The Decline in Adult Activities Among U.S. Adolescents, 1976–2016

Abstract

The social and historical contexts may influence the speed of development. In seven large, nationally representative surveys of U.S. adolescents 1976-2016 (N = 8.44 million, ages 13-19), fewer adolescents in recent years engaged in adult activities such as having sex, dating, drinking alcohol, working for pay, going out without their parents, and driving, suggesting a slow life strategy. Adult activities were less common when median income, life expectancy, college enrollment, and age at first birth were higher and family size and pathogen prevalence were lower, consistent with life history theory. The trends are unlikely to be due to homework and extracurricular time, which stayed steady or declined, and may or may not be linked to increased Internet use.

Adolescents drink less: How, who and why? A review of the recent research literature

“…This assumption may be too optimistic. The downward trend has predominately been seen among youth below legal drinking age of 21 years in the USA , and mainly or exclusively been observed among early‐ or mid‐teen youth in several other countries . Hence, the changes seem to have been restricted to a delayed onset of alcohol use.…”

Changes over time in marijuana use, deviant behavior and preference for risky behavior among US adolescents from 2002 to 2014: testing the moderating effect of gender and age

“…However, preferences for risk, regardless of behavior, have not declined at the same rate among a nationally representative school sample of high school seniors (mean aged [17][18], and have demonstrated a generally positive slope for girls [40]. having sex, driving) among adolescents [29,41], as well as a longer transition to adulthood [42]. These declines are part of a broader trend towards delayed adult activities (e.g.…”

“…age and sex difference). working for pay) [29]. The decline in adolescent criminal activity coincides with declines in tobacco, alcohol and prescription drug misuse [28], as well as activities associated with the transition to adulthood such as (e.g.…”

Facing the Generation Chasm: The Parenting and Teaching of Generations Y and Z

“…Malone acknowledged that the Australian context of her study differs from that of a country like Germany where most children are allowed to travel by themselves. In a large study of 8.44 million adolescents in seven nationally representative surveys, it was found that the developmental pathway of adolescence had slowed, with childhood lasting longer and young people taking on adult responsibilities later in life (Twenge & Park, 2017). Lolarga (2016) provided an interesting viewpoint on Gen Z as likely to grow into adulthood much earlier than Gen Y, as they are being raised by more pragmatic Gen X parents who encourage their Gen Z children to be more independent.…”