Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course is an investigation of some of the health issues facing adolescents, in Canada and in other international contexts. We will review the health status of adolescents using a range of indicators and consider how gender, ethnicity, socio-economic position, sexual identity, immigrant status and disability influence adolescent health. Students will explore theoretical approaches used in adolescent health research and we will discuss programs and policies that could promote adolescent and prevent morbidity and mortality in adolescence and throughout the lifecourse. Topics will include eating, eating disorders and obesity; physical activity and inactivity; tobacco, drugs and alcohol; stress, suicide and mental health; sleep; sexual health; bullying and violence; and employment This course will provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their adolescence and personal experience with particular health issues and situate their personal experience in relation to the published research literature. Students with credit for HSCI 471 (2007) and HSCI 472 (2009) may not complete this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

As this is a three-credit 300-level course, students must be committed to putting in a significant amount of effort as they prepare for and participate in course activities. I expect that you will contribute approximately 8-10 hours of work to this course each week, including 2 hours of active participation during the lecture, 1 hour of active participation during your tutorial, 2-4 hours of reading (i.e., usually 2 journal articles and 1 media article per week), and 2-4 hours of coursework. During weeks when your course load does not reach 8 hours, you are encouraged to work ahead as some weeks may be busier than others.

Students from any faculty at SFU are welcome.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

* Describe the epidemiology of key morbidities and mortalities affecting young people.
* Explain how key factors contribute to the health patterns of young people.
* Identify and synthesize sources of information related to the wellbeing of young people.
* Demonstrate critical skills required to assess the health of and advocate for young people.

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

One of the following reading assignments:

• "Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity" by Andrew Solomon
• "Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind" AND "Homo Deus": A Brief History of Tomorrow
• "She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity" by Carl Zimmer
• "Behave: The Biology of Humans at our Best and Worst" by Robert Sapolsky
• "Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics" AND "Nudge Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler
• "Righteous Dopefiend" AND "In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio" by Phillipe Bourgois
• "How to be Gay" by David Halprin AND "There Goes the Gayborhood" by Amin Ghaziani
• "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community" AND "Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis" by Robert Putnam