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Uploaded byJacey Mitchell
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Young Adult Life Stage

The document discusses the key aspects of young adult life between ages 18-35 including biology, health patterns, and social determinants. It notes that this period is generally the healthiest physically but also a time of increased risk-taking. The summary focuses on establishing healthy behaviors, screening for common health issues, and addressing social/environmental factors that influence well-being such as relationships, employment, stress, and health access.

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Young Adult Life Stage Fall 2018 Jacey Mitchell Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Biology and Genetics  18-35 years  Health-promotion needs  Developing behaviors to promote healthy lifestyle  Decreasing incidence of accidents, injuries, violence  Young adulthood at a glance  Healthiest period, optimal muscle strength (age 25-30), manual dexterity peaks  Gender differences  Full growth • Women: Age 17; men age 21  Longevity: Women > men  Health care seeking: Women > men 2Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Biology and Genetics (Cont.)  Greater complexity of thinking; more organized emotional/cognitive development  Self-help resources very popular with young adults  Maternal mortality rate primarily pertains to young adults—health indicator of a nation’s health resources 3Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns  Health perception–health management pattern  Nutritional-metabolic pattern  Elimination pattern  Activity-exercise pattern  Sleep-rest pattern  Cognitive-perceptual pattern  Self-perception–self-concept pattern  Roles-relationships pattern  Sexuality-reproductive pattern  Coping–stress tolerance pattern  Values-beliefs pattern 4Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Health Perception–Health Management Pattern  Behavioral health history  Risk factors for unintentional injuries  Preventive care  Maximize health status, detect problems early  Age 18: full health appraisal  Repeat history/physical every 2 years  Screenings: testicular examination, PAP smear  Experts now recommend against SBE  Over age 25: focus on coronary risk factors • Cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, metabolic syndrome 5Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Health Perception– Health Management Pattern (Cont.)  Decision-making and risk taking  Risk-taking behavior  Leading causes of death: unintentional injuries, homicide, suicide  Communicable disease  Threats: changes travel, social, sexual behaviors  Drug resistance; new strains emerging  Disease examples • Immunizations: rubella, HPV (women), hepatitis B • TB, HIV, Lyme disease 6Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Health Management for Young Adults  Prevention is key for young adults  Modifying CHD risk factors for those >25 years  Hypertension screening and management  Education to focus on healthy lifestyle choices  ID metabolic syndrome—precursor to DM  Obesity, high lipids, hypertension  Risk taking remains problematic for young adults —accidents leading cause of death  Of concern: meningitis, hepatitis B, TB, HPV 7Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Nutritional-Metabolic Pattern  Obesity: epidemic proportions  Basal metabolic rate declines  More intake than energy requirement = weight gain  Obesity rates vary by ethnicity  Factors : increasing portion size, “eating out,” sedentary lifestyles  Teaching: increased activity, low fat, more fruits/vegetables, limit portions  Assessment: BMI, waist circumference, BP, cholesterol  Nutritional needs/common deficiencies  Iron, folic acid, calcium 8Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Elimination Pattern  Eating disorders  May persist  Common complaints  Constipation  Hemorrhoids  Occasional diarrhea  Teaching  Report changes in elimination patterns  Adequate fluids, eating fruit/vegetables 9Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Activity-Exercise Pattern  Exercise recommendations  Aerobic exercise of moderate intensity for 30 minutes, 5 days per week  Barriers: lack of time, access to facilities, safe environments  Sun/radiation exposure  Avoid excessive UV: use of sun blocks, sun-protective clothing, avoid tanning, sunbathing  Sports  Recreational activity history guides education  Helmets for bicycles, motorcycles  Protective equipment for sports 10Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Sleep-Rest Pattern  Subject to fatigue  Work  Stress  Inactivity  Recommendations  Change activity or stressors  Try out new tasks or physical activities 11Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Cognitive-Perceptual Pattern  Piaget: formal operations  Analysis of all combinations of possibilities and constructs hypotheses; more perceptive/insightful  Intellectual growth  Recall performance and memory: peaks in 20s  Erikson: intimacy vs isolation  Increased sense of competency/self-esteem  Learns to develop reciprocal intimate relationships (requires mutual trust)  Postconventional moral reasoning  Define rights and morality in terms of self-chosen principles 12Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Self-Perception–Self-Concept Pattern  Western culture: adulthood  Achieve financial and residential independence  Life stage conflict: Explore and experiment vs firm commitments  Employment tied to self-esteem  Employment issues  Pay differentials by gender  Variance in benefits, occupational hazards  Stress of employment  Childbearing choices; child care issues  Increased job burden with decreased job security 13Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Roles-Relationships Pattern  Young adult friendships more enduring than earlier relationships  Formation of intimate relationships  Decisions about life/career directions  Formation of family units  Multiple decisions related to childbearing, finances, roles/relationships  Self and family development 14Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Roles-Relationships Pattern (Cont.)  