The Journal of Adolescent Health is a multidisciplinary scientific Journal, which seeks to publish new research findings in the field of Adolescent Medicine and Health ranging from the basic biological and behavioral sciences to public health and policy. We seek original manuscripts, review articles, letters to the editor, commentaries, and case reports from our colleagues in Anthropology, Dentistry and Oral Health, Education, Health Services Research, International Health, Law, Medicine, Mental Health, Nursing, Nutrition, Psychology, Public Health and Policy, Social Work, Sociology, Youth Development, and other disciplines that work with or are committed to improving the lives of adolescents and young adults.

The Journal is the official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM), a multidisciplinary organization committed to improving the health and well-being of adolescents. One of the Society's primary goals is the development, synthesis, and dissemination of scientific and scholarly knowledge unique to the health needs of adolescents. To meet this goal, the Society established the Journal of Adolescent Health in 1980.

According to the 2009 Journal Citation Reports®, published by Thomson Reuters, Journal of Adolescent Health has a 2008 Impact Factor of 2.910, and is ranked in the following categories:

• 8th of 86 journals in Pediatrics (Science edition)
• 20th of 105 journals in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health (Science edition)
• 11th of 55 journals in Developmental Pyschology (Social Science edition)
• 5th of 76 journals in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health (Social Science edition)