Adolescent Internalizing Problems and Substance Use Disorders
A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Psychology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 123
Special Issue Editors
Interests: developmental psychopathology; substance use; adolescent development; family relationships; emotion dynamics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Adolescence and young adulthood are critical periods of development, marked by profound psychological, social, and neurobiological changes. These transitions also represent times of heightened vulnerability to internalizing problems such as depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, and loneliness, as well as substance use disorders (SUDs) involving alcohol and other drugs.
This Special Issue focuses on advancing knowledge of internalizing problems and SUDs in adolescents and young adults, with an emphasis on developmental mechanisms, contextual factors, and intervention opportunities. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Neurobiological, psychological, and social factors influencing internalizing problems and SUDs during adolescence and young adulthood;
- The interplay between mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety) and substance use, including bidirectional associations and shared risk factors;
- Contextual influences such as family, peer networks, academic environments, and broader social determinants on mental health and substance use behaviors;
- Developmental transitions (e.g., adolescence to young adulthood) and their impacts on mental health and substance use patterns;
- Longitudinal, cross-sectional, or ecological momentary studies examining trajectories of mental health and SUDs;
- Theoretical and empirical studies on how patterns and behaviors established in early adulthood shape mental health outcomes in later stages;
- Innovative approaches to prevention, intervention, and treatment tailored to adolescents and young adults.
We welcome studies conducted in both general populations and clinical samples, encompassing a wide spectrum of symptomatology. Submissions may include empirical research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or theoretical frameworks that address these diverse experiences and offer a comprehensive understanding of problem internalization and SUDs.
Dr. Shou-Chun Chiang
Dr. Yu-Hsien Sung
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- internalizing problems
- substance use disorders
- adolescent
- young adult
- developmental psychology
- lifespan development
- psychopathology
- mental health
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