Commentary on Helseth S & Misvaer N (2009) Adolescents’ perceptions of quality of life: what it is and what matters. Journal of Clinical Nursing 19, 1455–1462

Abstract

The article by Helseth and Misvaer (2009) provides an interesting perspective on what adolescents feel are important elements of their quality of life, and it always salutary to note that for this group of young people, social and emotional health is ranked far above physical health. This is partly because most adolescents who participate in research of this type are physically well and perhaps regard physical health problems as an issue of old age. Helseth and Misvaer (2009) article illustrates this nicely and I think present several issue for nurses working with adolescents. First is how adolescent’s behaviour now can have an impact on their future health – an issue I will leave to one side in this commentary. Second, how the clear desire to develop meaningful friendships and relationships can contribute to health problems if young people are not given appropriate information and support; the significant connection here being sexual and reproductive health. It was interesting to read the comments of young people in this study and see the importance social relationships held for them – but I did sometimes wish the researchers had pressed these issues a little more; there is no explicit mention of sexual relationships at all in the study, which is surprising, given the critical importance often attached to this subject by many adolescents (Barnes et al. 2004, Hayter 2005). This is an issue where relationships can precipitate significant health problems if adolescents are not prepared for this important period of their life. Indeed, one of the most significant adolescent health problems globally are the levels of unplanned pregnancy, abortions and sexually transmitted infections – all health problems that are the products of relationships, however brief (Kirby et al. 2007). For adolescents, managing relationships can be a source of considerable stress and nurses can play a role in helping young people to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to help reduce these problems. In terms of sexual relationships, whilst recognising that factual knowledge of repro