Adolescent mental health

Definitions and descriptions of adolescent mental health are beginning to be grounded in psychologists' empirical studies of a wide variety of patterns of adaptation to adolescence. Three major themes guiding current research relevant to mental health in adolescence are discussed in this article: (a) a focus on analysis of interindividual differences to describe variety in adaptation; (b) the integration of biological, psychological, social, and cultural variables in models of adolescence; and (c) an emphasis on the developmental aspects of adolescent mental health. Empirical investigations of adolescent mental health and development within the social context of the family are reviewed.