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Adolescent development: challenges and opportunities for research, programs, and policies
1Center for Child, Family, and Community Partnerships, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02167, USA. Lernerri@bc.edu
Annual Review of Psychology
|March 13, 1998
Summary
Adolescent development is shaped by context, with risks like substance abuse and poverty impacting youth. Effective programs and policies are crucial for positive development and mitigating these risks.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adolescent development is a dynamic process influenced by the interplay between individuals and their multifaceted environments.
- Variations in these interactions create diverse adolescent experiences, acting as either risk or protective factors.
- Contemporary American adolescents face specific behavioral risks, exacerbated by socioeconomic factors like poverty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and discuss key risk factors in contemporary American adolescence.
- To explore characteristics of effective youth programs for risk prevention and positive development.
- To examine public policies that can improve life outcomes for diverse youth globally.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on adolescent development and risk factors.
- Analysis of behavioral risks including substance use, sexual risk behaviors, academic failure, and delinquency.
- Examination of the role of poverty as a risk multiplier.
Main Results:
- Key behavioral risks include drug/alcohol abuse, unsafe sex, teenage pregnancy, school dropout, and crime/violence.
- Poverty significantly intensifies these risks for young people.
- Effective youth programs and supportive public policies are essential for positive adolescent trajectories.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the contextual influences on adolescent development is critical for identifying and addressing risks.
- Targeted interventions and policy changes are necessary to support positive youth development and mitigate socioeconomic disparities.
- A comprehensive approach addressing individual behaviors, environmental factors, and policy frameworks is needed to enhance life chances for all adolescents.
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