Adult Development Research Articles

The miR-31b targets arylsulfatase B to regulate the ovarian development of Bactrocera dorsalis.

Reproduction is the basis of insect population growth and evolution, and encompasses ovarian development, reproductive behavior, and fecundity. Bactrocera dorsalis is a globally significant agricultural pest that is subject to quarantine, with mated females that can lay over 3000 eggs. The post-transcriptional regulation of ovarian development remains unclear. Here, miR-31b is shown to be involved in regulating Bactrocera dorsalis ovarian development. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate miR-31b loss-of-function mutations in Bactrocera dorsalis. The removal of miR-31b resulted in severely impaired ovarian development in adults, with phenotypes that included dramatically reduced egg production and hatching rates. The relationship between miR-31b and its target gene arylsulfatase B (ARSB) was subsequently identified using the methods of bioinformatics, transcriptomic sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), RNA pull-down and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Finally, miR-31b was confirmed to bind the target gene arylsulfatase B to affect metabolism and thereby further hindered ovarian development of Bactrocera dorsalis. Overall, these results provide new insights into molecular mechanisms at the post-transcriptional level in regulating ovarian development and insect reproduction, consequently providing potential targets to control arthropod pests through the reproductive strategy. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Childhood Maltreatment, School Social Bonds, and Dating Violence Victimization: Mediational Model Differences by Disability Status

Abstract Purpose Childhood maltreatment (CM) and dating violence victimization (DVV) are significant social concerns with far-reaching consequences for the well-being and development of young adults. The purpose of this study is to understand the role of school social bonds (SSB) in the association between CM and DVV during young adulthood and to compare these relationships between young adults with and without disabilities. Methods Using a weighted sample consisting of 21.1% youth with disabilities and 78.9% youth without disabilities from the National Longitudinal Study for Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), Structural equation models (SEM) were tested for both the non-disabled and disabled groups. Results Results from SEM indicated a direct relationship between CM and DVV for both groups with significant path coefficients. CM had a negative influence on SSB for the disabled group. Mediation analyses underscored the significance of SSB, demonstrating that higher CM levels were associated with increased rates of DVV, while stronger SSB was correlated with a reduced risk of DVV. The indirect effect of CM on DVV through SSB was statistically significant only for young adults with disabilities. Conclusions This study emphasizes the importance of evidence-based policies, practices, and interventions aimed at breaking the pathways from CM to DVV by establishing positive SSB and promoting the well-being of young adults, particularly those with disabilities.

Effects of Overexpression of Specific Subunits SAYP, BAP170 of the Chromatin Remodeling Complex in Drosophila Melanogaster.

The phenotypic manifestations of increased expression of the Bap170 and e(y)3 (SAYP) genes in D. melanogaster were analyzed. Using the wing disc model, we show that moderate co-expression of Bap170 and e(y)3 genes in wing discs leads to abnormalities in wing veining. which was probably caused by suppression of EGFR/Ras/MAPK signaling pathways. Strong induction of co-expression of the above genes in wing discs leads to complete suppression of wing development in adults. Ubiquitous co-expression of Bap170 and e(y)3 is lethal at the 1st instar larval stage and leads to the formation of melanotic tumors. The above phenotypes are observed exclusively when Bap170 and e(y)3 are co-expressed. This evidence suggests a robust synergistic effect of the combined action of these genes, which is manifested in the hyperactivity of cell proliferation and differentiation.

Associations of exposure to PM2.5 and its compounds with carotid intima-media thickness among middle-aged adults

BackgroundExposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to an increased risk of atherosclerosis. However, it remains unclear whether specific compounds within PM2.5, rather than the overall mass, serve as a better indicator of adverse cardiovascular health outcomes associated with air pollution. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we included 3257 participants (aged 37–51 years) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Exposure to PM2.5 and its constituent compounds, black carbon (BC), ammonium, nitrate, organic matter, sulfate, mineral dust, and sea salt were included in the analyses. Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT; the average of common, bulb, and internal carotid) was measured by carotid ultrasonography. We assessed the cross-sectional associations of one-year exposure to PM2.5 and its compounds with mean cIMT using linear regression models adjusting for participants' demographics, individual- and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status, behavioral components, and health conditions. We also adopted Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models to investigate the association between the PM2.5 compound mixture and cIMT as well as the contribution of each compound to the association. ResultsGreater exposure to BC was associated with higher cIMT (mm) (β =0.034, 95 % CI = 0.019–0.049, per IQR increase [0.56 μg/m3] of BC) among participants with a mean age of 45.0, consisting of 45.9 % Black and 54.1 % White males and females. The association was generally consistent across participants' demographic characteristics. In our BKMR analysis, BC exhibited a dose-response association with cIMT with a high contribution to the association of cIMT with PM2.5 compound as a mixture (posterior inclusion probability [PIP]: 1.00). ConclusionsOur findings suggest that certain compounds of PM2.5, such as BC, may offer more reliable indications of the impact of air pollution on cardiovascular health.

Supporting apprentices’ autonomy in vocational training: Insights into the practices at the Swiss Postal Service

Satisfying people’s basic psychological needs of relatedness, competence and autonomy plays an important role in human motivation and affects people’s well-being, engagement and performance positively. Companies can contribute to the satisfaction of all three basic psychological needs by establishing autonomy-supportive working conditions, benefitting as a result from associated positive outcomes. Based on an empirical, qualitative exploratory case study, the present article supports the assumption that satisfying the need for autonomy is especially beneficial to the healthy and successful development of young adults throughout their apprenticeship. The findings indicate that various pedagogic measures support the experience of autonomy and also increase work satisfaction and the drive towards workplace learning and collaboration. Such practices include apprentices planning and steering their learning pathways together with their coaches, taking on more comprehensive responsibilities, showing greater initiative in, and ownership of, projects, and actively representing apprentices’ needs in the workplace.

BOOSTING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN UNIVERSITY PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Physical activity is a critical component of a healthy lifestyle, significantly contributing to the prevention and management of chronic diseases, mental health support, and overall well-being. Despite its benefits, recent lifestyle changes in post-communist Romania have led to an alarming increase in overweight and obesity rates, especially among urban youth. This research focuses on the University of Bucharest (UniBuc) to explore the reasons behind students' low participation in university-organized physical activities. By employing a structured questionnaire distributed electronically, this study aims to collect comprehensive data on student demographics, participation levels, motivations, barriers, and suggestions for improvement. The quantitative analysis component of the study aims to identify participation trends and barriers, while qualitative insights will provide nuanced perspectives on students' experiences. The findings will inform targeted strategies to promote physical activity among students, contributing to their immediate and long-term health. Overall, this exploratory study seeks to lay the groundwork for future research on enhancing physical activity participation in academic settings, ultimately supporting the holistic development of young adults.

Lipoprotein(a) metabolomic and proteomic features and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in young, asymptomatic adults

Abstract Background Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. Although Lp(a) is a powerful genetic risk factor for ASCVD, the pathways that mediate this risk and the associated metabolomic and proteomic features that capture this risk are unknown. Methods In young, asymptomatic Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) participants, we defined the relationships between Lp(a) and metabolomic (n=563)/proteomic (n=184) features, derived quantitative Lp(a)-omic scores from these features, and related these quantitative scores to ASCVD phenotypes. Results CARDIA subjects had a mean age of 32 years and a median follow-up of 27 years. In the overall cohort (n=3920), Lp(a) levels at year 7 (Y7) were significantly associated with ASCVD endpoints, including hs-CRP, coronary artery calcification (CAC), death, and incident CHD (Figure 1A). In the subcohort (n=2290) that had measurements of Lp(a), proteomics, and metabolomics, Y7 Lp(a) levels were associated with distinct proteomic and metabolomic features indicative of immune responses, lipoprotein metabolism, atherogenesis, and arginine/steroid biosynthesis. Using machine learning approaches, Lp(a) metabolomic, proteomic, and transomic quantitative scores were derived. After adjustment, the Lp(a) transomic score was more strongly related to incident CAC, degree of CAC, CRP, and incident CHD than Lp(a) itself (Figure 1B). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between Lp(a), metabolomic/proteomic features, and ASCVD phenotypes in young, asymptomatic adults. The multi-omics approaches employed here provide insight into the pathobiology of Lp(a)-driven ASCVD and enable more nuanced mechanistic risk assessment compared with Lp(a) alone.

