Youth suicide trends vary across countries and by sex

First study to compare trends side by side across three countries using the most recent data including both teenagers and young adults

Boston University School of Medicine

Boston—Suicide remains a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults worldwide. However, recent global data reveal heterogeneous suicide trends across regions.

A new study by researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has found that suicide rates among young people (ages 10-29) are moving in very different directions across countries. In the U.S. and Canada, most groups of young people are seeing stable or even declining rates, except for Canadian teenage girls, who continue to show increases. In South Korea, however, suicide rates among both young men and women have sharply increased in recent years, especially among young women.

“One especially important finding for the U.S. is that, after decades of increases, youth suicide rates have recently begun to level off or even decline in several groups. This is the first clear signal of reversal in many years and may reflect the impact of recent prevention programs,” says corresponding author Seungbin Oh, PhD, LPC, NCC, assistant professor of psychiatry. “However, in the U.S., young men still carry the highest overall suicide rates, reminding us that they continue to account for a disproportionate share of suicidal deaths, even as overall trends improve.”

Using national death records from the U.S., Canada and South Korea, the researchers reviewed every suicide death among young people ages 10-29 from 2001 to 2023. They then used Joinpoint Regression Program software to analyze trends and identify periods when suicide rates were rising, falling or staying the same, which allowed them to see when the trends shifted and how patterns differed by age group and gender.

According to the researchers, understanding where suicide rates are rising versus falling is essential for preventing further loss of life.

“Suicide prevention is not ‘one size fits all,’” Oh said. “The data emphasizes the importance of sustaining and strengthening prevention. Clinically, this suggests that prevention must be tailored not only by country but also by gender and age group.”

These findings appear online in the Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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Journal

Journal of Preventive Medicine

DOI

10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108399 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Temporal trends in suicide among adolescents and young adults in the United States, Canada, and South Korea: 2001-2023

 

Why do young people buy loot boxes in video games?

University of Plymouth

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The first tool designed to understand why young video gamers purchase loot boxes – digital items in games that offer random rewards after purchase – could potentially help identify early signs of gaming-related harms, researchers have said.

Recent estimates have suggested that 89% of children and young people are now playing video games, and the gaming industry is projected to be worth $321 billion by 2026.

Such increases have prompted NHS England to raise concerns about loot boxes exposing children and young people to gambling-like experiences, and some countries have already introduced regulations.

As such, the new study provided a detailed examination of the youth Reasons and Facilitators for Loot box Engagement (yRAFFLE) scale, which is designed to provide answers to the growing – but presently unanswered – concerns around the motivations of children and young people who buy chance-based items in games.

The research involved 506 young people aged between ten and 14, who completed a survey about the reasons behind their loot box purchases.

It found that enhancement – buying loot boxes to increase enjoyment or excitement – was the strongest motivation, but that distraction/compulsion and fear of missing out (also referred to as FOMO) also showed strong relationships with potentially problematic gaming.

The study is published in the BMC Digital Health journal as part of a special edition on Digital Gaming and Health. It was conducted by researchers from the University of Plymouth and the University of Wolverhampton, and builds on extensive previous research in Plymouth linking loot boxes to problem gambling in adults.

Dr Ryan Statton, a Research Fellow in the University of Plymouth’s School of Psychology, is the study’s lead author. He said: “Loot boxes generate billions in revenue for the gaming industry. While we understand why adults buy them, up to this point we have known very little about children and young people's motivations. Understanding that is particularly important as young people may be more vulnerable to experiencing gaming-related harms.”

Professor Helen Lloyd, Professor of Applied Social and Cultural Psychology in Plymouth and senior author on the study, added: "This research doesn't suggest that all loot box purchasing is harmful. But it gives us a scientifically validated way to identify potential risk factors early, which could inform both educational interventions and policy discussions."

The tool confirms that the same seven core motivations found in adults – enhancement, progression, social pressure, distraction/compulsion, altruism, fear of missing out, and resale – apply to children and young people.

The current study forms part of a larger and ongoing project investigating the relationships between loot box purchasing, gaming, personality and psychosocial functioning in Key Stage 2 and 3 adolescents.

Co-author Dr James Close, Associate Professor in Medicine and Psychology at Plymouth, said: “This validation study is part of our broader work examining gambling and gaming-related harms. Understanding the mechanisms that might lead to harm is essential for developing effective measures and prevention strategies, particularly for young people in this case.”

