In their later years, Americans of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are not in equally good-or equally poor-health. There is wide variation, but on average older Whites are healthier than older Blacks and tend to outlive them. But Whites tend to be in poorer health than Hispanics and Asian Americans. This volume documents the differentials and considers possible explanations. Selection processes play a role: selective migration, for instance, or selective survival to advanced ages. Health differentials originate early in life, possibly even before birth, and are affected by events and experiences throughout the life course. Differences in socioeconomic status, risk behavior, social relations, and health care all play a role. Separate chapters consider the contribution of such factors and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that link them to health. This volume provides the empirical evidence for the research agenda provided in the separate report of the Panel on Race, Ethnicity, and Health in Later Life.

Resilience is a topic that is currently receiving increased attention. In general, resilience refers to the capacity of those who, even under the most stressful circumstances, are able to cope, to rebound, and to go on and thrive. Resilient families are able to regain their balance following crises that arise as a function of either nature or nurture, and to continue to encourage and support their members as they deal with the necessary requirements for accommodation, adaptation and, ultimately, healthy survival. Handbook of Family Resilience provides a broad body of knowledge regarding the traits and patterns found to characterize resilient individuals and well-functioning families, including those with diverse structures, various ethnic backgrounds and a variety of non-traditional forms. This Handbook brings together a variety of perspectives aimed at understanding and helping to facilitate resilience in families relative to a full range of challenges.

In this widely used course text and practitioner resource, Froma Walsh provides a state-of-the-art framework for understanding resilience in families and how to foster it. Illuminating the complex interplay of biopsychosocial influences in risk and resilience, she identifies key transactional processes that enable struggling families to grow stronger and more resourceful. Case illustrations demonstrate Walsh's collaborative approach with diverse families facing a wide range of crisis situations and chronic multistress challenges. The book features practice principles, tools, and guidelines, as well as programmatic applications. New to This Edition *Incorporates the latest practice advances and resilience research. *Chapter on assessment tools and strategies. *Chapter on disruptive transitions across the family life cycle. *Expanded coverage of war-related and collective trauma.

[Publisher-supplied data] In a field dominated by deficiency and deviance models for minority families, Resiliency in African American Families breaks that mold by focusing on the strengths and resources of minority families. Taking an in-depth look at family resources and coping strategies of African Americans, this book pays particular attention to the role that culture and ethnicity play in minority families' development. Divided into two major sections, the book first examines the context in which the family unit lives and the effects of the community and cultural resources on the family's resilient adaptation to stressful life events, then shifts its focus to issues of resiliency within the context of family relationships. Compiled by a distinguished group of contributors, this edited volume explores the following topics: Extended family resources Racial socialization strategies Health care Religious supports Marital relations Parent-child relations Adolescent pregnancy. Social workers, counselors, and scholars in family studies, African American studies, ethnic studies, gender studies, and sociology will find this unique approach to African American families a valuable resource.

In this widely used course text and practitioner resource, Froma Walsh provides a state-of-the-art framework for understanding resilience in families and how to foster it. Illuminating the complex interplay of biopsychosocial influences in risk and resilience, she identifies key transactional processes that enable struggling families to grow stronger and more resourceful. Case illustrations demonstrate Walsh's collaborative approach with diverse families facing a wide range of crisis situations and chronic multistress challenges. The book features practice principles, tools, and guidelines, as well as programmatic applications. New to This Edition *Incorporates the latest practice advances and resilience research. *Chapter on assessment tools and strategies. *Chapter on disruptive transitions across the family life cycle. *Expanded coverage of war-related and collective trauma.