Adolescent Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Theory, Research, and Intervention

Abstract

Children, Youth and Environments Vol. 15 No. 1 (2005) ISSN: 1546-2250 Adolescent Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Theory, Research, and Intervention Rew, Lynn (2005). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 424 pages. $59.95. ISBN 0761929118. This text provides an excellent overview of our current understanding of the theoretical basis of adolescent health. It is written by Lynn Rew, a professor in nursing at the University of Texas in Austin. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, a master’s degree in community health nursing, and an Ed.D. in counselor education. Later in her career, she returned to school to attend a multidisciplinary postdoctoral fellowship program in adolescent health at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. Her experiences there inspired her to write a text to address a perceived lack of truly interdisciplinary material for teaching adolescent health. Her background provides a unique perspective that is reflected throughout the text. It is relevant for graduate students from the wide variety of disciplines with theoretical or clinical interests in adolescent issues, including students and practitioners in the social sciences, health care, and education. More senior individuals within these fields may find the text useful as an up-to-date review of current theories pertaining to adolescent health. Educators in these disciplines may appreciate seeing the material presented using the theoretical framework the author employs. The text encourages individuals from a variety of disciplines to look at their work with adolescents from a theoretical 443 perspective, and consider how theory may be used to expand the focus and impact of their work. The text covers a range of issues related to adolescent health, including physical, cognitive, and psychological development, stress and coping, risk and resilience, and models related to self-care and health interventions. Rew clearly outlines the progression in our theoretical understanding in these major areas. After an initial overview of the current state of health and major health issues facing adolescents today, there is a fairly dense chapter on the theoretical bases behind adolescent health. The text then uses the theoretical framework discussed in that section to analyze the theories presented in the remainder of the text. For each of the major theories, the author discusses the origin, purpose, and meaning of the theory, then analyzes it using a framework assessing scope, parsimony, generalizability, logical adequacy, usefulness, and testability. Brief summaries of research using the theories are provided throughout the text, providing interest and a practical grounding in how the theory increases our understanding of adolescent health issues. At the conclusion of each chapter, she provides her perspective on the research gaps that still exist in the area being discussed and ways that research grounded in theory could further increase our understanding of that topic. In the resource sections, she includes lists of related web sites, as well as standard bibliographies. A voluminous reference list is provided at the end of the text. In the sections discussing cognitive, sexual, spiritual, and psychosocial development, theories involving the influence of community and the environment are included along with more individual-focused theories of development. The chapters discussing health risk-behaviors emphasize resources and resilience, reflecting our evolution in understanding regarding these behaviors. The inclusion of theories related to health promotion and interventions are also a welcome addition. They are relevant for clinicians working one-on-one with adolescents, as well as individuals working to promote adolescent health in community settings. 444 Rew succeeds in her attempt to create a textbook that will be of interest to individuals representing the broad range of disciplines involved with adolescent health. Other excellent textbooks are available that focus on adolescent health, however they primarily take either an adolescent medicine or social science perspective. The unique contribution of this book is its concerted effort to bridge the gap between these two approaches to adolescent health, making it a good foundation textbook for students in interdisciplinary adolescent health programs. Adolescent health practitioners and others on the front line of adolescent health care in communities may find the chapter on the theoretical foundation of theory tedious, though they are still likely to appreciate the abbreviated theoretical framework that is drawn from that chapter and provides...