Breaking down silos and echo chambers: Adolescence through an interdisciplinary lens

Abstract

Research on adolescence occurs across a variety of disciplines, including education, psychology, sociology, public health, biology, and medicine, among other fields, each with its own definition of the most pressing problems, levels of analysis, and proposed solutions. There is widespread recognition that human development occurs across levels simultaneously from molecular changes to broader cultural systems. Yet it remains challenging to integrate across levels and scholarly disciplines. This article crystallizes a definition of interdisciplinary research, highlights examples of interdisciplinary career trajectories, and showcases a collection of interdisciplinary empirical and theoretical articles. This special collection serves as a call to action for the difficult work of breaking down scholarly and practical barriers to utilize interdisciplinary research in addressing critical scientific questions and societal needs to improve the well-being and developmental outcomes for all adolescents.