It might be said that adolescence as a process occurs because of a conflict of expectation between developing individuals and the society in which they live. Its onset can be defined by arrival of puberty but its termination is much harder to objectively define. This is a book that seeks to help those going through the process of mid-adolescence—either from the point of view of the adolescent or their families. It attends to the serious strains that may have to be borne if the picture portrayed is to have any realism. Examined are many of the issues that adolescents may face including: their emotional and intellectual development; variation in physiological development and what this can mean to them; the importance of the peer group; the emergence of disturbed mental behavior; the frequency of eating disorders; self-harming; and suicide. The You and Your Child Series is aimed especially at parents but this book will also appeal to adolescents and those working with this group. Jim Rose is Director of Medway Secure Training Centre in Kent, UK. From 1998 to 2001, he worked as a Professional Advisor to the UK government on the management of young offenders within the prison service.
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