research topics in adolescent psychology

135 Adolescence Essay Topics & Examples

Completing a psychology course, studying child development, or simply analyzing social influence on teenagers? You might need to write an adolescence essay, and we are ready to help with that.

✨ Top Adolescent Psychology Topics

🏆 best adolescence topic ideas & essay examples, 📑 good research topics about adolescence, 🎓 interesting adolescent research topics, 👍 good essay topics on adolescence, ❓ research questions about adolescence.

Our Ivypanda team has collected a list of great ideas for different assignments related to the subject. So, check our adolescent research topics and essay titles to nail your academic paper.

• Ethical Issues of Social Media.
• Reaction to Physical Changes.
• Depression Among Adolescents.
• Parental vs. Social Influence.
• Must-See Youth Documentaries.
• Preventing Teenage Pregnancy.
• Dating & First Relationships.
• Reproductive Health Stigma.
• Impact of Peer Pressure on Development.
• Connection Between Mental Health & Social Media.
• Vygotsky’s Approach to the Analysis of Adolescence In Vygotsky’s view, the change in the motives of adolescence come about due to the growth of sexual desires and needs which are as a result of their ability to think logically.
• Psychology of Adolescence Development The strategy allows the examination of the significance of adolescence as a standard stage of development. However, she admits that she experienced a period of anxiety and distress upon the death of her mother when […]
• Adolescence as a Social Construct As a social construct of society, adolescence is viewed as the object of fear and anxiety by the rest of society’s members.
• Family Issues and Adolescence in Crazy/Beautiful The film Crazy/Beautiful is a vivid example of relationships between teenage children and their parents: The problems and situations shown in the film are typical and timeless.
• Adolescence as a Stage of the Person Development Adolescents struggle with so many things, start with, because of their physical changes that occur in their bodies and their exploration of sexual identity, most of them are not able to control their bodies and […]
• Adolescence: Biological and Psychosocial Perspectives Adolescence as a social construction is more complex as a concept and entails definitional vagueness regarding the beginning and the ending of adolescence, for example, social-role passages into new reference groups, perceptions of the body, […]
• Risk-Taking Behaviors and Situations During Adolescence Risk-taking behavior in adolescents is a significant bother for the US healthcare system, as it negatively affects the health and well-being of the population.
• Middle Childhood and Adolescence Periods Observation The first participant is a boy of 7, and the following series of questions will be offered to him: Do you like watching the outside world and nature changes?
• Influence of Heavy Metal Music on Adolescence (Behavior, Identity, Mood, Regulation, Psychology) Accepting the potent impact of music on adolescents’ behavior, identity, and psychology leads to a deeper analysis of the influences of heavy metal music on teenagers’ development.
• Childhood, Adolescence, Young Adulthood Psychology Any intervention that can be used in the prevention of child abuse should focus on the causes of the same and the needs of children who are more prone to abuse.
• Adolescence as a Period of Social Development Adolescents transition from the restricted responsibilities of childhood to the more expansive roles of adulthood through the social development process, expanding their social networks and experiencing peer influence.
• Adolescence and Emotion Relations He attributes the occurrence of emotional problems to the overwhelming nature of the changes and demands that occur during puberty. The reaction of parents to their child’s emotional outbursts correlates to the cultivation of healthy […]
• Adolescence and Adulthood Developmental Stages – Psychology The onset of adolescence marks the refinement of most individuals’ thinking abilities because at this stage the majority of individuals would have attained control in their thinking process.
• Inter-Psychic Theories Adlerian Theory (In Adolescence) In his theory, social interest is identified as the need for individuals to adapt to their social environment as it is expressed subjectively in an individual’s consciousness, hence, the need to be part of society […]
• The Problem of Adolescence Pressures in Society Early adolescence start at the age of 10 to 14 while the late adolescence is from 15 to 21years in boys but girls are said to attain early maturity at the age of 19 years.
• Circumstances Causing Stress in Adolescence Hold one’s breath for many seconds and gently exhale via the mouth to evacuate the lungs, hence easing the body of stress. The more one is stressed, the more difficult and nervous it is to […]
• The Impact of Technology Development on the Adolescence Psychology The stability of the psyche in teenage society is on the minimum bar, and with few exceptions, teenagers are resistant to any criticism.
• Social Development and Adolescence: Human Services Ethics and Interventions The small circle of peer friends and the loss of a close relative provoke the feeling of loneliness and further progression of depression. A wide range of human service agencies can help Susie and her […]
• The Impact of Social Issues on the Development of Adolescence For example, boys have high esteem when they experience changes in their voices, while girls may feel shy due to the growth of their chest region.
• Depression in Adolescence and Treatment Approaches The age of adolescence, commonly referred to as children aged 10-19, is characterized by a variety of changes to one’s physical and mental health, as the child undergoes several stages of adjustment to the environment […]
• Different Stages of Adolescence Due to the rapid development, the body experiences difficulties in the work of the heart, lungs, and blood supply to the brain.
• Adolescence: Behavioral Issues and Communication Strategies Despite the fact that these issues occur naturally and are frequent for the majority of the representatives of this age group, the traumas and incapability to cope with the challenges might result in adverse outcomes […]
• Review of “The Legal Construction of Adolescence” Article However, as explained by Scott in The Legal Construction of Adolescence, there are several complications connected to clearly defining the end of childhood and the overall period of adolescence.
• Adolescence and Young Adulthood in Educational Psychology For Freud, it is inclusion in society, the beginning of social education, communication with peers, removing barriers in interpersonal contacts, and expanding the field of fixation of the object of attraction.
• Childhood and Adolescence Psychology One of the examples given about the effects of cultural differences in the definition of intelligence is between the Taiwanese and the Americans.
• Dating, Sex, and Romance: Adolescence and Digital Media Sexual education is significant for adolescents because, for them, the topic of sexual relations, dating, and romance is one of the most attractive ones.
• Adolescence Sexuality: Breaking Down the Myths In her work, Coming of Age in Samoa, she gave a vivid description on the variations in human behavior patterns among the adolescent girls in Samoa.
• Brain Development in Adolescence and Childhood I am going to describe the relation of moral reasoning, moral evaluations and moral behaviors in terms of worldviews approach to moral development according to Jensen. The next issue I am going to discuss is […]
• HIV and AIDS in Adolescents The teenagers in America and the world are a group that is constantly at risk of infection with the Human-Immunodeficiency-Virus and developing the Acquired-Immune-Deficiency-Syndrome, the disease condition that eventually results; this is stemming mainly from […]
• Syllabus for Life Among Adolescence This is a matter of pressure to the teenagers and this creates stress in them.”Early adulthood is the settling down period and most reproductive age.
• Adolescence and Risk Taking Analysis Studies show that children and adolescents around the world spend their maximum time watching television than they do in any other activity with an exception in the time of sleeping. The objective of this paper […]
• Adolescence Psychology: Development Early Through Late This number is approximate, because a lot of people with the disease are not aware of the symptoms and do not want to be tested on chlamydia.
• Depression and Psychotherapy in Adolescence Society needs to acknowledge that depression is a major medical problem among adolescents in the United States and measures need to be taken to address it.
• Development: Infancy Through Adolescence The evaluation of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development in different age groups of childhood can be made due to the observation of specific subjects and conversations with them.
• Middle Childhood and Adolescence Development Children and adolescents need to be accepted by the peers, and the positive relations in groups contribute to increasing the children’s self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Psychology: Adolescence as a Developmental Stage Erik Erickson is referred to as the father of an identity crisis in that he originated with the idea of child upbringing practices and their influence on the personality of the child in later life.
