Blog: Peers
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
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.
How We Can Support Youth to Learn What They Need to Build Healthy Relationships
February 27, 2024Digital Content Contributor Allyson Nesmith summarizes suggestions from our third Love in Adolescence webinar, about how adults can help youth learn about healthy romantic relationships.
Students’ Perspectives on Adolescents and Cross-ethnic Friendships
September 15, 2023Rubi Alvarez, Madison Cheungsomboune, and Miguel Partida share what they learned about friendships and school diversity during the adolescent years at the 2023 UCLA CDA Adolescent Development Summer Boot Camp.
Friendships and Peer Relationships During Adolescence
September 15, 2023Students Megan Dinh, Zoe Ezeudu, Sage Gray, Taemin Han, Jianling Horton, and Madelene Natividad from our 2023 Summer Boot Camp write about friendships and how those relationships change during our adolescent years.
Friendships & School Diversity
September 23, 2022Students from the UCLA Summer Research Bootcamp share what they learned about the importance of friendships during adolescence and the added benefits of ethnic diversity within those friendships.
Science in Action: A Research-Informed Intervention that Supports Youth in Foster Care
April 29, 2021National Scientific Council member Dr. Leslie Leve, University of Oregon, spoke recently about how research can pinpoint the “key ingredients” that make more effective programs and interventions for youth.
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