Child And Adolescent Development In Risky Adverse Contexts

This book analyzes the factors and mechanisms involved in the development and adaptation of children and adolescents to adverse and risky contexts in four Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. The experience of growing up in contexts of poverty and social vulnerability is a risk factor for child and adolescent development which may produce a series of negative effects in their adulthood, including mental disorders. This is a global concern, but so far the majority of literature about the topic has focused on developed countries. This volume aims to enrich the international literature by presenting results of research carried out in developing countries, showing how children and adolescents deal with adverse and risky contexts and analyzing both negative outcomes and the development of resilience and coping strategies. The studies gathered in this volume are theoretically grounded on systemic and ecological models which analyze developmental trajectories and outcomes taking into account the interaction of different ecological systems, such as the individual, the family, the school and the wider society. Departing from this theoretical framework, the chapters in this volume analyze the risk factors posed to child and adolescent development by adverse and risky social contexts and present evidence-based interventions aimed at both preventing negative outcomes and helping children and adolescents develop coping strategies to deal with adverse situations, such as poverty and social marginalization. Child and Adolescent Development in Risky Adverse Contexts: A Latin American Perspective will be of interest to developmental, clinical, health, and educational psychologists, as well as social workers, directly working or doing research with children and adolescents in situations of social vulnerability.

Stress, Risk, and Resilience in Children and Adolescents recognizes the complexity of the developmental processes that impact on coping and resilience and the importance of sociocultural factors. In this respect, the relation between a stressor and an outcome depends on many factors, including the individual's previous experience, perception of the event, coping skills and social supports. In turn, each of these factors displays meaningful variation by developmental status, social background, and cultural context. The examination of individual differences in vulnerability to stress and risk factors has grown substantially over the past decade as it has become clearer that some children do, in fact, 'beat the odds.' In order to understand why some children succumb to even modest stress while others remain resilient in the face of what appear to be overwhelming stressors, research has increasingly examined the processes and mechanisms by which children of different ages deal with adverse life experiences, rather than merely studying the stressors themselves. Many problem behaviors have multiple causes, and most children with one problem behavior also have others. The co-occurrence and/or interrelatedness of risk factors and problem behaviors is, therefore, an important area of research.

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.

Adolescence is a time when youth make decisions, both good and bad, that have consequences for the rest of their lives. Some of these decisions put them at risk of lifelong health problems, injury, or death. The Institute of Medicine held three public workshops between 2008 and 2009 to provide a venue for researchers, health care providers, and community leaders to discuss strategies to improve adolescent health.

This new chronological edition is based on the well-established topically organized text by Bukatko and Daehler,Child Development: A Thematic Approach,5/e. Addressing physical, social, and emotional development in a linear fashion, this text starts with pre-natal development and progresses through birth and the newborn baby, infancy and toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Developed to accommodate the more applied focus of courses in nursing, parenthood, education, family studies, and human ecology, this text benefits from the authors' focus on research through an emphasis on developmental themes. Five themes on development are found in every chapter and are listed in the chapter opener, called out in the margin where the theme is addressed, and summarized in aSummary of Developmental Themessection at the end of the chapter. The five themes explore nature and nurture; sociocultural contexts; continuous vs. discontinuous development; the domains of development; and risk or resilience in development. Extensive "Contexts of Development" chapters for each development stage broaden the scope of the issues discussed by examining the child/adolescent within the context of family, peers, and community. Research Applied to Parenting/Educationboxes provide practical advice based on research findings and cover such topics as reducing SIDS, monitoring TV viewing, reciprocal teaching, and reading to children. Atypical Developmentsections focus on topics related to non-normative development, including eating disorders, autism, attention deficit disorder, detecting hearing loss, depression, conduct disorders, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Summary Tablesare two-page graphic timelines that summarize the various milestones of development and show the sequence of the child's development within a given domain (infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence). Chapter-Opening Vignettesdraw students into real-life scenarios by applying and exploring concepts of development. Marginal features,See for YourselfandWhat Do You Think?,invite students to critically evaluate and explore further related material on the Online Study Center. Additional pedagogy includes section summaries within each chapter and comprehensiveChapter Recapsthat feature aSummary of Developmental Themes,aChapter Review,and a list ofKey Terms and Concepts.

Table of contents

"This authoritative, engaging work examines the key role of relationships in child and adolescent development, from the earliest infant-caregiver transactions to peer interactions, friendships, and romantic partnerships. Following the sequence of a typical social development course, sections cover foundational developmental science, the self and relationships, social behaviors, contexts for social development, and risk and resilience. Leading experts thoroughly review their respective areas and highlight the most compelling current issues, methods, and research directions. End-of-chapter suggested reading lists direct students and instructors to exemplary primary sources on each topic." from back cover.

A number of societal risks pose serious challenges to families' well-being, many of which cut across divisions of class and race. These challenges include: changes in the labor market and economy; the increasing participation of mothers in the labor force; the changing nature of family structure and the composition of households; and the increase in the number of immigrant families. Key institutions in the lives of families, including places of employment and schools, can play a significant role in fostering families' capacity to adapt to the potential challenges they face. Resilience Across Contexts: Family, Work, Culture, and Community presents papers--written by leading scholars in varied disciplines including economics, developmental and educational psychology, education, and sociology--discussing factors that influence resilience development. The authors' research focuses on emerging issues that have significant implications for policy and practice in such areas as employment and new technologies; maternal employment and family development; family structure and family life; immigration, migration, acculturation, and education of children and youth; and social and human services delivery. The book's overall goal is to take stock of what is known from research and practice on some of the challenges facing children and families for policy development and improvement of practices.