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Journal

BMC Digital Health

DOI

10.1186/s44247-025-00160-w 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Validation of the yRAFFLE: an implementation of the RAFFLE inventory for loot box engagement in a youth cohort

Article Publication Date

5-Sep-2025

 

Teen loneliness triggers ‘reward seeking’ behaviour

University of Cambridge

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Adolescents spent time alone and completed various tasts to test their response to short periods of isolation.

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Credit: Emily Towner

\A study has found that adolescents become highly motivated to seek rewards after just a few hours of social isolation. This may be beneficial in driving them towards social interaction, but when opportunities for connection are limited could lead them to pursue less healthy rewards like alcohol or drugs.

When we feel socially isolated, our brain motivates us to seek rewards. Current theory holds that this is a beneficial evolutionary adaptation to help us reconnect with others.

The University of Cambridge-led study found that people in their late teens are very sensitive to the experience of loneliness. After just a few hours without any social interaction, adolescents make significantly more effort to get rewards.  

This increased motivation to seek rewards can help with social reconnection. But when connecting with others is not possible, the behaviour change might be problematic – for example, by making some people more prone to seek out rewards such as alcohol or recreational drugs.

The study found that the effect was stronger in adolescents who reported feeling lonelier while in isolation. When study participants were allowed to interact with others on social media during isolation, they reported feeling less lonely – and their reward-seeking behaviour changed less dramatically as a result.

The report is published today in the journal Communications Psychology.

“Our study demonstrates just how sensitive young people are to very short periods of isolation,” said Dr Livia Tomova, first author of the report, who conducted the study while in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge.

“We found that loneliness significantly increases adolescents’ motivation to seek out rewards – whether that’s more social contact, money, or something else,” added Tomova, who is now based at the University of Cardiff.

Studies suggest that adolescent loneliness has doubled worldwide over the past decade. Social media has been suggested as the culprit, but the researchers say many other changes in society could also be to blame.

“Social media can lead to loneliness in some adolescents, but our study suggests that this relationship is complex,” said Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Psychology, senior author of the report.

She added: “Virtual interaction with others seems to make isolated teens less driven to seek external rewards, compared to when they are isolated without access to social media. That suggests social media might reduce some of the negative effects of isolation – but of course we don’t know what potentially harmful effects it might have at the same time.”

While study participants got less bored and lonely in isolation if they had access to social media, they still experienced the same decrease in positive mood as those without access.

Social interaction is a basic human need, and lack of it leads to loneliness. Until now there has been very limited understanding of how loneliness affects adolescent behaviour, with most scientific experiments carried out in animal models.

HOW WAS THE STUDY DONE?

Researchers recruited young people from the local area in Cambridge, UK, conducting extensive screening to gather a group of 40 adolescents aged 16-19 who had good social connections, no history of mental health problems, and average levels of loneliness for their age group.

Participants were given initial tests to establish their baseline score for each task. Then on two different days, they were asked to spend between three and four hours alone in a room before completing the same computer-based tasks again.

On one of the isolation days participants had no social interaction at all, but on the other they had access to virtual social interactions through their phone or laptop.

The study found that when virtual interactions were available, almost half the participants spent over half their time online – predominantly using Snapchat, Instagram and WhatsApp to message their friends.

Overall, the study found that participants became more motivated to look at images of positive social interactions, and to play games where they could win money, after being in isolation for around four hours. They were also better at learning how to get these rewards in ‘fruit machine’-type games.

If they could interact virtually with others while in isolation, they reported feeling less lonely. They were also less inclined to make an effort in the tasks than when they didn’t have virtual social interaction during their isolation.

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Journal

Communications Psychology

DOI

10.1038/s44271-025-00306-6 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Acute isolation is associated with increased reward seeking and reward learning in human adolescents

Article Publication Date

5-Sep-2025

 

Clean air, natural spaces, healthy diets and strong social bonds linked to lower inflammation in childhood

Early-life environments influence immune regulation at the protein and cellular level, supporting cardiometabolic, respiratory, and neurodevelopmental health

Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)

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According to a new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by ”la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with INSERM - Université Grenoble Alpes, better indoor air quality, proximity to natural spaces, healthy diets, and strong social networks are associated with reduced and better-regulated inflammation in childhood. The findings, published in Environment International, offer new insights into how early-life environmental exposures shape long-term immune function and overall health.

