Arenas of Comfort in Adolescence: A Study of Adjustment in Context

Abstract

Cicchetti, D., Rappaport, J., Sandler, I., & Weissberg, R., (Eds.) (2000). The Promotion of Wellness in Children and Adolescents. Washington, DC: CWLA Press. 515 pp. ISBN 0-87868-791-2. Price: $28.95 (paperback). The 16 chapters in The Promotion of Wellness in Children and Adolescents offer a breadth of theoretical knowledge and practical application that examine the complicated issues of encouraging child wellness in American society. Each chapter of the book is written by different authors contributing their expertise in the fields of developmental psychopathology, developmental psychology, and community psychology. All were influenced by the work of Emory Cowen. The main objective of the book is to present a multitude of approaches to the wellness issue for children and adolescents. The book begins with a historical perspective on the study of wellness and moves toward applications, a discussion of community wellness, and the development of programs. The foreword is written by George W. Albee, a pioneer in the field of prevention and a leader in community psychology. Chapter 1, written by Raymond Lotion, discusses theoretical approaches and evaluation measures in the promotion of wellness. Lorion believes a shift in focus has occurred in mental health sciences, where current practitioners focus attention on well-being rather than on the more traditional examination of troubled individuals. The next 4 chapters explore (a) the research regarding adolescent wellness and competence with a focus on children experiencing urban poverty, (b) how the inclusion of children and their families in the planning of wellness programs fosters empowerment, (c) various methods for designing and researching prevention programs, and (d) the role of resilience in the ability of children to successfully face adversity. Chapter 6 discusses the importance of examining the makeup of neighborhoods when researching the impact of wellness on children and adolescents. Aber and Nieto look at a pluralistic neighborhood theory that raises many questions such as: How do you define neighborhood'? Who gets to define neighborhood? and What is desirable, healthy and ideal about neighborhoods? When looking at wellness, the theory points out that what may be good for an individual may not be good for all. The next several chapters provide examples of strategies and programs for preventing problems and enhancing wellness. Examples of research indicating that health promotion is important in preventing problems for children and adolescents later in life is discussed in chapter 7. The chapter also looks at health promotion and how to use it as a strategy for prevention, particularly in programs with a prevention goal. Chapter 8, written in a dialogue format with Cowen conversing with one of his grandchildren, illustrates the diverse methods used to enhance the well-being of children and adolescents. Examples include strengthening early caregiver attachments, promoting competence acquisition in children, and engineering settings and environments that favor positive adaptation. …