NCJ Number
192241
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 20 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 20-25
Editor(s)
Sheila Allison
Date Published
December 2001
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This qualitative descriptive study examined those factors involved in the risk-taking behavior of Western Sydney’s young people.
Abstract
This qualitative study was designed to compliment prior research and examined the risk-taking behavior among Australia’s young people in Western Sydney. The Wentworth Health Area of Western Sydney was chosen to conduct the study due do its rapidly growing population with a high proportion of younger people, a diversity of ethnic groups, and generally lower standards of living. Focus groups were conducted with 16 male and 23 female young people age 12 to 18. Most of the participants were attending school. Two main factors were identified in the study predisposing young people to risk-taking behavior: inadequate transport infrastructure and boredom. Study recommendations to address the problems experienced by young people in Sydney consisted of: increasing government resources for transport and structured leisure activities and improving collaboration between youth service providers and increasing the involvement of young people in decision-making about services.