In Brief

By Lisa McLaughlin

RISKY BUSINESS A study of more than 90,000 American teens did not find the expected correlation between dangerous behavior and such factors as race, family income or family structure. Indeed, the kids most likely to drink, smoke, have sex or contemplate suicide came from all sorts of backgrounds. What they had in common was bad grades and a lot of time spent just hanging out.

THE INFERTILITY LIFESTYLE For as many as 1 out of 3 couples who have trouble becoming pregnant within a year of trying, the problem may not be medical but lifestyle related. For example, a new Australian study found that women who are either overweight or underweight have a reduced chance of conceiving, even with fertility treatment. Another study, at Bristol University, found that nonsmoking women who live with a smoking partner are 34% less likely to conceive than women who live in smoke-free homes.

A KID'S BEST FRIEND Children are often more likely to turn to pets than to people to get them through the tough times. British psychological researchers asked seven- and eight-year-olds whom they would turn to first in a variety of situations, including being sick in bed, getting bullied at school or having a special secret. Mothers, followed closely by fathers, were the top comfort choices for kids, but the family pet came before siblings, other relatives and teachers.

--By Lisa McLaughlin