Public Research Lecture | Julia Tibot

Adolescent Risk-Taking behaviours and Mental Health in Gibraltar.

Julia’s research explores the escalating burden of adolescent mental health issues globally, as young people navigate critical biological, psychological, and social transitions. This developmental stage often involves increased risk-taking and impulsivity, with cognitive control and metacognition seen as integral to understanding this. While there is extensive research on these topics in various countries, data for Gibraltar has been limited and this is even more relevant with the rapidly changing digital landscape. Her study employs a large-scale, comprehensive empirical approach conducted in Gibraltar across students aged 11-20 years, attending secondary schools in Gibraltar. The methodology centres on the established protocols of the Health Behaviours in School Aged Children (HBSC) and the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) surveys tailored to meet the specific requirements of Gibraltar. The lecture explores what the evidence tells us about the mental health and behaviour of young people in Gibraltar today and why gathering that evidence locally matters. Among the areas explored are alcohol and substance use, screen time and digital behaviour, and how these relate to broader indicators of mental health and wellbeing. The findings around adolescents’ relationship with technology and social media raise important questions about what is contributing to mental well-being and risk taking in this generation.