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Year 9 Health & PE · Health and Physical Education · 18m read

Adolescent Health and Wellbeing

Ever wondered why your teen years feel like your body and mind are on a rollercoaster? Adolescent health and wellbeing looks at all the things that shape how you feel physically and mentally during these years—from your friendships and family to sleep, stress, and the changes happening in your body. Understanding these factors gives you real power to make choices that support your wellbeing now and build healthier habits for life.

Learning objective: Analyse the factors that influence health and wellbeing during adolescence.

By the end of this lesson you can:

  • I can explain the dimensions of health and wellbeing.
  • I can identify factors that influence adolescent health.
  • I can describe strategies to promote positive wellbeing.

Wellbeing is a compass with five points. Physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual health all point the way. Neglect one and you drift off course.

Dimensions of health and wellbeing

THE FIVE DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH (Australian curriculum):
1. PHYSICAL — body function, fitness, nutrition, sleep, disease.
2. SOCIAL — relationships, communication, belonging, community.
3. EMOTIONAL/MENTAL — self-awareness, coping, resilience, emotional regulation.
4. SPIRITUAL — sense of purpose, values, meaning, belonging.
5. COGNITIVE — intellectual stimulation, learning, problem-solving.

WELLBEING vs HEALTH:
• HEALTH: absence of illness AND a positive state.
• WELLBEING: broader — how you feel about and experience life overall.
• Both are DYNAMIC — they change continuously.

FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOLESCENT HEALTH:
• INDIVIDUAL: choices (diet, exercise, sleep), genetics, self-concept.
• SOCIAL: peers, family, social media, cultural background.
• ENVIRONMENTAL: school, neighbourhood, access to green spaces.
• SOCIOECONOMIC: income, education, housing — the "social determinants of health."

ADOLESCENT CHANGES:
• PHYSICAL: growth spurts, puberty, brain development (prefrontal cortex not fully mature until ~25).
• SOCIAL: peer relationships become more central than family.
• IDENTITY: exploring who you are — normal and healthy.
• RISK-TAKING: biologically driven; can lead to both positive growth and negative outcomes.

SLEEP:
• Adolescents need 8-10 hours; most get significantly less.
• Sleep affects: mood, learning, immunity, weight, mental health.
• CIRCADIAN SHIFT: teens' body clocks shift later — explains why early school starts are biologically challenging.

AARI TIP: Ask Aari about the evidence on sleep and academic performance.

Health literacy

  • Multidimensional: Physical health alone doesn't equal wellbeing.
  • Social determinants: Income, housing, education powerfully shape health outcomes.
  • Agency: Understanding factors helps you make better choices.

Quick reference

| Dimension | Example |
|---|---|
| Physical | Sleep, activity |
| Mental | Thinking, coping |
| Emotional | Managing feelings |
| Social | Relationships |
| Spiritual | Purpose, values |

Worked example (Medium)

How do social media and peer relationships influence adolescent mental health?

  1. Social comparison. Social media enables constant comparison with curated, idealised images — research links heavy social media use to lower self-esteem and higher anxiety, especially in girls.
  2. Positive connection. Online communities can provide belonging, support and connection — especially for those who feel isolated in offline contexts (e.g., LGBTQ+ youth in rural areas).
  3. FOMO and sleep. Fear of missing out and screen time disruption before sleep affect sleep quality and mood regulation.
  4. Net effect. Research suggests PASSIVE use (scrolling) is more harmful than ACTIVE use (messaging, creating). Moderation and critical media literacy are key protective factors.

Answer: Social media's impact on mental health is complex — connection is positive; passive comparison and sleep disruption are harmful. The key is intentional use.

Common mistakes

  • Treating health as purely physical — exercise and diet only Health is multidimensional. High physical fitness with poor mental or social health is still incomplete wellbeing Fix: Always address all relevant dimensions: physical, mental/emotional, social, and spiritual when discussing health
  • Confusing "wellbeing" with "happiness" Wellbeing includes life satisfaction, sense of purpose and flourishing — not just momentary happiness. Temporary negative emotions are part of healthy wellbeing Fix: Use the WHO definition: wellbeing as a positive state enabling full participation in life — broader than daily mood
  • Ignoring structural/social determinants in health explanations Focusing only on individual choices (diet, exercise) ignores that health is profoundly shaped by income, education, housing — factors outside individual control Fix: Acknowledge the "social gradient of health" — lower socioeconomic status is consistently linked to poorer health outcomes across all societies

Worked example (Hard)

Analyse the health and wellbeing impacts of homelessness on young Australians using the multidimensional model. Propose three strategies at different levels of intervention.

