A WHO-commissioned global research priority-setting exercise involving over 300 stakeholders from more than 60 countries identified 30 research priorities for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young adolescents (aged 10-14 years), with top-ranked priorities focusing on social media, mental health, and disparities among marginalised subpopulations.
Key Findings
Results
A total of 30 research priorities were identified for the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young adolescents aged 10–14 years.
The exercise used an adapted mixed-methods Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) methodology.
Priorities were evaluated against two criteria: answerability and impact.
The exercise was commissioned by WHO to address a recognized gap in research focused on young adolescents compared to older adolescents.
Young adolescents (aged 10–14 years) were the specific focus, as this age group undergoes sexual and reproductive maturation yet has been understudied.
Results
Top-ranked research priorities focused on the role of social media in young adolescents' SRHR, mental health challenges, and disparities in SRHR needs among marginalised subpopulations.
Social media's role in young adolescents' SRHR was identified as the highest-priority research area.
Mental health challenges related to SRHR were also ranked among the top priorities.
Disparities in SRHR needs among marginalised subpopulations were highlighted as a leading concern.
These top priorities reflect both the digital environment young adolescents navigate and the intersection of mental and reproductive health.
Methods
Over 300 stakeholders from more than 60 countries participated in the research priority-setting exercise.
Participants included academics, policy makers, advocates, and youth advisors.
The geographic breadth spanned more than 60 countries, indicating a global scope.
The inclusion of youth advisors alongside academic and policy stakeholders was a notable feature of the methodology.
The large and diverse stakeholder group was intended to ensure broad representation in defining and evaluating research priorities.
Results
The findings highlight the importance of ethical engagement with young adolescents and implementation of tailored comprehensive sexuality education (CSE).
Ethical engagement with young adolescents was identified as a cross-cutting theme across the research priorities.
Tailored CSE was emphasized as a key implementation priority, suggesting one-size-fits-all approaches are considered insufficient.
The priorities reflect a need for age-appropriate interventions that align with young adolescents' developmental stage.
The needs of caregivers were also identified as important alongside those of young adolescents themselves.
Results
Research priorities emphasise the need for scalable, co-designed, and age-appropriate SRHR education and health interventions for young adolescents.
Co-design with young adolescents was identified as a central principle for developing effective interventions.
Scalability of interventions and policies was highlighted as a key criterion in the priority-setting outcomes.
Sociocultural barriers were identified as factors that must be addressed in intervention design and policy.
The identified priorities are described as 'laying the foundation for long-term wellbeing' of young adolescents.
Background
Research on SRHR of young adolescents (aged 10–14 years) lags behind that of older adolescents, representing a gap that motivated this priority-setting exercise.
Adolescence is described as 'a pivotal stage for sexual and reproductive health and rights.'
Young adolescents undergo sexual and reproductive maturation but have received proportionally less research attention than older adolescents.
WHO commissioned this exercise specifically to address the identified gap in knowledge and evidence for the 10–14 age group.
The exercise was designed to generate a prioritized research agenda to guide future investment and study in this underserved area.
What This Means
This research describes a large international effort to identify the most important research questions about the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young adolescents, specifically those aged 10 to 14 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) commissioned the project because this age group — who are going through puberty and early sexual development — has been far less studied than older teenagers. More than 300 experts, policymakers, advocates, and young people from over 60 countries worked together to rank research priorities based on how answerable they are with current methods and how much impact answering them could have. The process produced a list of 30 top research priorities.
The highest-ranked priorities included understanding how social media affects young adolescents' sexual and reproductive health, how mental health and SRHR are connected in this age group, and how the needs of marginalized young people (such as those from disadvantaged or minority communities) differ and are often unmet. The findings also stressed that research and programs should be co-designed with young adolescents themselves, be age-appropriate and ethically sound, and address barriers rooted in culture and society. Comprehensive sexuality education tailored to this younger age group was highlighted as a key area needing more evidence and implementation.
This research matters because it creates a roadmap for scientists, governments, and health organizations to focus their efforts where they can make the most difference for 10–14-year-olds globally. This research suggests that current knowledge and programs designed for older teenagers are not adequate for younger adolescents, who have distinct developmental, social, and informational needs. Addressing these priorities could help build foundations for better long-term health and wellbeing for this large and often overlooked group.
Lohan M, Brennan-Wilson A, Bradshaw M, Bastien S, Banati P, Garry J, et al.. (2025). Global research priority-setting exercise on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young adolescents.. The Lancet. Child & adolescent health. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(25)00190-7