2. A Multimodal Approach to Exploring the Adultification of Black Girls and its Impact on Physical and Mental Health Outcomes

Optimal development necessitates providing youth and their behavior leniency in pursuit of exploration and growth. Adultification – the process by which youth are perceived as more ‘adult-like’- contributes to the false narrative that Black youth’s mistakes are malicious, instead of the result of developmentally appropriate decision-making. This community-based participatory research aims to understand how racism, sexi sm, organizational structures (e.g. medicine), personal relationships, and behaviors affect Black girls' identity development and their physical and emotional well-being.

Source: Journal of Adolescent Health - January 30, 2024 Category: Child Development Authors: Daniela I. Brissett, Tawanna Jones, Merrian J. Brooks, Mikayla Jones, Olivia Neal, Troi Williams, Joanna L. Williams, Deborah A. Thomas, Carmelita Foster, Kenneth R. Ginsburg, Nadia Dowshen Source Type: research