This document discusses health issues for three age groups: adolescents and young adults (15-24), adults (25-64), and older adults (65+). For adolescents and young adults, leading causes of death include injuries, homicide, and suicide. Health behaviors like risky sex, substance use, and lack of exercise are established during these years. Community strategies target these behaviors. Adults experience most chronic diseases. Leading causes of death are cancer, heart disease and behaviors like smoking, inactivity and diet impact risk. Community efforts focus on screening and managing conditions. Lifestyle changes can improve health for all age groups.

1. Adolescents, Young
Adults, and Adults
Chapter 8

2. Introduction
• Adolescents and young adults (15-24)
• Adolescence generally regarded as puberty to
maturity
• Adults (25-64)
• 15-64 some of the most productive, or most
productive, years of people’s lives
• Most enjoy the best health of their lives
• Shape health through lifestyle and health
behavior for later years

3. Adolescents and Young Adults
• Represent the future of the nation
• Adolescence is difficult stage; period of
transition from childhood to adulthood
• Comfort and security to complex and
challenging situations
• Young adults complete physical growth;
experience significant life changes
• Leave home, join military, begin careers, etc.
• Many health beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors
are adopted and consolidated

4. Demography
• Numbers
• Peaked in 1979 at 21% of population; now
~14%
• Living arrangements
• 1/3 live in single parent families
• Employment status
• Participation in labor force has remained fairly
constant in recent decades
• Disparities by race

5. Mortality
• Significant decline in death rates over past
several decades; mostly due to advances in
medicine and injury and disease prevention
• Male mortality rate higher than female
• Most threats stem from behavior rather than
disease
• Unintentional injuries (46.5%), homicide
(16%), suicide (12%)

6. Death Rates by Leading Causes, Ages 15-24

7. Mortality
• 1/4 of all deaths in age group from motor
vehicle injuries; alcohol contributing factor
• Homicide and suicide rates up 200-300% over
last 50 years
• Significant racial disparities among race and
leading causes of death

8. Morbidity
• Communicable diseases
• Measles immunizations important
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• This age group acquires nearly half of all new
STDs in the U.S.
• Some effects can last a lifetime

10. Health Behaviors and Lifestyle Choices of
High School Students
• Unintentional injuries
• Violence
• Tobacco use
• Alcohol and other drugs
• Sexual behaviors – unintended pregnancies
and STDs
• Physical activity
• Overweight and weight control

11. Health Behaviors and Lifestyle Choices of
College Students
• Unintentional injuries
• Violence
• Tobacco use
• Alcohol and other drugs
• Sexual behaviors – unintended pregnancies
and STDs

12. Community Health Strategies
• Main factors affecting community health with
age group are social and cultural factors and
community organizing
• Alcohol use a main problem

13. Adults
• Ages 25-64
• Represent more than half of U.S. population

14. Health Profile
• Mortality
• mainly from chronic diseases
• Many associated with unhealthy behaviors and
poor lifestyle choices
• Lifestyle improvements and public health
advances have led to decline in death rate for
adults

15. Adult Death Rates

16. Cancer
• #1 cause of death for adult age group in recent
decades
• Males – prostate, lung, and colorectal
• Females – breast, lung, and colorectal

17. Cardiovascular Disease
• Age-adjusted mortality rates dropped over past
60 years
• Mainly due to public health efforts related to
smoking cessation, increased physical activity,
and nutrition

18. Health Behaviors and Lifestyle Choices
• Risk factors for chronic disease
• Most significant for adults – smoking, lack of
exercise, BMI, alcohol
• Risk factors for personal injury
• Motor vehicle safety – seatbelts and alcohol
use
• Awareness and screening of certain conditions
• Hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol

19. Obesity Trends - Adults

20. Community Health Strategies
• Emphasis on individual responsibility for
health
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention
efforts for adults
• Primary – exercise and nutrition programs
• Secondary – self and clinical screenings to
identify and control disease processes
• Tertiary – medication compliance

21. Discussion Questions
• Why are lifestyle and health behaviors
significant for the adult age group compared to
other age groups?
• How can community health efforts affect
leading causes of death for the adolescent and
young adult age group?