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Positive Youth Development Requires Comprehensive Health Promotion
Programs
Brian R. Flay, DPhil, FSBM, FSCRA, FAAHB
Objective:
To explore relationships among problem and positive youth behaviors, commonalities among their predictors, and implications for prevention.
Methods: Review etiology and prevention literatures.
Results: Risky/unhealthy/antisocial behaviors, poor mental health, and poor academic achievement are highly prevalent and pose critical dilemmas for parents and educators. All behaviors are highly correlated with, and predict, each other; have many of the same risk and protective factors; and strongly influence success and happiness in life. Some examples of comprehensive programs with positive results in multiple domains are provided.
Conclusion: We need to prevent problem behaviors and promote positive behaviors with comprehensive, coherent, and integrated approaches.
Am J Health Behav 2002;26(6):407-424
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