title: Locating and applying sociological theories of risk-taking to develop public health interventions for adolescents.
abstract: Sociological theories seldom inform public health interventions at the community level. The reasons for this are unclear but may include difficulties in finding, understanding or operationalising theories. We conducted a study to explore the feasibility of locating sociological theories within a specific field of public health, adolescent risk-taking, and to consider their potential for practical application. We identified a range of sociological theories. These explained risk-taking: (i) as being due to lack of social integration; (ii) as a consequence of isolation from mainstream society; (iii) as a rite of passage; (iv) as a response to social constraints; (v) as resistance; (vi) as an aspect of adolescent development; (vii) by the theory of the 'habitus'; (viii) by situated rationality and social action theories; and (ix) as social practice. We consider these theories in terms of their potential to inform public health interventions for young people.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol , Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS , UK.
authors.forename: Pandora
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pound
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol , Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS , UK.
authors.forename: Rona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campbell
keywords: adolescence; interventions; public health; risk-taking; sociology; theory