Blog
The Opportunities and Effects of Climate Action on Adolescents
April 28, 2025Adolescence is a period of significant brain and social development, when we are particularly sensitive to the world around us. This sensitivity can create challenges to young people’s mental health and well-being when they experience or are exposed to information and images about climate change. But these changes can also increase youth’s motivation to participate in climate action, which can mitigate these negative effects while providing an opportunity for them to fill key developmental needs.
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Early Adolescence as an Important Window of Opportunity for Positive Development
March 27, 2025Early adolescence is a critical window of opportunity to set up young people for a healthy and thriving adulthood. This month, we talked to a leading expert in early adolescent development, Dr. Ron Dahl, about what exactly early adolescence is and why it is so crucial to support young people as they go through this period of development.
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The Importance of Peer Relationships and Platonic Love During Adolescence
February 26, 2025Friends have a new importance to us as we enter adolescence. During adolescence, we become more sensitive to positive feelings from belonging, acceptance, and mattering to others. Forming friendships becomes more important to us, and is necessary for healthy development. Hear from experts, practitioners, and young people as they discuss the importance of peer relationships during adolescence. This post is based on the Love in Adolescence: The Importance of Friendships and Platonic Love webinar discussion.
Press Releases
February 25, 2025: Announcing the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent’s 2024 Annual Report
January 17, 2023: New Guides Help Organizations Build Effective Youth Engagement Programs
August 16, 2021: New Report Examines Intersection of Anti-Black Racism on Youth Development
November 30, 2020: Center for the Developing Adolescent Announces New Advisory Board Members
October 1, 2020: Center for the Developing Adolescent Announces New Leadership
Stay in the Know
Social Media and Adolescents
February 14, 2025Digital technology, and specifically social media, is a tool that many young people use in their daily lives to form connections, acquire knowledge, and navigate complex systems. There are clear benefits to social media use during adolescence but there are also clear risks. Hear from experts and young people as they discuss how to mitigate the risks of these online spaces and promote the benefits. This post is based on the recent Adaptivity podcast episode, “Social Media and Adolescents.”
The Impact of Civic Engagement on Purpose
October 24, 2024In the last discussion of our 2024 Adolescent Brain Development Symposium, Joanna Williams, Senior Director of Research at Search Institute, took the stage with Le’Yondo Dunn, CEO of YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, and Haafizah Carter, an alumnus of the school, to talk about the impact of civic engagement on purpose.
The Impact of Civic Engagement on Exploration and Risk Taking
October 10, 2024In the third discussion of our 2024 symposium, science journalist Lydia Denworth talked with Natasha Duell, assistant professor of Psychology and Child Development at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, LaJuan Allen, director of Vote16USA, and Audrey Rothenberg, a senior at Culver City High School and volunteer at Vote16 Culver City about how civic engagement can support the need to explore and take positive risks during adolescence.
The Impact of Civic Engagement on Belonging
September 27, 2024In the second discussion of our 2024 Adolescent Brain Development Symposium, science journalist Lydia Denworth spoke with Veronica Terriquez, PhD, MEd, professor at UCLA, Jose Salvador Orellana, executive director and co-founder of LOUD for Tomorrow, and Jessa Bayudan, volunteer and alumni of LOUD for Tomorrow, about the importance of creating spaces for diverse communities where adolescents feel they belong and are empowered to become agents of change.
The Impact of Civic Engagement on Identity Development
September 19, 2024In the first discussion at our 2024 Adolescent Brain Development Symposium, science journalist Lydia Denworth spoke with Eva Telzer, associate professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Cheyenne Brady, associate director of youth programs at the Center for Native American Youth, and Jenna Makes Good, a fellow within the Center for Native American Youth, about the importance of helping young people develop their identity through culturally informed civic engagement organizations and opportunities.
Student Solutions for Better Sleep: Shark Tank Innovations
August 15, 2024At the 2024 Summer Research Boot Camp, high school students came together to learn what makes the adolescent brain so unique. One topic investigated was why sleep is crucial to healthy brain development. Hear from the students as they explore solutions for better sleep.
Equipping Adolescents with Insights into Adolescent Brain Development
August 8, 2024Students who attended the 2024 UCLA Summer Research Boot Camp share what they learned about their brain development and how this information can foster spaces, policies, and relationships that better support the needs of youth.