Dutch Adolescence

Alina, Brandon, Grace, & Madison

Overview of Presentation❖ Introduction of Culture

❖ Physical Domain

❖ Cognitive Domain

❖ Social Domain

❖ Interview

Dutch Culture

• much more liberal

o contrasting views in drugs, sexuality

• much more independence

o parental guidance vs pressure

• less social pressures

• love vs sex drive

Physical Domain● The Dutch are on average the tallest people in the world.

○ Men are 6 feet tall (182.5 cm) ○ Women are 5 feet 7 inches (170.5 cm)○ Researchers point to a healthy diet and good medical care as the

main factors that lead to a tall population.• Lower rate of adolescent pregnancy, birth, and abortion

➔ The United States’ teen pregnancy rate is over 4x that of the Netherlands

Physical Domain

➔ The US teen birth rate is nearly 8x higher than that of the Netherlands

The abortion rate in the US is nearly 2x that of the Netherlands

Physical Domain

➔ Maturation occurs earlier and earlier overtime

➔ Consistently grows in unison with population growth

Cognitive DomainDutch adolescents have similar cognitive capabilities to American adolescent’s

cognitive capabilities (i.e. metacognition, abstract concepts, thinking about possibilities).

American Youth reported more externalizing and internalizing problems than did their Dutch peers. (Roeser 111)

Dutch adolescents ability to consider ways in which their lives might be affected by different career choices is very different than American adolescents.

Only 47% of Dutch youth ages 19-24 reported having a career path planned.

Nature vs. Nurture-- this is NOT due to a lack of cognitive development.

Sex: Normalize, Don’t Dramatize

Amy Schalet: American Sociologist- Cross-cultural study between the Netherlands and America- Interviews with families of similar socio-economic culture

Difference in views of individualism:

- Dutch → Interdependent

- American → Adversarial

Sex: Normalize, Don’t Dramatize

Dutch Normalization American Dramatization

What is problematic? New Attachments Hormone-driven self

How/Why is it regulated? Negotiation and incorporation due to family member status

Prohibition and expulsion due to non-adult status

How do adolescents regulate the problem?

Self-regulation and speaking

Separation and hiding

What ideal state and individual result?

InterdependenceSelf-regulated individual

Total FreedomSelf-sufficient individual

(Schalet, 2010)

Social DomainMore Dutch teens satisfied with first

sexual experiences than American teens.

Romantic Sleepovers common in NL - Older, mature teens- In relationships- Taken necessary precautions

Dutch Life - First Hand Parenting• positive

o treated as adults more confidence

o more freedom less dependency

• negativeo less guidance

Sexuality and Experimentation• Drugs and alcohol

o start earlyo “only 2 years away”

• love vs. sex driveo early sex, late date

• stigmas

Sources Alford, S., & Hauser, D. (2011, March). Adolescent Sexual Health in Europe and the US. Advocates for Youth.

Bake, F (personal communication, 2013, November 29). Deaton, D. L. (2012). Review of ‘Not under my roof: Parents, teens, and the culture of sex’. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41, 157-163.

Fahey Jr., John M. (n.d.). People and Places: Find People and Places. National Geographic Kids, (The Netherlands module, 16 of 24).

Meeus, W., & Dekovic, M. (1995). Identity development, parental and peer support in adolescence: Results of a national Dutch survey. Adolescence, 30(120), 931.

Roeser, R. W. (2001). On the relation between social-emotional and school functioning during early adolescence: Preliminary findings from Dutch and American samples. Journal of School Psychology, 39(2), 111-139.

Schalet, A. T. (2011). Not under my roof: Parents, teens, and the culture of sex. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Talma, H. (2013, Apr. 8). Trends in Menarcheal Age between 1955 and 2009 in the Netherlands. PLOS ONE. Vlamis, B., & Jerri, A. (Producers). (2012, July 26). American teen births at a historic low, but still higher than the developed world. WBEZ91.5:

Worldview.