The health care reform law enacted in 2010 is an ambitious and complex piece of legislation. The requirements of PPACA are scheduled to be phased in over a period of several years. If successful, the law will result in an increase of 32 million additional insured individuals in the United States, many of whom will be adolescents and young adults.…
This 2009 article reviews health trends for adolescents and young adults, providing a single source for a national health profile. Data are presented on demographics, mortality, health-related behaviors, and healthcare access and utilization and major gender and racial/ethnic disparities are highlighted. The authors outline recommendations to improve health during these critical periods in the lifespan. Access the article: Paul Mulye,…
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug by adolescents and young adults, with more males than females reporting marijuana use. The adolescent and young adult years represent a critical period for interventions to prevent marijuana use and abuse. This article reviews relevant literature, including trends in young males’ marijuana use and health effects of marijuana use. The article is…
Positive youth development (PYD) is a strong and growing field that complements the traditional problem-focused view of youth, and describes and promotes the healthy development and positive outcomes of young people. The PYD perspective can be applied in clinical and community intervention settings. Frameworks such as the “Five Cs” and the Search Institute’s developmental assets model have guided researchers and…
This article examines research related to stress and stress management, with a focus on young males. It offers recommendations for improving health care quality and strengthening the research base on stress and gender during youth. The article is available here: Vo, D. X., & Park, M. J. (2008). Stress and Stress Management Among Youth and Young Men. American Journal of…
This article discusses gaps in research and offers recommendations for improving health care quality and strengthening the research base on gender and disparities during adolescence. The article is available here: Vo, D. X., & Park, M. J. (2008). Racial/Ethnic Disparities and Culturally Competent Health Care Among Youth and Young Men. American Journal of Men’s Health, 2, 192-205
This article discusses clinical considerations for and summarizes national data on depression among male adolescents. It is the fourth in a series of four adolescent male health columns authored by Jane Park and David Breland for the American Journal of Men’s Health. Breland, D. J., & Park, M. J. (2008). Depression: Focus on the Adolescent Male. American Journal of Men’s…
This article reviews existing federal data collection efforts and reporting systems to identify what pieces currently exist to support an effective health monitoring system for young adults and what is still needed, and makes recommendations for enhancing the current system by improving data access and quality. Please view the abstract here: Brown, B.V. (2008). A federal monitoring system for early…
This article reviews the overall health of adolescent males and discusses the issues we should focus on to improve male health. It is the second in a series of four adolescent male health columns authored by Jane Park and David Breland for the American Journal of Men’s Health. The article is available here: Park, M. J., & Breland, D. J.…
This article discusses clinical considerations for and summarizes national data on alcohol and cigarette use among male adolescents and young adults. It is the third in a series of four adolescent male health columns authored by Jane Park and David Breland for the American Journal of Men’s Health. The article is available here: Park, M. J., & Breland, D. J.…