Why Today's Teens Don't Act Their Age

Compared to a generation ago, today's young people are dawdling when it comes to experiencing behaviors traditionally seen as precursors to adulthood: drinking, driving, having sex, and joining the workforce. 

As a result, they're often called "lazy"—but that's not exactly accurate. According to researchers, today's 18-year-olds are acting like 15-year-olds of the late 1970s because of the secure environment in which they're raised, per the San Diego Union Tribune. 

Whereas previous generations enjoyed fewer resources and viewed quickly finding a job and starting a family as necessary for survival, smaller families have fueled "the idea that children need to be carefully nurtured," psychologist Jean Twenge tells the Washington Post.

Read the full story on Newser.com

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