SocioEnvironmentalContext of Adolescents

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.
It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty
Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject investigates how social determinants and social worlds affect the health and wellbeing of young people and examines the social life from historical, global and cultural perspectives. Students will draw on a diversity of theoretical perspectives to analyse how society operates and how social changes influence the health, wellbeing and behaviours of young people. Throughout this subject, particular emphasis is placed on examining and explaining social and health inequalities. Issues of gender and popular culture and concepts related to social networks, social capital, social cohesion and social control are explored. The relationship between micro and macro views of society (micro-macro linkage), and the relationship between social structures, institutions and human agency are investigated with reference to contemporary adolescent health issues. Approaches to interventions focusing on changing social contexts will be critically examined.

This subject is designed to enable students to:

• distinguish sociological ideas about young people from psychological and biological explanations;
• reflect upon and explain how events that concern individual young people are connected with larger social issues;
• recognise how social changes and social factors impact on the health, wellbeing and behaviours of young people;
• describe those factors that contribute to social and health inequalities for young people;
• evaluate and apply sociological perspectives to contemporary adolescent health issues;
• explain approaches to interventions that aim to change social contexts and enhance youth participation.

On completion of this subject it is expected that students will be able to:

• demonstrate an ability to relate young people's health, wellbeing and behaviours to broader social contexts;
• explain to a selected audience the factors contributing to social and health inequalities for young people;
• present an argument for changing an aspect of social context / structure to improve the health and wellbeing of young people;
• select a contemporary adolescent health issue, advocate for an approach that would improve the social context of young people's lives.

• Hurdle Requirement (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) : Introductory Learning Activity (Max: 500 words);
• 40% : Negotiated Communication Piece - exploring social factors that impact on the health and wellbeing of young people (15 - 20 minute presentation) - Due mid semester;
• 60% : Written Assignment building on themes and issues explored in Communication Piece (Max: 3,000 words) - Due end of semester.

N/A

White, R. & Wyn, J. (2007) Youth & Society: Exploring the Social Dynamics of Youth Experience.South Melbourne: Oxford Uni Press

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject is designed to enable students to:

• distinguish sociological ideas about young people from psychological and biological explanations;
• reflect upon and explain how events that concern individual young people are connected with larger social issues;
• recognise how social changes and social factors impact on the health, wellbeing and behaviours of young people;
• describe those factors that contribute to social and health inequalities for young people;
• evaluate and apply sociological perspectives to contemporary adolescent health issues;
• explain approaches to interventions that aim to change social contexts and enhance youth participation.

On completion of this subject it is expected that students will be able to:

• demonstrate an ability to relate young people's health, wellbeing and behaviours to broader social contexts;
• explain to a selected audience the factors contributing to social and health inequalities for young people;
• present an argument for changing an aspect of social context / structure to improve the health and wellbeing of young people;
• select a contemporary adolescent health issue, advocate for an approach that would improve the social context of young people's lives.