  1. Physical dimension. Exposure to cold, poor nutrition, lack of healthcare access. Higher rates of infectious disease, injury, and substance use disorders. Dental health severely impacted. Sleep deprivation from unsafe sleeping conditions.
  2. Mental/emotional dimension. High rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation. Traumatic experiences leading to and during homelessness compound mental health challenges. Stigma and shame create additional psychological burden.
  3. Social dimension. Exclusion from school and social networks. Loss of relationships. Vulnerability to exploitation. Difficulty maintaining employment without stable address. Isolation from family support.
  4. Spiritual dimension. Loss of sense of purpose, belonging and future orientation. Identity disruption. Many experience loss of hope — a fundamental component of spiritual wellbeing.
  5. Three-level interventions. INDIVIDUAL: Trauma-informed youth workers providing case management — addressing immediate needs (food, safety) while supporting mental health recovery. COMMUNITY: headspace and youth drop-in centres providing accessible services without requiring stable housing — meeting young people where they are. STRUCTURAL: Increase supply of affordable housing and reform rental regulations — address the root economic cause rather than managing symptoms.

Answer: Effective health interventions address multiple dimensions simultaneously and target causes at individual, community AND structural levels.

Practice questions

  1. How many hours of sleep do adolescents typically need per night?

    1. 5-6 hours
    2. 6-7 hours
    3. 8-10 hours
    4. 11-12 hours

    (1 marks)

  2. Explain how socioeconomic factors influence health outcomes for young Australians.

    (3 marks)

  3. The "circadian shift" in adolescence means:

    1. Teenagers need less sleep than children.
    2. The body clock shifts later, making it biologically harder to fall asleep early and wake early.
    3. Adolescent sleep is lighter and less restorative.
    4. Teenagers naturally sleep more during weekends.

    (1 marks)

  4. Using the multidimensional model of health, analyse how living in a rural or remote area of Australia can impact a young person's overall wellbeing.

    (4 marks)

  5. Explain the concept of "resilience" and describe two strategies that build resilience in adolescents.

    (2 marks)

Deeper Understanding: The Social Determinants of Health

The social determinants of health — the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age — are responsible for a greater share of health outcomes than healthcare itself. The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2008) concluded that "social injustice is killing people on a grand scale" — preventable differences in life expectancy of up to 20 years exist within cities depending on neighbourhood of birth.

In Australia, this is starkly evident in the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health outcomes. The average life expectancy gap is approximately 8 years, reflecting decades of structural disadvantage including dispossession of land, disruption of culture and family (Stolen Generations), restricted access to services, and exposure to discrimination. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap (2020) aims to address these structural drivers through joint decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study, one of the most influential public health studies, found that childhood trauma (abuse, neglect, household dysfunction) has dose-response relationships with adult health outcomes — more ACEs strongly correlate with higher rates of depression, heart disease, cancer and early death. Critically, ACEs are more common in disadvantaged communities, linking poverty, trauma and poor health in a cycle that spans generations.

Understanding the social determinants shifts the framing of health from individual responsibility to collective responsibility. While personal choices matter, they are constrained by circumstances. A comprehensive approach to adolescent health must address both individual capability AND the social and economic conditions that enable or constrain healthy choices.

Summary

  • Health is multidimensional: physical, social, mental/emotional, spiritual, cognitive — all interconnected.
  • Wellbeing is broader than health — encompassing how you experience and feel about life overall.
  • Adolescent changes: physical growth, brain development (prefrontal cortex matures ~25), circadian shift, identity formation.
  • Social determinants (income, education, housing) are among the strongest predictors of health outcomes.
  • Resilience is built through relationships, problem-solving skills, and self-efficacy.
  • Sleep (8-10 hours for adolescents) is critical for mood, learning, immunity and mental health.

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