Adolescence, Affect and Health

Originally published in 1999, this title covers the entire empirical cycle in adolescent health research and education. It describes in depth the development and evaluation of a health education programme designed to enhance everyday health-related behaviours in an adolescent population, and offers comprehensive reviews of developmental theories of adolescence, ethical and theoretical issues in adolescent health education, and the major theories used in adolescent health research. The research presented here led to the development and testing of a new theory – the Theory of Salient Meanings of Behaviour – which departs from the cognitive theories that have so far dominated adolescent health education and research, but which have often proved inadequate in describing and predicting adolescent health-related behaviour. The inception, growth, testing, and field testing of this new theory are traced here. The book is designed to appeal to both theoretical and applied scientists in the field of adolescent development, adolescent health and health education. A clear research methodology is set out for the complementary use of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods.