WHAT IS GOOD HEALTH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
WHAT IS GOOD HEALTH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?
The Nature of Young People’s Lives
Transition from Childhood to Adulthood
- between ages of 12 – 24
- known as “Adolescence”
Characteristics of Adolescence
- rapid physical, social, emotional and mental changes
- Growth in maturity
- Moving from dependence to independence
- Developing skills (decision making, problem solving) as they face new challenges
- High level of risk taking and experimentation (due to changes and challenges)
- Learning to assume personal responsibility for their own wellbeing
- Developing a sense of self (“Who am I?” – comes with growing up and developing own identity)
Young people are a diverse group
In terms of:
Development stages – individuals mature at different rates with growth spurts affecting some earlier than others. Emotional maturity may not match physical maturity.
Level of motivation – is a result of mental attitude and emotional maturity. Can be altered by personal life experiences, family values etc. (adolescents are often labeled as “lazy” or unmotivated because their habits and values concerning leisure time conflict with those of others
Socioeconomic Background – Inequality in the distribution of wealth means that some young individuals will have limited opportunities compared to others. (Social determinants)
Socio-cultural Background – Multicultural = mix of beliefs, values, customs and traditions influence young people’s lifestyle (Social factors = gender, sexual orientation, peer relationships, education, employment, aboriginality, media, geographic location and ethnic group)
Family Influence – young people’s experience of what a ‘family life’ is varied (single parent?)
(Acronym = Don’t Look So Sad Friend?)
Influenced by a range of prevailing youth cultures
Youth culture of its own makes them unique from other age groups. There are a variety of different subcultures/subgroups within these youth cultures.
Youth culture groups:
- Assist in formation and confirmation of a young persons identity
- enable them to express their feelings about the world
- a way for them to resist the established order (refuse to conform)
- Creates own language and lifestyle to live by (excluding adults and non members)
- Dictates behaviours and looks that identify themselves to society
Examples of subculture groups = punk, emo, goth etc.
Groups can have positive / negative effects on young people
Positive = health conscious (diet/physical activity) community participation, motivation, provide support, feeling of belonging
Negative = risk taking behaviours, non participation in physical activity, competitive dieting and anti social behaviour.
However, core values of adolescence still primarily reflect the values of their parents/family when it comes to basic issues
The influence of Global events and Trends
Globalisation – complex forces that trend towards a single world society.
The impact of globalization, technological advances in communication may influence how young people view the world (violent, unsafe, cause increasing concern for humanity and the environment.) and can desensitize young people to death and warfare.
Trends from other cultures may influence clothing, recreational activities, music, sports etc.
- world news = informs of what’s happening around the world, making young people to become overly concerned.
|Global Event/ Trend |Positive Impact on young people |Negative impact on young people |
|Mass communication |-able to receive info from around the |-privacy issue |
|-internet and computing |world |-info overload (excessive worry) |
|-mobile phones |-provides instant global connection |-viruses |
|-email | | |
|-Sms | | |
|-television | | |
|Environmental Issues |-can take action and make improvements |-excessive concern |
| |-protect yourself and your health |-living in cities (high levels of |
| |-more aware and more concerned about the |pollution) results in respiratory illness|
| |impact of our lives on the environment |-skin cancer (hole in Ozone layer) |
|Economics / finances |-extending understanding about economics |-division between poor and rich |
|Oil prices increase, stockmarket, concept|and the expenses of living |-shows inequality (in the distribution of|
|that there is a bigger gap between |-greater resources |wealth = some people will have limited |
|wealthy and poor |-access to increased standard of living |opportunities) |
|Travel |-build up desire to experience other |-can be expensive |
| |cultures and go to other locations |-can be dangerous (people taking |
| |-gain insight |advantage of tourists, language barriers)|
| |-better personal intercultural |-language barriers |
| |relationships |-terrorism |
| |-greater awareness |-diseases, puts people at risk |
| |-fulfilling personal wants |-fear as a result of perceiving lack of |
| |-socially conscious and culturally |security. |
| |sensitive | |
Perceptions of Young People
- positive and negative perceptions = based on personal experience and stereotypes
- stereotyping can be harmful = can lead to people fulfilling perceived expectation (negative / positive) rather than establishing personal identity.
- Stereotypes can allow young people to be stigmatized by a minority’s behaviour (small amount of youth who are involved in crime = all youth are criminals)
Development aspects that impact on the health of young people
Psychology = young people progress through series of social and emotional ‘growth tasks’
These task characterize the transisition from childhood to adulthood
Young people will succeed at these tasks at different rates (according to social, economic, and emotional circumstances)
The way in which the tasks are managed will affect the health of young people.
