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.
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