Adolescent Risk-Taking, Cancer Risk, and Life Course Approaches to Prevention

Abstract

Adolescent risk-taking may have long-term consequences for adult cancer risk. Behaviors such as smoking and sexual activity, commonly initiated during adolescence, may result--decades later--in cancer. Life course epidemiology focuses on unique vulnerabilities at specific development periods and their importance to later development of disease. A life course epidemiological perspective that integrates social and biological risk processes can help frame our understanding how specific adult cancers develop. Moreover, life course perspectives augment traditional public health approaches to prevention by emphasizing the importance of unique windows of opportunity for prevention.

Social disparities in women's health service use in the United States: a population-based analysis

“…Lower rates of pregnancy, contraceptive and STI service use among the oldest women may reflect transitions across the reproductive and social life course, with completed childbearing, diminishing fertility intentions and capabilities, relationship stability, and reduced sexual risk-taking among older women [22,24–26]. On the other hand, low rates of contraceptive service use among adult women at risk of and not wanting a pregnancy may illuminate an unmet need for preventive family planning services among older women in the U.S.…”

“…Preventive health care, which has often been emphasized for adolescents, is relevant for women across the reproductive life course, particularly given the increasing risk of pregnancy-, cancer- and STI-related morbidity associated with increasing age [21,22]. Disproportionate access to preventive women’s health services among minority and poor women of all ages may further contribute to gaps in reproductive health promotion and disease prevention, leading to growing women’s health inequalities [10–14].…”

News from CDC: applying a life course approach to primary cancer prevention

“…phase of life [9] and can influence cancer risk later in life [10]. This meeting highlighted several key topics relevant to cancer prevention in this age group.…”

Adolescent’s respiratory sinus arrhythmia is associated with smoking rate five years later

“…Adolescence represents a particularly critical developmental period for smoking initiation, as 80-90% of adults report beginning to smoke before age 18 (Santelli, Sivaramakrishnan, Edelstein, & Fried, 2013; USDHHS, 2012). In addition to the negative health outcomes associated with cigarette smoking, recent work indicates that cigarette use in adolescence and young adulthood is associated with an increased risk for using other substances, behavioral problems, and dropping out of school (Orpinas, Lacy, Nahapetyan, Dube, & Song, 2015).…”