• Human Development Theories: Adolescence and Adulthood In the growth and development stage of a human being, the adolescent period has been considered to be a natural stage found between childhood and adulthood.
• Addiction Occurrence and Reduction in Adolescence This implies that the earlier the start of the use of drugs, the higher the chances of the risk of becoming addicted.
• Loneliness in Adolescence as a Psychological Issue In the course of this, it will outline the background, state the hypothesis, speculate on the methods, and reflect on the conclusion which the author has arrived at.
• Adolescence: Risk, Identity and Transition There is a downside to this perspective is that it ignores the diversity in culture and differences among peers. The main problem however is that most of these youth have no experience with the real […]
• The Peculiarities of Adolescence and Puberty It is necessary to pay attention to the needs of students at risk, to the peculiarities of their interactions with other people and to the features of their awareness of themselves as personalities.
• Socioemotional Development in Adolescence Adolescence is a period that begins with the puberty, approximately at the age of 12, and ends with the early adulthood, in the 18th.
• Sexuality and Masculinity in Adolescents This is the misunderstanding which makes many teenagers behave in the way they are not to behave, to act in the way they are not to act and to act as in the result the […]
• Alcohol Consumption in Adolescence The hypotheses developed in this paper are of immense importance in guiding a study aimed at identifying credible evidence on how alcohol consumption during adolescence is associated with mental health challenges and increased STI risk […]
• Relationship Between Sleep and Depression in Adolescence Using SPSS for data analysis, the results indicate the presence of a correlation between elements of depression and sleep duration and quality.
• Attachment Dimensions and Adolescence Drug Addiction in Relation to School Counseling A meta-analysis of numerous studies relating to attachment and parental rearing behaviors have revealed that the quality of rapport between children and their caregivers is of intrinsic importance to the children’s development, and some studies, […]
• Development of Ethnic Identity During Adolescence From a study of adolescents of different racial groups in the United States, it was found out that self esteem of the groups was observed to rise among the groups of early and mid adolescents.
• The Three D’s of Adolescence Depression There are three major types depression in teenagers: bipolar depression, major depression, and chronic depression. Parents can help their depressed adolescents by identifying the type of depression and seeking proper treatment.
• Human Development: Adolescence as the Most Important Age Range The stage is therefore very important in understanding the behavior of an individual. This is a stage when the life of an individual is either made or destroyed.
• Critical Issues in Adolescence: The Problem of Psychological Disorders It is the purpose of this paper to critically analyze how psychological disorders affect the physical, cognitive and emotional development of adolescents in contemporary times.
• A Critical Evaluation of the Behavioural Outcomes of Failure of Mylination of the Prefrontal Lobe During Adolescence It is, therefore, the purpose of this paper to evaluate the behavioural outcome of failure or impairment of mylination of the prefrontal lobe during adolescence.
• Why Do So Many Guys Seem Stuck Between Adolescence And Adulthood?
• Mental Health around Pregnancy and Child Development from Early Childhood to Adolescence
• Adolescence: Developmental Psychology and Social Work Practice
• Adolescence Sexuality Defining Sexual Self The Other Issue
• The Main Problems That Comes with Adolescence
• Working and Studying in Rural Latin America: Critical Decisions of Adolescence
• The Sense of Self in Adolescence: Teenager Movies
• The Ups and Downs of Adolescence in The Perks of Being a Wallflower Directed by Stephen Chbosky
• Understanding the Adolescence and Behaviorism in Psychology
• The Influence of Parent and Peer Attachments on Life Satisfaction in Middle Childhood and Early Adolescence
• What Are Some Of The Most Common Mental Disorders In Adolescence
• The Rite of Passage from Adolescence to Adulthood in Teen Films
• Gender Roles And Socialization In Adolescence
• The Middle Adolescence Stage Of Development
• Adolescence Is A Critical Time For A Human
• Adolescence In The Bell Jar And Catcher In The Rye
• The Reduction in Criminal Offences After Adolescence
• Weight and Blood Pressure Management in Adolescence Population
• The Relationship Between Divorce And Adolescence
• Relationship Between Adolescence and Horror Films
• Narratives of Adolescence Explored Through the Harry Potter
• Prenatal Adolescence And Early Adulthood Period
• The Pros and Cons of Internet as the Primary Source of Globalization of Adolescence
• Adolescence Is The Most Difficult Stage Of Our Lives
• The Theme of Adolescence in Melanie Rae Thon’s Iona Moon
• The Importance of Adolescence in Creating Successful Adults
• The Physiological Changes of Boys and Girls During Adolescence
• Sports Participation and Social Capital Formation During Adolescence
• The Physical and Psychological Changes that Occur During Adolescence
• Value Driven Attentional Capture Of Adolescence
• Treating Non-Malignant Pain in Adolescence with Medical Marijuana
• The Psychological And Physical Aspects Of Drug Abuse In Today’s Adolescence
• The Woman’s Natural Journey From Adolescence To Menopause
• Sexism and Aggression in Adolescence—How Do They Relate to Perceived Academic Achievement
• Understanding Sexuality During the Adolescence Stage of Our Lives
• Theories Of Child Development As They Pertain To Middle Childhood And Adolescence
• Peer Affiliation, Social Behavior, And Callous Unemotional Traits In Adolescence
• The Major Hormonal Changes That Occur During Adolescence
• Personality and Optimal Experience in Adolescence: Implications for Well-Being and Development
• An Analysis of the Concept of Adolescence and the Juvenile Delinquency
• Adolescence Is A Period Of Storm And Stress
• Child Sexual Development: Infancy, Early Childhood, Adolescence
• Mass Media and Adolescence: How Mass Media Influence Teens in Their Sexual Behavior
• The Role Of Nature And Nurture : Adolescence Eating Disorders
• Does Fruit and Vegetable Consumption During Adolescence Predict Adult Depression?
• How Does Frayn Show Stephen’s Mental Progression From Childhood to Adolescence?
• Does Periodontal Inflammation Affect Type 1 Diabetes in Childhood and Adolescence?
• What Leads Subjective Well-Being to Change Throughout Adolescence?
• Is Abortion Beneficial or Harmful to a Teenager?
• How to Recognize the Signs of Depression in Young People?
• Which Role Models Do Teenagers Follow Today?
• Who Is Responsible for Sexual Education: School or Family?
• What Changes Happen During Adolescence?
• How Do Teenagers Leave Their Homes and Why They Never Come Back? Which Social Groups Have Higher Rates of Such Cases?
• Appearance as a Tool of Self-Expression. Which Elements of Style Are Used by Teenagers Today?
• How Did Communication With Parents Change Over the Past Ten Years?
• Do Technological Advances Facilitate Better Studying Among Young People or Distract From It?
• Have the Youth Become More Involved Socially, or Are They Becoming More Individualist?
• What Influences the Youth of Today?
• How Does an Adolescent Develop Intellectually?
• Are Teenagers More Religious as Compared to the Recent Past?
• What Are the Major Challenges That Adolescence Facing?
• How Does Society Affect Adolescent Development?
• What Is the Most Important Thing We Need to Know During Adolescence?
• Why Adolescent Stage Is the Most Crucial Stage?
• What Are Emotional Changes in Adolescence?
• Can Adolescent Development Change According to Culture and Upbringing?
• What Social Changes Happen in Adolescence?
• Why Is Knowledge About Changes During Adolescence Important?
• How Do Physical Changes Affect Adolescents?
• Why Is Adolescent Development Especially Challenging?
• What Are the Problems With Defining the Start and End of Adolescence? Why Do These Problems Exist?
• How Does Family Affect Adolescent Development?
• Why Is Healthy Behavior During Adolescence Important?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 29). 135 Adolescence Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/adolescence-essay-topics/

"135 Adolescence Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 29 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/adolescence-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '135 Adolescence Essay Topics & Examples'. 29 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "135 Adolescence Essay Topics & Examples." February 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/adolescence-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "135 Adolescence Essay Topics & Examples." February 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/adolescence-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "135 Adolescence Essay Topics & Examples." February 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/adolescence-essay-topics/.

