Adolescent Psychological Development and the Prevention of Early Pregnancy: A Biopsychosocial and Existential Perspective

Early pregnancy and other risk behaviors during adolescence represent a significant challenge for parents, educators, researchers, and public policymakers. While the biological factors associated with risks to maternal and infant health are widely recognized and emphasized, psychological and existential dimensions remain underrepresented in public discourse and policy initiatives.This study aims to highlight the importance of promoting healthy psychological development in adolescence as a central factor in the prevention of early pregnancy. Through a narrative review of the literature, findings indicate that parents and educators play a decisive role in mitigating adolescent risk behaviors. Moreover, an integrative approach to sexuality education, one that encompasses the capacity to love, the search for meaning in life, the understanding of corporeality, and the adolescent’s place in the world, emerges as a critical component of healthy psychological development.The findings further suggest that effective public policies require multisectoral collaboration among families, educational institutions, media, and the scientific community, as well as the advancement of translational research across disciplines that engage with the lived reality of adolescents. Increased investment in psychological research focused on the social and cultural specificities of the Brazilian population is essential to deepen the understanding of adolescents’ biopsychosocial development and to inform more effective prevention strategies.