What are the cumulative effects of adverse and risky behaviors on child and adolescent development?
Research is needed that looks beyond specific problems of injury, violence, delinquency, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and other risky behaviors in isolation to consider how these problems intersect and connect. For instance, knowing whether common behavioral mechanisms are contributing causes of multiple health risks would provide the basis for developing more effective intervention strategies. There is a need for research on the social, cultural, and behavioral factors influencing “risky behaviors” which result in trauma injuries to children and youth. Transportation- related examples include (1) drinking and driving, (2) failure to wear bicycle or motorcycle helmets, and (3) improper use of, or failure to use, child restraint systems or seat belts. • How do health risk behaviors compare among different age groups? The majority of research conducted and data collected on youth and health-risk behaviors focuses on older adolescents. Our capacity to monitor younger children’s health
