New study on adolescent development aims to help teens

Researchers hope to learn how school, social and family factors impact them

- Elisha Tushara

With the increase in mental health conditions and social isolation among Singapore youth today, there is a worry that they may not reach their full potential as they navigate the challenges and demands of secondary school.

A new study aims to learn how to best support teenagers as they go through changes related to adolescence and puberty, and set them up for success.

Researchers hope to understand how the school, social and family environment impacts school and career aspirations, self-identity, relationships, well-being and lifestyles of teenagers.

Commissioned by the Ministry of Education, the study, led by Professor Kenneth Poon from the National Institute of Education (NIE), adolescents follows 7,000 throughout their four- or five-year journey in secondary school.

The study is jointly led by co-lead principal investigators, Dr Melvin Chan, assistant dean of knowledge management at NIE's Office of Education Research, and Dr Trivina Kang, chief strategy and partnerships officer at NIE.

They lead a team of 12 investigators with expertise ranging from psychology and education research to games and learning.

Titled Dreams: Drivers, Enablers and Pathways of Adolescent Development in Singapore, the study was launched in 2023 when the participants were in Secondary 1.