Racial discrimination and cognitive function: An instrumental variable analysis

Racial inequities in cognitive function persist with mixed evidence regarding the impacts of racial discrimination on cognitive outcomes. We examined the association between experiences of racial discrimination within institutional settings, such as getting a job or housing, and multiple measures of cognitive function among middle-aged adults using analytic methods to strengthen the existing evidence base and provide potential points for intervention. We used cross-sectional data from 2895 participants in Wave 8 (Mage = 50.20, range: 43–55) and 2618 participants in Wave 9 (Mage = 55.20, range: 48–60) of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Self-reported racial discrimination was operationalized using the Experiences of Discrimination Scale. Cognitive measures included were the Stroop Interference Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Analyses were conducted using ordinary least squares regression (OLS) and instrumental variable (IV) analysis using reflectance meter-measured skin color as the instrument. We find that increased experiences of racial discrimination are associated with poorer performance on cognitive assessments across OLS and IV analyses. For example, reporting one additional experience of racial discrimination was associated with approximately 0.50 SD lower auditory verbal learning scores using IV and 0.08 SD lower scores using OLS (Wave 8 IV 95% CI: −0.54, −0.41; OLS 95% CI: −0.10, −0.06). Such results in a relatively young sample yield insight into the potential implications of navigating a racialized society over one's life course in contributing to inequities in cognitive decline in older age.

Longitudinal associations between personality traits and cognitive complaints in midlife and older age across 20 years

Cross-sectional work suggests that higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness are consistently related to more subjective cognitive complaints. Little is known about the longitudinal associations. We used data from the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development to examine how personality and cognitive complaints jointly unfolded over 20 years. Participants came from a midlife ( n = 502, Mage = 43.7) and an older age group ( n = 500, Mage = 62.5). Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were used to test the personality-complaint associations at the between-person and within-person levels. Analyses controlled for gender, education, subjective health, objective health, and memory. At the between-person level, higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness were associated with more cognitive complaints over 20 years, and these associations were stronger in older than middle-aged adults. Among older adults, lower extraversion, openness, and agreeableness were longitudinally associated with more cognitive complaints. At the within-person level, all five traits were concurrently related to cognitive complaints, with small to medium-sized effects, but not across all measurement occasions. Few cross-lagged effects were found, with no consistent pattern across time or age cohorts. This work provides longitudinal evidence of personality-complaint associations and suggests that these associations varied more across individuals than within individuals over time.

Visualization of cortical neoangiogenesis after combined revascularization surgery in moyamoya disease using silent MRA.

To investigate postsurgical indirect cortical neoangiogenesis in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) using silent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). We studied 44 patients with MMD (63 hemispheres) who were previously revascularized with combined bypass surgery (23 and 40 hemispheres in pediatric and adult patients, respectively). They underwent follow-up for postoperative bypass patency using time-of-flight (TOF)-MRA and silent MRA between January 2022 and December 2023. The mean duration from surgery to MRA was 8.5 years (range, 1.2-22.3 years). Two observers independently rated the revascularization as follows: 0 (near-complete signal loss or no signal); 1, poor (slightly visible donor arteries); 2, good (acceptable revascularization around the brain surface); and 3, excellent (good quality of revascularization with perfusion from the cortical surface into the middle cerebral artery). Silent MRA visualized indirect bypass significantly better than TOF-MRA (2.6 ± 0.7 and 1.4 ± 0.8) (P < 0.01). In silent MRA, the mean score of indirect bypass was significantly higher than that of direct bypass (2.6 ± 0.7 and 1.7 ± 1.0; P < 0.01) and indicated good indirect bypass development in both children and adults (91.3% and 85.0%; score ≥ 2). Children exhibited a higher rate of excellent indirect bypass patency than adults (73.9% and 55.0%; score 3). Poor bypass development in indirect bypass (8 hemispheres, mean age: 35.5 ± 17.5 years, mean follow-up period: 11.3 years) was significantly observed in male patients (P < 0.01). Silent MRA enables better precision in postsurgical visualization of indirect cortical neoangiogenesis during long-term follow-up and reveals indirect bypass development even in adult patients.

