The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth
2019

Consensus

You must be logged in to download this publication.

Select Book Type

Paperback - $78.30
Ebook - $62.99

See project
Request an exam or desk copy

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.

Additional materials

Press Release
Interactive Overview of Report Findings
10 Things you didn't know about Adolescence (Infographic)
Report Release Presentation

Publication information

492 pages · 6 x 9 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-49008-1
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-49009-X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25388

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.

Import this citation to:

Bibtext
EndNote
Reference manager

First Name
Last Name
Email (required)
I agree to receive emails from the National Academies (required)

We respect your privacy and will never share your information.

Search this publication

Front Matter i-xxii
Summary 1-14
Part I: Adolescence as a Period of Opportunity 15-16
1 Introduction 17-36
2 Adolescent Development 37-76
3 How Environment "Gets Under the Skin": The Continuous Interplay Between Biology and Environment 77-94
4 Inequity and Adolescence 95-146
Part II: Using Developmental Knowledge to Assure Opportunity for All Youth 147-148
5 Introduction 149-158
6 Education 159-208
7 Health System 209-256
8 Child Welfare System 257-294
9 Justice System 295-346
10 The Scientific Opportunity 347-356
References 357-444
Appendix A: Assessing the Evidence 445-448
Appendix B: Youth Engagement 449-458
Appendix C: Biosketches ofCommittee Members and Staff 459-468
Board on Children, Youth, and Families 469-470

Log In

Former MyNAP users: You'll need to reset your password on your first login to MyAcademies. Click "Forgot password" below to receive a reset link via email. Having trouble? Visit our FAQ page to contact support.

Members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, or National Academy of Medicine should log in through their respective Academy portals.

Email (required)
Password (required)

Don't have an account?

Register

Email (required)
New password (required)
Retype password (required) Password must be at least 8 characters
I accept the terms of use
terms of use

Thank You

Thank you for creating a MyAcademies account!

Enjoy free access to thousands of National Academies' publications, a 10% discount off every purchase, and build your personal library.

Forgot Password

Enter the email address for your MyAcademies (formerly MyNAP) account to receive password reset instructions.

Email (required)

Reset Requested

We sent password reset instructions to your email . Follow the link in that email to create a new password. Didn't receive it? Check your spam folder or contact us for assistance.

Reset Password

New password (required)
Retype password (required) Password must be at least 8 characters

Reset Password

Your password has been reset.

Verify email

Verify Your Email Address

We sent a verification link to your email. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) and follow the link to verify your email address. If you did not receive the email, you can request a new verification link below

The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth (2019)

Chapter: Part I: Adolescence as a Period of Opportunity

Additional materials

Publication information

Suggested citation

My Academies

The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth (2019)

Chapter: Part I: Adolescence as a Period of Opportunity