Young people as a group sit between the childhood, adolescence and early adulthood developmental stages. Common developmental stages come from established theories of human development widely used in psychology, health sciences and education. These stages are based on research by developmental psychologists like Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget, who outlined distinct phases of growth that are still relevant today.

Today developmentalists often use 8 stages:

1. Prenatal Development (In the womb)
2. Infancy and Toddlerhood (0-2)
3. Early Childhood (3-5)
4. Middle Childhood (6-11)
5. Adolescence (12-18)
6. Early Adulthood (19-40)
7. Middle Adulthood (40-65)
8. Late Adulthood (65+) 

https://www.simplypsychology.org/erik-erikson.html

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), young people are typically defined as those between the ages of 12 and 24 years. This broad age range covers adolescence and young adulthood, a period marked by significant physical, emotional, and social development. Similarly, The Australian Government’s
National Youth Policy Framework (the Framework) used by various government agencies and youth organisations also recognises young people as those aged 12 to 24 years. Whereas, the United Nations defines ‘youth’ as those between 15 and 24 years
(UN, 2024).

Adolescents experience a wide range of motivations, values and sociocultural influences as they undergo significant physical and emotional changes triggered by puberty. These changes can profoundly affect every aspect of their lives. Adolescence is often marked by experimentation and risk-taking behaviour. This developmental phase also brings cognitive and social shifts with young people making decisions about further education, employment and moving towards independence.

Exploring the lives of young Australians across generations highlights both similarities and differences in health, shaped by changing environments. According to McCrindle (2024), the generations in Australia are:

1. The Builders (Pre-1946): Shaped by the Great Depression and World War II.
2. Baby Boomers (1946-1964): Post-war generation drove social and economic change.
3. Generation X (1965-1979): Economic growth and early digital advances.
4. Generation Y (Millennials) (1980-1994): Digital natives.
5. Generation Z (1995-2009): Grew up in a digital world with globalisation and instability.
6. Generation Alpha (2010-2024): Fully immersed in 21st-century technology. 

https://mccrindle.com.au/article/topic/demographics/the-generations-defined/ 

Physical activity remains important across generations, though previous generations were more involved in outdoor play and sports. Today, while structured activities like gym memberships are common, young people face increased screen time and sedentary behaviour, contributing to rising obesity rates. In 2022, 24% of young Australians aged 15-24 were classified as overweight or obese​​ (AIHW, 2023).

Mental health awareness has grown significantly. Past generations often ignored stress and anxiety due to stigma, while today’s youth are more open to addressing mental health issues, aided by services like beyondblue and Headspace. Despite this progress, according to AIHW (2023) nearly one in two young women aged 16-24 experienced a mental health disorder between 2020 and 2022.

Technological advances have also altered the landscape, with today's young people deeply influenced by social media. While providing opportunities for connection, it has also introduced pressures like cyberbullying and unrealistic body standards, affecting self-esteem. Similarly, chronic conditions like asthma persist, affecting around 11% of young Australians, though improved treatments have helped manage symptoms more effectively over time (AIHW, 2023).

Substance use shows both continuity and change. Smoking, once widespread, has declined due to public health campaigns, but vaping has emerged as a new concern among young people. The rise of fast food and processed foods has also shifted dietary challenges, contributing to poor nutrition and diet-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, with only 5% of young Australians meeting the recommended intake of fruit and vegetables (AIHW, 2023). These evolving health issues reflect broader social and technological trends shaping the lives of young Australians.

Family is a vital component of a young person's life, instilling norms and values (both positive and negative) around health, education, culture and social roles. Family significantly influences a young person’s sense of attachment and belonging and provides opportunities for learning and challenging rules and boundaries.

In the past, families traditionally followed a nuclear structure and gender roles within the family were very clear. For example, men worked to financially provide for the family and women cared for the children and the home. Children within large families often contributed to caring duties and the expectation to work a part or full time job typically commenced at a younger age.

Today, with a significant shift in family structures associated gender roles, technological advancements and social media, intergenerational family influences have become increasingly evident.

For example, hesitance to seek help for mental health issues in the past due to stereotypical male bravado and less awareness about mental illness has created a precedent for some family members to delay seeking treatment or advice for their own health concerns.

Conversely, improved access to current information via the internet and social media has also allowed young people to be able to seek and gain knowledge through means other than their immediate family.

Peers have always played a crucial role in shaping young people's health behaviours, but the nature of this influence has evolved across generations. In previous generations, peer pressure in Australia largely revolved around activities like smoking, alcohol consumption and participation in physical sports.

For instance, in the mid-20th century, smoking was common among teenagers with peer groups normalising this behaviour as a symbol of maturity and social acceptance. Similarly, participation in organised sports was often encouraged by peers, particularly for young men promoting physical fitness as a core component of health. Peer groups were also instrumental in reinforcing traditional gender roles, with boys expected to engage in physically demanding activities and girls often steered towards domestic roles which influenced their perceptions of health.

