This book provides an in-depth examination of adolescents’ social development in the context of the family. Grounded in social domain theory, the book draws on the author’s research over the past 25 years Draws from the results of in-depth interviews with more than 700 families Explores adolescent-parent relationships among ethnic majority and minority youth in the United States, as well as research with adolescents in Hong Kong and China Discusses extensive research on disclosure and secrecy during adolescence, parenting, autonomy, and moral development Considers both popular sources such as movies and public surveys, as well as scholarly sources drawn from anthropology, history, sociology, social psychology, and developmental psychology Explores how different strands of development, including autonomy, rights and justice, and society and social convention, become integrated and coordinated in adolescence

The second edition of this book offers an expanded and updated blueprint for more consistently improved practice, emphasizing family process and structure instead of only individual developmental stages. Its chapters deftly summarize the recent knowledge base about families with adolescents and explains how to apply these results across mental health and social services disciplines. The new edition clearly illustrates family concerns and theoretical perspectives through real-world vignettes and cogent use of family assessment measures. Chapters offer a broad understanding of how diversity in all its forms – including race/ethnicity, culture, religion, and sexual orientation – has created a much more nuanced understanding of how families with adolescents are able to function within their environment. Both major challenges to families and communities form the backdrop of the second edition’s focus on forecasting in which the theoretical, empirical, and intervention literatures necessarily move in service to the health and well-being of families with adolescents. Featured topics include: Central concepts of family development, family systems, ecological, attachment, and social learning theories in relation to families with adolescents. Influence of the family on adolescent problem behavior, mental health concerns, substance use issues, educational attainment, and social competence outcomes. Selected studies on parenting behaviors, conflict resolution, and other major aspects of families with adolescents. Application topics in family-based intervention and prevention programs. Integrating theory, research, and applications to create a “triple threat” model. Diversity issues surrounding race/ethnicity, culture, religion, and sexual orientation. Families with Adolescents, Second Edition, is an essential resource for researchers, professors, and graduate and advanced undergraduate students as well as professionals and other mental health clinicians, practitioners, and therapists in clinical child and developmental psychology, family studies, human development, sociology, social work, education, and all allied disciplines.

Despite their flocking to social networking sites in unprecedented numbers, research confirms that adolescents continue to be influenced primarily by their families rather than their peers and other social contexts. Consequently, the family unit remains a vital setting for understanding and intervening with youth. Synthesizing important findings from the literature on family science and such related fields as psychology, sociology, social work, and public health, Families with Adolescents focuses a unique panoramic lens on the study of adolescent development. This concise volume offers a clear blueprint for more consistently improved practice, emphasizing family process and structure instead of individual developmental stages. Its chapters deftly summarize the recent knowledge base across the mental health and social services disciplines, illustrating family concerns and theoretical perspectives coupled with real-world vignettes and making cogent use of family assessment measures. Featured topics include: Central concepts of family development, family systems, ecological, attachment, and social learning theories in relation to families with adolescents. Impact of the family on adolescent behavior, education, and mental health outcomes. Selected studies on parenting behaviors, conflict resolution, and other major aspects of families with adolescents. Application topics in family-based intervention and prevention programs. Integrating theory, research, and applications to create a “triple threat” model. Families with Adolescents is an essential resource for researchers and graduate students as well as mental health therapists in clinical child and developmental psychology, family studies, human development, sociology, social work, and education.

Adolescenceâ€"beginning with the onset of puberty and ending in the mid-20sâ€"is a critical period of development during which key areas of the brain mature and develop. These changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity mark adolescence as a period of opportunity to discover new vistas, to form relationships with peers and adults, and to explore one's developing identity. It is also a period of resilience that can ameliorate childhood setbacks and set the stage for a thriving trajectory over the life course. Because adolescents comprise nearly one-fourth of the entire U.S. population, the nation needs policies and practices that will better leverage these developmental opportunities to harness the promise of adolescenceâ€"rather than focusing myopically on containing its risks. This report examines the neurobiological and socio-behavioral science of adolescent development and outlines how this knowledge can be applied, both to promote adolescent well-being, resilience, and development, and to rectify structural barriers and inequalities in opportunity, enabling all adolescents to flourish.

First published in 1999. The adolescent period is marked by changes in the biological, psychological, cognitive, and social dimensions of the individual, as well as by changes in the adolescents' multilevel context (i.e., the peers, family, school, and other institutions in his or her ecology). Adolescence is a dynamic period, one which exemplifies the importance of understanding the relations between the developing individual and his or her changing context. The articles included in this volume represent the current range of scholarship pertaining to adolescents and their families, and exemplify the use of such an approach. The articles underscore the continual importance of the family across adolescence.

Adolescence can be a difficult time for all concerned. Issues such as high youth unemployment, sexual behaviour and drug abuse have made it a matter of great concern for the community at large, whether as parents, politicians or those working with adolescents in education and welfare. In addition, many parents fear that these problems could affect their own families. Originally published in 1991, the authors explore the complex needs of adolescents emphasising the importance of the family environment in helping adolescents cope with the many difficulties and changes they face during this period of their lives. The central theme is that adolescents, through conflict and negotiation, establish new but different relationships with their parents, relationships that can endure for a lifetime. The authors provide wide coverage of the key issues of adolescence, such as identity, separation from the family, and conflict, and look closely at the difficulties produced by events such as the divorce and re-marriage of parents, and social problems such as long-term unemployment. With its positive approach to the family and adolescents, this clear, concise and helpful book will be invaluable both to parents and to the many professionals whose work involves them with adolescents.