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Defining Adolescence, Alexa C. Curtis

Journal of Adolescent and Family Health

Chronologic definitions of adolescence and adolescent sub-stages vary throughout the literature. Definitions for adolescence are important because they inform the construction and implementation of adolescent research and program development. This article identifies commonly used chronologic parameters for adolescence, explores the developmental theory contributing to the understanding of adolescent chronology and posits a developmentally consistent definition of this critical transitional phase as: “early adolescence” 11-13 years, “adolescence” 14-17 years, and “young adulthood” 18-25 years. Keywords: adolescent, development, chronologic definitions, research