High-Risk Behavior: Impacts on the Health and Wellness of Young People

Dear Colleagues,

According to the United Nations, young people accounted for 33% of the global population in 2020, making them the largest demographic across the globe. As young people are increasingly demanding more just, equitable, and progressive opportunities and solutions from their societies, the need to address the multifaceted challenges faced by young people (such as access to education, health, and employment and gender equality) has become more pressing than ever. Adolescence (ages 10 to 18) is a critical transitional period that includes the biological changes of puberty and developmental tasks such as identity exploration and the accomplishment of independency. On the other hand, young adults (ages 19 to 25) are expected to take on adult responsibilities and obligations, so they have to face significant educational, social, and economic challenges.

Although adolescence and young adulthood are generally healthy times of life, some important health and social problems either start or peak during these years. The behavioral health patterns established during these developmental periods determine young people’s health and wellbeing and their risk for developing chronic diseases in their future. As part of their identity explorations, young people aim to have a wide range of experiences and are particularly vulnerable to adopting risky behaviors and participating in activities, such as tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use, unsafe sexual behavior, unhealthy nutrition, motor vehicle accidents, exposure to violence, and academic dropping out, that may result in health consequences and cause physical or mental harm during adulthood.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight in young people’s high-risk behaviors and how they affect their health and wellness, including the following topics:

• Substance use;
• Alcohol use/underage drinking;
• Smoking/nicotine use/vaping;
• Energy drink consumption;
• Sexually transmitted infections;
• Teenage and unintended pregnancies;
• Nutrition and weight conditions;
• Eating disorders;
• Overweight and obesity;
• Internet, social media, addiction;
• Academic problems and dropping out of school;
• Homelessness;
• Motor vehicle collisions;
• Mental health disorders;
• Violence;
• Injuries.

We are pleased to invite you to participate in this Special Issue, and we look forward to your contributions. Reviews and original research articles (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies) related to this topic are welcome.

Dr. Elisabeth Andrie
Guest Editor

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• public health
• health promotion
• adolescent health
• youth health
• psychosocial health
• sexual health
• eating disorders
• overweight and obesity
• internet addiction