Publications
Selected Works
Adolescent Development and Competence to Make Sexual and Reproductive Health Decisions
This selected bibliography of publications by YRE members reviews evidence on adolescent development and young people’s competence to make sexual and reproductive health decisions.
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Selected Works
Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Knowledge and Perspectives on Changing Policies and Access Environments
This selected bibliography of publications by YRE members reviews research highlighting adolescents’ and young adults’ awareness and perspectives on changing policies and access environments.
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Selected Works
Unique and Disproportionate Impacts of Changing Policies/Access Environment on Adolescents and Young Adults
This selected bibliography of publications by YRE members reviews evidence demonstrating how changing policies and access environment are uniquely and disproportionately impacting adolescents and young adults.
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Selected Works
Characterizing Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Sexual and Reproductive Health and Health Care Experiences
This selected bibliography of publications by YRE members reviews a diverse body of research characterizing adolescents’ and young adults sexual and reproductive health, as well as their experiences in healthcare settings.
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Selected Works
Developmentally Appropriate Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinical Practices and Sex Education for Adolescents
This selected bibliography of publications by YRE members highlights developmentally appropriate sexual and reproductive health practices best suited for clinical environments and sex education.
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Selected Works
Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health as a Reproductive Justice Issue
This selected bibliography of publications by YRE members reviews the critical role adolescent sexual and reproductive health plays in advancing the mission and goals of reproductive justice.
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Journal Article
Tubal Sterilization And Vasectomy Increased Among US Young Adults After The Dobbs Supreme Court Decision In 2022
This study investigates young people’s use and perceptions of tubal sterilization and vasectomy after the 2022 United States Supreme Court Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. Results of this mixed method analysis found that young adults increasingly obtained permanent contraception post-Dobbs, especially in states deemed likely to ban abortion. Further findings demonstrate that this policy shift is influencing young people’s contraceptive choices, pregnancy plans, and perceived bodily autonomy. These results show the new and ongoing harms of abortion restrictions and highlight system-level changes needed to promote young people’s reproductive health and greater bodily autonomy.
“[Participants] expressed fear not only about their own bodily autonomy but also about living in a country they would not want to bring children into.”
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Journal Article
Adolescents and Young Adults’ Sources of Contraceptive Information
This study examines how young people would like to receive information about contraceptive and where they actually receive it. Researchers found discrepancies between young peoples’ preferred and actual sources of information and that those who learned from their preferred source were more likely to report having sufficient information on contraception. Additional findings from this research highlight the significance of learning about contraception from a preferred source and the continued value of parents and clinicians as sources of contraceptive information.
“With inequitable access to school-based sex education, online misinformation, and increasing health care restrictions, understanding [adolescents and young adults’] receipt of contraceptive information is crucial.”
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Journal Article
The Role (And Limits) of Developmental Neuroscience in Determining Adolescents’ Autonomy Rights: The Case for Reproductive and Voting Rights
Drawing from the work of developmental scientists, this article illustrates how overly simplistic characterizations of adolescents’ brain development and maturity impact popular and public policy discussions about adolescents’ autonomy rights. Focusing on the examples of reproductive and voting rights, authors argue that a more nuanced consideration of the most recent developmental and neuroscientific evidence supports adolescents’ ability to engage in the deliberative decisions inherent in both reproductive health and voting decisions.
“Although developmental science has articulated adolescents’ competencies and adopted a strengths-based approach to understanding and promoting adolescent development [the public and policy makers] do not yet have the language with which to apply specific neuroscientific and developmental evidence to different types of real-world decisions adolescents face and the policies that govern them.”
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Journal Article
Contraception Choice Beyond Efficacy
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Journal Article
The Perceived Impact of a Post-Dobbs Landscape on U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults
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Journal Article
Adolescent-Centered Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication
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Commentary
Abortion Bans are Changing what it means to be Young in America
In this research review, Dr. Julie Maslowsky, Director of Youth Reproductive Equity, examines the broad impacts of the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision on young people in the United States. Exploring indicators ranging from choice of college to mental health outcomes, Maslowsky illustrates how abortion restrictions are not only affecting young people who become pregnant or seek abortions but are fundamentally shaping this generation’s experiences of adolescence and young adulthood.
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Journal Article
Increasing Access to LARC Removal in Pediatrics to Support Adolescent Reproductive Justice in the United States
In this commentary, authors highlight the unique barriers adolescents and young adults in the U.S. face when accessing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) removal services and the role pediatricians should play in mitigating them. Drawing upon the tenets of reproductive justice, this commentary provides tangible training and practice solutions that aim to improve patient experience and honor adolescents’ bodily autonomy.
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Journal Article
It means being safe, having power over one's body: Black Female Adolescent Experiences with Reproductive Health Counseling in Primary Care
This study explores the experiences of Black adolescents assigned female at birth (AFAB) receiving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) counseling in primary care settings. Interviews found that while most participants reported trust and comfort with clinicians, they also highlighted significant gaps and areas for improvement to better align their care with their preferences. These findings offer insights to guide best practices in SRH counseling and clinician education, emphasizing the importance of respect and autonomy for Black AFAB adolescents