Unbinding the bindweed psyllid (Bactericera maculipennis [Hemiptera: Triozidae]) from its Convolvulus host exposes it to a novel bacterial symbiont.

Psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) are herbivores that feed and reproduce on narrow subsets of hosts within a few related genera. During surveys of Solanum umbelliferum (Eschsch) (Solanaceae), we collected multiple life stages of Bactericera maculipennis (Crawford), a species exclusively associated with bindweeds (Convolvulaceae). We hypothesized that B. maculipennis has expanded its host range to include this solanaceous host. To test this, we quantified egg to adult development time on S. umbelliferum, 2 other solanaceous hosts, and Convolvulus arvensis L., the most suitable host for B. maculipennis in North America. B. maculipennis failed to develop on additional solanaceous hosts but developed significantly faster on S. umbelliferum than on C. arvensis. We also sampled for B. maculipennis at 27 S. umbelliferum populations and collected 24 individuals directly from S. umbelliferum plants. We confirmed all individuals are B. maculipennis and found that 10/24 were infected with the plant pathogen 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum'(CLso), which is transmitted by the potato psyllid, B. cockerelli (Šulc). Half of infected individuals harbored CLso haplotype B, which is dominant in crops, but rare in S. umbelliferum. The other 50% harbored CLso haplotype Sumb2, previously documented in S. umbelliferum, but never in crops. Our results suggest that the host range of B. maculipennis has expanded to include a key wild host plant of B. cockerelli. This may create opportunities for exchange of multiple haplotypes of CLso between these 2 species, possibly facilitating theemergence of CLso variants as pathogens of plants in the Convolvulaceae.

Adaptive divergence in reproductive seasonality and underlying physiological features fit Rattus norvegicus to live as opportunistic breeders.

How organisms respond to complex environments is one of the unsolved problems in ecology. Life history patterns of a species provide essential information on how different populations may respond and adapt to environmental changes. Compared to typical seasonal breeders, which have limited distributions, the worldwide distribution of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) across highly complex and divergent habitats suggests they exhibit exceptional adaptiveness. However, the difference in physiological mechanisms by which brown rats respond and adapt to markedly different environments is seldom investigated. Here, we reveal a significant divergence in reproductive seasonality and environmental responses between two brown rat subspecies: one subspecies, R. n. caraco, lives in the temperate zone, and another subspecies, R. n. norvegicus, lives in the subtropical region. Although R. n. caraco displayed a significantly higher reproductive seasonality than R. n. norvegicus, both subspecies adapted to sub-optimal breeding conditions mainly by regulating the seminal vesicle rather than testis development. Especially in responding to severe winter conditions in high-latitude regions, bodyweight-dependent recovery of testicular development in adults enables R. n. caraco to initiate reproduction more rapidly when conditions are suited. These findings elucidate a regulatory process of how brown rats live as opportunistic breeders by benefiting from enhanced semen production.

Developmental Sensemaking for Transformative Action Taking: The Constructive Motion of Emotion

The article refreshes the concept of learning from experience, by emphasizing how experience is primarily anchored by emotion not rational thinking alone. It then inquires into the potential value of engaging emotions as a resource that gives vitality to action research. The proposition is that by including disappeared and denied emotions, perhaps especially at this moment when we confront planetary crisis, we may find greater perspective and imagination in co-creating response with stakeholders. Insights from two bodies of literature, action-oriented psychology and constructivist adult development are brought to flesh out the argument. A rich learning chronicle from a large scale, successful action research at the Port of Los Angeles is used to illustrate. The relevance of this chapter for action researchers engaged in territorial development lies in the provocation that more action researchers enrich capacity for helping transformations happen by leveraging the motion of emotions at this time of ecosocial crisis.

