Medicus, Vol. 18 No. 2_Adolescencija, 2009.
Review article
Adolescence, Adolescents and Healthcare
Marina Kuzman
; Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo
Abstract
The adolescence is a period in human life between the onset of puberty and the adulthood, starting from 11-13 yrs and lasting till 18.-20. yrs. It is often considered as an emotionally intensive and very stressful period. The adolescence characteristic and behaviour, which could have an ultimate influence to the health and stability in the adulthood, are described. The sexual behaviours in the Croatian adolescents, including early onset of the sexual life and poor protection use, are analyzed. The inter-reactions and mutual influences of the risk behaviours in children and youth are well recognized and confirmed through national and international research.
The young people who start sexual intercourses at the early age are often involved in other risk behaviour as drinking, smoking, marijuana use and poor family communication. Young people who drink more are more often aggressive and more often use marijuana. The overweight problem among children and youth indicates that risk factors for high BMI as physical inactivity and unhealthy diet are not the only important issues. Adolescents’ self-perception is not in accordance to the actual weight and height, and that makes them vulnerable regarding self-esteem as well as life satisfaction assessment. Bullying is not an isolated event in the school classrooms and schoolyards. The complexity of this behaviour is analyzed using
influencing factors which indicate that among children involved in bullying psychosomatic symptoms and poor family communication
are more often registered. In the conclusion the necessities for the appropriate and specific health care for children and youth, aiming at their needs and demands in the organization and content, are discussed.
Keywords
adolescence; sexual health; risk behaviours; bullying; healthcare
Hrčak ID:
57135
URI
Publication date:
20.7.2009.
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