Unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are on the increase among young people. This volume explores social and behavioural implications of adolescent sexuality and suggests ways in which to encourage sexual responsibility.

With contributions from psychologists, sociologists and family care experts, the volume examines such topics as gender, sexual behaviour, adolescent parenting, homosexuality and bisexuality.

Unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are on the increase among young people. This volume explores social and behavioural implications of adolescent sexuality and suggests ways in which to encourage sexual responsibility.

With contributions from psychologists, sociologists and family care experts, the volume examines such topics as gender, sexual behaviour, adolescent parenting, homosexuality and bisexuality.

How do adolescents who hail from non-white, poor, or rural backgrounds reconcile their ethnic or traditional heritage with the largely white, middle-class, urban world of modern America? How does this issue impact their development and behavior? This volume in the Advances in Adolescent Development series addresses these questions by focusing on how demographic diversity (defined by race, ethnicity, community size, region, and wealth) shape adolescent experiences and development. With contributions by recognized experts in their field, the book explores: competence among urban adolescents living in poverty; rural youth and how their experiences differ from other adolescents?; the development of contemporary Appalachian youth; how Native American youth negotiate the challenges of adolescent development; Asian American adolescents from the perspectives of academic achievement, ethnic identity and psychological adjustment; poor versus positive functioning among African American adolescents and the factors that produce these outcomes; and, a phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory as a framework to review research on American adolescent diversity that goes well beyond the traditional focus on minorities.

John Hill used four classes of variables and their interrelations to conceptualize the phenomena of adolescence. Can these variables provide a context for conceptualizing, investigating, and understanding adolescent psychosocial development today? Taking a developmental contextualist perspective, this impressive collection of scholars explores how research on adolescent psychosocial development has unfolded from the 1970s to the present. Focusing on the issues of social class, ethnicity, and gender, they examine such topics as autonomy in adolescence and the detachment debate; sexuality from trends in gender sexual scripts to sexual offenses, such as date rape; intimacy from individual differences to interpersonal situations; achievement from school/workplace to social settings; identity, including the role of culture; cognitive behaviors, including education for and constraints on critical thinking; and the interplay of biological and psychological processes. Readers of this stimulating volume will gain a new perspective on the role of biopsychosocial factors and the contextual influences of gender, race/ethnicity, and social class in understanding adolescent behavior and development. Psychosocial Development During Adolescence contains information vital to the research and work of professionals in developmental psychology, adolescent studies, psychology, family studies, and drug/substance abuse studies.

John Hill used four classes of variables and their interrelations to conceptualize the phenomena of adolescence. Can these variables provide a context for conceptualizing, investigating, and understanding adolescent psychosocial development today? Taking a developmental contextualist perspective, this impressive collection of scholars explores how research on adolescent psychosocial development has unfolded from the 1970s to the present. Focusing on the issues of social class, ethnicity, and gender, they examine such topics as autonomy in adolescence and the detachment debate; sexuality from trends in gender sexual scripts to sexual offenses, such as date rape; intimacy from individual differences to interpersonal situations; achievement from school/workplace to social settings; identity, including the role of culture; cognitive behaviors, including education for and constraints on critical thinking; and the interplay of biological and psychological processes. Readers of this stimulating volume will gain a new perspective on the role of biopsychosocial factors and the contextual influences of gender, race/ethnicity, and social class in understanding adolescent behavior and development. Psychosocial Development During Adolescence contains information vital to the research and work of professionals in developmental psychology, adolescent studies, psychology, family studies, and drug/substance abuse studies.