• Psychology Questions
• Emotional Development Questions
• Personal Identity Paper Topics
• Self Esteem Research Ideas
• Family Relationships Research Ideas
• Peer Pressure Research Topics
• Role Model Research Topics
• Personality Development Ideas

• Bipolar Disorder
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Guided Meditations
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2024 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

50+ Research Topics for Psychology Papers

How to Find Psychology Research Topics for Your Student Paper

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

• Specific Branches of Psychology
• Topics Involving a Disorder or Type of Therapy
• Human Cognition
• Human Development
• Critique of Publications
• Famous Experiments
• Historical Figures
• Specific Careers
• Case Studies
• Literature Reviews
• Your Own Study/Experiment

Are you searching for a great topic for your psychology paper ? Sometimes it seems like coming up with topics of psychology research is more challenging than the actual research and writing. Fortunately, there are plenty of great places to find inspiration and the following list contains just a few ideas to help get you started.

Finding a solid topic is one of the most important steps when writing any type of paper. It can be particularly important when you are writing a psychology research paper or essay. Psychology is such a broad topic, so you want to find a topic that allows you to adequately cover the subject without becoming overwhelmed with information.

I can always tell when a student really cares about the topic they chose; it comes through in the writing. My advice is to choose a topic that genuinely interests you, so you’ll be more motivated to do thorough research.

In some cases, such as in a general psychology class, you might have the option to select any topic from within psychology's broad reach. Other instances, such as in an  abnormal psychology  course, might require you to write your paper on a specific subject such as a psychological disorder.

As you begin your search for a topic for your psychology paper, it is first important to consider the guidelines established by your instructor.

Research Topics Within Specific Branches of Psychology

The key to selecting a good topic for your psychology paper is to select something that is narrow enough to allow you to really focus on the subject, but not so narrow that it is difficult to find sources or information to write about.

One approach is to narrow your focus down to a subject within a specific branch of psychology. For example, you might start by deciding that you want to write a paper on some sort of social psychology topic. Next, you might narrow your focus down to how persuasion can be used to influence behavior .

Other social psychology topics you might consider include:

• Prejudice and discrimination (i.e., homophobia, sexism, racism)
• Social cognition
• Person perception
• Social control and cults
• Persuasion, propaganda, and marketing
• Attraction, romance, and love
• Nonverbal communication
• Prosocial behavior

Psychology Research Topics Involving a Disorder or Type of Therapy

Exploring a psychological disorder or a specific treatment modality can also be a good topic for a psychology paper. Some potential abnormal psychology topics include specific psychological disorders or particular treatment modalities, including:

• Eating disorders
• Borderline personality disorder
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Profile a  type of therapy  (i.e., cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, psychoanalytic therapy)

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Cognition

Some of the possible topics you might explore in this area include thinking, language, intelligence, and decision-making. Other ideas might include:

• False memories
• Speech disorders
• Problem-solving

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Development

In this area, you might opt to focus on issues pertinent to  early childhood  such as language development, social learning, or childhood attachment or you might instead opt to concentrate on issues that affect older adults such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Some other topics you might consider include:

• Language acquisition
• Media violence and children
• Learning disabilities
• Gender roles
• Child abuse
• Prenatal development
• Parenting styles
• Aspects of the aging process

Do a Critique of Publications Involving Psychology Research Topics

One option is to consider writing a critique paper of a published psychology book or academic journal article. For example, you might write a critical analysis of Sigmund Freud's Interpretation of Dreams or you might evaluate a more recent book such as Philip Zimbardo's  The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil .

Professional and academic journals are also great places to find materials for a critique paper. Browse through the collection at your university library to find titles devoted to the subject that you are most interested in, then look through recent articles until you find one that grabs your attention.

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Famous Experiments

There have been many fascinating and groundbreaking experiments throughout the history of psychology, providing ample material for students looking for an interesting term paper topic. In your paper, you might choose to summarize the experiment, analyze the ethics of the research, or evaluate the implications of the study. Possible experiments that you might consider include:

• The Milgram Obedience Experiment
• The Stanford Prison Experiment
• The Little Albert Experiment
• Pavlov's Conditioning Experiments
• The Asch Conformity Experiment
• Harlow's Rhesus Monkey Experiments

Topics of Psychology Research About Historical Figures

One of the simplest ways to find a great topic is to choose an interesting person in the  history of psychology  and write a paper about them. Your paper might focus on many different elements of the individual's life, such as their biography, professional history, theories, or influence on psychology.

While this type of paper may be historical in nature, there is no need for this assignment to be dry or boring. Psychology is full of fascinating figures rife with intriguing stories and anecdotes. Consider such famous individuals as Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, Harry Harlow, or one of the many other  eminent psychologists .

Psychology Research Topics About a Specific Career

​Another possible topic, depending on the course in which you are enrolled, is to write about specific career paths within the  field of psychology . This type of paper is especially appropriate if you are exploring different subtopics or considering which area interests you the most.

In your paper, you might opt to explore the typical duties of a psychologist, how much people working in these fields typically earn, and the different employment options that are available.

Topics of Psychology Research Involving Case Studies

One potentially interesting idea is to write a  psychology case study  of a particular individual or group of people. In this type of paper, you will provide an in-depth analysis of your subject, including a thorough biography.

Generally, you will also assess the person, often using a major psychological theory such as  Piaget's stages of cognitive development  or  Erikson's eight-stage theory of human development . It is also important to note that your paper doesn't necessarily have to be about someone you know personally.

In fact, many professors encourage students to write case studies on historical figures or fictional characters from books, television programs, or films.

Psychology Research Topics Involving Literature Reviews

Another possibility that would work well for a number of psychology courses is to do a literature review of a specific topic within psychology. A literature review involves finding a variety of sources on a particular subject, then summarizing and reporting on what these sources have to say about the topic.

Literature reviews are generally found in the  introduction  of journal articles and other  psychology papers , but this type of analysis also works well for a full-scale psychology term paper.

Topics of Psychology Research Based on Your Own Study or Experiment

Many psychology courses require students to design an actual psychological study or perform some type of experiment. In some cases, students simply devise the study and then imagine the possible results that might occur. In other situations, you may actually have the opportunity to collect data, analyze your findings, and write up your results.

Finding a topic for your study can be difficult, but there are plenty of great ways to come up with intriguing ideas. Start by considering your own interests as well as subjects you have studied in the past.

Online sources, newspaper articles, books , journal articles, and even your own class textbook are all great places to start searching for topics for your experiments and psychology term papers. Before you begin, learn more about  how to conduct a psychology experiment .

What This Means For You

After looking at this brief list of possible topics for psychology papers, it is easy to see that psychology is a very broad and diverse subject. While this variety makes it possible to find a topic that really catches your interest, it can sometimes make it very difficult for some students to select a good topic.

If you are still stumped by your assignment, ask your instructor for suggestions and consider a few from this list for inspiration.

