Study: Excessive texting and social networking leads to problems for teens

By Staff Writer

Researchers believe that children who excessively send text messages are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and have sex.

According to WebMD, a team of public health experts based out of Ohio found that teenagers who send at least 120 texts per day are at risk of developing unhealthy habits. The study, which examined the habits of 4,257 high school students, discovered that hyper-texters are 43 percent more likely to binge drink than those who do not excessively text.

Furthermore, hyper-texters were 55 percent more likely to engage in a physical fight and 41 percent more likely to use illicit drugs. They were also 40 percent more likely to try cigarettes than youths who limit their texting. The study also revealed that excessive texters were 90 percent more likely to report having four or more sexual partners.

In addition, students who engage in hyper-networking - spending at least three hours per day on social networking sites - are also significantly more likely to develop unhealthy behaviors.

Clinical research has been published that confirms the efficacy of the wilderness treatment modality for troubled teens. A study by the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council shows that more than 80 percent of parents report that their child's wilderness treatment experience was effective two years after the process.