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Young people and health: expanding the idea of social determinants. John Coleman University of Oxford. Thinking a bit more broadly. The family The school The peer group The digital world. The family. The Cheltenham study of drug users Various studies of smoking in young people
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Young people and health: expanding the idea of social determinants John Coleman University of Oxford
Thinking a bit more broadly • The family • The school • The peer group • The digital world
The family • The Cheltenham study of drug users • Various studies of smoking in young people • Sexual health • International studies showing the more parents talk, the less sexual risk-taking • The FPA and Speakeasy
Where else might the family be influential? • Exercise? • Eating behaviour? • Attendance at primary care? • Transition?
The school • The health-promoting school • Chris Bonell and others “Improving school ethos may reduce substance abuse and teenage pregnancy” • The Gatehouse project in Australia • The Healthy Schools initiative in the UK • Why schools can make a difference
The peer group • It seems obvious, yet very little research has highlighted the role of the peer group. • One exception - studies of smoking • We know from studies of anti-social behaviour that there is a reciprocal influence between behaviour and membership of a peer group • But we know little about how this works where health is concerned • MORE RESEARCH!
The digital world • The positives: access to information, staying in touch with services, highlighting issues on social media (e.g. prostitution) • The negatives: pornography, internet addiction, grooming, cyber-bullying. • Where is the balance? • As health professionals we have to become engaged • But MORE RESEARCH!
Conclusion • All four factors clearly impact on young people’s health • Yet, to a large extent, these factors are not linked to health outcomes and to the delivery of services • An opportunity for some exciting new thinking • Let’s expand the notion of social determinants of health to include some of the things I have discussed this morning.