Comparative Studies on the Transitions to Adulthood
These studies use comparable data from many developing countries to analyze key aspects of transitions to adulthood, including schooling, time use, marriage, sexual initiation, and parenthood.
In addition to participating in research projects studying the transition to adulthood in various countries, Population Council staff members have been involved in comparative research on transitions to adulthood. Some of that research has provided background material for the work of the National Research Council’s (NRC) Panel on Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries. Specific topics have included a comparative analysis of trends in primary schooling in developing countries, with a particular focus on Africa; several related studies of trends in marriage age as well as marriage terms and conditions; and a comparative study of adolescents’ time use from a range of contexts in which the Council has conducted adolescent surveys.
The largest generation of young people in history is now making the transition from childhood to adulthood. Eighty-six percent of this group—nearly 1.5 billion individuals—live in the developing world. The lives of many of these young men and women are profoundly different from those of their parents. While change itself is not new, globalization has accelerated its speed and scale. Recognizing that the future of this generation depends on successfully negotiating this critical passage, the US National Academies' National Research Council and Institute of Medicine convened experts to review the available research and develop policy and program recommendations. Growing Up Global: The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries, shows that despite dramatic progress in certain areas, many young people still lack adequate schooling and good health—both of which are essential for ensuring their productivity and well-being. Cynthia Lloyd, director of social science research, served as chair of the panel and editor of the published report. Senior associates Barbara Mensch and Shireen Jejeebhoy also served as panel members.
Council staff members are also continuing to undertake comparative studies on the transitions to adulthood, including investigating the links between school dropout and premarital pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa and analyzing the changing context of sexual initiation. As documented in Growing Up Global, substantial reductions have occurred in the proportion of young women who report marrying as teenagers in sub-Saharan Africa in the last 20 years.
An oft-stated consequence of a delay in age at marriage is a rise in the proportion of young women who engage in premarital sex. Barbara Mensch, Monica Grant, and Ann Blanc recently completed a study that examined the links between changing age at marriage and premarital sexual behavior using Demographic and Health Survey data from 27 countries. The analysis revealed that although the age of first sexual activity has either remained the same or increased, a shift in the context of sexual debut from marriage to before marriage has taken place in many countries. The researchers assessed whether the rise in the proportion of young women who report premarital sex is influenced by an increase in exposure resulting from delayed marriage or by an increase in the rate of premarital sex. The evidence on this point is mixed; in some settings greater exposure “explains” more of the increase, whereas in others an increased rate of premarital sex dominates.
Gender differences in time use among adolescents in developing countries: Implications of rising school enrollment rates (abstract)
Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Grant,Monica J.; Ritchie,Amanda
Journal of Research on Adolescence 18(1): 99-120
Publication date: 2008
The changing context of sexual initiation in sub-Saharan Africa (PDF)
Mensch,Barbara S.
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 26)
Publication date: 2007
Schooling and adolescent reproductive behavior in developing countries (PDF)
Lloyd,Cynthia B.
Paper commissioned by the United Nations Millennium Project for the report Public Choices, Private Decisions: Sexual and Reproductive Health and the Millennium Development Goals
Publication date: 2006
The changing context of sexual initiation in sub-Saharan Africa (abstract)
Mensch,Barbara S.; Grant,Monica J.; Blanc,Ann K.
Population and Development Review 32(4): 699-727
Publication date: 2006
Growing Up Global: The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries (HTML)
National Research Council and Institute of Medicine; panel on Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries; Lloyd,Cynthia B.
Publication date: 2005
Marriage in transition: Evidence on age, education, and assets from six developing countries
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Behrman,Jere R.; Stromquist,Nelly P.; Cohen,Barney
from The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries: Selected Studies, pp. 200-269
Publication date: 2005
Progress toward education for all: Trends and current challenges for sub-Saharan Africa
Hewett,Paul C.; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Behrman,Jere R.; Stromquist,Nelly P.; Cohen,Barney
from The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries: Selected Studies, pp. 84-117
Publication date: 2005
The changing context of sexual initiation in sub-Saharan Africa (PDF)
Mensch,Barbara S.; Grant,Monica J.; Blanc,Ann K.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 206)
Publication date: 2005
The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries: Selected Studies (PDF) (HTML)
National Research Council; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Behrman,Jere R.; Stromquist,Nelly P.; Cohen,Barney
Publication date: 2005
Trends in the timing of first marriage among men and women in the developing world
Mensch,Barbara S.; Singh,Susheela; Casterline,John B.; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Behrman,Jere R.; Stromquist,Nelly P.; Cohen,Barney
from The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries: Selected Studies, pp. 118-171
Publication date: 2005
Trends in the timing of first marriage among men and women in the developing world (PDF)
Mensch,Barbara S.; Singh,Susheela; Casterline,John B.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 202)
Publication date: 2005
Trends in the timing of first marriage among men and women in the developing world [Arabic] (PDF)
Mensch,Barbara S.; Singh,Susheela; Casterline,John B.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 202)
Publication date: 2005
Gender differences in time use among adolescents in developing countries: Implications of rising school enrollment rates (PDF)
Ritchie,Amanda; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Grant,Monica J.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 193)
Publication date: 2004
Adolescent fertility
Mensch,Barbara S.; Singh,Susheela; Demeny,Paul; McNicoll,Geoffrey
from Encyclopedia of Population, pp. 14-16
Publication date: 2003
Education
Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Demeny,Paul; McNicoll,Geoffrey
from Encyclopedia of Population, pp. 278-283
Publication date: 2003
Marriage in transition: Evidence on age, education, and assets from six developing countries (PDF)
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 183)
Publication date: 2003
Marriage in transition: Evidence on age, education, and assets from six developing countries [Arabic] (PDF)
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 183)
Publication date: 2003
Primary schooling in sub-Saharan Africa: Recent trends and current challenges (PDF)
Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Hewett,Paul C.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 176)
Publication date: 2003
Project Stats
Location: Developing Countries
Program(s):
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Topic(s):
Adolescence/transitions to adulthood
Duration: 1/1998 - ongoing
Population Council researchers:
Sajeda Amin
Kelly Hallman
Paul C. Hewett
Barbara S. Mensch
Donors:
Population Council
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
UK Department for International Development
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