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Adolescence and young adulthood (AYA) represent a critical developmental period during which lifelong health behaviors are established [1]. AYA is characterized by increasing autonomy in decision-making and strong peer influence, both of which shape health behaviors, including physical activity, dietary patterns, and risk behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, which may persist throughout adulthood [2,3]. Furthermore, the transition from adolescence to young adulthood is accompanied by dramatic behavioral changes [3]. For example, young adults often experience declines in physical activity and diet quality, along with increases in sedentary behaviors and substance use [4].
Recent evidence has highlighted the multidimensional nature of health risks in the AYA population. For example, prolonged sedentary behavior, especially when associated with mentally passive activities such as screen viewing, is associated with reduced well-being [5]. Moreover, these health behaviors affect not only short-term well-being but also long-term health outcomes in adulthood.
Simultaneously, risk behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption may be initiated early in life and could lead to sustained addiction and chronic diseases with long-term health consequences. Brain development, including extensive neural remodeling, persists throughout adolescence, and experiences during this stage help shape the adult brain [6]. Therefore, targeted interventions that are customized for the AYA population are essential for preventing these risk behaviors. A recent study demonstrated that a peer-based online smoking-prevention program could effectively improve health-related behaviors among youth and health literacy [7]. Compared with traditional lecturebased education, the program significantly improved adolescents’ knowledge of and attitudes toward smoking. These findings highlight the importance of innovative educational interventions that transcend passive information delivery.
Health policies and education play important roles in shaping individuals’ health behaviors. The rapid expansion of digital platforms has transformed how young people are exposed to health-related content, including content pertaining to harmful substances such as alcohol. The increasing availability of online alcohol sales and targeted digital marketing has increased the risk of early exposure and consumption among adolescents. A review highlighted international inconsistencies in online alcohol sales regulatory systems and uncovered evidence suggesting that weak enforcement and reliance on self-regulation frequently fail to adequately protect youth [8]. These findings emphasize that education alone is insufficient without supportive policy and regulatory frameworks.
The AYA period represents a unique and critical stage of development because health behaviors established during this period persist throughout adulthood. In the digital age, health education should move beyond simple knowledge delivery and adopt interactive, behavior-focused, and digitally adaptive approaches that actively engage the AYA population. Simultaneously, educational efforts should be supported by effective public health policies and regulatory frameworks to create healthier environments for the AYA population.
Article Information
Conflict of interest
Su-Min Jeong is the Associate Editor of the journal but was not involved in the peer reviewer selection, evaluation, or decision process of this article. Except for that, no other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.
Funding
None.
Data availability
Not applicable.
Author contribution
All the work was done by Su-Min Jeong.
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