Adolescents who have a sense of purpose are happier and healthier. How can we help?
UCLA Newsroom November 2, 2023
Filed in: Health & Wellbeing
Helping young people develop a sense of purpose in life could build their resilience and prevent declines in mental health. A new report from the National Scientific Council on Adolescence (NSCA) outlines why having sense of purpose is a key aspect of healthy adolescent development and describes what adults can do to help.
Recent News
May 22, 2026
NSCA member Candice Odgers was quoted in a New York Times article about the new screen time warning issued by the Surgeon General. Although the warning linked excessive time online to worse sleep issues, anxiety, depression, alcohol use, and other health harms, experts say the research is more nuanced. “Much of the existing research does not suggest that social media use is a major predictor of whether a child will develop mental health issues,” said Candice. Rather, she said, “it suggests that children who are already struggling with mental health or other issues are more likely to spend time online.”
May 15, 2026
In this video, our co-executive directors, Andrew J. Fuligni and Adriana Galván, explore “The Opportunity of Adolescence” and share the science behind why adolescence is an important window of opportunity and plasticity where investments and science-informed supports can help set our young people up for thriving futures.
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