Introduction: Tema: Ungdom, helse og velferd

Abstract

Introduction: Nearly ten years ago, researchers in leading institutions within social sciences and social medicine were invited to publish articles in a special issue of this journal about youth and health. 12 articles in addition to an editorial and two articles on other themes, were published. The concept of health was and continues to be broadly defined – as in this new issue on the same topic. The concept covers both mental and somatic health, as well as conditions related to life style, social network and marginalisation. Research still documents the interrelationship between life style illnesses and marginalisation. Young people's traumatic experiences, risk behaviour and life style are decisive for their future life. The need for prevention of bad health and damaging social conditions is important, both for those groups who are prone for risks and for those who may not currently be at risk. In January 2018 the chief editor of this journal launched the idea of publishing a similar issue anew, as a follow up of the issue from 2009, and to present new and updated research on youth and their sociomedical situations. The perspective in this current issue is to some extent widened. We as guest editors have called the present issue Youth, health and welfare. Thus we are pleased to present 10 articles on this important theme and one article on another theme (methodological issues). Several articles deal with various aspects of mental problems and mental diseases. Others look into youth welfare and social conditions through the lens of the education system and youth choice of education in general.