Cover -- Half-title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Contributors -- Preface -- Members of Study Group -- Steering Committee -- References -- 1 The Kaleidoscope of Adolescence -- Objectives of This Volume -- Definitions of Adolescence -- Contexts of Development and Socialization -- Family: Diverging Forms and Altering Resources -- Schools: Expanding with Variable Effectiveness -- Peers: Increasing Interactions with Mixed Results -- Other Contexts of Preparation -- Facing the Future -- 1. Susceptibility to Political and Historic Events -- 2. Globalization Versus Fragmentation -- 3. Tensions Between Connection and Individualism -- 4. Gendered Structures of Opportunity -- 5. Circumscribed Progress in Health and Well-Being -- 6. Optimism for the Future -- Appreciating the Kaleidoscope of Adolescence -- References -- 2 Demographic Trends Affecting Youth Around the World -- Introduction -- Youth in the Age Structure -- Age Structures and Economic Growth -- Investments in Youth -- Education -- Equity in Education -- Health -- Transitions into Adulthood -- Labor Force Participation -- Marriage and Parenthood -- Household Structure and Income Inequality -- National Preparedness -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 3 Adolescence in Sub-Saharan Africa -- Introduction -- General Indicators for Adolescent Development in Sub-Saharan Africa -- Theoretical and Methodological Considerations -- Theoretical Complexity: A Triple Cultural Heritage of the Indigenous and the Exogenous -- Methodological Issues -- African Worldview and Indigenous Conception of Adolescence -- African Worldview -- Indigenous Conceptions of Adolescence -- Adolescents' Family Relationships and Life Experiences -- Relationships, Roles, and Family Experiences of Adolescents -- Family Functioning -- Continuities and Discontinuities in Family Life and Adolescent Experiences.

Adolescents' Experiences in Dislocated Families -- Peer Relationships and Adolescent Sexuality -- Peer Relationships -- Adolescent Sexuality and Reproductive Health -- Rural/Urban Differences in Sexual Behavior -- Adolescent Sexual Behavior and HIV/AIDS -- The Role of Cultural Factors in Sexuality and Perceptions of Procreation -- The Education of Africa's Youth -- Indigenous African Educational Thought and Practice -- Patterns of Schooling and Institutional Education -- Positive and Negative Consequences of Schooling -- Combating Unemployment and Exclusion: Creating Value for the Inclusiveness of Adolescents -- Satisfying Needs and Providing Services to African Youth -- Potential Threats to the Needs of African Adolescents -- The Health Care Service Delivery Systems -- Adolescent Perceptions of Their Own Future -- Toward a Theoretic and Methodological Insight -- Conclusion -- References -- 4 Adolescence in India -- Introduction -- Demographic Profile -- Family Relations -- Child Rearing and Implications for Adolescence -- Stressors Associated with Social Change -- Peer Relations -- Role of Religion and Caste -- Role of Media -- Contexts and Constraints of Education and Schooling -- Higher Education -- Continuing Concerns -- Employment -- Political and Civic Participation -- Civic Participation -- Delinquency and Crime -- Substance Use -- Crimes Against Adolescents -- Physical and Mental Well-Being -- Physical Development and Nutritional Status -- Sexuality and Reproductive Health -- HIV/AIDS -- Mental Health -- Health Care -- The National Youth Policy & Development Programs for Adolescents -- Conclusion -- References -- 5 Adolescence in China and Japan -- Background -- Overview -- Family Life -- Modeling -- Parent-Child Relations -- The One-Child Family -- Divorce -- Peer Relations -- Schooling -- The Education System -- Academic Achievement.

Gender Differences -- Racial and Ethnic Differences -- Gifted Children -- Exceptional Adolescents -- Creative Adolescents -- After-School Activities -- Extracurricular Programs -- Private Preparatory Schools: Juku and Yobiko -- Leisure Time -- Employment -- Mental Health -- Suicide -- Psychological Adjustment -- School-Related Behavior Problems -- Physical Health -- General Health -- Drugs, Smoking, and Alcohol -- Sexual Activity -- Consumerism -- Civic Engagement -- Services for Youth -- Conclusion -- References -- 6 Youth in Southeast Asia -- Introduction -- Background -- Family Organization and Relations -- Socialization Within the Family -- Impact of Social Transformations on the Family -- Gender Socialization and the Changing Role of the Female -- Peer Relations and Sexuality -- Sexual Behaviors -- Delaying Marriage -- Trends in Education -- Enrollment Rates -- Educational Survival Rates -- Employment Trends -- Labor Force Participation Rates -- Problems and Issues in Youth Employment -- Youth Unemployment -- Social Consequences of Unemployment -- Health Concerns -- Reproductive Health -- Juvenile Delinquency -- Life Conditions of the Urban Poor Youth -- Service Providers -- Services Within the School System -- Government Services -- Services from Nongovernmental Organizations -- Factors Contributing to Successful Interventions -- Civic and Community Engagement -- Conclusion -- References -- Interviews -- 7 Arab Adolescents Facing the Future -- The Arab World -- Being an Adolescent -- Family Relationships -- Family, Gender Difference, and Social Expectation -- Peer and Sibling Relationships -- Education and Employment -- Physical Health -- Mental Health and Problem Behavior -- Youth Services and Youth Programs -- Political Engagement -- Toward the Future -- References -- 8 Adolescents in Russia -- Introduction.

Overview of General Societal, Political, and Economical Issues -- Trends in Adolescents' Family Relationships -- Girls' Family Roles and Other Gender Issues -- Peer Relations and Sexuality -- Changes in the Experience of Schooling -- Trends in Adolescent Employment -- Adolescents' Political, Community, and Civic Engagement -- Social Services for Youth -- Trends in Mental and Physical Health -- Adolescent Culture -- Perceptions of the Future -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References -- 9 Adolescents in Latin America -- Background -- Social Changes in Latin America and Its Youth -- Demographics -- Economic Conditions -- Family Relations -- Peer Relations -- Interactions with Friends and Peer Groups -- Sexual and Reproductive Behavior -- Education -- Employment -- Health -- Violence -- Political Participation -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 10 Adolescents in Western Countries in the 21st Century -- Introduction: Who Are Today's Western Adolescents? -- Overview: 20th Century Changes in Adolescence -- The Widening Scope of the "Adolescent" Years -- Family Relationships -- Peer Relationships -- School -- Employment -- Media -- Community and Civic Engagement -- Mental and Physical Health -- Provision of Services -- Adolescents' Perceptions of Their Futures -- Conclusion -- References -- 11 Adolescence in Global Perspective -- Causes for Hope -- Causes for Concern -- A Framework for Social Policy -- Multilayered Responses -- Knowledge and Social Policy -- Monitoring Critical Indicators -- Understanding and Analysis -- Evaluation Research -- Dissemination -- Toward Freedoms and Choice? -- References -- Index.