Adolescents' Preparation for the Future: Perils and Promise: A Report of the Study Group on Adolescence in the 21st Century

Societies around the world are changing rapidly, but are adolescents being prepared to be adults in the emerging global, high-tech world? This volume is the report of an international study group addressing this question. Articles examine how well adolescents are being prepared for productive employment, healthy interpersonal relationships, civic participation, and positive physical and mental health in the future. Authors point to a range of possible positive and negative scenarios and make recommendations for social policy. The many conclusions include:

• The ladder to reaching 'successful' adulthood is lengthening in most regions of the world.


• Separate 'youth cultures' are appearing in nearly all societies.


• Adolescence will increasingly be spent indoors.


• New technologies and increasing wealth are not likely to alter rates of adolescent problem behavior.


• Despite greater demands, most youth are rising to the challenge and developing higher levels of skill and maturity than were common in prior generations.