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Promoting Health Through A Developmental Analysis of Adolescent Risk Behavior
Author(s) -
Curtis Susan
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1992.tb01260.x
Subject(s) - health behavior , psychology , developmental psychology , adolescent health , environmental health , medicine , nursing
Adolescents are the only U.S. population group not to improve morbidity and mortality since 1960. Social and behavioral etiologies of adolescent morbidity and mortality are best addressed in schools, since health care providers rarely are seen by teen‐agers for other than organic health complaints. The relevance of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development for adolescent risk‐taking and their attendant health problems are discussed. Recognizing adolescent risk‐taking as a means of achieving autonomy and identity, nurses and health educators can intervene to promote health‐enhancing alternatives to achieve those ends. Social learning theory provides a basis for interventions to personalize the curricula, change behaviors, and shape the environment.