This very interesting report came out October 19th looking at what makes youth healthy and happy, rather than focusing on unhealthy risk factors.


Youth who say that they have positive ties with family, school, peers and community tend to be in better health and have higher self-worth, according to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information's Canadian Population Health Initiative. 

"Improving the Health of Young Canadians, 2005" explores the association between five positive "assets" - parental nurturing, parental monitoring, school engagement, volunteerism and peer connectedness-and the health behaviours and outcomes of Canadian teens.

Researchers at the institute said that while the information seems intuitive, the report makes an important link between kids' social environment and their health. The findings show parents, school, friends and community are all important in helping young people to realize their potential, the researchers said. 

"It is not smooth sailing for all Canadian teens," says Elizabeth Gyorfi-Dyke, Director of the Canadian Population Health Initiative at CIHI. "Teens who have lower levels of parental nurturance or who do not feel engaged at school are less likely to report being healthy and are more likely to participate in behaviours that can put their health at risk." 


The release is here: http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=media_19oct2005_e

The report is here: http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=PG_380_E&cw_topic=380&cw_rel=AR_1217_E

[Source: Health Clips, http://www.hqc.sk.ca and 
CBC Health News http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/10/19/teen-health051019.html]


Alison
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Alison Stirling
Health Promotion Information Specialist
Health Promotion Affiliate, Canadian Health Network 

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