SocioEnvironmentalContext of Adolescents

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, 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 Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject investigates how social determinants and social worlds affect the health and wellbeing of young people and examines 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.:

• Minor essay: critical writing on constructions of young people (1500 words, due end of week 6, 40%)
• Major essay: improving social context (3000 words), due end of week 12, 60%)

N/A

Recommended Text: Wyn, J & White R (2008), Youth and Society: Exploring the Social Dynamics of Youth Experience (2nd Edition). South Melbourne: Oxford University 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.