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Journal of Beijing Normal University(Social Sciences) ›› 2018, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (4): 39-49.

• Psychology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Behavioral Autonomy in Adolescence:A Review of Existing Researh and Suggestions for Future Direction

LIU Yan1, JIANG Suo2,1   

  1. 1.Institute of Developmental Psychology,BNU,Beijing 100875,China
    2.Department of Psychology in School of Environment of Public Health,Wenzhou Medical University,Wenzhou 325035,China
  • Received:2017-09-05 Online:2018-07-25 Published:2019-06-21

Abstract: Behavioral autonomy,or the ability to make independent decisions,is considered as an important aspect of individual autonomy.Because it has long been acknowledged that becoming more autonomous is a central developmental task for adolescents,most research and theorizing on behavioral autonomy has focused on adolescence.In the current paper a comprehensive review of the extant literature concerning behavioral autonomy of adolescents is presented.It opens with a conceptual clarification of the term and an introduction of the measurement techniques.It focuses on the main findings of the relevant empirical research providing insight into the trajectory,influencing factors of adolescents' behavioral autonomy and the association between adolescents' behavioral autonomy and psychosocial functioning.The limitations of the extant literature are discussed.Future research should develop more validated measures based on a clearer defined understanding of the concept of behavioral autonomy.Moreover,understanding of adolescent development would be enhanced if,in future research,behavioral autonomy is explored in a more complete picture of adolescents' development.

Key words: behavioral autonomy, adolescence, psychosocial functioning

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