Factors Related To Adolescents' Willingness To Address The Unsafe Behaviours Of Their Friends

For many countries, injury is a leading cause of adolescent mortality and burden of disease. In Australia, more than two thirds of the deaths of young people are a result of injury (AIHW, 2004). One of the significant contributors to injury, particularly injury related to road use and violence, is adolescent risk-taking behaviour. A strong and consistent finding of research into the risk and protective factors of risk-taking behaviour is adolescents’ peer relationships. Most commonly, however, negative aspects of peer relations are emphasised in terms of their impact on adolescents’ risk-taking behaviour. This research seeks to determine peers’ potential in protecting adolescents from risk-taking behaviour and subsequent injury