Explores how individual differences contribute to health and illness across a wide range of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Blends latest research findings with practical suggestions on how to improve health care for adolescents.

List of Figures and Tables. Foreword by Dr C. Peterson. Preface. Chapter 1. General Introduction: Introduction, Definitions of Health, Conceptions of illness and health among adolescents, Adolescence: a period of health risk, Summary Chapter 2. Health Education: Introduction, Adolescent injury and disease, Health education strategies, Adolescent health services, Models of health behaviour, Summary Chapter 3. Stress and Coping: Introduction, The Nature of Stress, Stress during the adolescent years, Types of stressors, Causes and correlates of adolescent stress, Coping with stress, Summary Chapter 4. Body Image and Eating Behaviours: Introduction, Controlling ones weight, Self-perceptions of body image, Eating disorders, The treatment of eating disorders, Summary Chapter 5. Sex and AIDS: Introduction, Sexual development, Attitudes to sex, Sexual behaviours and condoms, Predicting condom use, Summary Chapter 6. Substance abuse: Alcohol, Cigarettes and Other Drugs: Introduction, Patterns of substance abuse, Syndrome of problem behaviour, Theoretical perspectives, Summary Chapter 7. Mental Health: Schizophrenia, Depression and Suicide: Introduction, Schizophrenia, Depression, Suicide, Summary Chapter 8. Lifestyle, Exercise and Diet: Introduction, The concept of lifestyle, Exercise and fitness, Diet and health, Attitudes to food and nutrition, Psychological predictors of a healthy lifestyle, Changing lifestyle, Summary Chapter 9. Concluding Comments: Introduction, Empowerment, Improving Health services for adolescents.