《青年與青少年雜志》為心理學家、精神病學家、生物學家、犯罪學家、教育家和其他許多相關學科的專業人士提供了一個單一的、高水平的交流媒介，這些專業人士討論的主題是青年與青少年。該期刊發表基于定量分析、理論論文和綜合評論文章的論文。該雜志特別歡迎經驗嚴謹的論文，認真對待政策影響。研究不一定是為了解決政策需要而設計的，但是手稿必須解決社會對青年和青春期的正式反應方式(例如通過法律、政策或規章)或非正式反應方式(例如通過父母、同齡人和社會機構)所產生的影響。

Journal of Youth and Adolescence provides a single, high-level medium of communication for psychologists, psychiatrists, biologists, criminologists, educators, and professionals in many other allied disciplines who address the subject of youth and adolescence. The journal publishes papers based on quantitative analyses, theoretical papers, and comprehensive review articles. The journal especially welcomes empirically rigorous papers that take policy implications seriously. Research need not have been designed to address policy needs, but manuscripts must address implications for the manner society formally (e.g., through laws, policies or regulations) or informally (e.g., through parents, peers, and social institutions) responds to the period of youth and adolescence.