Delinquency and health in Australian youth

Abstract

Youth engaging in delinquent behavior experience a range of mental health (e.g., depressive symptoms, self-harm) and physical health (e.g., injuries, oral health, illness) problems, as well as health risk behaviors (e.g., substance misuse and abuse, risky sexual behaviors). These youth engaging in delinquent behavior may also be exposed to social problems (e.g., homelessness) that impact negatively on their health. The content of the current chapter is framed by a public health perspective. In this chapter, the mental and physical health problems and health risk behaviors experienced by Australian youth engaging in delinquent behavior in the general population, the youth justice population, ..