This volume offers a comprehensive and conceptually integrated overview of the changing biological, psychological, and social/environmental influences on health and illness from the prenatal period through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Based on the premise that protective and risk factors vary with life stage, several chapters examine the development of major biological systems and the changing role of genetics and environment over time. In addition, they provide information on environmental influences during the prenatal period and early childhood, chronic illness in childhood, and health and health risks in adolescence. Chapters on adulthood give special emphasis to mid-life transitions in health, resiliency in later life, and the impact of caregiving on health. Final chapters focus on death and dying and on an integrative model of health and illness across the life span.
The psychology of health is a rapidly expanding field within psychology. It draws upon a number of areas of psychology for its theoretical base but, whilst the contribution of social and cognitive psychology is widely acknowledged, that of lifespan psychology is perhaps less well recognised. However, a lifespan perspective has much to offer the health psychologist in the search for a more comprehensive understanding of health and illness. This book brings together European, American and Australian researchers whose interests in health psychology can be located within a lifespan context. The book explores the relevance of developmental and ageing processes to such issues as health and illness perception, illness prevention and health promotion, the experience of chronic illness, health and illness behaviour and the costs and consequences of illness. It does so by addressing specific health concerns within each of five stages in the life-cycle-childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and old age. Thus, for example, the implications of emergent sexuality for health are addressed within the section on adolescence, psychological aspects of reproductive failure and the new technologies are considered within the section on early adulthood whilst issues of social support, social control and health are explored in the section on old age. Taken as a whole, the book offers the reader an interesting and informative illustration of the ways in which a lifespan perspective can enhance our understanding of health and illness.
This volume offers a comprehensive and conceptually integrated overview of the changing biological, psychological, and social/environmental influences on health and illness from the prenatal period through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Based on the premise that protective and risk factors vary with life stage, several chapters examine the development of major biological systems and the changing role of genetics and environment over time. In addition, they provide information on environmental influences during the prenatal period and early childhood, chronic illness in childhood, and health and health risks in adolescence. Chapters on adulthood give special emphasis to mid-life transitions in health, resiliency in later life, and the impact of caregiving on health. Final chapters focus on death and dying and on an integrative model of health and illness across the life span.
Examines the role of the family in the development and maintenance of health and illness behaivors. Chapters discuss the development of children's concepts of health and illness, the impact of acute and chronic illnesses on both the patient and family members, aging and its effect on family members, and terminal illness and bereavement. In addition, it describes research design methodologies, their strengths and weaknesses, and details future directions for research.
During the last 25 years, life expectancy at age 50 in the United States has been rising, but at a slower pace than in many other high-income countries, such as Japan and Australia. This difference is particularly notable given that the United States spends more on health care than any other nation. Concerned about this divergence, the National Institute on Aging asked the National Research Council to examine evidence on its possible causes. According to Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries, the nation's history of heavy smoking is a major reason why lifespans in the United States fall short of those in many other high-income nations. Evidence suggests that current obesity levels play a substantial part as well. The book reports that lack of universal access to health care in the U.S. also has increased mortality and reduced life expectancy, though this is a less significant factor for those over age 65 because of Medicare access. For the main causes of death at older ages-cancer and cardiovascular disease-available indicators do not suggest that the U.S. health care system is failing to prevent deaths that would be averted elsewhere. In fact, cancer detection and survival appear to be better in the U.S. than in most other high-income nations, and survival rates following a heart attack also are favorable. Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries identifies many gaps in research. For instance, while lung cancer deaths are a reliable marker of the damage from smoking, no clear-cut marker exists for obesity, physical inactivity, social integration, or other risks considered in this book. Moreover, evaluation of these risk factors is based on observational studies, which-unlike randomized controlled trials-are subject to many biases.
With the advent of health care reform and an emphasis on reducing health care costs, health promotion and disease prevention is a priority in nursing care. Be prepared with Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span, 8th Edition, your comprehensive guide to major health promotion concepts. Featuring practical guidance – including boxes on diversity awareness, evidence-based practice, innovative practice, hot topics, and quality and safety as well as case studies and care plans – our experienced authors give you all the tools you need to stay current on the latest research and trends in health promotion. Extensive coverage of growth and development throughout the lifespan emphasizes the unique problems and health promotion needs of each age and stage of development. Separate chapters on each population – group, individual, family, and community – stress the unique issues faced when providing care to each group. Evidence-Based Practice boxes emphasize current research efforts and opportunities in health promotion. Hot Topics and Innovative Practice boxes engage students’ interest by introducing significant issues, trends, and creative programs and projects in health promotion practice. Diversity Awareness boxes address various cultural perspectives and provide important information that needs to be considered in planning care. Case studies and care plans present realistic situations that challenge students to reflect upon important health promotion concepts. Think About It boxes dig deeper into the chapter topic and encourage critical thinking. Numerous pedagogical features such as objectives, key terms, and textual summaries highlight the most important concepts and terms in each chapter. Updated nutrition coverage includes MyPyramid from the FDA, as well as the latest information on food safety and fad diets. Expanded health policy coverage focuses on global health, historical perspectives, financing healthcare, concierge medical practices, and the hospitalist movement. Health Promotion for the Twenty-First Century explores current and future health promotion challenges and research initiatives. Updated Healthy People 2010 data includes midcourse review objectives and an introduction to Healthy People 2020. Case Studies and Care Plans summarize key concepts and show how they apply to real-life practice.
This work provides an overview of cognitive, intellectual, personality, and social development across the lifespan, with attention to infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, and early/middle/late adulthood. Chapters cover a broad range of core topics including language acquisition, identity formation, and the role of family, peers, school, and workplace influences on continuity and change over time.
This open access book examines health trajectories and health transitions at different stages of the life course, including childhood, adulthood and later life. It provides findings that assess the role of biological and social transitions on health status over time. The essays examine a wide range of health issues, including the consequences of military service on body mass index, childhood obesity and cardiovascular health, socio-economic inequalities in preventive health care use, depression and anxiety during the child rearing period, health trajectories and transitions in people with cystic fibrosis and oral health over the life course. The book addresses theoretical, empirical and methodological issues as well as examines different national contexts, which help to identify factors of vulnerability and potential resources that support resilience available for specific groups and/or populations. Health reflects the ability of individuals to adapt to their social environment. This book analyzes health as a dynamic experience. It examines how different aspects of individual health unfold over time as a result of aging but also in relation to changing socioeconomic conditions. It also offers readers potential insights into public policies that affect the health status of a population.
Includes established theories and cutting-edge developments. Presents the work of an international group of experts. Presents the nature, origin, implications, an future course of major unresolved issues in the area.