Separation/divorce  Affects children, families of couple  Reevaluation of basic values, strengths, personality  Depression common—supportive counseling/services  Violence  80% of violence is individual acts (homicide, suicide)  Homicide: second leading cause of death age 15-24  Associated: guns, alcohol, drug abuse, crimes  Intimate partner violence • Crosses all demographic boundaries • Underreported; women report higher lifetime violence • Appropriate assessment, detection, treatment needed 15Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Sexuality-Reproductive Pattern  Infertility  Affects10%-15% of US couples; increased incidence >25 years  Assistive reproductive technologies (stressful, costly)  Sterilization: choice increases with age  Male issues: orchitis, epididymitis, varicoceles, hydroceles  Unintended pregnancy (half of all pregnancies)  Teen birth rate down 30% in the past decade  Half of unplanned pregnancies are caused by contraceptive failure  Nurse’s role: help choose most appropriate method 16Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Sexuality-Reproductive Pattern (Cont.)  Prenatal care  Insufficient for high-risk and minority women  STDs  Leading cause of infection (high-risk age group)  Screening for chlamydia recommended  Multiple STDs increases risk of HIV  HIV challenges  Treatment/prevention needs of chronically ill  Effective strategies to prevent new infections/improve case finding  Counsel on risk-reduction behaviors  Education of individuals and general public 17Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Coping–Stress Tolerance Pattern  Stress  Assess for stress-related complaints  Assess for signs of achievement stress  Listen, offer support; referrals as needed  Suicide and depression  Suicide: leading cause of death  Cause: unable to cope with stressful circumstances or events  More women attempt suicide; more men succeed  Assess for depression and suicidal ideation 18Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Values-Belief Pattern  Health promotion  Altering value/belief patterns that encourage poor health practices  Parenting  Ensuring healthy offspring  Genetic testing and prenatal diagnosis decisions • Decision-making of potential risk of transmission • Values and decision-making related to genetic impairment 19Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Environmental Processes  Ethnicity, race, culture  Nonmajority ethnicity/culture  Health effects from prejudice, discrimination, educational/work decisions, residential setting  Accidents  Highest cause of death in young adults  Motor vehicle accident prevention important: seat belts, use of alcohol, aggressive driving  Pollution  Noise: increases risk of hearing loss (e.g., recreational exposure)  Air: automobile exhaust; industrial exposures 20Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Environmental Processes (Cont.)  Occupational hazards/stressors  Young adults work in hazardous jobs  Vocational training needed to avoid hazards  Periodic assessment, counseling for risks  Chemical agents  Drug use—injury, disability, violence, social problems  Alcohol use—accidents, future chronic conditions; binge drinking  Tobacco use—leading cause preventable death • Synergistic effect with asbestos, dust, radiation exposures 21Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Environmental Processes (Cont.)  Cancer—environmental carcinogens  Work exposure • Hazardous chemicals • Latex: long-term immune system disease  Unhealthy practices • Multiple sexual partners, exposure to HPV: risk of cervical cancer • Smoking: lung cancer, cervical cancer 22Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Determinants of Health: Social Factors and Environment  Social factors and environment  Neighborhood resources—sets standards for individual health  Challenges: transportation, medical home, health coverage  Culture and ethnicity  Health care based on Western belief system  Identification needed of culturally influenced health behaviors and culturally acceptable interventions  Legislation  Major political constituency  Have time/energy to affect issues related to common good 23Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Determinants of Health: Social Factors and Environment (Cont.)  Economics  Satisfying careers; adequate economic returns  Changes in employment choices, types of jobs, work styles, potential for job security  Homelessness  More families homeless  Poverty, poor education, lack skills, domestic violence, substandard health care  Dual careers  May amplify relationship strain, domestic violence  Increased life complexity: child day care, caring for parents, varied living arrangements 24Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.