Predicting the risk of coronary artery calcium progression in the general population: insights from the MESA and CARDIA studies

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to develop and validate a practical tool for predicting individual CAC progression in the general population. Data were utilized from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort, comprising 5486 participants (47.3% male, mean±SD age: 61.9±10.2 years), who were randomly assigned to either a training set or an internal validation set at a 7:3 ratio. Additionally, a separate cohort of 2447 participants (44.6% male, mean±SD age: 40.4±3.5 years) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study served as the external validation set. A nomogram was developed based on a Cox regression model incorporating 10 variables selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method to predict CAC progression. From the 61 features considered, 10 key variables were identified: age, male sex, smoking status, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid abnormalities, and the use of antihypertensive, glucose-lowering, and lipid-lowering medications. The nomogram demonstrated good discriminationwith a C-statistic of 0.682 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.665-0.699) in the training set and 0.750 (95% CI, 0.729-0.771) in the external validation set. Decision curve analysis further confirmed the nomogram's clinical utility in predicting the risk of CAC progression. Our nomogram offers a practical tool for individualized prediction of CAC progression potentially aiding in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in clinical practice. REGISTRATION URL: https://www. gov; Unique identifier: NCT00005130 (CARDIA), NCT00005487 (MESA).

Ways of Social Inclusion and Integration of Children with Autism in Secondary Education, Inside and Outside the School Context, In the Region Thessaly

The aim of this study is to advocate the aggregate development of the future adults with autism, in terms of social integration. Thus, in order to study the autistic people’s course of development through the interaction between primary and secondary education, it focuses on school-based as well as out-of-school activities and interventions used by special education stuff in the Thessaly region. 99 people (mental health providers, trainers and relatives of people with autism) took part is the research, which combines qualitative and quantitative methods aiming to shed light on different perspectives of the issue. Early intervention, customized teaching methods and inclusive education seem to be of great significance, while the need for creating restricted programs and school-mental health services networks, along with a proper resource allocation play a significant role in the socialintegration of autistic people.

Dissecting the dynamic cellular transcriptional atlas of adult teleost testis development throughout the annual reproductive cycle.

Teleost testis development during the annual cycle involves dramatic changes in cellular compositions and molecular events. In this study, the testicular cells derived from adult black rockfish at distinct stages - regressed, regenerating and differentiating - were meticulously dissected via single-cell transcriptome sequencing. A continuous developmental trajectory of spermatogenic cells, from spermatogonia to spermatids, was delineated, elucidating the molecular events involved in spermatogenesis. Subsequently, the dynamic regulation of gene expression associated with spermatogonia proliferation and differentiation was observed across spermatogonia subgroups and developmental stages. A bioenergetic transition from glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration of spermatogonia during the annual developmental cycle was demonstrated, and a deeper level of heterogeneity and molecular characteristics was revealed by re-clustering analysis. Additionally, the developmental trajectory of Sertoli cells was delineated, alongside the divergence of Leydig cells and macrophages. Moreover, the interaction network between testicular micro-environment somatic cells and spermatogenic cells was established. Overall, our study provides detailed information on both germ and somatic cells within teleost testes during the annual reproductive cycle, which lays the foundation for spermatogenesis regulation and germplasm preservation of endangered species.

Cross-Cultural Spectators: Examining the Representation and Development of Black Female Protagonists on the Big Screen

Historically, the representation of Black women in film has been non-existent at worst and highly questionable at best. As cross-cultural spectators - a Black female and a White man - we used an oppositional gaze to critically “look” at the representation and adult development of Black female protagonists across U.S. films. Based on a critical visual methodology of 12 U.S. films, four themes emerged - #noBlackgirlmagic, transition from object-to-subject, the lies (you) tell, and hair it is. The implications for adult and higher education are discussed based on the findings.

