Lucy Foulkes and Jack Andrews are research psychologists at the University of Oxford, and in the very first episode of Coming of Age they explore what adolescence really is, and why it's one of the most misunderstood stages of our lives. From why teenagers seem so sensitive to friendships and social status to what the science tells us about identity, popularity and belonging, they unpack the psychology behind behaviours that are so often dismissed as "just being a teenager." Together, they discuss why adolescence now stretches well into our twenties, why fitting in feels so important during the school years, the surprising difference between being popular and being well liked, and why just one close friendship can make a profound difference to a young person's wellbeing. They also explain why that unanswered text message can genuinely feel catastrophic to a teenager, and how understanding the science can help parents respond with greater empathy. Get in touch at pod.comingofage@gmail.com Research Discussed: Age range debate: Sawyer, S. M., Azzopardi, P. S., Wickremarathne, D., & Patton, G. C.(2018). The age of adolescence. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2(3),223-228. Cliques and hierarchies: Foulkes, L. (2024). Coming of Age: How AdolescenceShapes Us. London, UK: Penguin Random House. Two kinds of popularity: Sandstrom, M. J., & Cillessen, A. H. (2006). Likeable versus popular:Distinct implications for adolescent adjustment. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 30(4),305-314. Prinstein, M. J. (2017). Popular: The Power of Likabilityin a Status-Obsessed World. New York: Penguin. The emotional pain of rejection: Sebastian, C., Viding, E., Williams, K. D., & Blakemore, S. J.(2010). Social brain developmentand the affective consequences of ostracism in adolescence. Brain & Cognition, 72(1),134-145. One good friend is all you need: Alsarrani, A.,Hunter, R. F., Dunne, L., & Garcia, L. (2022). Associationbetween friendship quality and subjective wellbeing among adolescents: Asystematic review. BMC Public Health, 22(1),2420. Narr, R. K.,Allen, J. P., Tan, J. S., & Loeb, E. L. (2019). Closefriendship strength and broader peer group desirability as differentialpredictors of adult mental health. Child Development, 90(1),298-313. Evans-Whipp & Gasser (2019), Teens with at least one closefriend can better cope with stress than those without. Theconversation Guidance for parents: Damour, L. (2016). Untangled: Guiding teenage girls through the seventransitions into adulthood. New York: Ballantine Books.
