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Life-span Perspectives on Health and Illness

• Edited by Thomas L. Whitman, Thomas V. Merluzzi, Robert D. White

• Price: $45.00
• Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
• Pages: 328
• Published by: Psychology Press
• Publication Date: 1st December 1998
• ISBN: 978-0-8058-2772-9

About the Book

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.

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface. Part I: Background. T.L. Whitman, Conceptual Frameworks for Viewing Health and Illness. K.J. Sipes Kolberg, Biological Development and Health Risk. J.M. Braungart-Rieker, C.S. Bergeman, Physical Health Across the Life Span: A Behavioral Genetic Approach. E.E. Bolig, J.G. Borkowski, J. Brandenberger, Poverty and Health Across the Life Span. Part II: Children, Family, and Health. K.J. Sipes Kolberg, Environmental Influences on Prenatal Development and Health. T.L. Whitman, R.D. White, K.M. O'Mara, M.C. Goeke-Morey, Environmental Aspects of Infant Health and Illness. J.M. Braungart-Rieker, A.L. Guerra, Endogenous and Exogenous Factors in Childhood Health and Disease. D.M. Gondoli, Adolescent Development and Health. P.J. Miceli, J.F. Rowland, T.L. Whitman, Chronic Illnesses in Childhood. Part III: Adulthood, Aging, and Health. T.V. Merluzzi, R. Nairn, Adulthood and Aging: Transitions in Health and Health Cognition. C.S. Bergeman, K.A. Wallace, Resiliency in Later Life. D.O. Vachon, The Health Effects of Caregiving for Adults in Later Life. J.L. McIntosh, Death and Dying Across the Life Span. Part IV: Summary and Conclusions. E.M. Cummings, Some Considerations on Integrating Psychology and Health From a Life-Span Perspective.