Review

Say one thing, do another

Adolescent health: the role of individual differences
Patrick Heaven
Routledge, 1996, £14.99

In light of current concerns that we are moving away from several Health of the Nation targets, especially those relating to smoking in 11-15 year olds and under-age pregnancy, this book is timely.

The teenage years are recognised as a time of risky behaviours. This book considers the adolescent’s perception of health beliefs and health concerns and the relationship of these to adolescent behaviour. The second chapter of the book provides a comprehensive overview of health education: the requirement for such education; strategies to be employed in promoting health; and an outline of three key models of health behaviour. The three models considered are the health belief model, control of reinforcement, and the theory of reasoned action, each of which seeks to relate social psychological processes to individual behaviour.

The next seven chapters of the book deal with specific behaviours, and the risks each poses to health. The selection of topics is comprehensive and all are highly relevant issues facing today’s teenagers. The approach used throughout this book is of attempting to address both psychological and social factors associated with health and health risk behaviour in adolescents. The issues covered — stress and coping; body image and eating behaviours; sex and the threat of AIDS; substance use including alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs; mental health including schizophrenia, depression and suicide; and the lifestyle factors of exercise and diet — are dealt with in both psychological and social terms.

It is well known that behaviour change requires more than knowledge of health risks, and many teenagers are already well-informed. Indeed, as the author points out, ‘adolescents have well developed ideas about the nature of health and illness which reflect their level of cognitive development’. But irrespective of their level of sophistication, there is little correlation with actual behaviour. In the final chapter of the book, the author discusses whether an ‘unhealthy’ lifestyle can be reversed through changes in ‘locus of control’, ‘self-efficacy’ and an individual’s perception of empowerment or powerlessness.

Throughout, ideas are clearly expressed and well-illustrated with current research material. The book should prove helpful for all those working with young people, whether as professionals or voluntary, and would also be worthwhile for students of psychology or education. It might even help some parents to understand why their adolescent children insist on taking all kinds of risks without any apparent regard for their health.