Vashishtha Rakhi, Pennay Amy, Dietze Paul M, Livingston Michael
Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
Drug Alcohol Rev. 2021 Sep;40(6):1071-1082. doi: 10.1111/dar.13269. Epub 2021 Mar 14.
Adolescent drinking has been declining in Australia over the past two decades, but this trend may be part of a broader shift towards healthier lifestyles for adolescents. We examined trends in the prevalence of multiple risky health- and school-related behaviours and outcomes to test whether this was the case.
Data on multiple behaviours and outcomes were collated from Australian government agencies and other relevant sources for 10-19-year-olds from the year 2000 onward. Trends were examined descriptively.
Rates of substance use, youth offending and injuries due to underage driving declined over the study period. Some health-related behaviours (physical activity and diet) worsened between 2001 and 2017; however, obesity rates remained stable. Risky sexual behaviours increased in terms of early initiation of lifetime sexual intercourse and decreased condom use. However, sexual health outcomes improved with a reduction in teenage pregnancies and there was a recent decline in sexually transmitted infection rates from 2011 onward. Suicide rates and rates of major depressive disorders increased. School attendance and engagement in full-time work or study remained stable.
The decline in adolescent drinking does not appear to correspond with increased engagement in healthier behaviours; however, it may be related to a more risk-averse way of living. Future work could be directed towards identifying which social, economic, policy and environmental factors have impacted positive changes in risky behaviours. Public health efforts can then be directed towards behaviours or outcomes, which have not yet improved.
在过去二十年中，澳大利亚青少年饮酒现象呈下降趋势，但这一趋势可能是青少年更广泛地转向健康生活方式的一部分。我们研究了多种与健康和学校相关的危险行为及结果的流行趋势，以检验是否如此。
从2000年起，整理了来自澳大利亚政府机构和其他相关来源的关于10至19岁青少年多种行为及结果的数据。对趋势进行了描述性研究。
在研究期间，物质使用、青少年犯罪以及未成年驾驶导致的伤害发生率均有所下降。2001年至2017年间，一些与健康相关的行为（体育活动和饮食）有所恶化；然而，肥胖率保持稳定。危险的性行为方面，首次发生性行为的年龄提前且避孕套使用减少。不过，性健康结果有所改善，青少年怀孕率下降，并且自2011年起性传播感染率最近有所下降。自杀率和重度抑郁症发病率上升。上学出勤率以及全职工作或学习的参与度保持稳定。
青少年饮酒现象的下降似乎与更健康行为的增加不相符；然而，这可能与一种更规避风险的生活方式有关。未来的工作可以致力于确定哪些社会、经济、政策和环境因素对危险行为的积极变化产生了影响。然后，公共卫生工作可以针对尚未改善的行为或结果。
