Beyond the Individual: A Sociological Review of U.S. Based Studies on Social and Environmental Determinants of Youth Mental and Sexual Health
Author(s)
Download Full PDF Pages: 18-26 | Views: 12 | Downloads: 3 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16275103
Abstract
This review critically synthesizes empirical research on the social and environmental determinants of youth mental and sexual health in the United States through a distinctly sociological lens. Departing from individualistic and biomedical models, the paper foregrounds the significance of relational connectedness, structural inequality, community environments, intergenerational communication, and peer/media influence. Drawing on key studies such as those by Resnick et al. (1997), Leventhal and Brooks-Gunn (2000), and Guilamo-Ramos et al. (2012), the review reveals consistent associations between contextual supports—such as school engagement, family cohesion, and neighborhood stability and improved adolescent wellbeing. The analysis is guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Durkheim’s theory of social integration, which together provide a multi-level framework for understanding how youth health is socially embedded and culturally shaped. The review further highlights the limitations of interventions that target individual behavior without addressing structural and relational contexts. In conclusion, the paper advocates for a paradigm shift toward community-level strategies, including school-based supports and NGO-driven programs that foster youth assets, intergenerational ties, and equitable social environments.
Keywords
Youth mental health; adolescent sexual health; sociological theory; social integration; ecological systems theory; relational connectedness; school and family environment; structural inequality; United States context; adolescent wellbeing.
References
Babatunde, E. B. (2025). Housing crisis among young migrants in the U.S.: A review of national implications and strategic solutions. American Behavioral Research Journal, 14(5), 1–9.
Blum, R. W., Bastos, F. I., Kabiru, C. W., & Le, L. C. (2002). Adolescent health in the 21st century. The Lancet, 379(9826), 1567–1578. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60203-7
Blum, R. W., Beuhring, T., Shew, M. L., Bearinger, L. H., Sieving, R. E., & Resnick, M. D. (2000). The effects of race/ethnicity, income, and family structure on adolescent risk behaviors. American Journal of Public Health, 90(12), 1879–1884. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.90.12.1879
Borowsky, I. W., Ireland, M., & Resnick, M. D. (2001). Youth risk and protective factors for suicide attempts: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Pediatrics, 107(3), 485–493. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.107.3.485
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.
Collins, R. L., Elliott, M. N., Berry, S. H., Kanouse, D. E., Kunkel, D., Hunter, S. B., & Miu, A. (2004). Watching sex on television predicts adolescent initiation of sexual behavior. Pediatrics, 114(3), e280–e289. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.114.3.e280
Durkheim, É. (1897). Le suicide: Étude de sociologie [Suicide: A study in sociology] (J. A. Spaulding & G. Simpson, Trans.). Free Press. (Original work published 1897)
Espelage, D. L., & Holt, M. K. (2001). Bullying and victimization during early adolescence: Peer influences and psychosocial correlates. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 2(2–3), 123–142. https://doi.org/10.1300/J135v02n02_08
Guilamo-Ramos, V., Bouris, A., Lee, J., McCarthy, K., Michael, S. L., Pitt-Barnes, S., & Dittus, P. (2012). Paternal influences on adolescent sexual risk behaviors: A structured literature review. Pediatrics, 130(5), e1313–e1325. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-2066
Guilamo-Ramos, V., Jaccard, J., Dittus, P. J., & Collins, S. (2012). Parent–adolescent communication about sexual intercourse: An analysis of maternal reluctance to communicate and adolescents’ beliefs about maternal disapproval. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 37(3), 273–283. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsq063
Leventhal, T., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2000). The neighborhoods they live in: The effects of neighborhood residence on child and adolescent outcomes. Psychological Bulletin, 126(2), 309–337. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.126.2.309
Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind, self, and society. University of Chicago Press.
Merton, R. K. (1968). Social theory and social structure (Enlarged ed.). Free Press.
Ozer, E. J., & Weinstein, R. S. (2004). Urban adolescents’ exposure to community violence: The role of supportive adults. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19(4), 436–457. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558403258863
Resnick, M. D., Bearman, P. S., Blum, R. W., Bauman, K. E., Harris, K. M., Jones, J., Tabor, J., Beuhring, T., Sieving, R. E., Shew, M., Ireland, M., & Udry, J. R. (1997). Protecting adolescents from harm: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. JAMA, 278(10), 823–832. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1997.03550100049038
Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., Leffert, N., & Blyth, D. A. (2000). Contribution of developmental assets to the prediction of thriving among adolescents. Applied Developmental Science, 4(1), 27–46. https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532480XADS0401_3
Scales, P. C., Leffert, N., Franke, M., & Pearson, T. (2000). Developmental assets: A synthesis of the scientific research on adolescent development. Search Institute.
Sieving, R. E., Resnick, M. D., & Bearinger, L. H. (2010). Successful adolescent sexual health programs in community settings: The role of adult mentors and communication. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46(1), S20–S27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.10.006
Whitlock, J., Powers, J. L., & Eckenrode, J. (2006). The virtual cutting edge: The internet and adolescent self-injury. Developmental Psychology, 42(3), 407–417. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.3.407
Zimmerman, M. A., Steinman, K. J., & Rowe, K. J. (1995). Violence among urban African American adolescents: The protective effects of parental support. Journal of Community Psychology, 23(3), 221–234. https://doi.org/10.1002/1520-6629(199507)23:3<221::AID-JCOP2290230304>3.0.CO;2-H
Cite this Article: