The successes, failures, obstacles and possibilities for promoting healthier development and well-being among children around the world are considered in this volume.The many physical and psychological problems, both common and unique, that face young people are considered. Contributors examine sources of stress such as inadequate parenting, war and poverty; explore such topics as social policies, children's rights, and prevention and reduction of conduct disorders; and consider possible interventions. The suffering created by the growing division between the worlds of the wealthy and of the poverty-stricken is put into sharp perspective.

PART ONE: EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DISTRESS AND RISKBarriers to the Primary Prevention of Mental, Neurological, and Psychosocial Disorders of Children - Morton Kramer A Global PerspectiveLife on the Brink - Alan DurningAn Epidemiological Study of Mental Disorders During Early Childhood in the Soviet Union - O V Bazhenova et alOne Little Girl - George W AlbeePART TWO: SOURCES OF STRESS: PARENTING, POVERTY, SEXISM, WARImproving Children¿s Lives - Araba Sefa-Dedeh The Case for Primary Prevention in GhanaPrevention of Mental Illness in Children in the Third World Countries - Syed Arshad Husain A Pakistani PerspectiveThe Impact of Women¿s Health and Status on Children¿s Health and Lives in the Developing World - Mawaheb El-MouelhyChildren Born from Unwanted Pregnancies - Zdenek Dytrych Prevention of Psychological SubdeprivationMaking a Dangerous World More Tolerable for Children - Milton Schwebel Implications of Research on Reactions to the Nuclear War Threat, War, and DisasterEndangered Children in Thailand - Chok C Hiew Third World Families Affected by Socioeconomic ChangesPART THREE: MULTILEVEL SYSTEMS APPROACHES TO PREVENTIONPrimary Prevention of Mental Disorders and Mental Health Promotion in Europe - Clemens M H Hosman Developments and Possibilities for InnovationEmpowerment and Social Change - Wolfgang Stark Health Promotion Within the Healthy Cities Project of WHO - Steps Toward a Participative Prevention ProgramThe Dutch Way of Prevention - Henk Verburg et alA Multimodal Approach to Prevention - Nomita Sonty A Review of Indiäs Integrated Child Development SchemeHuckleberry Finn and Street Youth Everywhere - Forrest B Tyler et al An Approach to Primary PreventionPART FOUR: EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS INTERVENTIONSTwo School-Based Approaches to Promoting Children¿s Social Competence - Victor A Battistich, Maurice J Elias and Leslie R Branden-MullerPersonality Development and Academic Improvement for School Children in India - K V KaliappanQuality of Life in Families With Mentally Retarded Children - Irena Obuchowska and Michael Obuchowski Promoting Independence and AcceptanceFostering Parental Competence in Poland - Helena Sek, Agnieszka Bleja and Aleksandra SommerfeldPART FIVE: PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF AGGRESSION AND CONDUCT DISORDERSTelevision Violence - Max W Abbott A Proactive Prevention CampaignVictimization Among Schoolchildren - Dan Olweus Intervention and PreventionNew Directions in Research in the Prevention of Conduct Disorder - Doreen Spilton Koretz and Joyce Barham LazarPART SIX: REFLECTIONS ON YOUTHSaving Children Means Social Revolution - George W AlbeeInfecting Our Children With Hostility - Kenneth B ClarkYouth as Resources - John A Calhoun A New Paradigm in Social Policy for YouthFetal Alcohol Syndrome - Michael Dorris A Parent¿s PerspectiveMexico¿s Challenge - Beatriz Rivera de Tarrab, Patricia Ortega-Andeane and Jorge Manuel Velasco-Alzaga Facing a Growing Youth PopulationPART SEVEN: LOOKING AHEADThe Rights of the Child - Brian L Wilcox and Hedwin Naimark Progress Toward Human DignityUN Convention on the Rights of the Child Unofficial Summary of Articles