|Task |Definition |Impact on young people’s health |
|Revising Roles |-young people renegotiate their roles as emerging |-greater expectations are associated with the |
|-Job identity |adults |changing role |
| |-parents give more responsibilities to child = |-young person can disconnect from family and |
| |change in roles played by young person (with every|can grow closer with friends (result as friends|
| |right = more responsibility) |tend to have a deeper understanding of what the|
| |-young people seek out new experiences that allow |young person has gone through) |
| |them to grow | |
| |-peers emerge as more important than before | |
|Clarifying Self identity |-self identity is dynamic as it is influenced by |-can lead to depression, loss of confidence and|
|-how you explain yourself to others and |changing experiences, events and choices |motivation |
|yourself (who am i?) |-if you experience positive experiences it will | |
|(age, gender, sexuality, SES, job/interest,|assist in a young person making a positive self | |
|religion, location, ethnicity, past |identity (e.g. getting good grades) | |
|experiences) |-negative experiences = negative self identity | |
| |(bad grades) | |
|Developing self sufficiency and autonomy |- ability to be able to provide for ones self |- if autonomy is achieved it enhances self |
| |without assistance and being responsible about |esteem and confidence and a sense of identity. |
| |making decisions (regarding work, diet and health)|-Increased levels of stress results if there is|
| | |no autonomy |
|Establish a sense of worth |Self esteem (feeling / opinion one has about |-poor self esteem leads to poor choices etc. |
|-developing self esteem |themselves. Can be negative/positive) |resulting in poor mental health |
| |-essential for good mental health | |
| |-SMART goals | |
| |-develop belief in own ability, hence develops | |
| |self worth | |
|Establishing education, training and |-adolescent needs to develop a concept of life |-work = impacts on finance and ability to look |
|employment pathways |long education |after own health |
| |-fulfillinf employment has capacity to affect many|-negative = ambition isn't always achieved |
| |other aspects of life. |through education |
|Establishing personal support structures |-people, places and programs that increase an |-good support networks may assist in relieving |
| |individuals ability to make health promoting |stress, providing advice and helping them to |
| |choices |cope. |
| |-strength will often be characterized by SES (e.g.|-No. of support groups, community groups, |
| |support of financial, emotional, physical and |psychologists are available |
| |mental | |
|Determining behavioural boundaries |-learning what is acceptable behaviour and what |-no boundaries = risk taking behaviour and ill |
| |isn't |health |
| |-often influenced by cultural, family and peers |-wish to challenge boundaries |
| |-society has a standard that determines these |-make succeptible to negative consequences |
| |boundaries (e.g. seatbelts) |Positive – for those who have set own |
| | |boundaries are able to accept responsibility |
| | |for their own actions |
Identify the relationship between successfully managing these developmental aspects and establishing good health
- if changing roles are not effectively managed = person never developing a sense of one’s self and not becoming independent or maturing into adulthood effectively
- can result in family break down and conflict as child tries to become more independent (rebelling and refusing to conform to rules)
- moving through this phase of developing self identity, if managed positively can allow young person to discover strengths and potential for personal growth.
- Becomes negative when young people question ability to achieve, and devalues personal growth
DO AUSTRALIA’S YOUNG PEOPLE ENJOY GOOD HEALTH?
Epidemiology of the health of young people
In 2001 most young people in Australia felt they were in good health and had a good quality of life
- 76% of young Australians aged between 15 – 17 and 59% of those aged between 18 – 24 years rated their health as excellent or very good.
- Just over 80% of young people were delighted, pleased or mostly satisfied with their quality of life. Only 4% saw their lives as unhappy or terrible.
Death rates declined for both males and females between 1982 – 2001 in the 12 – 24 age bracket.
- of all Australians who died in 2001, only 1% were young people aged 12 – 24 yrs. Of these 74% were male and 26% were female. Most of the deaths among young people were of those aged 18 – 24 years (motor vehicle accidents)
Injury and poisoning was the main cause of death among young people with transport accidents, and suicide being the most prevalent.
- injury and poisoning were the cause of just over 70% of all deaths in the 12 – 24 in 2001 almost 80% were male. Of deaths cuased by injury and poisoning 46% were transport accidents and 30% were suicide.
Most common cause of hospitalization for young people was pregnancy and childbirth (19%) followed by injury to young males (15%) mental and behavioural disorders (9%)
Hospitalisations of young people for mental disorders increased between 1996, 1997, 2000, and 2001 rate.
- rates were highest for young people aged 18 – 24
the most common causes of hospitalization for mental disorders among young people were depression, schizophrenia, reaction to servere stress and eating disorders.
- most eating disorder hospitalizations were for females, and most schizophrenia hospitalizations were for males.
Respiratory conditions, including colds, asthma and bronchitis were the most frequent cause of young people visiting the GP followed by contraception needs, sporting injuries and acne.
An increasing number of young Australians are being affected by sexually transmitted diseases.
- most common among young people is Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea.
- The rate of Chlamydia has increased by more than 3 times between 1991 and 2001.
- The rate of Gonorrhoea has increased by 5 times between 1991 and 2001
- Infections from Syphilis decreased by 56% between 1991 and 2001
Young peoples health is influenced by a sense of impunity. This can lead to an increased level of risk taking and result in accidents, drug and alcohol abuse which may result in mental health problems and risky sexual behaviours.
