PhD student Kate Stewart’s recent research found that most popular coming-of-age movies don’t reflect the true challenges of adolescence. Stewart's analysis proved that films that feature teen protagonists tend to depict experiences incongruent to those that real-life adolescents face. Unlike a typical high school student, protagonists in movies, for example, are rarely shown to struggle with the physical aspects of puberty, and typically excel at initiating romantic relationships. 

To learn more, check out the OSU press release.