The environment we grow up in plays a critical role in shaping our lifelong health. The exposome refers to the totality of environmental exposures from conception onward, including factors such as air pollution, nutrition, stress, and social context. While many studies have explored how individual environmental factors affect children’s health, few have examined their shared impact, particularly on immune system regulation, which is a central pathway in the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and respiratory disorders. 

This study is based on the Human Early Life Exposome (HELIX) cohort in the framework of the ATHLETE project, which includes 845 children from six population-based birth cohorts in the UK (BiB), France (EDEN), Spain (INMA), Lithuania (KANC), Norway (MoBa) and Greece (RHEA). “We investigated how a wide range of pre- and postnatal environmental exposures influence immune function in children and how those immune profiles relate to their cardiometabolic, respiratory/allergic, and neurodevelopmental health”, explains Léa Maitre, coordinator of the Exposome Hub at ISGlobal and last author of the study.

 

Assessing the impact of early-life environments

The authors examined 91 different environmental exposures occurring during pregnancy and childhood. These were grouped into 13 exposure families, including outdoor exposures, such as air pollution and surrounding green and blue spaces; indoor exposures, including household air pollutants and chemical agents; lifestyle factors, such as diet physical activity, sleep and tobacco exposure; and socioeconomic indicators, like parental education, income and social support.

“To assess immune health, we analyzed blood samples from each child using three biological layers: white blood cell composition, plasma protein concentrations and genome-wide DNA methylation of white blood cells”, says Ines Amine, researcher at INSERM - Grenoble Alpes University and first author of the study.

Advanced statistical models were used to identify immune “signatures”—patterns in the immune system—that were associated with a composite health score combining respiratory, metabolic, and cognitive outcomes. A high-dimensional reduction algorithm, Regularized Generalized Canonical Correlation Analysis (RGCCA), was utilized for this purpose. RGCCA is particularly well-suited for multi-omics data integration in exposome studies. This work was carried out in collaboration with the University Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CentraleSupélec.

 

Immune profiles associated with better health scores

The study found three types of immune signatures in children that were linked to better overall health. Two were based on proteins in the blood and showed lower levels of inflammation. The third pattern was based on white blood cells and showed a more balanced and well-regulated immune system. These beneficial immune signatures were linked to specific environmental exposures during childhood: better indoor air quality, proximity to blue spaces (e.g., lakes, rivers, coastlines), healthier dietary patterns and higher levels of social capital (e.g., social engagement, family and community support).

“Our findings emphasize the importance of these environmental factors in mitigating immunotoxicity related to child health,” concludes Léa Maitre. “Improving indoor air quality, supporting healthy diets, preserving access to natural spaces, and strengthening community support systems are actionable strategies that can promote better key inflammatory processes, which hold significant clinical relevance for cardiometabolic, respiratory and neurodevelopmental health in children.”

 

Reference

Amine, I., Anguita-Ruiz, A., Guillien, A., Basagaña, X., Bustamante, M., Borràs, E., Cirach, M., Dedele, A., Dobaño, C., Garcia-Aymerich, J., Granum, B., Grazuleviciene, R., González, J. R., Julvez, J., Keun, H., López-Vicente, M., McEachan, R., Moncunill, G., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., … Maitre, L. (2025). Early-life exposome and health-related immune signatures in childhood. Environment International, 202(109668), 109668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109668

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Journal

Environment International

DOI

10.1016/j.envint.2025.109668 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

 

The UJI reflects on the scientific evaluation system and presents its team's vision

The Universitat Jaume I in Castelló has published the results of a survey among its research staff on the current model of scientific evaluation

Universitat Jaume I

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What really measures the quality of research? Beyond articles, citations, and journal impact, the way in which the work of research staff is evaluated is the focus of attention internationally. To bring this debate closer to society and the university community, the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló (UJI) has published the results of a survey conducted among its research staff on the current model of scientific evaluation.

The current system is based mainly on quantitative indicators, such as the number of publications, the position of the journals in which they are published, and the number of citations received. This approach, which is the most widely used, seeks to measure scientific performance objectively, but often overlooks aspects such as quality, social relevance, interdisciplinarity and working conditions. For this reason, the UJI wanted to give its staff a voice through a survey that gauges how this model is perceived and what changes would be desirable.