In contrast, today’s young Australians are influenced by peers through both in-person interactions and digital platforms which significantly shape their health-related decisions. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok amplify peer influence by creating environments where body image, fitness routine and mental health struggles are openly discussed and compared. This has led to both positive and negative outcomes.

For example, while there is a growing peer-driven movement promoting mental health awareness and the importance of seeking help for anxiety or depression, there is also increased pressure to conform to idealised body standards.

The 'fitspiration' culture where peers share workout routines and diets; can inspire healthy behaviours, but it can also contribute to unhealthy comparisons and body dissatisfaction among young people. This shift from localised peer influence to a global, digital peer network has broadened the scope of health issues that young Australians navigate today.

Cultural influences have played a significant role in shaping the health of young Australians, with notable differences between past and current generations.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, cultural connections to land, kinship and traditional practices were and still are integral to their holistic understanding of health, which encompasses physical, mental, spiritual and community wellbeing. The imposition of Western healthcare systems often marginalised these perspectives, contributing to poorer health outcomes.

In previous generations, Australian culture often placed a strong emphasis on physical health, with sports and outdoor activities being central to many young people’s understanding of health. Mental health was less openly discussed and young people often lacked the language or support to address issues like anxiety and depression.

In contemporary Australia, cultural influences on young people’s health have expanded with the increasing recognition of mental health and the impact of social determinants, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents face a health burden 2.3 times higher than their non-Indigenous peers, with mental health and substance use disorders contributing significantly to this gap (AIHW, 2024).

Positive shifts include increased participation in cultural events and a stronger recognition of traditional lands with approximately 61% of Indigenous youth in 2016 identifying with their traditional homelands (AIHW, 2018). Furthermore, the proportion of Indigenous youth completing Year 12 or equivalent has risen from 52% in 2011 to 68% in 2021, which is associated with better health outcomes (AIHW, 2024). Challenges such as high levels of psychological distress remain, with one-third of Indigenous youth reporting high levels of distress (AIHW, 2018). 

Technology has dramatically shaped the health experiences of young Australians, both now and in previous generations.

In earlier decades, access to health information was limited with most young people relying on parents, schools or medical professionals for advice.

For example, physical health was primarily influenced by television-based public health campaigns, such as Australia’s 'Life. Be in it' campaign in the 1970s and 1980s, which promoted physical activity. Access to technology in this period was minimal with few opportunities for young people to independently research health information. The introduction of basic fitness and health programming on television contributed to a national dialogue on physical health, though mental health remained largely undiscussed in public.

 In contrast, young people today are constantly connected to health information via the internet and social media, which has had both positive and negative impacts. Positively, platforms like ReachOut and Beyond Blue offer immediate mental health resources, while fitness apps and wearable technology like Fitbits and Apple Watch have encouraged some young Australians to monitor and improve their physical health. 

The rise of social media has also brought challenges, with many young people exposed to unrealistic body images, leading to body dissatisfaction and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. A 2020 survey by Headspace found that 40% of young Australians aged 12–25 had experienced high levels of psychological distress, with technology playing a dual role as both a source of help and harm.

Global events have consistently influenced the health of young Australians, though the impacts have varied across generations. In earlier decades, global conflicts and health crises shaped physical and mental wellbeing, particularly during and after World War II. The war led to food rationing, limited access to healthcare and a focus on physical fitness to support the war effort, with government campaigns urging young people to maintain physical strength.

The post-war period also saw the global polio epidemic, which had a profound effect on the health of young Australians. Polio outbreaks in the 1950s led to widespread fear and the implementation of mass vaccination programs in Australia, permanently changing the approach to public health.

World sporting events such as the Olympics, World Cup Soccer/Rugby League/Union/Netball or other notable cultural initiatives have provided positive events for young people to feel connected with and participate in. These increase self-esteem and a sense of belonging as well as encourage young people to participate in such sports.

Global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have had a profound influence on the health of young Australians. The pandemic disrupted schooling, mental health and social connections with young people facing unprecedented isolation due to lockdowns. A 2020 survey conducted by Headspace revealed that 74% of young Australians aged 12–25 reported that their mental health was negatively impacted by the pandemic, with many experiencing increased anxiety and loneliness (Headspace, 2020). Additionally, global movements such as climate change activism have heightened awareness of environmental health issues among young people, with many Australian youths reporting ‘eco-anxiety’, fear about the future impacts of climate change.

The global connectivity of the internet has made international news a local concern, with social media enabling individuals to record and share events worldwide. This shift has sparked global movements like climate change protests and the spread of the Black Lives Matter movement beyond the USA and into Australia.

Additionally, social media has fuelled viral trends and TikTok crazes. While these trends are often light-hearted they have sometimes led to negative consequences including injury, humiliation and peer pressure among young people.