What is it like to be a teenager today? How do parents and teenagers experience their roles and responsibilities? And how does the promotion of health - a major cultural goal of the twentieth century - figure in the perspectives and priorities of young people and their parents? This book seeks to answer these and other questions in a unique study of over 800 16-year-olds.

Taking family life as the focus, the book explores a critical moment in teenagers' and parents' lives with respect to the transition to adulthood, a point at which young people and parents take important decisions about the future, especially concerning education, training and the labour market. As young people seek to take more responsibility for themselves, this book examines the kind of household rules and relationships that are sustained. Under what circumstances do young people assume responsibility for their health?

How do parents try to minimize risk-taking, and are they successful? The book draws upon a wealth of quantitative survey data and makes extensive use of the rich case material gathered in 64 different households. Written from a sociological perspective, it will be of interest to social scientists in the field of health, family life, education and youth culture as well as professionals and policymakers concerned with young people.