Adolescents who have difficulty with impulse control may be more prone to risky sexual behavior, with consequences such as sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies. A study finds that individual differences in working memory can predict early sexual activity during adolescence.
Health and Risk Communication
![Brain](https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Brain3-360x144.png)
![](https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/150604_sodacans_500h-360x144.jpg)
Fear-Based Ads Help to Convince Teens to Cut Back on Sugary Drinks
A new study of public service advertisements (PSAs) to address obesity finds that appealing to fear – and the health consequences of too much sugar, such as diabetes and heart disease – had the greatest effect on teens’ intention to cut back on sugary beverages like soda and energy drinks.
![](https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/150327_sodabottles-360x144.jpg)
Parents Need to Know That Sports and Energy Drinks Are Not Healthy for Kids
Although many public service announcements (PSAs) about sugar-sweetened beverages emphasize that the drinks are high in sugar and calories, most parents already know that, so PSAs that take this approach to curtailing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages are likely to be ineffective, a study of Philadelphia parents has found.
![](https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/150318_bullethole-360x144.jpg)
Gun Violence Is Not Declining, Despite Drop in Homicide Rates
In a new paper published in Human Communication Research, researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center and the Ohio State University show that gun injury rates are a more sensitive indicator of the trend in gun violence than gun homicide rates.