Understanding Adolescent Risk-Taking Behavior

Reviews the book, Adolescent health: Understanding and preventing risk behaviors edited by Ralph J. DiClemente, John S. Santelli, and Richard A. Crosby (see record 2009-04826-000). At first glance, the health challenges facing adolescents are structurally similar to those facing other age groups in the population. The editors summarize these as “preserving health is a function of understanding and altering the risk behavior of entire populations” (p. 5). The first third of this book surveys the foundations and theories of risk behavior in adolescents. The final section focuses on population issues and the issues engaged for policy and prevention strategies. Overall, this book will leave the reader with an appreciation of the size of the task ahead in adolescent health promotion. This book provides a strong foundation in current research, theory, and policy for those who study and work with adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)