Adolescents at Risk
Prevalence and Prevention
Published on 2. January 1992
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-19-507268-6 (ISBN)
Description
Joy Dryfoos's book looks at young people aged 10 to 17 growing up in the United States today. Most of these children have a high probability of maturing into responsible adults; however, a certain group - one in four - have only limited potential for becoming productive adults, because they are at high risk of encountering problems in school, at home, or in their communities. This book explores four problem areas that have received a great amount of resources, public interest, and social concern: delinquency, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and school failure.
In examining these problem areas, Dryfoos has three objectives: to present a more cogent picture of adolescents who are at risk of problem behaviours and where they fit in society; to synthesize the experience of programs that have been successful in changing various aspects of these behaviours; and to propose strategies for using this knowledge base to implement more effective approaches to helping youngsters succeed.
For the first time, Adolescents at Risk allows us to see how risky behaviors interrelate and gives us an understanding of the size and scope of the prevention interventions needed. This book will be essential for social and developmental psychologists, sociologists, policy makers, and interested lay persons.
In examining these problem areas, Dryfoos has three objectives: to present a more cogent picture of adolescents who are at risk of problem behaviours and where they fit in society; to synthesize the experience of programs that have been successful in changing various aspects of these behaviours; and to propose strategies for using this knowledge base to implement more effective approaches to helping youngsters succeed.
For the first time, Adolescents at Risk allows us to see how risky behaviors interrelate and gives us an understanding of the size and scope of the prevention interventions needed. This book will be essential for social and developmental psychologists, sociologists, policy makers, and interested lay persons.
Reviews / Votes
"[This book] provides a roadmap for . . . uncharted territory . . . . [The book] clearly makes the case that categorical, short-term interventions geared only to specific aspects of adolescent risk will not succeed . . . . Dryfoos's highly readable research will greatly contribute to the interdisciplinary learning necessary to plan comprehensive and integrated health, social, educational and community strategies." --Family Life Educator"Beautifully organized to enable the reader to quickly review . . . The second section . . . contains a marvelous summary of elements of successful programs, beginning with a scheme for classifying and describing the organization of programs. . . .[Dryfoos'] suggestions are practical and doable and could clearly be the basis for a comprehensive plan to be adopted and instituted immediately. After reading this book, one would be hard pressed to continue business
as usual. If Joy Dryfoos can cut across lines that have divided research and services for adolescents in her fine book, it's about time for the rest of us to follow suit in planning future prevention
and intervention programs for youth. --Journal of the American Medical Association
"Adolescents at Risk: Prevalence and Prevention is the effort of one specialist, Joy Dryfoos, to determine the prevalence of these problems and to examine the extensive literature on strategies to prevent them. The breadth, completeness, and thoughtfulness of her analysis make her book a valuable resource." --The G.A.O. Journal
"Written in uncommonly clear prose with attention to data and common concepts, Adolescents at Risk is a gem. . . .Complements previous, present, and planned bureaucratic studies of the 'youth problem' and should be required reading for all government officials, as well as parents, teachers, and physicians." --The New England Journal of Medicine
"A major piece of work. . . .Clear and lively. . . .Read this excellent volume, a nomothetic triumph. Ms. Dryfoos offers a rich source of information for committed students of this national disaster area, be they sociologists, enlightened professionals, politicos, social activists, or even graduate students lacking time and energy for extensive
"Dryfoos wonderfully organizes the literature on program effectiveness for each category of risk behavior." --Contemporary Psychology
"Written in a clear and accessible style. . . .Scenarios for addressing the problems of at-risk youth such as the one presented in this volume may provide policymakers with a vision of what might be done. Such a vision is a necessary starting place." --Teachers College Record
"This is an important work that focuses attention on the grave social problems that most adversely affect our youth and then raises a plaintive cry for remediation. Dryfoos' solutions are pragmatic solutions to deal with the immediate problem on an individual basis. Program planners could benefit by selectively considering the author's thoughtful recommendations for prevention and intervention." --Criminal Justice Review
"Excellent book addressing a critical area of adolescent development!"--L. Schiamberg, Michigan State University
"[This book] provides a roadmap for . . . uncharted territory . . . . [The book] clearly makes the case that categorical, short-term interventions geared only to specific aspects of adolescent risk will not succeed . . . . Dryfoos's highly readable research will greatly contribute to the interdisciplinary learning necessary to plan comprehensive and integrated health, social, educational and community strategies." --Family Life Educator
"Beautifully organized to enable the reader to quickly review . . . The second section . . . contains a marvelous summary of elements of successful programs, beginning with a scheme for classifying and describing the organization of programs. . . .[Dryfoos'] suggestions are practical and doable and could clearly be the basis for a comprehensive plan to be adopted and instituted immediately. After reading this book, one would be hard pressed to continue business
as usual. If Joy Dryfoos can cut across lines that have divided research and services for adolescents in her fine book, it's about time for the rest of us to follow suit in planning future prevention
and intervention programs for youth. --Journal of the American Medical Association
"Adolescents at Risk: Prevalence and Prevention is the effort of one specialist, Joy Dryfoos, to determine the prevalence of these problems and to examine the extensive literature on strategies to prevent them. The breadth, completeness, and thoughtfulness of her analysis make her book a valuable resource." --The G.A.O. Journal
"Written in uncommonly clear prose with attention to data and common concepts, Adolescents at Risk is a gem. . . .Complements previous, present, and planned bureaucratic studies of the 'youth problem' and should be required reading for all government officials, as well as parents, teachers, and physicians." --The New England Journal of Medicine
"A major piece of work. . . .Clear and lively. . . .Read this excellent volume, a nomothetic triumph. Ms. Dryfoos offers a rich source of information for committed students of this national disaster area, be they sociologists, enlightened professionals, politicos, social activists, or even graduate students lacking time and energy for extensive
"Dryfoos wonderfully organizes the literature on program effectiveness for each category of risk behavior." --Contemporary Psychology
"Written in a clear and accessible style. . . .Scenarios for addressing the problems of at-risk youth such as the one presented in this volume may provide policymakers with a vision of what might be done. Such a vision is a necessary starting place." --Teachers College Record
"This is an important work that focuses attention on the grave social problems that most adversely affect our youth and then raises a plaintive cry for remediation. Dryfoos' solutions are pragmatic solutions to deal with the immediate problem on an individual basis. Program planners could benefit by selectively considering the author's thoughtful recommendations for prevention and intervention." --Criminal Justice Review
"Excellent book addressing a critical area of adolescent development!"--L. Schiamberg, Michigan State University
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
tables
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
447 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-507268-6 (9780195072686)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
08/1991
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€57.99
Available for download
Person
Joy G. Dryfoos is an independent researcher who has written and lectured extrensively on the problems facing youth and families in America today.
Content
Introduction: Hypotheses and Theories: PART I: High risk behavior: The setting: A description of adolescence in the United States; Prevalence of delinquency; Prevalence of substance abuse; Prevalence of adolescent pregnancy; Prevalence of school failure; The overlap in high-risk behaviors; PART II: Prevention interventions: Classification and organization of programs; Prevention of delinquency; Prevention of substance abuse; Prevention of adolescent pregnancy; Prevention of school failure and dropping out; PART III: Shaping a strategy to prevent high-risk behavior: Common concepts of successful prevention programs; Strategies for preventing high-risk behavior; Index