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Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: 201800007
201800007
Risk behavior and addiction in adolescence
Course info
Course code201800007
EC7.5
Course goals
At the end of this course
  • students will have an overview of the most important issues in the study of risk behavior and addiction among adolescents;
  • students will have knowledge of the most important theories to understand and explain substance use and other appetitive behaviors, and the development of addiction to these substances or behaviors;
  • students will have knowledge of the possible effects of substance use, other appetitive behaviors, and addiction to these substances or behaviors;
  • students will be able to apply the acquired theoretical and empirical knowledge when analyzing social youth issues;
  • students will be able to reflect on possible policy or intervention practices that may help to prevent social youth issues.
Content
Since the early ‘00s, the use of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis among Dutch adolescents has shown a decreasing pattern (de Looze et al., 2015; 2017). Despite this positive development, still 20% of the16-year old adolescents has been smoking, and 59% has been drinking alcohol last month. Moreover, in comparison to other European countries, Dutch adolescents are still among the heavy drinkers, and the prevalence of cannabis use is twice as high  (38% of the 16-year olds has been using cannabis during their lifetime). Given these statistics and given the adverse (health) effects of substance use, including the increased risk of developing addiction problems, it remains important to study predictors and outcomes of substance use among Dutch adolescent. Besides that, since the early ‘00s, technology-related addictive behaviors have emerged, and a substantial amount of Dutch adolescents is so highly engaged in gaming, social media use, and smartphone use that it may go at the expense of other important life-domains and may have a negative impact on their future development. The focus of this course will be on gaining a better understanding of theories and research on adolescent risk behaviors that may develop into substance (e.g. smoking, drinking, cannabis use, use of illicit drugs) or behavioral addictions (e.g. internet-related problems, gambling disorder, eating disorder). Finally, attention will be given to the prevention and treatment of these problems.

Academic skills

- Apply theoretical and empirical knowledge when analysing social youth issues.
- Reflect on possible policy or intervention practices that may help to prevent social youth issues.
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Kies de Nederlandse taal