A Digital Identity Intervention Incorporating Social Media Activities Promotes Identity Exploration and Commitment Among Emerging Adults

ABSTRACT Identity interventions that support young people by promoting adaptive identity processes have traditionally been designed for in-person group settings, making them time and resource intensive to implement. Here, we examine the feasibility and efficacy of the Bay Area Adult Development Program, a digital intervention program that combines reflection activities (adapted from past positive development programs) with social media activities (designed to leverage the affordances of social media for information access and social connection) to promote positive identity development among emerging adults. Following a pilot trial to assess the intervention procedure, a randomized controlled trial was conducted (Nenrolled = 267; Ncompleted = 141). Results showed that participants who completed both reflection and social media activities experienced increases in personal identity exploration and commitment (i.e. exploration in breadth, exploration in depth, commitment making, identification with commitment) and increases in exploration of vocational identity (i.e. in-depth career exploration), compared to those in the control condition. Moreover, the combination of reflection and social media activities was a more efficacious intervention treatment, compared to reflection alone. We provide evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of a digital intervention for emerging adults while pointing to future research directions on identity development in the digital context.

Poly(A)-Specific Ribonuclease Deficiency Leads to Deregulated Expression of Genes Involved in Sex Determination and Gonadal Maturation in Zebrafish

Abstract Background Deadenylation, the process of removal of poly (A) tail of messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs), is a rate-limiting step in mRNA stability, and poly(A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN) is the most important exonuclease involved in this process. Besides mRNA stability, PARN is also involved in several other processes including telomere maintenance, noncoding RNA maturation, ribosome biogenesis, and TP53 function. Previously, we have shown that zebrafish PARN null mutants are viable and fertile but turn out to only develop into males, indicating a role in oogenesis. The present study was focused on analyzing the expression of genes involved in sex determination and gonadal development in PARN mutant zebrafish. Materials and Methods Total RNA was extracted and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the expression level of genes involved in gonad development in PARN mutant embryos (4 days postfertilization [dpf]) and adults (120 dpf) in comparison to their wild-type siblings. The expression levels were estimated by the ΔΔCT relative quantification method. Results At 4 dpf, the expression of germ cell-specific genes did not show any significant difference in the null mutants compared to the heterozygous and their wild-type siblings, suggesting no effect on germ cell differentiation due to the loss of PARN. However, the majority of the ovary-associated genes analyzed showed an increased expression in PARN null and heterozygous mutants compared to the wild-type siblings. Intriguingly, the expression of testis-associated genes showed decreased expression in the mutants compared to their wild-type siblings at 4 dpf. In adult stages, as expected, the expression of genes that jointly regulate the proper formation and function of ovaries and testes showed decreased expression in PARN null mutants. Interestingly, the expression of genes involved in the differentiation of testes, despite showing a decreased expression in the mutants, was comparable between the null and heterozygous mutants. Conclusion Taken together, these results suggest that the loss of PARN does not affect germ cell differentiation but affects the sexual differentiation that happens at later stages of development, particularly the process of oogenesis, in zebrafish.

Adolescent and Young Adult Development in Transplant Recipients.

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is the gold standard of therapy for individuals with end-organ dysfunction. Improved survival outcomes after SOT can help adolescent and young adult (AYA) recipients lead long and healthy life. However, successful SOT during adolescence and young adulthood is often complicated by the innate developmental challenges of this age group. The psychosocial tasks of adolescence include identity development, autonomous decision-making, establishing social networks, educational and vocational preparation, and navigating romantic relationships. These goals may be amplified or delayed for pediatric SOT recipients. Adolescence is also marked by rapid physical changes in linear growth and the development of secondary sexual characteristics. Yet AYA may experience physical and pubertal delays related to transplantation, as well as exaggerated body image dissatisfaction due to medication side effects. Strict adherence to medication and post-transplant regimens may interfere with adolescents' desire for normalcy and fitting in with peers. Healthcare providers should be aware that AYA value education and self-empowerment in transplant care. Transplant success needs to be defined by both medical and psychosocial outcomes, particularly when it relates to the vulnerable AYA population. Fortunately, investment from the patient, family, and care team can aid in transplant recovery and success. This article will identify the developmental challenges faced by AYA undergoing solid organ transplantation as well as strategies to engage positive outcomes.