• Hockenbury, SE & Nolan, SA. Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers; 2014.
• Santrock, JW. A Topical Approach to Lifespan Development. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2016.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Psychology 204 - Adolescent Psychology Research Guide

Find background information on your topic, adolescent psychology research journals, scholarly/peer-reviewed article databases, google scholar, how to identify research studies, scholary sources vs popular sources.

• Find Books & Videos
• Find Authoritative Websites
• Citing Sources
• Getting Help

Recommended Databases

Recommended Reference Books and Subject Introductions

• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Aims to provide a forum for the exchange of clinical experience, ideas and research in this field.
• Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology Peer reviewed articles featuring the research and viewpoints of child advocates in all disciplines.
• Journal of Research on Adolescence Designed to advance knowledge about the second decade of life.
• New Directions for Child & Adolescent Development Provides scientific & scholarly presentations on cutting edge issues & concepts in the field of child & adolescent development.
• List of Additional Adolescent Psychology Journals A list of journals on research topics in adolescent psychology, available through the FCC Library's Academic Search Premier database.

G o o g l e   Scholar  is a discovery tool that helps you find scholarly literature related to your topic.

• Easy to search
• Shows you the impact of an article (how many times it has been cited by other published articles). 
• Not full text (with some exceptions). Unless the article/book is free to the public, you will be asked to pay to view the full text.  NEVER PAY FOR AN ARTICLE/BOOK!  Ask a librarian for help in locating a full-text copy for you.
• Has a limited search scope. You can miss out on other available articles on a topic if you only use Google Scholar.
• Interlibrary Loan If you can't find the article or book you need in FCC's Library, you can request an Interlibrary Loan. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) allows us to ask other libraries to send specific books or articles found in their collections for you to use.

Scholarly Psychology Journals usually have two types of articles:

• Reviews look at other peoples' research and summarize research in a specific area of study.
• Research studies report the original research being conducted by the authors of the article.

​ Quick Indicators of Original Research Studies

Read the  abstract  of an article before diving into it completely and then give the article a quick once over. You are looking for keywords such as:

• Purpose  or  Objective : Why the experiment is being done in the first place, the question that the researchers are attempting to address with their research.
• Participants, Population,  or  subjects:  In psychology, research is done on people or animals – a research article should discuss who participated in a study. If it DOES NOT talk about the people used in the research, it may be an analysis or review of research. It is likely  NOT a research study.
• Methods  or  Methodology:  This explains how the research is done.
• Results  or  Findings : An explanation of what the researchers found within the scope of their experiment or research.
• Conclusions  and/or  Discussion : A description of what the researchers’ findings entail or mean, and suggestions for future research informed by such findings.

Adapted from “What is Original Research?” http://libguides.unf.edu/originalresearch

REMEMBER: Popular DOES NOT equal bad. Check with your professors to find out which popular sources they accept.

• Next: Find Books & Videos >>
• Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 11:51 AM
• URL: https://guides.frederick.edu/adolescentpsyc

Frederick Community College prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status in its activities, admissions, educational programs, and employment.

•   [email protected]

Psychology Research Guide

Child & adolescent development.

“Child development”, or “child and adolescent development” refers to the process of growth and maturation of the human individual from conception to adulthood. The term “adolescence” has particular connotations in particular cultural and social contexts. Child & Adolescent Psychology focuses on understanding the physical, social, psychological, and cognitive needs of young human beings. You can read more about the focus of Child & Adolescent Development on the American Psychological Association's Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology website This link opens in a new window . To find ideas for paper/research topics within child & adolescent development, visit these sites:

APA Psychology Topics This link opens in a new window (Try Bullying; Children; Education; Kids & the Media; Learning & Memory; Parenting; Teens)

Child & Adolescent Development Databases

Research in child & adolescent psychology utilizes core psychology resources, as well as resources in child & family development and sociology. You may find it helpful to search the following databases for your child & adolescent development topics or research questions, in addition to the core resources listed on the home page.

Child & Adolescent Development Subject Headings

You may find it helpful to take advantage of predefined subjects or subject headings in Shapiro Databases. These subjects are applied to articles and books by expert catalogers to help you find materials on your topic.

• Learn more about Subject Searching

Consider using databases to perform subject searches, or incorporating words from applicable subjects into your keyword searches. Here are some social psychology subjects to consider:

• adopted children
• Attachment Theory
• child abuse
• child behavior
• children of alcoholics
• cognitive development
• developmental stages
• early childhood development
• emotional development
• family relations
• middle school/junior high school/high school students
• parent child relations
• peer pressure
• personality

Child & Adolescent Development Organization Websites

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) This link opens in a new window A national professional medical association dedicated to treating and improving the quality of life for children, adolescents, and families affected by mental, behavioral, or developmental disorders.
• Child & Adolescent Development course module (UNHCR) This link opens in a new window This Resource Pack published by the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees' Action for the Rights of Children (ARC) is a training module for those working with children and teen refugees. It covers major areas of child development acknowledging that " the concept of childhood is understood differently in different cultural and social contexts."
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) This link opens in a new window NICHD’s mission is to lead research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all.
• Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology (APA Division) This link opens in a new window The Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology is Division 53 of the American Psychological Association. Its purpose is to encourage the development and advancement of clinical child and adolescent psychology through integration of its scientific and professional aspects.
• Child Welfare Information Gateway - Understanding Adolescent Development This link opens in a new window United States Health & Human Services Children's Bureau Child Welfare Information Gateway has extensive resources on child & adolescent development. This link leads to their "Understanding Adolescent Development" resources page.
• << Previous: Applied Psychology
• Next: Forensic Psychology >>

Research Topics is a collection of previously published articles, features, and news stories. They are meant to serve as an information clearinghouse and represent some of APS’s most requested and publicly relevant subjects. Note: this content may reflect the accepted style and terminology of the date the articles were first published.

Trending Topics

Disaster response and recovery.

Disasters like Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut draw massive media coverage, trauma interventions, and financial donations to victims. But psychological research shows the efforts don’t always yield the intended benefits.

Environment and Climate Change

Psychological scientists are studying how we’re all weathering a warming planet.

Myths and Misinformation

How does misinformation spread and how do we combat it? Psychological science sheds light on the mechanisms underlying misinformation and ‘fake news.’

Learn about the mechanisms underlying our generous motivations and behaviors.

For psychological scientists, exploring the less pleasant aspects of individual and social nature, like violence and aggression, is an occasional necessity.

Aggression and Violence

Research is showing that aging equals anything but cognitive decline and unhappiness.

Psychological scientists have done extensive research on the aging brain, Alzheimer's Disease, different types of dementias, and much more.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias

How do pets influence our well-being? Why does the face of a puppy or the purr of a cat soothe us? Psychological research provides some insights.

Animal Behavior

Developments in AI and machine learning herald unprecedented leaps in many applications, including human psychology itself. Algorithmic bias is just one issue of concern.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

Whether you're driving, studying, or listening to a business presentation, keeping focused can be a challenge when boredom and distractions compete for your focus. Research findings have identified the factors that keep our minds on task -- or off track.

Attention and Distraction

Psychological science on the effects of prejudice, and how to counter these beliefs.

Bias and Stigma

Learn what researchers have discovered about the factors that lead to bullying and the long-term consequences it can have.

The World Health Organization has added "burnout" to its International Classification of Diseases. Learn what psychological scientists have discovered about the possible causes and symptoms of burnout.

Psychological research reveals the long-lasting cognitive, social, and neurobiological consequences of stress and trauma experienced in childhood.

Childhood Adversity

A growing body of research connects various aspects of children's environments and their emotional well-being.

Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health

Psychological scientists have designed cognitive tests that can help identify everything from memory deficits to cultural heritage.

Cognitive Testing

A collection of studies shows that compassion gets stronger with training and this training can even change brain function.

It's a big-time showdown for France and Croatia in the upcoming FIFA World Cup final. Science reveals how players and fans alike handle the pressure of climactic competition.

Competition

From international wars to political arguments at the dinner table, conflict is an integral part of the human experience. Psychological scientists have uncovered a wealth of knowledge about the ways cooperation and acceptance can overpower those clashes.

Conflict and Conflict Resolution

What drives people to believe in vast conspiracies and dismiss facts as hoaxes? Psychological research identifies some motivations.

Conspiracy Theories

The criminal justice system was designed to find and punish perpetrators guilty of the crimes of which they are accused. Psychological science helps repair and maintain the public’s trust in the system and eliminate threats to equal justice.

Criminal Justice

How do people respond to increasing cultural diversity in their communities, cities, and countries? Researchers investigate.

Cultural Diversity

Being curious about the world around us can have benefits at school, work, and other contexts, studies show.

Psychological scientists are exploring how we use digital media and the consequences, both positive and negative, it can have in everyday life.

Digital Media

Disasters like Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut draw massive media coverage, trauma interventions, and financial donations to victims. But psychological research shows the efforts don't always yield the intended benefits.

How do motorists develop the higher-order cognitive processes required to navigate safely? Research explores this and more.

Driving and Cars

Read what psychological researchers have discovered about the effects of eating on mood, behavior, and cognition.

Eating and Food

Psychological scientists are studying how we're all weathering a warming planet.

The psychology and science behind how individuals and groups respond to epidemics.

Epidemics and Public Health Behavior

Psychological scientists identify factors that prompt people to lie, cheat, bribe, and steal and strategies for addressing such unethical behavior.

What motivates us to exercise? And what effects does exercise have on mental function? Psychological scientists are exploring the ins and outs of physical activity.

Understanding the science behind eyewitness memory can have important implications for criminal justice procedures.

Eyewitness Memory

APS offers some scientific insights into family dynamics.

Family Relationships

Why are we scared of some things and not others? Psychological scientists are exploring the many facets of fear and the mechanisms that drive it.

Friendships are unique relationships that offer researchers a window into many aspects of life, including personality, longevity, health, and well-being.

Researchers explore the factors that perpetuate gender inequality and the effects that such bias can have on women in the workplace and beyond.

Gender and Bias

Effort, stamina, and purpose drive our accomplishments — science shows us what to do to keep motivation going.

Goals and Motivation

In some of the most famous cases of money laundering, corporate fraud, and tax evasion lies a relentless appetite for big profits and personal wealth. How does greed affect our sense of morality?

Greed and Corruption

Psychological scientists are leading the way in addressing the mental health issues resulting from traumatic events.

Grief and Trauma

Psychological science sheds light on happiness, from a personal to an economic level.

Learn how the human brain influences what our ears register - and what they don't.

Psychological science offers a variety of reasons to be hopeful about progress in science and the well-being of individuals and societies worldwide. Read about the most promising discoveries and advances of the past few years.

Learn about the research on what makes you laugh, why something you find funny is offensive to someone else, and more.

We’re averse to hypocrites because their disavowal of bad behavior sends a false signal about their true nature.

Unconscious bias can lurk below the level of conscious awareness, but researchers are working to uncover more effective methods of reducing these prejudices.

Implicit Bias

Psychological and educational interventions can make a positive difference in a person's trajectory or even their life. What factors influence how interventions either persist over the long term or fade out?

Interventions

Psychological science has played a leading role in busting misconceptions about sexual orientation and gender identity, and in changing people's attitudes toward individuals who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Psychology researchers are identifying how we build strong reading skills in early childhood and the factors that contribute to difficulty with reading comprehension.

Researchers explore the causes, impacts, and possible interventions for loneliness and social isolation.

Loneliness and Social Isolation

Frank Sinatra crooned that they go together like a horse and carriage, but in truth love and marital health can falter over time. Scientists have identified a number of factors that sustain love through better or worse.

Love and Attraction

Learn about the vast stores of memory research that psychological scientists have amassed in recent years.

Psychological scientists have amassed a vast amount of empirical knowledge on the causes of and best treatments for mental disorders.

Mental Health

Researchers explore how practices associated with mindfulness and meditation can affect decision-making and other cognitive processes.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Psychological scientists are identifying cognitive, developmental, and cultural aspects of music perception and the essential role that music plays in our everyday lives.

How does misinformation spread and how do we combat it? Psychological science sheds light on the mechanisms underlying misinformation and 'fake news.'

Scientists are increasingly busting some myths and making new discoveries about a dark personality trait.

Deal making at the international, business, and interpersonal levels involves a variety of emotional, social, and language factors that lead to a final agreement -- or a stalemate.

Negotiation

Read about the wealth of psychological studies on neurodiversity and the differences in learning, attention, and mood.

Neurodivergence

Psychological scientists are devoting an increasing amount of their research time examining the role of the brain in human behavior, emotion, and cognitive health.

Neuroscience

Recent news events have sparked a surge of interest in the Dunning-Kruger effect -- a distorted view of one's knowledge and ability. Learn how this cognitive bias can spark overconfidence among world leaders and corporate giants.

Overconfidence

Amid the epidemic of opioid addiction, psychological science has demonstrated that pain relief doesn't have to be pharmaceutical.

Pain Management

Personality tests are the center of countless psychological studies exploring targeted marketing, workplace dynamics, and different brain structures.

Personality Traits

Public trust in the police has remained flat for decades, a problem that has become especially salient due to recent events.

Policing and Law Enforcement

A scientific analysis upends the notion that people on the political right are more biased about their ideological views than are people on the left.

Political Differences

Why do we dawdle and delay, even on the most important tasks? Researchers explore the causes and consequences of procrastination.

Procrastination

Plenty of beliefs about human psychology are based on myth masquerading as facts. Psychological scientists have not only exposed the weak evidence for these notions, but can recommend strategies to help us to distinguish true science from bunk.

Pseudoscience

Psychological researchers are examining the complexities of racism and xenophobia at both the interpersonal and societal levels.

Racism and Discrimination

Psychological research explores how we evaluate, perceive, and choose whether to take risks.

Why does self-control fail, and how can we boost it? Researchers explore the mechanisms underlying this important ability and how it develops over time.

Self-Control

The #metoo movement has brought sexual harassment to the center of public consciousness, raising questions about the causes of predatory actions. Psychological research shows how feeling powerful relates to sexually coercive behavior.

Sexual Assault and Harassment

Insufficient sleep has been shown to have adverse effects at work, in driving, and even in court.

From the scent of flowers to the stench of hazardous chemicals, our sense of smell guides us through our environment and significantly influences our emotions, as scientists have discovered.

How does athletic engagement and competition affect our thoughts and behaviors? Learn what psychological science has uncovered.

New discoveries about the ill effects of psychological stress abound, but scientists are also learning about buffers to stress.

Psychological scientists delve into study strategies, math anxiety, reading comprehension, and more.

Studying and Learning

Research from APS on addiction and substance abuse.

Substance Abuse and Addiction

Scientists show how get-aways and enjoyable activities affect our work lives and relationships.

Taking a Break

Psychological research is fostering understanding of the important factors that contribute to effective teaching, from individual instruction to school climate.

The psychological mechanisms that lead us to have faith in certain people and be suspicious of others are vast. Learn what psychological researchers have discovered about interpersonal trust.

