Adolescent Behavior and Health in Cross-Cultural Context

Abstract

Specific behavioral problems appear during early adolescence, and they become more pronounced. Although these problems are universal in many aspects, cultural differences are also conspicuous. The author, in addition to analyzing the five studies in the Special Issue, addresses questions concerning the cross-cultural context. The analysis reveals that today the cross-cultural analysis of the causal relationships concerning problem behavior is at the forefront, surpassing the international comparative studies characterized by analyzing only prevalence data. The author analyzes the phenomena of mass media globalization and cultural migration, which are believed to play an important role in the cross-cultural convergence of numerous problematic phenomena. Cultural heterogeneity, however, has to be considered as well, often even within one single country. It has to be emphasized that in case of intercultural transmission of preventive and treatment interventions, cultural differences have to be considered.