This seems to be a very useful book. It is a collection of review essays on specific, relevant topics in adolescent substance misuse, rather than the usual assortment of empirical reports that belong properly in journals. It is appropriately cross-disciplinary. Each chapter ends with a clear and concise summary. The problem has generated a rich and complex research literature, one that merits a coherent and comprehensive overview. Some of the chapters in this book contain useful reviews and interesting insights. --Stan Sadava in Addiction What factors contribute to the misuse of drugs and alcohol among teens? Does one's economic background or ethnicity play a role in their avoidance or involvement in substance misuse? Substance Misuse in Adolescence explores these questions and untangles widely held beliefs about substance abuse issues using historical, clinical, and research data. This volume begins with an introduction to the social history of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin and then examines individual, family, peer, and community variables that may contribute to substance misuse as well as resiliency factors that enable some teens to avoid such problems. It also discusses substance misuse in rural and urban settings, the pharmacological effects of specific substances, and current treatment approaches for substance-misusing youth. It also includes coverage of drug legalization issues and a lucid discussion of the current effectiveness of various prevention programs. Researchers, graduate students, and practitioners who want the latest synthesis and view on adolescent substance misuse will find this volume a useful addition to their libraries and classrooms.

This seems to be a very useful book. It is a collection of review essays on specific, relevant topics in adolescent substance misuse, rather than the usual assortment of empirical reports that belong properly in journals. It is appropriately cross-disciplinary. Each chapter ends with a clear and concise summary. The problem has generated a rich and complex research literature, one that merits a coherent and comprehensive overview. Some of the chapters in this book contain useful reviews and interesting insights. --Stan Sadava in Addiction What factors contribute to the misuse of drugs and alcohol among teens? Does one's economic background or ethnicity play a role in their avoidance or involvement in substance misuse? Substance Misuse in Adolescence explores these questions and untangles widely held beliefs about substance abuse issues using historical, clinical, and research data. This volume begins with an introduction to the social history of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin and then examines individual, family, peer, and community variables that may contribute to substance misuse as well as resiliency factors that enable some teens to avoid such problems. It also discusses substance misuse in rural and urban settings, the pharmacological effects of specific substances, and current treatment approaches for substance-misusing youth. It also includes coverage of drug legalization issues and a lucid discussion of the current effectiveness of various prevention programs. Researchers, graduate students, and practitioners who want the latest synthesis and view on adolescent substance misuse will find this volume a useful addition to their libraries and classrooms.

"Educators will find much useful information in Personal Relationships During Adolescence. It offers insights for program and curriculum planning and suggests numerous topics for stimulating discussions with teens. It also raises provocative issues about how the developmental needs of youth can be served more effectively by families, communities, and educators." --Family Life Educator "Personal relationships During Adolescence marks the launching of adolescent personal relationships as a field. Rather than a cohesive or exhaustive book, this book is a collection of high-quality chapters. The book holds the potential to define personal relations as an integrated line of study that serves to develop theory and research beyond contextual boundaries." Journal of Marriage and the Family The contributors to Personal Relationships During Adolescence analyze the ways in which critical interpersonal bonds are forged and maintained by presenting the current works of leading scholars and professionals. The relationships discussed are as diverse as the distinguished authors studying them: The parent-teen connection; the impact of cultural diversity on teens' social development; same-sex friends as well as opposite-sex friends during adolescence; heterosexual, bisexual, gay and lesbian romantic relationships; adolescent crowds (or cliques); and relationships involving non-kin adults. The authors also explore conceptual issues that cut across relationships and the problem of integrating the views of both individuals in a relationship. Researchers and students in the areas of adolescence, close relationships, social and personality development, and family relationships will find this a must-read book.

How do adolescents who hail from non-white, poor, or rural backgrounds reconcile their ethnic or traditional heritage with the largely white, middle-class, urban world of modern America? How does this issue impact their development and behavior? This volume in the Advances in Adolescent Development series addresses these questions by focusing on how demographic diversity (defined by race, ethnicity, community size, region, and wealth) shape adolescent experiences and development. With contributions by recognized experts in their field, the book explores: competence among urban adolescents living in poverty; rural youth and how their experiences differ from other adolescents?; the development of contemporary Appalachian youth; how Native American youth negotiate the challenges of adolescent development; Asian American adolescents from the perspectives of academic achievement, ethnic identity and psychological adjustment; poor versus positive functioning among African American adolescents and the factors that produce these outcomes; and, a phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory as a framework to review research on American adolescent diversity that goes well beyond the traditional focus on minorities.