According to the results report, a significant proportion of research staff believe that, although figures can guide and stimulate work, they do not always reflect the real value of research or its impact on society. Concern is also expressed about the effect this model may have on scientific diversity and staff well-being, as well as the widespread lack of awareness of international initiatives seeking to transform this culture of evaluation, such as the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), to which the UJI is a signatory, or the Coalition to Advance Research Assessment (CoARA), of which it is an active member through its Spanish chapter.

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Credit: Universitat Jaume I of Castellón

What really measures the quality of research? Beyond articles, citations, and journal impact, the way in which the work of research staff is evaluated is the focus of attention internationally. To bring this debate closer to society and the university community, the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló (UJI) has published the results of a survey conducted among its research staff on the current model of scientific evaluation.

The current system is based mainly on quantitative indicators, such as the number of publications, the position of the journals in which they are published, and the number of citations received. This approach, which is the most widely used, seeks to measure scientific performance objectively, but often overlooks aspects such as quality, social relevance, interdisciplinarity and working conditions. For this reason, the UJI wanted to give its staff a voice through a survey that gauges how this model is perceived and what changes would be desirable.

According to the results report, a significant proportion of research staff believe that, although figures can guide and stimulate work, they do not always reflect the real value of research or its impact on society. Concern is also expressed about the effect this model may have on scientific diversity and staff well-being, as well as the widespread lack of awareness of international initiatives seeking to transform this culture of evaluation, such as the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), to which the UJI is a signatory, or the Coalition to Advance Research Assessment (CoARA), of which it is an active member through its Spanish chapter.

With the aim of bringing this debate to its community and society in general, the UJI has organized the 6th Conference on Research Ethics on 24 September at the Doctoral School. The event will include the participation of Pilar Paneque Salgado, director of the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), who will explain the changes proposed in Spain; Senena Corbalán García, who will present the work of the Spanish chapter of CoARA; and Ángel Delgado Vázquez, who will address how to integrate quantitative and qualitative assessments in a more balanced way.

The session, promoted by the Vice-Rector's Office for Research in collaboration with the European CATALISI project, will be open to all interested parties. In addition, the complete results of the survey can be consulted in the university's institutional repository and on the CoARA-UJI chapter website (https://www.uji.es/investigacio/base/coara/), where you will also find the action plan prepared by the Universitat Jaume I as an institution affiliated with the coalition.

With this set of actions, the UJI reinforces its commitment to improving the scientific evaluation system, promoting more diverse, responsible research that is connected to social needs.

 

Beavers return to the forest landscape, reviving its natural environment

University of Helsinki

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An inundated site caused by beavers and flowing into Keltaoja ditch in Evo, Finland. 

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Credit: Petri Nummi.

A long-term study spanning more than 50 years illustrates how the beavers that have returned to the Evo region in southern Finland have increased habitat biodiversity. This speaks to their significant role as ecosystem engineers, enabling a wider range of species in the area. 

Landscapes shaped by beavers provide favourable conditions for a number of species, including moose, voles and diving beetles. Beaver patches, or areas modified by beavers in nature – such as new and old inundated sites as well as beaver meadows formed after flooding – create diverse habitats that are at different stages of ecological succession, or the process of how species compositions change in ecological communities over time. As a result, a habitat suitability index calculated for different species and groups of species grew almost tenfold over a 54-year period. Thanks to beaver activity, the landscape develops to support a wider range of species and improves habitat connectivity. 

“While the positive effects of the changes brought about by beavers in the boreal region are significant, their long-term effects on biodiversity dynamics remain partly unknown. This is why long time series are needed to understand the far-reaching ecological effects of these changes,” says Senior University Lecturer Petri Nummi from the Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki.

Evo, an area in Finland that also has been planned as a national science park, is suitable for beaver research, among other lines of study, offering a unique time series on the effects of the return of beavers. This study highlights the role of beavers as natural restorers that improve the habitats of many species and boost biodiversity. 

“Beavers are returning to many areas of Europe where they were once hunted to extinction. Whereas in our prior studies we observed patches shaped by beavers, this new study helps to understand the differences between landscapes in areas where beavers occur and where they are absent,” says University Lecturer Sonja Kivinen from the University of Eastern Finland.

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Journal

Science of The Total Environment

DOI

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180341 

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Immediate facilitation and engineering legacy of beavers: 54 years of patch dynamics in a boreal landscape