Generation Next Blog

August 2013

Glue ear mystery solved

By |2013-08-17T13:53:33+10:00August 17th, 2013|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol, Science & Research|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Dr Thornton and her team discovered that sticky nets of DNA hide the bacteria in the ears of kids with recurrent middle-ear infections, and evade antibiotic treatment by creating impenetrable slimy biofilms. The researchers are targeting these nets with a drug that has already proven its ability to help kids with cystic fibrosis by breaking [...]

Australian girls shun swimming, cycling because of body fears

By |2013-08-17T13:46:47+10:00August 17th, 2013|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

AT least 200,000 Australian girls aged between 10 and 17 are not swimming because they feel bad in bathers, a survey suggests. More than 70 per cent in the age group feel internal and external pressure to look beautiful and 17 per cent avoid activities such as going to the beach or riding a bike. [...]

5 Questions About Happiness Science Can’t Answer

By |2013-08-17T13:21:30+10:00August 17th, 2013|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing|Tags: , , , , , , |

There is a lot of information out there about what might or might not make us happy.  But it's important to remember that all of those insights and findings are really suggestions. They may be based on science, interviewing, or personal experience, but they can never be declared universally appropriate. via 5 Questions About Happiness [...]

You are not alone: Facebook use linked with unhappiness

By |2013-08-17T13:34:17+10:00August 16th, 2013|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing|Tags: , , , , , |

Scientists found the more time people spent on Facebook over a two-week period, the worse they subsequently felt. In contrast, talking to friends on the phone or meeting them in person led to greater levels of happiness. via You are not alone: Facebook use linked with unhappiness.

Limited success for child abuse prevention programs

By |2013-08-11T20:34:35+10:00August 11th, 2013|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , |

In a review conducted for the USPSTF, researchers from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland analyzed 10 studies of child abuse prevention programs involving home visitors in the U.S., UK and New Zealand and one intervention done in a Baltimore clinic. Those studies included families at higher risk of child abuse based on responses [...]

How to Do Kindness in school

By |2013-08-11T16:54:49+10:00August 11th, 2013|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Following last week’s column regarding Random Acts of Kindness, I received a lot of correspondence asking me how we implemented the activity.   So I thought I would share exactly how we did the RAK activity at our school.   We did the activity with fifty Year 10 students.   We secretly assigned each member [...]

Five lies the weight loss industry wants you to believe

By |2013-08-11T15:40:33+10:00August 11th, 2013|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

1. Weight loss is a simple matter of willpower We’ve all heard that weight loss is easy. People just need some good old-fashioned will power. This myth is so ingrained in our culture that it’s assumed that a person with a fat body is lazy and undisciplined which can lead to discrimination in employment opportunities and by health care professionals. "Most people [...]

Mackenzie Rosman strips for Maxim magazine

By |2013-08-11T20:17:34+10:00August 11th, 2013|Categories: Society & Culture, Technology|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

The problem is that this is an accepted rite of passage for former female child stars, which means that there’s a culture of managers, agents and PR people who keep the cogs of the objectification industry well oiled. via Mackenzie Rosman strips for Maxim magazine.

Parenting, american style

By |2013-08-11T15:04:18+10:00August 11th, 2013|Categories: Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , |

If we keep parenting like this, civilization as we know it is doomed. There is a new breed of toddler on the loose; he has discriminating tastes, he makes decisions, and he weighs in on conversations that no toddler has previously been asked to participate in. Do you know this toddler? My guess is we [...]

Go to Top