Adolescence in Context

by Tara L. Kuther

Overview

Adolescence in Context by award-winning author Tara L. Kuther is a topically oriented text that connects learners to the science shaping our understanding of today’s teenagers and young adults. Organized around three core themes—the centrality of context, the importance of research, and the applied value of developmental science—the text presents classic and current research, along with foundational theories, framed in real-life intersectional contexts such as sex, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, and socioeconomic status. With the new Second Edition, students can expect to gain a deeper understanding of adolescence that they can apply to their personal lives and future careers.

Also available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Learn more about 978-1-0719-7617-3, Adolescence in Context - Vantage Digital Option, Second Edition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781071913383
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	09/10/2025
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	568
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Tara L. Kuther is professor of psychology at Western Connecticut State University where she has taught courses in child, adolescent, and adult development for 30 years. She earned her Ph D in developmental psychology at Fordham University. Dr. Kuther is fellow of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA, Division 2), has served in various capacities in the Society for the Teaching of Psychology and Society for Research on Adolescence, and is the former chair of the Teaching Committee for the Society for Research in Child Development. Her research interests include social cognition and risky activity in adolescence and adulthood. She is the award-winning author of Lifespan Development: Lives in Context, other developmental psychology texts, as well as books to promote student professional development and help them succeed in college and afterward.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
About The Author
Chapter 1: Introduction to Adolescent Development
What Is Adolescence?
Adolescence: Its Origins and Today
Adolescent Development: Processes, Tasks, and Contexts of Development
Sociohistorical Context and Adolescent Development
Biology-Context Interactions And Adolescent Development
Chapter Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 2: Theories and Research in Adolescent Development
Core Concepts and Questions About Adolescent Development
Foundational Theories: Psychoanalytic and Behaviorist Theories
Cognitive Theories
Systems Theories
The Science Of Adolescent Development
Research Ethics and Applied Developmental Science
Chapter Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 3: Biological Development
Puberty
Biological and Contextual Influences on Pubertal Timing
Psychological and Social Effects of Puberty
Health in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
Chapter Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 4: Cognitive Development
Brain Development in Adolescence
Constructivist Approaches
Information Processing Theory
Individual Differences in Intelligence
Social Cognition
Chapter Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 5: Self and Identity
Self-Concept and Self-Esteem
Emotional Development and Personality in Adolescence
Identity
Ethnic-Racial Identity
Chapter Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 6: Gender
Gender Terminology, Gender Stereotypes, and Gender Differences
Influences on Gender Typing
Developmental Timeline of Gender Typing and Gender Identity
Transgender and Gender Diverse Identities in Adolescence
Chapter Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 7: Sexuality
Sexual Activity During Adolescence
LGBTQ+ Adolescents
Risky Sexual Activity and Problems
Sexuality Education
Chapter Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 8: Morality, Religion, and Values
Moral Reasoning
Modern Theories of Moral Development
Prosocial Development
Religion and Religiosity
Civic Development and Engagement
Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 9: Family Context
The Family System
Parent-Adolescent Relationships
Parenting Styles
Families and Family Transitions
Adolescents and Families at Risk
Chapter Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 10: Peers
Friendship
Peer Group
Peer Influence
Dating and Romantic Relationships
Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 11: School and Work Contexts
Achievement Motivation
School Transitions and Academic Achievement
Adolescents With NEURODEVELOPMENTAL CONDITIONS
Adolescent Work and Education
Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 12: Media and Online Contexts
Understanding Adolescents’ Use of Screen Media
Exposure to Screen Violence, Sex, and Substance Use
Problematic Media Use
Social Media and Adolescent Development
Media Literacy and Media Policy
Summary
Key Terms
Chapter 13: Socioemotional and Behavioral Problems During Adolescence
Problems, Risk, and Resilience
Anxiety Disorders and Eating Disorders
Depression, Suicide, and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Alcohol and Substance Use
Externalizing Behavior and Delinquency
Positive Youth Development
Summary
Key Terms
Glossary

Editorial Reviews

The author provides relevant research for many of the developmental experiences that adolescents face in a modern society.

Pre pub Review - Brittany Wishart

I recently switched to this textbook and have truly enjoyed using it in my Families and Adolescents undergraduate course! This textbook is accessible, visually engaging, and provides a comprehensive and empirically grounded exploration of adolescence, covering developmental changes, diverse perspectives, practical implications, and integration of research findings, making it an invaluable resource for family scientists seeking to understand the complexities of adolescent development in any context.

Mya Rome

Kuther offers a comprehensive overview of the adolescent experience. A variety of dimensions are covered, from biological to socialemotional to cultural, influences on developments. There are relevant topics covered serving as a springboard for class discussions.

Maria Cuddy-Casey

A broad, accessible text that includes features that appeal to today's diverse college students.”

Robert S. Weisskirch

Topics are well organized. Research is presented fairly and both sides are represented.”

Susan L. O'Donnell

The text does a nice job of discussion adolescent development within context. It integrates multiple developmental processes within the topic (e.g., how impulsiveness relates to media consumption). It's a good level for undergraduate and perhaps master's students.”

Melinda A. Gonzales-Backen

Accessible adolescent psych text that make deliberate effort to include cultural, critical and biological perspectives.”

Kathryn E. Frazier

This book is geared to the adolescent and helps them to understand the many facets of being an adolescent. It is engaging, contains unbiased and timely information.”

Celeste Uthe-Burrow