Adolescence—beginning with the onset of puberty and ending in the mid-20s—is a critical period of development during which key areas of the brain mature and develop. These changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity mark adolescence as a period of opportunity to discover new vistas, to form relationships with peers and adults, and to explore one's developing identity. It is also a period of resilience that can ameliorate childhood setbacks and set the stage for a thriving trajectory over the life course. Because adolescents comprise nearly one-fourth of the entire U.S. population, the nation needs policies and practices that will better leverage these developmental opportunities to harness the promise of adolescence—rather than focusing myopically on containing its risks. This report examines the neurobiological and socio-behavioral science of adolescent development and outlines how this knowledge can be applied, both to promote adolescent well-being, resilience, and development, and to rectify structural barriers and inequalities in opportunity, enabling all adolescents to flourish.

Contents

• The National Academies of SCIENCES • ENGINEERING • MEDICINE
• COMMITTEE ON THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE OF ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT AND ITS APPLICATIONS
• [Cover Information]
• Preface
• Acknowledgmentents
• Summary
  • ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
  • HOW ENVIRONMENT “GETS UNDER THE SKIN”: THE CONTINUOUS INTERPLAY BETWEEN BIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
  • INEQUITY AND ADOLESCENCE
  • USING DEVELOPMENTAL KNOWLEDGE TO ASSURE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL YOUTH
  • CONCLUSION
• PART I:. ADOLESCENCE AS A PERIOD OF OPPORTUNITY
  • 1. Introduction
    • STUDY CHARGE AND APPROACH
    • HISTORY OF ADOLESCENCE
    • CONTEMPORARY ADOLESCENTS
    • THE PROMISE OF ADOLESCENCE
    • THE POLITICAL CHALLENGE
    • STUDY METHODS
    • ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT
  • 2. Adolescent Development
    • PUBERTY
    • NEUROBIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
    • PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENCE
    • CONCLUSION
  • 3. How Environment “Gets Under the Skin”: The Continuous Interplay Between Biology and Environment
    • UNDERSTANDING EPIGENETICS
    • RECIPROCAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BRAIN, BODY, AND ENVIRONMENT
    • AMELIORATING EARLY LIFE ADVERSITIES IN ADOLESCENCE
    • CONCLUSION
  • 4. Inequity and Adolescence
    • DISPARITIES IN ADOLESCENT OUTCOMES
    • SOURCES OF DISPARITIES: INEQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
    • ACHIEVING EQUITY FOR ADOLESCENTS
    • CONCLUSION
• PART II:. USING DEVELOPMENTAL KNOWLEDGE TO ASSURE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL YOUTH
  • 5. Introduction
    • GROWING SYSTEM COMPLEXITY
    • PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
    • FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS
    • ENVISIONING DEVELOPMENTALLY INFORMED YOUTH-SERVING SYSTEMS
  • 6. Education
    • SOCIETAL CHANGES
    • IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF ADOLESCENCE
    • CREATING THE EDUCATION SECTOR OF THE FUTURE
    • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • 7. Health System
    • THE VISION: SEAMLESS ACCESS TO ADOLESCENT-FRIENDLY HEALTH SERVICES
    • SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
    • BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE
    • CONFIDENTIALITY AND PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENTS
    • ADOLESCENT HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE
    • MEETING ADOLESCENTS WHERE THEY ARE: SERVICES IN NONCLINICAL SETTINGS
    • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • 8. Child Welfare System
    • CHILD MALTREATMENT AND THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN
    • INTRODUCTION TO THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM
    • ALIGNING THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM WITH THE NEEDS OF ADOLESCENTS
    • DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENTS IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM: CHALLENGES AND PROMISING SOLUTIONS
    • FLOURISHING FOR CHILD WELFARE-INVOLVED ADOLESCENTS
    • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • 9. Justice System
    • DEVELOPMENTALLY INFORMED JUVENILE JUSTICE: PROGRESS REPORT
    • REDUCING RACIAL DISPARITIES
    • OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORMS
    • A DEVELOPMENTALLY INFORMED CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
    • OPPORTUNITIES FOR CROSS-SYSTEM COLLABORATION
    • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • 10. The Scientific Opportunity
    • DATA LIMITATIONS
    • RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
    • INVESTMENTS IN RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE
    • CONCLUSION
• References
• A. Assessing the Evidence
• B. Youth Engagement
• C. Biosketches of Committee Members and Staff

Suggested citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25388.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019945550

Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/25388

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