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Adolescents, Young Adults, and Adults

Chapter 8

Introduction

• Adolescents and young adults (15-24)• Adolescence generally regarded as puberty to

maturity

• Adults (25-64)

• 15-64 some of the most productive, or most productive, years of people’s lives

• Most enjoy the best health of their lives

• Shape health through lifestyle and health behavior for later years

Adolescents and Young Adults

• Represent the future of the nation

• Adolescence is difficult stage; period of transition from childhood to adulthood

• Comfort and security to complex and challenging situations

• Young adults complete physical growth; experience significant life changes

• Leave home, join military, begin careers, etc.

• Many health beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors are adopted and consolidated

Demography

• Numbers• Peaked in 1979 at 21% of population; now

~14%

• Living arrangements• 1/3 live in single parent families

• Employment status• Participation in labor force has remained fairly

constant in recent decades

• Disparities by race

Mortality

• Significant decline in death rates over past several decades; mostly due to advances in medicine and injury and disease prevention

• Male mortality rate higher than female

• Most threats stem from behavior rather than disease

• Unintentional injuries (46.5%), homicide (16%), suicide (12%)

Death Rates by Leading Causes, Ages 15-24

Mortality

• 1/4 of all deaths in age group from motor vehicle injuries; alcohol contributing factor

• Homicide and suicide rates up 200-300% over last 50 years

• Significant racial disparities among race and leading causes of death

Morbidity

• Communicable diseases• Measles immunizations important

• Sexually transmitted diseases• This age group acquires nearly half of all new

STDs in the U.S.

• Some effects can last a lifetime

Health Behaviors and Lifestyle Choices of High School Students

• Unintentional injuries

• Violence

• Tobacco use

• Alcohol and other drugs

• Sexual behaviors – unintended pregnancies and STDs

• Physical activity

• Overweight and weight control

Health Behaviors and Lifestyle Choices of College Students

• Unintentional injuries

• Violence

• Tobacco use

• Alcohol and other drugs

• Sexual behaviors – unintended pregnancies and STDs

Figure 06A: Cigarette: trends in 30-day prevalence among college students versus others one to four years beyond high school

Figure 06B: Cigarette: trends in 30-day prevalence among male versus female college students

Figure 07A: Alcohol: trends in 30-day prevalence among college students versus others one to four years beyond high school.

Figure 07B: Alcohol: trends in two-week prevalence of five or more drinks in a row among male and female college students.

Community Health Strategies

• Main factors affecting community health with age group are social and cultural factors and community organizing

• Alcohol use a main problem

Adults

• Ages 25-64

• Represent more than half of U.S. population

Health Profile

• Mortality• mainly from chronic diseases

• Many associated with unhealthy behaviors and poor lifestyle choices

• Lifestyle improvements and public health advances have led to decline in death rate for adults

Adult Death Rates

Cancer

• #1 cause of death for adult age group in recent decades• Males – prostate, lung, and colorectal

• Females – breast, lung, and colorectal

Cardiovascular Disease

• Age-adjusted mortality rates dropped over past 60 years• Mainly due to public health efforts related to

smoking cessation, increased physical activity, and nutrition

Health Behaviors and Lifestyle Choices

• Risk factors for chronic disease• Most significant for adults – smoking, lack of

exercise, BMI, alcohol

• Risk factors for personal injury• Motor vehicle safety – seatbelts and alcohol

use

• Awareness and screening of certain conditions• Hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol

Obesity Trends - Adults

Community Health Strategies

• Emphasis on individual responsibility for health

• Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention efforts for adults• Primary – exercise and nutrition programs

• Secondary – self and clinical screenings to identify and control disease processes

• Tertiary – medication compliance

Discussion Questions

• Why are lifestyle and health behaviors significant for the adult age group compared to other age groups?

• How can community health efforts affect leading causes of death for the adolescent and young adult age group?