Transitions and turning points: Navigating the passage from childhood through adolescence

In the past decade, much of the research on adolescent development has focused on the transitions that define and shape the experiences of adolescents. Several models are identified that have been useful in predicting and understanding behavioral and affective change at transitions, in particular, transitions occurring from middle childhood through adolescence. Some models are specific to particular transition points (such as pubertal development), whereas others may be applied more generally, even if they have only been tested for at a single transition. Of importance is how well the data fit each model and whether continuity in outcomes is predicted by the models across different transitions. Examples highlight research on how a specific transition, event, or ecological niche influences adolescent behavior and affect. To understand which individuals are affected by transitions and how transitions are navigated, more specific models are needed.