Toward a decolonial developmental science in Asia: Exploring adolescent development in communities from the majority world

Abstract

The field of developmental science explores the rich interplay between individuals and their contexts, which dynamically shift across time and place. In Asia, context-specific research and practice are essential for promoting culturally relevant program and policy approaches to improving adolescent well-being. This involves critically examining how localized social structures and power dynamics shape individual experiences and outcomes. The landscape for Asian adolescents today differs significantly from that of previous generations due to rapid changes in these structures, and societal transformation has created the opportunity for traditional and modern values to coexist. This commentary draws across articles from this special issue to describe the dynamics of adolescent-context relations across diverse Asian contexts using developmental science methods. This includes interrogating risk factors, opportunities, and trajectories for adolescents growing up in non-Western settings while also questioning the application of Western, adult-centric discourses on adolescent well-being globally.