This introductory editorial highlights the importance of cross-cultural comparative studies for research, policy making, and prevention efforts in order to improve the lives of young people. It reviews the paucity of large-scale cross-cultural studies that investigate young people’s health. These concern in particular challenges in establishing not only collaborations but also the application of sophisticated quantitative methods that can address the nested characteristics of cross-cultural data. Interestingly, findings from the five articles included in this special issue reveal far more cultural similarities than differences. For instance, the impact and relationship that parents and peers exert on young adolescents appears consistent across countries. In line with two invited commentaries, recommendations for prevention and policy making are provided.
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2.
de LoozeM.PickettW.RaaijmakersQ.KuntscheE.HubletA.Nic GabhainnS.. . . Ter BogtT. (2012). Early risk behaviors and adolescent injury in 25 European and North American countries: A cross-national consistent relationship (Special Issue). Journal of Early Adolescence.
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KuntscheE.LabhartF. (in press). ICAT: Development of an internet-based data collection method for ecological momentary assessment using personal cell phones. European Journal of Psychological Assessment.
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KuntscheE.OverpeckM.DallagoL. (2008). Television viewing, computer use and hostile perception of classmates among adolescents from 34 countries. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 67(2), 97-106.
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KuntscheE.Simons-MortonB.ter BogtT.Sánchez QueijaI.Muñoz TinocoV.GaspardeMatosM.. . . HBSC Peer Culture Focus Group. (2009). Electronic media communication with friends from 2002 to 2006 and links to face-to-face contacts in adolescence. An HBSC study in 31 European and North American countries and regions. International Journal of Public Health, 54(Suppl. 2), 243-250. doi:10.1007/s00038-009-5416-610.1007/s00038-009-5416-6
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OttovaV.ErhartM.VollebergW.KökönyeiG.MorganA.GobinaI.. . . Ravens-SiebererU. (2012). The role of individual and macro-level social determinants on young adolescents’ psychosomatic complaints (Special Issue). Journal of Early Adolescence.
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SchwarzB.MayerB.TrommsdorffG.Ben-AriehA.FriedlmeierM.LubiewskaK.. . . PeltzerK. (2012). Does the importance of parent and peer relationships for adolescents’ life satisfaction vary across cultures? (Special Issue). Journal of Early Adolescence.
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TabakI.MazurJ.GranadoM. D. C.OrkenyiA.ZaborskisA.AasveeK.. (2012). Examining trends in parent-child communication in Europe over 12 years (Special Issue). Journal of Early Adolescence.
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Ter BogtT.Nic GabhainnS.Simons-MortonB.FerreiraM.HubletA.GodeauE.. . .KuntscheE. (in press). Dance is the new metal: Adolescent music preferences and substance use across Europe. Substance Use & Misuse.
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