Adolescence, Affect and Health

by Donna Spruijt-Metz

Overview

Originally published in 1999, this title covers the entire empirical cycle in adolescent health research and education. It describes in depth the development and evaluation of a health education programme designed to enhance everyday health-related behaviours in an adolescent population, and offers comprehensive reviews of developmental theories of adolescence, ethical and theoretical issues in adolescent health education, and the major theories used in adolescent health research. The research presented here led to the development and testing of a new theory – the Theory of Salient Meanings of Behaviour – which departed from the cognitive theories that had thus far dominated adolescent health education and research, but which had often proved inadequate in describing and predicting adolescent health-related behaviour. The inception, growth, testing, and field testing of this new theory are traced here. The book is designed to appeal to both theoretical and applied scientists in the field of adolescent development, adolescent health and health education. A clear research methodology is set out for the complementary use of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317616245
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/20/2014
Series:	Psychology Library Editions: Emotion
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	242
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Spruijt-Metz, Donna

Table of Contents

Preface. Introduction. Part 1: Building a Theoretical Background 1. Adolescent Health Education and Research: Defining Terms 2. Ethical Issues in Adolescent Health Education 3. Theories and Models used in Adolescent Health Research and Education Part 2: Descriptive Studies: Letting the Subjects Speak 4. Letting the Subjects Speak. Part I: Taking Inventory 5. Letting the Subjects Speak. Part II: The Focus Group Interviews Part 3: Quantitative Studies: Formulating Theory and Understanding Adolescent Health 6. Co-author Rob J. Spruijt Worries and Health in Adolescence 7. Everyday Health and Risk Behaviours 8. Personal Incentives as Determinants of Adolescent Health Behaviour: The Meaning of Behaviour Part 4: Applied Research: Changing Adolescent Health-Related Behaviour 9. Co-author Rob J. Spruijt Effectiveness of an Adolescent Health Education Programme based on the Theory of the Meaning of Behaviour. Concluding Remarks. References. Author Index. Subject Index.

Editorial Reviews

3 Stars from Doody

This book, the first in a series of studies in adolescent development, is a comprehensive account of a research study focused on adolescent health and why healthy/risky behaviors are chosen. The author transports the reader through all stages of the research process to the implementation of a ""pilot"" health education program. The health education program is based on the researcher's newly developed theory ""The Meaning of Behavior."" The purpose is to provide current research related to adolescents and to broaden understanding of the knowledge base related to adolescent behavior change. Assumptions of adolescent behavior need to be tested, and new research is necessary to understand the adolescent in contemporary society. The author establishes a good foundation for the series. The book is targeted for public health researchers and health educators. I see it as a valuable resource for professional nurses, healthcare workers, and teachers who work directly with adolescents. The author is an experienced researcher. She establishes clear definitions to set the direction of the research. The view on ethical considerations is important. She also demonstrates clearly the development of the theory and its implementation. There is a good mix of tables, examples of materials, research data, and models used for illustration. Color art is more attractive for some illustrations, and this is lacking. The implementation phase of the theory is too short, and a disappointment. The theory itself is worthy of a longitudinal study, perhaps on adolescents in the U.S. This is a valuable contribution. The focus on adolescents and the relationship of behavioral objectives attached to salientmeanings is important. The review of theories and models and their relevance to adolescents is provocative, as are the identified barriers to understanding health behaviors in this age group. The difficulties described in designing tools for the study are realistic. The book is high quality and very comprehensive. I have not recently read a comparable book.

Marilyn Lavelle

Reviewer: Marilyn A. Lavelle, MS (Eastern Maine Technical College)
Description: This book, the first in a series of studies in adolescent development, is a comprehensive account of a research study focused on adolescent health and why healthy/risky behaviors are chosen. The author transports the reader through all stages of the research process to the implementation of a "pilot" health education program. The health education program is based on the researcher's newly developed theory "The Meaning of Behavior."
Purpose: The purpose is to provide current research related to adolescents and to broaden understanding of the knowledge base related to adolescent behavior change. Assumptions of adolescent behavior need to be tested, and new research is necessary to understand the adolescent in contemporary society. The author establishes a good foundation for the series.
Audience: The book is targeted for public health researchers and health educators. I see it as a valuable resource for professional nurses, healthcare workers, and teachers who work directly with adolescents. The author is an experienced researcher. She establishes clear definitions to set the direction of the research. The view on ethical considerations is important. She also demonstrates clearly the development of the theory and its implementation.
Features: There is a good mix of tables, examples of materials, research data, and models used for illustration. Color art is more attractive for some illustrations, and this is lacking. The implementation phase of the theory is too short, and a disappointment. The theory itself is worthy of a longitudinal study, perhaps on adolescents in the U.S.
Assessment: This is a valuable contribution. The focus on adolescents and the relationship of behavioral objectives attached to salient meanings is important. The review of theories and models and their relevance to adolescents is provocative, as are the identified barriers to understanding health behaviors in this age group. The difficulties described in designing tools for the study are realistic. The book is high quality and very comprehensive. I have not recently read a comparable book.

Doody's Review Service