“The biological and social phases in the lives of young people are drifting apart ever stronger”, says Josh Goldstein. “While adolescents become adults earlier in a biological sense, they reach adulthood later regarding their social and economic roles.” Life cycle research shows that for more than half a century the age at which people marry, have children, start their careers and become financially independent from their parents continues to rise.

According to Joshua Goldstein, this doesn’t only extend the period of physical adulthood during which young people do not yet have children. “Important decisions in life are being made with an increasing distance from the recklessness of youth.” The demographer points out that it remains unclear whether the “high-risk phase” of adolescence becomes more dangerous for males because it starts earlier. While younger men are less mentally and socially mature, parents also tend to supervise their children more closely when they are younger.
About the MPIDR

The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock investigates the structure and dynamics of populations. It focuses on issues of political relevance such as demographic change, aging, fertility, the redistribution of work over the course of life, as well as aspects of evolutionary biology and medicine. The MPIDR is one of the largest demographic research bodies in Europe and one of the worldwide leaders in the field. It is part of the Max Planck Society, the internationally renowned German research society.

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Prof. Dr. Joshua R. Goldstein
Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock
Phone: +49 381 2081-107
Fax: +49 381 2081-407
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)