Positive Scenario for the Future
The previous chapter presented a pessimistic view of the future for American teenagers in the 21st century and asked the question: Does it have to be like that? This chapter argues that it does not, and instead paints a positive scenario. In order to enhance the lives of adolescents and to make sure they grow up into responsible adults, it is important to recognize that interventions have to start long before children are teenagers. How can we help adolescents grow into responsible adults? The key is attachment. The quality of life for everyone is dependent on many factors, but the one that seems to surface most strongly from this analysis is the “value system”: the American people must decide that they want a higher standard of social structures and of quality of life. Young people should also have more access to health and mental health care and quality education. Promotion of healthy and safe sexual behavior, decreasing poverty and increasing wealth equality, and reducing segregation are also important.
Keywords: teenagers, quality of life, attachment, value system, education, health care, sexual behavior, poverty, segregation
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