Promoting the Health of Adolescents

Adolescents have been recognized as critical targets for health promotion efforts for two reasons. (1) The primary causes of adolescent morbidity and mortality are primarily related to preventable social, environmental, and behavioral factors, and (2)Much adult mortality can be attributed to modifiable factors that have their onset during the adolescent years. Over the past few decades, scientific principles for effectively promoting adolescent health have emerged from a variety of disciplines in the health and social sciences. This volume brings together these diverse literatures, providing an integrative, state-of-the-art review of the cross-cutting, critical issues in promoting adolescent health. With a focus in "what works", the volume addresses a wide array of social, economic, cultural, and developmental influences on adolescent health, as well as a variety of specific health-related behaviors. The volume provides promising solutions to the crisis in adolescent health, with recommendations for action that will be valuable to social and health scientists, health care providers, educators, and those who plan and implement programs for adolescent health.

- Forward: J.B. Richmond: Health Promotion in Histroical Perspective
- 1: S.G. Millstein, A.C. Peterson, and E.O Nightingale: Adolescent Health Promotion: Rationale, Goals, and Objectives
- PART I: THE ADOLESCENT, HEALTH, AND SOCIETY
- 2: L.J. Crockett and A.C. Peterson: Adolescent Development: Health Risks and Opportunities for Health Promotion
- 3: L.V. Klerman: The Influence of Economic Factors on Health-Related Behaviors in Adolescents
- 4: F. Earls: Health Promotion for Minority Adolescents: Cultural Considerations
- 5: C.L. Perry, S.H. Kelder, and K.A. Komro: The Social World of Adolescents: Families, Peers, Schools, and the Community
- 6: S.G. Millstein: A View of Health from the Adolescent's Perspective
- 7: D.S. Elliot: Health-Enhancing and Health-Compromising Lifestyles
- PART II: TOPICAL AREAS OF INTEREST FOR PROMOTING HEALTH
- 8: B.E. Compas: Promoting Positive Mental Health During Adolescence
- 9: J. Brooks-Gunn and R.L. Paikoff: Sex Is a Gamble, Kissing Is a Game: Adolescent Sexuality and Health Promotion
- 10: J.F. Sallis: Promoting Healthful Diet and Physical Activity
- 11: J.E.N. Albino and S.D. Lawrence: Promoting Oral Health in Adolescents
- 12: H. Leventhal and P. Keeshan: Promoting Healthy Alternatives to Substance Abuse
- 13: F. Earls, R.B. Cairns, and J. Mercy: The Control of Violence and the Promotion of Non-Violence in Adolescence
- 14: R. Hingson and J. Howland: Promoting Safety in Adolescents
- Commentary on Part II: Topical Areas of Interest for Promoting Health
- PART III: THE FUTURE OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH PROMOTION: NEXT STEPS
- 15: T.D. Cook, A.R. Anson, and S.B. Walchli: From Causal Description to Causal Explanation: Improving Three Already Good Evaluations of Adolescent Health Programs
- 16: D.A. Hamburg, et al.: Adolescent Health Promotion in the Twenty-first Century: A Synthesis of Current Progress and Future Directions