An American sociologist who grew up in the Netherlands, Amy Schalet digs deep into cultural values about adolescent sexuality to explain the reasons for the vast disparities between American and Dutch sexual health indicators. This article reviews the book's key conclusions and discusses their implications for parents, educators, and policy…

Compared peer relations, developmental expectations, perceived competence, and well-being in Dutch and Japanese adolescents, investigating cultural influences. Survey data indicated that Dutch adolescents were more satisfied with their peer relationships, expected to achieve developmental tasks at earlier ages, felt more competent about their…