Improving the Transition Reducing Social and Psychological Morbidity During Adolescence A report from the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor May 2011 Office of the Prime Minister’s Science Advisory Committee PO Box 108-117, Symonds Street, Auckland 1150, New Zealand Telephone: +64 9 923 1788 Website: www.pmcsa.org.nz Email:
[email protected] © Crown Copyright 2011, Office of the Prime Minister’s Science Advisory Committee ISBN 978-0-477-10334-3 (paperback) ISBN 978-0-477-10335-0 (PDF) Improving the Transition Contents Contributors to the Taskforce v Letter to the Prime Minister vii Synthesis Report Executive summary 1 Our key recommendations 15 Chapter 1 Puberty and adolescence: transitions in the life course 19 Peter Gluckman, Felicia Low, Kathryn Franko Chapter 2 Social and emotional competence: intervening in infancy 35 Trecia Wouldes, Sally Merry, Denise Guy Chapter 3 Self-control 49 Richie Poulton Chapter 4 Childhood conduct problems 59 David Fergusson, Joseph Boden, Harlene Hayne Chapter 5 Resiliency 79 Sue Bagshaw Chapter 6 The value of evidence-based life skills education 87 Peter Gluckman, Felicia Low, Jacquie Bay Chapter 7 Educational outcomes in adolescence for Māori and Pasifika students 97 Stuart McNaughton Chapter 8 Adolescents and the media: consequences and policy implications 111 Simon Denny Chapter 9 Adolescents and digital media 123 Tamar Murachver Chapter 10 Sexually healthy young people 133 Sue Bagshaw Chapter 11 Adolescent development for Māori 145 Chris Cunningham iii Improving the Transition Chapter 12 Pasifika