The week's best parenting advice: January 26, 2021

The science of moody teens, a new use for old typewriters, and more

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1. Moods are contagious

Teenagers are notoriously moody, and new research suggests they can "catch" grumpy moods from their friends. In a pre-pandemic study from Oxford and Birmingham universities, researchers followed 79 kids between ages 15 and 19 as they lived together for a short amount of time while performing on a music tour. The kids recorded their daily moods and social interactions, and the results confirmed that "though both positive and negative moods are 'caught,' bad moods are more potent." But the research also showed that kids lift one another up. As The Guardian explained: "Though a teenager runs the risk of catching a friend's bad mood, they can also influence them with their own more positive mood and lift them out of their misery." The researchers hope the study will help us better understand emotional wellbeing in adolescents, and "how it may be possible to provide emotional support leading to improved mental health," said study co-author Per Block, of Oxford's Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science.

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Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.