Increasing connectedness as an important protective factor for adolescent men

Research and personal experience tell us about the importance of friendships for adolescents. Still, we know that many adolescent boys struggle to make and keep close friends. A new video called “The Crisis of Connection for Adolescent Boys” underscores that adolescent boys want and need close, supportive friendships and provides guidance to professionals and family members on how to foster those relationships.

The video features NYU Professor Niobe Way, who has studied adolescents’ social development for over 30 years. She shares what young men say about increasing isolation as they move from childhood to adolescence and how social connections affect health and well-being. In this video Way encourages adults to rethink assumptions and provides strategies to encourage the friendships that help adolescent boys thrive.

This is the first in a new TAG Talks video series created as part of the Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) call to action from the HHS Office of Adolescent Health. Find the videos and supplemental materials on the OAH site.