Risk-taking behaviour of young women in Australia: screening for health-risk behaviours

• Published in: Medical journal of Australia Vol. 178; no. 12; p. 601
• Main Authors: Carr-Gregg, Michael R C, Enderby, Kate C, Grover, Sonia R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia 16.06.2003
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - prevention & control; Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adult; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Contraception Behavior - statistics & numerical data; Family Practice - legislation & jurisprudence; Family Practice - methods; Feeding Behavior; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Mass Screening - methods; Mental Health - statistics & numerical data; Motor Activity; Risk-Taking; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control; Smoking - epidemiology; Smoking Prevention; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0025-729X
• DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05381.x

Healthy risk-taking is a normal part of adolescence. Young people who participate in multiple risk-taking increase the chance of damaging their health. There appears to be a growing range and prevalence of health-risk behaviours among young women, notably in their use of alcohol and marijuana. Research suggests that such health-risk behaviours may be related to psychological factors such as stress and depression. General practitioners have a central role in identifying and preventing health-risk behaviours and associated mental health problems in young people. Comprehensive assessment includes a series of screening questions about home, education (or employment), activities, drugs, sexuality and suicide for young people, known as the HEADSS technique.