Citation: Marino JL, Tait RJ, Straker LM, Schofield DJ, Doherty DA, Ivers RQ, Graham PL, Steinbeck K, Lymer S, Sanci LA, Patton GC. Health, social and economic implications of adolescent risk behaviours/states: protocol for Raine Study Gen2 cohort data linkage study. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies. 2022 Jan

 

Abstract

Background: Risk-taking behaviours are a major contributor to youth morbidity and mortality. Vulnerability to these negative outcomes is constructed from individual behaviour including risktaking, and from social context, ecological determinants, early life experience, developmental capacity and mental health, contributing to a state of higher risk. However, although risktaking is part of normal adolescent development, there is no systematic way to distinguish young people with a high probability of serious adverse outcomes, hindering the capacity to screen and intervene. This study aims to explore the association between risk behaviours/states in adolescence and negative health, social and economic outcomes through young adulthood.

Methods: The Raine Study is a prospective cohort study which recruited pregnant women in 1989–91, in Perth, Western Australia. The offspring cohort (N = 2,868) was followed up at regular intervals from 1 to 27 years of age. These data will be linked to State government health and welfare administrative data.

We will empirically examine relationships across multiple domains of risk (for example, substance use, sexual behaviour, driving) with health and social outcomes (for instance, roadcrash injury, educational underachievement). Microsimulation models will measure the impact of risk-taking on educational attainment and labour force outcomes.

Discussion: Comprehensive preventive child health programmes and policy prioritise a healthy start to life. This is the first linkage study focusing on adolescence to adopt a multidomain approach, and to integrate health economic modelling. This approach captures a more complete picture of health and social impacts of risk behaviour/ states in adolescence and young adulthood.


About The Authors

  Doctor  

Dr Jennifer Marino is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at th...

  Professor  

Leon Straker is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor of Physiotherapy, focussed on adolescent behav...

  Professor  

Deborah Schofield is the inaugural Director of GenIMPACT: Centre for Economic Impacts of Genomic Med...

  Professor  

Rebecca Ivers is Head, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales...

  Professor  

Kate Steinbeck is an endocrinologist and adolescent physician, and Professor and Medical Foundation ...

  Professor  

Lena Sanci is Head, Department of General Practice, Director of Teaching and Learning, Chair of the ...