Patterns of morbidity and mortality
- the rate of mortality for males is higher than females for young people
- the rate of mortality for young people is declining
- there is a higher rate of morbidity for males than females
- the rate of mortality for young males in relation to road accidents is higher than females
- The main cause of mortality for young people is accidents and violence.
Comparisons of health status with that of other populations throughout Life span
• Infants and young children
- mortality rate is highest in males than females
- There is a downward trend in mortality
- Like young people, main cause of morbidity and injury
- Young children are falling sick through respiratory conditions/infections, whereas with young people there are few that are diagnosed with it.
• Older People
- older ppl are living longer as mortality rates decline
- older ppl are similarly dying from lifestyle diseases such as CVD and stroke
- Elderly ppl have a higher rate of hospitalization than any other group – males even higher
Exposure to risk factors for degenerative disease (lifestyle diseases)
- Young people = make health choices that impacts their future health status
- Young people = more likely to take greater risks with health (by smoking and drinking) as they believe their bodies can withstand the abuse
- Degenerative diseases (begin with unhealthy habits – smoking, poor nutrition) often sustained throughout life
- All signs and / or symptoms of these lifestyle diseases don’t appear until later on in life
Body Image - see assignment
Examples of initiatives for body image
Unreal Images – teaching and learning for the PHP ciriculum (video, teaching and learning activities)
- initiative of NSW Health Department
- Dissatisfaction has increased with body image (excessive dieting, development of eating disorders) is prevalent and has become a large area of concern
- Created to provide young men and women with skills to investigate how messages about ideal body types and behaviours are created.
- Assists students to understand, question and evaluate the everyday messages about socially desirable male and female bodies that are transmitted through the mass media.
- Intended audience = 12 – 18yrs (years 9 and 10 students) both male and female
- Uses characters that are easy to relate to, supports and creates discussions, worksheets to reinforce what is addressed in the magazine
- Provided information that audiences probably weren’t aware of (such as airbrushing ) which comes from a reliable source (Dolly Magazine coordinator)
Nobody’s Perfect – part of PHP teaching ciriculum
- developing beliefs and attitudes, developing healthy eating habits
- promotes positive body image
- provides suggested activities and hand outs
- looks at the influences of body image
Both of these initiatives focuses on Developing Personal Skills and Creates Supportive Environments (OTTAWA CHARTER)
Risk Taking and Road Related Injuries
Motor vehicle accidents (driver, passengers, pedestrians and other road users)
Definition of risk taking = can refer to both positive or socially approved behaviours e.g. rock climbing – can have negative effects. Or negative deviant behaviours (drink driving, speeding etc.) For young people, risk taking behaviours concerned negative driving behaviour, substance abuse STI (unprotected sexual activity) and criminal activity.
Statistics of drivers and motorcycle riders in fatal crashes mostly all males
|Year |1999 |2000 |2001 |2002 |2003 |
|Under 17 |4 |7 |7 |2 |6 |
|17 – 20 |105 |109 |95 |88 |85 |
|21 - 25 |98 |113 |85 |73 |96 |
|Total |207 |229 |187 |163 |187 |
Trends decrease as a result of health promotion and awareness of safe driving (Youth Road Safety in NSW rta) and graduated licensing scheme (Provisional liscences and alcohol restrictions)
- young drivers are over represented in crashes
- people under 26 make only 15% of driver liscences, but are involved in over 36% of road fatalities. (lack of experience, young = more likely to participate in risky behaviours)
- Main reason that young drivers have accidents is because of Speeding (attempt to in order to impress peers)
- Having passengers in the car alters the way a person drives (can distract, and alter the weight and composition of the car)
- Males are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents (always trying to prove their masculinity to others, where as it isn't necessary for females, also have more risk taking behaviours and consuming alcohol)
- Driving safely involves being able to physically control the car, understand the road rules, possess the mental maturity to make safe decisions, must be mentally alert, and have the ability to stop revive and survive.
|The extent of impact |-major cause of unintentional death |
| |-young people are over-represented in road injury stats |
| |-major cause of hospitalization |
|Groups of young people |-young males |
|most at risk |-inexperienced drivers |
| |-indigenous young people |
| |-Passengers traveling with drunk drivers |
| |-young people who drive under the influence of drugs particularly alcohol |
| |-young people from rural areas |
|Major related social |-Peer pressure and number of friends in the car, particularly males traveling together (peer |
|factors |influence can be stronger than promotions) |
| |-over estimation of driving ability, and feeling of invincibility |
| |-poor perception of risk and greater risk behaviour |
| |-lack of finances and poor vehicle condition (low SES) and also young, new drivers usually have old|
| |second hand cars (due to finance limitations) |
| |-driving whilst distracted (listening to loud music, texting on mobile phones and eating) |
Advertising campaign – The Notes Advertising Campaign (RTA)
Targeted at 17 – 25 year old drivers
Youth campaign.
Note left behind to loved ones stating about their “Rushed” situation. Uses common forms of communication such as text, email, and notes / post – its.
Audience can relate. (BETTER TO BE LATE THAN DEAD ON TIME)
The mocking Bird – search RTA[pic]
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