Promoting the Health of Adolescents: New Directions for the Twenty-first Century

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.