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Read about the steps that psychological scientists are taking to identify and help people at risk of taking their own lives.

Understanding and Preventing Suicide

Psychological science suggests that behavioral 'nudges' which aim to alter individuals' actions rather than their attitudes are essential to promoting vaccination against COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vaccination

The effects of playing video games on well-being seem to depend largely on why and how an individual chooses to partake.

Video Games

The way the brain and the human eye process visual stimuli, including illusions, is a thriving area of psychological science.

Researchers unravel the mystery of voting behavior, including why people vote in seemingly unpredictable or illogical ways.

How does weather, both ordinary and extreme, affect decision-making, behavior, and emotions?

Weather and Behavior

Research in psychological science reveals the causes and consequences of bullying behavior in the office.

Workplace Bullying

When done well, efforts to improve intergroup harmony at work can uplift individuals and lead entire organizations to perform at a higher level.

Workplace Diversity

Privacy overview.

PSY 2551: Adolescent Psychology: Topics

• Getting Started
• Books & Reference
• Library Databases
• Career Resources
• Additional Information

Course Description

If you are looking for books relating to the topics discussed in class, try searching the catalog with some of the following terms, or click through the links to find additional books on the topics:

• Puberty, Health, & Biological Development

Cognitive Development

• The Self, Identity, Emotion, & Personality

Moral Development

• Peers and Romantic Relationships
• School & Education

Problems in Adolescence

• Transition to Adulthood & Independence

Peers & Romantic Relationships

School & Education

The Self, Identity, Emotion, & Personality

Transition to Adulthood & Independence

Puberty, Health, & Biological Development

Films about Adolescent Issues

Don't have a DVD player?

Two VHS/DVD combo players are available for use by the campus community on the Third Floor of the library.

• << Previous: Books & Reference
• Next: Library Databases >>
• Columbus State Community College
• Research Guides
• PSY 2551: Adolescent Psychology
• Last Updated: Jan 24, 2024 12:29 PM
• URL: https://library.cscc.edu/PSY2551
• Staff Login

Privacy & Confidentiality Statement Library Code of Conduct

Adolescence

Puberty, Teenagers

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

Adolescence is the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood that occurs between ages 13 and 19. The physical and psychological changes that take place in adolescence often start earlier, during the preteen or "tween" years: between ages 9 and 12.

• What Is Adolescence?
• Talking to Teens
• Mental Health in Adolescence

Adolescence can be a time of both disorientation and discovery. The transitional period can raise questions of independence and identity ; as adolescents cultivate their sense of self, they may face difficult choices about academics, friendship , sexuality , gender identity , drugs, and alcohol .

Most teens have a relatively egocentric perspective on life; a state of mind that usually abates with age. They often focus on themselves and believe that everyone else—from a best friend to a distant crush—is focused on them too. They may grapple with insecurities and feelings of being judged. Relationships with family members often take a backseat to peer groups, romantic interests, and appearance, which teens perceive as increasingly important during this time.

The transition can naturally lead to anxiety about physical development, evolving relationships with others, and one's place in the larger world. Mild anxiety and other challenges are typical, but serious mental health conditions also emerge during adolescence. Addressing a disorder early on can help ensure the best possible outcome.

The stages of adolescence include early adolescence from age 10 to 14, mid-adolescence from age 15 to 17, and late adolescence from age 18 to 24. Each stage encompasses different challenges for teens and necessitates different responses from parents.

The purpose of adolescence is for a child to psychologically and socially transform into a young adult. Breaking from their childhood attachment and security allows children to acquire freedom and responsibility to develop independence and to differentiate themselves from their parents and childhood to establish their own unique identity.

Puberty begins between ages 9 and 15, and it lasts between a year and a half to three years. The hormonal and biological changes that occur can lead adolescents to feel anxious and self-conscious and to require more privacy and become preoccupied with their appearance, which can influence how they are perceived and accepted.

Adolescent risk-taking is often blamed on hormonal changes, but relationships play a key role as well. The teenage years are devoted to creating friendships that can serve individuals for life. Along those lines, research suggests that adolescents are motivated by peer acceptance more than adult perceptions—for better or for worse.

The biological clock shifts during puberty, prompting teens to become sleepy later and therefore wake up later to get the recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep. This is why later middle and high school start times are associated with improved attendance and grades as well as a lower likelihood of experiencing depression .

Speaking openly with adolescents about changes that they are experiencing can be a challenge for any parent, especially given the shift in the parent-child relationship during this time.

One important component of communicating with teens is helping them understand what lies ahead. Explaining how their bodies will change so that they aren’t caught by surprise can alleviate a child’s anxiety. Beyond physical changes, parents can begin a conversation about the social and lifestyle changes that accompany adolescence. Discussing the consequences of important decisions—like having sex or experimenting with drugs—can encourage a teen to reflect on their choices.

Listening is a powerful yet under-appreciated tool. Parents often orient toward directives and solutions. But setting aside those tendencies and simply listening to the teen can strengthen the relationship. Asking specific or prying questions can make the child feel judged and therefore hesitant to speak openly and honestly. Listening attentively shows interest, validation, and support. It also increases the chances that a teen will confide in a parent as needed. Active listening builds intimacy and trust—while simultaneously allowing the teen to process their experience.

Developing an independent identity during adolescence requires experimenting with new relationships and activities while gaining space from parents. But you can still maintain a close relationship despite that process. Express interest and ask questions about your teen’s new passions. Welcome their friends and provide family structure. In disciplinary situations, critique choices rather than character.

Convey that you are open to discuss anything, such as sexual health, porn , pleasure, and love. During these conversations, listen openly and non-judgmentally. Shutting down a vulnerable adolescent with negativity or judgment can lead to shame and fear . Being open encourages them to trust you with future questions and to develop a healthy relationship with sex.

Most teens will experiment with some combination of alcohol, drugs, and smoking . But parents can inform the choices they make with guidance, such as that the decision to use should be intentional, not automatic and a personal choice, not a socially-pressured one. Parents should discuss the topic openly, honestly, and continually.

Encourage them to share their feelings to ease the emotional burden, even if it’s not with you. Exploring the root of their unhappiness can also lead them to take action: If they’re bored , maybe they can find a new hobby or sport. Adolescence can be an emotional time, but these ideas and others can help .

Many of the mental health conditions people confront as adults begin to manifest in adolescence. In fact, one in five young adults has a diagnosable disorder, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

However, teens can also struggle with anxiety, depression , and other forms of distress that are developmentally appropriate and will not necessarily endure. It’s difficult to know when a problem merits clinical attention , but when in doubt, querying a school counselor or another mental professional is the best course of action.

Parents can help by learning how to identify early warning signs of the disorder they feel concerned about and by not being afraid to ask about their child’s thoughts and experiences. Confronting mental health conditions and accessing treatment early on can prevent a disorder from increasing in severity or duration. When addressed early, most conditions can be managed or treated effectively.

An American Psychological Association report revealed that 91 percent of Generation Z has felt physical or emotional symptoms of stress, such as depression or anxiety. This stress may be due to parental trends like overscheduling, effects of social media like negative social comparisons, and historical events like the great recession and mass shootings .

Parents can care for their teens by offering empathy and nonjudgmental support —focus on understanding them rather than judging them. Teens achieve more when not pressured to be perfect, so parents can avoid expressing the need for perfection. Maintaining a relationship and encouraging their relationships with other caring adults like teachers and mentors is also helpful.

