title: Risk-taking behaviour of young women in Australia: screening for health-risk behaviours.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: PO Box 2462, Kew, VIC 3101, Australia. MichaelOzzypsych@aol.com
authors.forename: Michael R C
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Carr-Gregg
authors.forename: Kate C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Enderby
authors.forename: Sonia R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Grover
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009043:Motor Activity; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control