Go Back Research Article March, 1992

Adolescence as a culture-bound syndrome

Author James Dennis Fortenberry Author Robert F. Hill

Abstract

In keeping with an expanded definition of culture-bound syndromes, this paper argues that adolescence in American society has been ‘medicalized’ into a full-blown symptom complex or pathologic condition. Culture-bound syndromes in highly differentiated societies such as the U.S., may be taxanomically sorted by distinctive cultural identity system domains of age, gender, family, vocation and ethnicity.

Keywords

adolescence culture-bound syndrome medicalization pathologization cultural identity age norms gender roles family dynamics vocational identity ethnic identity psychosocial development adolescent psychology social constructs cultural perception youth behavior mental health stigma sociocultural influences developmental transitions identity formation western society adolescent health social expectations behavioral norms medical anthropology psychological diagnosis youth marginalization socialization processes cultural psychiatry teen mental health generational differences psychological constructs
Details
Volume 35
Issue 1
Pages 73-80
DOI 10.1016/0277-9536(92)90120-F
ISSN 1873-5347
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