violence

11929367 JA

Of a random survey of over 1000 New York male and female adolescents, 37% were sexually active. Of these, 20% of sexually active girls and 7% of males had been forced or pressured to have sexual intercourse. Many had never told anyone about the incident, even though during the time period they had seen a primary care physician. Article urges health practitioners to screen for these issues.

2002 Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 156;4:341-4

Wilson, K. M. and Klein, J. D.

11437121 JA

Of 476 New Jersey high school students, 183 had been physically victimized in a dating relationship. Strategies used by girls, unrelated to race, were fighting back, informal help seeking, threatened or actual breakup, and crying.

2001 Violence Vict 16;3:339-48

Watson, J. M., Cascardi, M., Avery-Leaf, S., and O'Leary, K. D.

11429979 JA

In a survey of 2629 high school girls, dating violence and unwanted sexual contact elevated by 1.5-3.5 times the probability that girls would use weight control techniques such as purging or diet pills. Family environment had no modifying effect. Traumatic experiences can influence noradrenergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic and endogenous opiate systems, all of which may influence eating behavior.

2001 Int J Eat Disord 29;2:166-76

Thompson, K. M., Wonderlich, S. A., Crosby, R. D., and Mitchell, J. E.

9323496 JA

A random survey of 10,868 adolescent females from Michigan 9% had experienced sexual abuse in the past, and 1% ongoing. Past and current abuse victims had significantly more sexual partners, but these numbers were reduced if parents were supportive and monitored their teen closely.

1997 Fam Plann Perspect 29;5:204-11

Luster, T. and Small, S. A.

11476659 JA

Approximately 1 in 5 Massachusetts female high school students reported physical or sexual dating violence. These girls had a significantly increased risk of substance use, unhealthy weight control behaviors, sexual risk behaviors, pregnancy and suicidality.

2001 JAMA 286;5:572-9

Silverman, J. G., Raj, A., Mucci, L. A., and Hathaway, J. E.

9971724 JA

Discusses the subtypes of "obsessional following", and the similarities and differences between adolescent and adult stalkers. Case histories included.

1998 J Adolesc 21;6:667-75

McCann, J. T.

49% of 412 suburban NY 10th graders had used the internet for health information, which they found to be of high value. Girls, irregardless of ethnicity or mother's education, sought information on birth control, diet and nutrition, exercise, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and dating violence as most common topics.

2001 Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 155;7:813-7

Borzekowski, D. L. and Rickert, V. I.

11410100 JA

19% of 1501 10-17 year olds who used the internet regularly were targets of unwanted sexual solicitation during the previous year. 25% of these youth reported high levels of distress, more common in the younger ages, if there was aggressive solicitation, and if the solicitation occurred on a computer away from home.

2001 JAMA 285;23:3011-4

Mitchell, K. J., Finkelhor, D., and Wolak, J.

Analysis of the progression of a seductive relationship on the internet. Since there is lack of visual cues i.e. physical attractiveness, eye contact, and body language, other communicative styles emerge.

2001 Cyberpsychol Behav 4;1:147-54

Mantovani, F.