Cyberbullying Linked to Depression
A new study suggests that victims of cyberbullying are significantly more likely to experience depression than their peers—even peers who are subjected to more traditional forms of bullying. According to the study, nearly 14 percent of youth between sixth and 10th grades have been involved in some sort of cyberbullying incident either as victims or as perpetrators. More than one in five said they’ve been involved in a physical bullying incident, while a full half have been embroiled in some sort of social harassment. While victims of all types of bullying were more likely than their unbullied classmates to experience depression, those who suffered at the hands of a cyberbully were significantly more likely to be depressed. Experts aren’t surprised. Cyberbully victims are perhaps more prone to feel isolated by their bullies and less able to fight back. “With cyberbullying, you can’t get away from it,” says Heather Applegate, supervisor of diagnostic and prevention services for the Loudoun County public schools. “In order to get away, you have to stop using social networking or stop using your cell phone.” (Washington Post)

Girls Without Fathers Hit Puberty Earlier
Scientists have noted that girls are hitting puberty earlier these days, sometimes beginning the process as early as age 7. Now a study adds a new wrinkle in this trend: Girls who grow up without fathers in the house are more likely to begin puberty earlier particularly if they grow up in higher income homes. Researchers don’t know why the presence of a father would make a difference in a girl’s adolescent development, but they have a few guesses. Some suspect that fatherless homes are less stable, which may help precipitate early puberty in girls. Others believe that girls without in-house dads are exposed to more unrelated adult males, and those males’ pheromones may somehow spur adolescence. Still others believe that absent dads means mothers are working longer hours, and “weak maternal bonding” can be a factor in early development. (AOLHealth.com)

Popular Youth More Likely to Catch Flu
Misery loves company, they say. So perhaps it makes sense that popular kids—those who typically have lots of company—are more likely to catch some pretty miserable viruses. Researchers followed the fortunes of two groups of students from Harvard University: The first group was comprised of students picked at random; the second was selected through choosing friends of these random students, many of whom were named more than once. The students in the “friends” group as a rule had a wider circle of friends than those picked at random, making them more popular. Researchers found that a nasty flu virus began circulating around the “friends” group about two weeks before it started making the rounds in the random group, which make sense: The more friends you have, the more likely you’ll come into contact with someone who’s carrying a contagious disease. Scientists are pretty excited about this revelation. By keeping close tabs on the popular people, they believe it may be possible to detect the beginning of an epidemic before it hits the rest of us slobs. (Los Angeles Times)
 
Been There, Bun That
KFC is paying female college students $500 to hand out coupons for their bunless Double Down sandwiches while wearing sweatpants with “Double Down” printed on their seats. KFC says it’s a way to attract the attention of young men, whom the fast-food franchise is betting would be most interested in buying the fat-drenched, double-chicken-patty sandwich. Women’s organizations think the whole marketing scheme is a pain in the rear. “It’s so obnoxious to be using women’s bodies once again to sell fundamentally unhealthy products,” said Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women. (USA Today)