title: Problem behaviors in adolescents.
abstract: A fifth or more of a nationally representative sample of school-attending adolescents report engaging in problem behaviors such as skipping school, using alcohol, fighting, shoplifting, and stealing. A smaller but significant number of adolescents report engaging in risky sexual behaviors. All of these behaviors have potentially serious consequences for adolescents, their family and friends, their school, and society. Nurses are in a unique position to help identify these behaviors in adolescents, educate school personnel about the behaviors, educate adolescents about the risks they face when they engage in these behaviors, and assist parents to access the resources they need to help children who may be engaging in these problem behaviors.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holditch-Davis
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belyea
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D008192:Deception; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012419:Runaway Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data