At least one in three first-year college students meets the criteria for a mental health disorder, research suggests. An array of factors can contribute to the onset of mental illness during this time: the transition to college, childhood trauma , biological changes, financial stress, academic pressure, lack of sleep, social isolation , and uncertainty about the future.

Encourage your child to seek out university mental health services. If the university is unable to provide treatment due to high demand, your child can explore meeting with other health professionals on campus like a doctor or nurse practitioner, asking a campus case manager to help find care off-campus, and beginning teletherapy .

Pinning down the relationship between social media and mental health is notoriously difficult. Some recent research suggests that social media doesn’t fuel depression; rather, depression may lead to more social media use, at least among adolescent girls.

The pressures of modern society create a paradox in which confidence and wealth often hide internal struggles.

The recent World Happiness Report revealed a shocking decline in happiness among today's youth. Teens are at midlife-crisis levels of discontent. Adults need to create change.

When parents get emotionally caught by unresolved traumatic experiences, it can compromise their parenting decisions.

How can adults best support mental health for Latiné youth? Clinical psychologist Dr. Kitzia Moreno-Garza shares the impact of mental health stigma and how adults can help.

People create expectations to anticipate what may happen, but these approximations are compromises with actuality; in ongoing relationships, people compromise to create mutuality.

Healthy parent-teen communication includes nurturing mutual understanding, connection, curiosity, validation, and interest-centered dialogue.

Sex tech can already compete with human sex partners in sexually and emotionally meaningful ways. It’s time we pay attention.

A Personal Perspective: We can work on using positivity to help others better appreciate themselves and grow closer to their full potential.

Parents need to ensure their neurodivergent child is aware of their diagnosis. Find support through this helpful step-by-step process.

Empower your tweens in the digital world. Discover how open dialogue, collaboration, and trust reshape parenting for today's social media-driven generation.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that threatens to derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face our triggers with less reactivity so that we can get on with our lives.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology

An official publication of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology

• Previously known as the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology (2022 2-year impact factor: 3.6).
• The official journal of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (ISRCAP).
• Publishes studies with a strong theoretical framework and a diversity of methods, with an emphasis on empirical studies of the major forms of psychopathology found in childhood disorders.
• Focuses on the epidemiology, etiology, assessment, treatment, prognosis, and developmental course of childhood and adolescent psychopathology.
• Features research highlighting risk and protective factors, ecology, and correlates of children's emotional, social, and behavior problems.
• Joshua Langberg

Societies and partnerships

• International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (ISRCAP)  (opens in a new tab)

Latest issue

Volume 52, Issue 5

Latest articles

Young children of mothers with a history of depression show attention bias to sad faces: an eye-tracking study.

• Scout H. Bolton
• Eric E. Nelson

Paternal and Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Sensitivity: Links with Trajectories of Socioemotional Problems in Toddlerhood

• Célia Matte-Gagné
• Annie Bernier
• George M. Tarabulsy

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, Effortful Control, and Child Social Anxiety Symptoms

• Elizabeth J. Kiel
• Elizabeth M. Aaron

Executive Functions and Social-Emotional Problems in Toddlerhood: Nature, Persistence, and Direction of Associations

• Frédéric Thériault-Couture

Fluctuations in Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and Anger and Children’s Depression Risks in Middle Childhood

Journal updates

New associate editors announcement, rcap special issue call for papers.

Bringing Technology to Justice Involved Youth: Applying Virtual Reality, Smartphone Apps, and Wearables to Assessment and Treatment

Primum non nocere : Understanding the Role of Harm in Treatment for Youth Mental Health Concerns

Interview with the Authors: Dr. Qiong Wu and Karina Jalapa

Journal information.

• Current Contents/Social & Behavioral Sciences
• Google Scholar
• Japanese Science and Technology Agency (JST)
• OCLC WorldCat Discovery Service
• Social Science Citation Index
• TD Net Discovery Service
• UGC-CARE List (India)

Rights and permissions

Springer policies

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Physical Fitness Linked to Better Mental Health in Young People

A new study bolsters existing research suggesting that exercise can protect against anxiety, depression and attention challenges.

By Matt Richtel

Physical fitness among children and adolescents may protect against developing depressive symptoms, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a study published on Monday in JAMA Pediatrics.

The study also found that better performance in cardiovascular activities, strength and muscular endurance were each associated with greater protection against such mental health conditions. The researchers deemed this linkage “dose-dependent,” suggesting that a child or adolescent who is more fit may be accordingly less likely to experience the onset of a mental health disorder.

These findings come amid a surge of mental health diagnoses among children and adolescents, in the United States and abroad, that have prompted efforts to understand and curb the problem.

The new study, conducted by researchers in Taiwan, compared data from two large data sets: the Taiwan National Student Fitness Tests, which measures student fitness performance in schools, and the National Insurance Research Databases, which records medical claims, diagnoses prescriptions and other medical information. The researchers did not have access to the students’ names but were able to use the anonymized data to compare the students’ physical fitness and mental health results.

The risk of mental health disorder was weighted against three metrics for physical fitness: cardio fitness, as measured by a student’s time in an 800-meter run; muscle endurance, indicated by the number of situps performed; and muscle power, measured by the standing broad jump.

Improved performance in each activity was linked with a lower risk of mental health disorder. For instance, a 30-second decrease in 800-meter time was associated, in girls, with a lower risk of anxiety, depression and A.D.H.D. In boys, it was associated with lower anxiety and risk of the disorder.

An increase of five situps per minute was associated with lower anxiety and risk of the disorder in boys, and with decreased risk of depression and anxiety in girls.

“These findings suggest the potential of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as protective factors in mitigating the onset of mental health disorders among children and adolescents,” the researchers wrote in the journal article.

Physical and mental health were already assumed to be linked , they added, but previous research had relied largely on questionnaires and self-reports, whereas the new study drew from independent assessments and objective standards.

The Big Picture

The surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, has called mental health “the defining public health crisis of our time,” and he has made adolescent mental health central to his mission. In 2021 he issued a rare public advisory on the topic. Statistics at the time revealed alarming trends: From 2001 to 2019, the suicide rate for Americans ages 10 to 19 rose 40 percent, and emergency visits related to self-harm rose 88 percent.

Some policymakers and researchers have blamed the sharp increase on the heavy use of social media, but research has been limited and the findings sometimes contradictory. Other experts theorize that heavy screen use has affected adolescent mental health by displacing sleep, exercise and in-person activity, all of which are considered vital to healthy development. The new study appeared to support the link between physical fitness and mental health.

“The finding underscores the need for further research into targeted physical fitness programs,” its authors concluded. Such programs, they added, “hold significant potential as primary preventative interventions against mental disorders in children and adolescents.”

Matt Richtel is a health and science reporter for The Times, based in Boulder, Colo. More about Matt Richtel

Understanding A.D.H.D.

The challenges faced by those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be daunting. but people who are diagnosed with it can still thrive..

Millions of children in the United States have received a diagnosis of A.D.H.D . Here is how their families can support them .

The condition is also being recognized more in adults . These are some of the behaviors  that might be associated with adult A.D.H.D.

Since a nationwide Adderall shortage started, some people with A.D.H.D. have said their medication no longer helps with their symptoms. But there could be other factors at play .

Everyone has bouts of distraction and forgetfulness. Here is when psychiatrists diagnose it as something clinical .

The disorder can put a strain on relationships. But there are ways to cope .

Though meditation can be beneficial to those with A.D.H.D., sitting still and focusing on breathing can be hard for them. These tips can help .

