Adolescents' health choices related rights, duties and responsibilities: An integrative review

Nurs Ethics. 2018 Jun;25(4):418-435. doi: 10.1177/0969733016654316. Epub 2016 Aug 11.

Abstract

Background: Although the link between adolescents' health choices in relation to rights, duties and responsibilities is acknowledged, little is studied in this subject.

Aim: To identify, describe and synthesize previous studies on adolescents' health choices in relation to rights, duties and responsibilities. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval is not needed as it is an integrative review of published literature.

Method: The integrative review was used to review and synthesize current knowledge. Electronic and manual searches from 2009 to March 2014 were used to systematically identify earlier studies.

Results: The review identified 13 studies. Adolescents' health choices were linked to unsuccessfully exercised rights, arising from questioned autonomy and freedom, and their duties were hardly mentioned.

Conclusion: Research into adolescents' health choices in relation to their rights, duties and responsibilities is still methodologically fragmented. In future, more research is needed to support adolescents' health promotion initiatives and increase their involvement opportunities.

Keywords: Adolescent; autonomy; health choice; integrative review; responsibilities; rights.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Choice Behavior*
  • Health Behavior*
  • Human Rights*
  • Humans