Psychosocial disturbances in young people

Since the time of the Second World War, there has been a marked rise in all sorts of psychosocial problems in young people - criminal activities, suicidal behavior, alcohol and drug abuse, depression, and eating disorders. The rise has been striking because during this same time period, the physical health of people and their living conditions have improved in most developed countries. Why have psychosocial disorders in adolescents increased and what can be done to prevent the disorders or at least to reduce their adverse impact? In Psychosocial Disturbances in Young People: Challenges for Prevention, top experts provide an overview of adolescent problems, ranging from delinquency to depression, addressing these key questions: To what extent is the problem meaningfully separate from other disorders occurring in the same age group? What are the respective influences of individual, family, and societal factors in the etiology of such problems? To what extent are there similarities or differences in the presentation and cause of these problems in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood? To what extent are there continuities between childhood and adulthood, and what are the risk factors and protective factors? . The contributors examine ways that problems might be prevented through schools, youth organizations, and other mechanisms for coping with stress. The volume successfully integrates various perspectives, with a summary chapter framing the issue of psychosocial problems in adolescence.