• Alzheimer's disease & dementia
• Arthritis & Rheumatism
• Attention deficit disorders
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Biomedical technology
• Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
• Endocrinology & Metabolism
• Gastroenterology
• Gerontology & Geriatrics
• Health informatics
• Inflammatory disorders
• Medical economics
• Medical research
• Medications
• Neuroscience
• Obstetrics & gynaecology
• Oncology & Cancer
• Ophthalmology
• Overweight & Obesity
• Parkinson's & Movement disorders
• Psychology & Psychiatry
• Radiology & Imaging
• Sleep disorders
• Sports medicine & Kinesiology
• Vaccination
• Breast cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Colon cancer
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Lung cancer
• Multiple sclerosis
• Myocardial infarction
• Ovarian cancer
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Schizophrenia
• Skin cancer
• Type 2 diabetes
• Full List »

share this!

May 6, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

reputable news agency

Why adolescents need one-on-one time with their doctor

by Suanne Kowal-Connelly, MD, FAAP, and Richard J. Chung, MD, FSAHM, FAAP, American Academy of Pediatrics

Aside from all the physical changes, adolescents are developing skills that help prepare them for adulthood. Part of this means participating more in their own health care. The adolescent well-child visits are tailored to support your family in this process.

Although pediatricians lend their own style to their examinations, many start the adolescent office visit with you and your child together.

The doctor asks the typical questions, such as the past year's medical history and any past and current problems, or any medicines or complementary alternative medications being used. The pediatrician will ask about your teen's eating, sleeping and exercise habits, and how things are going with school, family and relationships with friends.

This part of the visit is directed primarily to the parent, though the teenager is always able to chime in as needed. Before the physical examination , the doctor will ask the parent to allow some time alone with the adolescent.

Parents and adolescents need to understand the reasons behind this routine. The pediatrician builds a relationship with you and your budding adolescent—sometimes over the entire course of their lifetime, sometimes over a shorter period. No matter the amount of time, all patient-doctor relationships are built on mutual trust and respect.

The goals of pediatric care include guiding and protecting the health and well-being of your adolescent. But it also includes preparing them to more actively care for their own health. In this way, we bridge this gap together and pave the way for your adolescent to confidently join and navigate the adult health care world.

In many families, the biggest challenge for parents of adolescents is not how much more they can do for their kids, but how they can effectively do less. Parents should know that they can allow their adolescents to try, to fail, to learn and to grow. We need to teach and prepare adolescents for the independence and responsibilities that lie ahead in both the health care arena and life in general.

Parents and pediatricians can partner in this effort to support kids on their path to adulthood. Still, it's a big step. Understandably, as a parent, you may have some questions. One question that parents often ask when told that the doctor needs to spend some of the time alone with their adolescent is: Is it that time already?

The answer is…not really. The goal, however, is to begin to forge a more adultlike relationship with your child before adolescence is in full swing.

With most families, the doctor-patient relationship has focused primarily on the parent and pediatrician. And certainly, through the early years, this was completely appropriate. But when you consider that one goal of parenthood is to prepare children to grow independent, teens need to begin to embrace and accept responsibility for their own health care.

One reason for starting this transition a little early is to foster that sense of confidence in taking charge of their own health.

Many kids need a lot of time to do this. Often when a doctor asks children direct questions with their parents in the room, such as what they ate for breakfast, when their last period was, and how they did in school this semester, they inevitably turn to their parent for answers. As your child matures, the pediatrician aligns topics discussed in well visits with their developmental stage.

By starting the process a little early, kids might have a better chance of being more self-reliant and comfortable when they really need to answer tougher questions.

If your child has a neurodevelopmental difference, this dynamic may be different. Talk with your child's pediatrician about the right approach to maximize their independence while ensuring safety and support.

When parents say that they don't think that their child will be pleased about them having to leave the room, it is often a good sign that this is the very thing the child needs most. Kids need to learn to think independently, behave responsibly, relate to adults and carry on a conversation with them.

Pediatricians are trained to recognize signs and symptoms of illness and disease, as well as signs of mental health challenges. They understand growth and development and how this affects a child's and teen's health. They are advocates for children's and teens' well-being in every sense of the word.

Adolescence is a time in your child's development when forming a separate bond with their doctor can benefit them. With your support, your child can be gently pushed to move in that direction.

The question of why doctors need to meet with adolescent patients alone likely stems from fear on the parent's part. The teen years are the gateway to adulthood, and with that comes teens' desire to test their new wings.

Adolescents are naturally more open about certain topics when parents are not listening. This is simply because they might not want to disappoint or alarm their parents, even if all they have are questions.

Sometimes, an adolescent may have a very stressful and serious situation in their life that they don't feel comfortable addressing without privacy and confidentiality. This guaranteed alone time with the pediatrician reassures them that there will always be a chance to discuss pressing concerns.

Parents may also ask if the pediatrician will be sharing this private and important information. The laws governing the rights of a minor (a patient under age 18) to confidentiality can be vague and vary from state to state. Your pediatrician can explain how it works in your area.

However, pediatricians respect an adolescent's right to privacy and will protect it. The exception is when the teen discloses that they are being hurt or are looking to hurt themselves or others.

In general, pediatricians will assess the medical and emotional needs of the adolescent. They will encourage them to share important health information with their parents and caregivers and involve them as much as possible.

Often, they will coach teens on how to communicate effectively with parents. They may also offer to be the health communication liaison between a parent and an adolescent. They will also respect the request of the adolescent for confidentiality if the pediatrician believes it is what's best for their health and well-being.

Pediatricians are partners in your child's health care, and you can count on them to assist with their health care concerns.

2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Explore further

Feedback to editors

How our knowledge of artists influences our perception of their works

10 minutes ago

Researchers develop first model of the brain's information highways

23 minutes ago

'Mathematical microscope' reveals novel, energy-efficient mechanism of working memory that works even during sleep

4 hours ago

Research shows altered regulation of genes linked to prostate cancer among firefighters

16 hours ago

Biomarker found to help identify cells that can repair damaged blood vessels

17 hours ago

Researchers develop reminder system to enhance memory recall

Years after his death, late scientist's work could yield new cancer treatments

18 hours ago

Cannabis, nicotine use during pregnancy found to increase rate of infant death fourfold

19 hours ago

Study finds genetic link between growth during puberty and long-term health conditions

Using AI and social media to track depression in communities could offer more reliable assessments than surveys

20 hours ago

Related Stories

Ask the Pediatrician: How can parents help teens on autism spectrum transition to adulthood?

May 16, 2022

Parents willing to discuss child gender identity with doctors, study shows

Mar 21, 2024

Ask the Pediatrician: How can parents talk to their children about mental health issues?

Feb 28, 2022

What should parents know before heading to the emergency department

Jan 22, 2024

Pediatrician suggests household chores that are appropriate for children and teens

Mar 4, 2024

National poll: Less than half of parents utilize patient portal benefits for their children

Jul 17, 2023

Recommended for you

Study highlights overuse of antibiotics in newborns with suspected sepsis

23 hours ago

Improved nutrition, sanitation linked to beneficial changes in child stress and epigenetic programming

Parental deaths due to guns or drugs harmed nearly 100,000 US kids in 2020: Study

Study shows rising child mortality in the US has the most impact on Black and Native American youth

New study reveals how teens thrive online: Factors that shape digital success revealed

May 4, 2024

Children and adolescents enjoy learning new words, study finds

May 2, 2024

Let us know if there is a problem with our content

Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form . For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ).

Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request

Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.

Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.

E-mail the story

Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Medical Xpress in any form.

Newsletter sign up

Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties.

More information Privacy policy

Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience

We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account.

E-mail newsletter