Adolescent Development and School Achievement in Urban Communities : Resilience in the Neighborhood

This timely volumeexplores essential themes, issues, and challenges related to adolescents’ lives and learning in underserviced urban areas. Distinguished scholars provide theoretically grounded, multidisciplinary perspectives on contexts and forces that influence adolescent development and achievement. The emphasis is on what is positive and effective, what can make a real difference in the lives and life chances for urban youths, rather than deficits and negative dysfunction. Going beyond solely traditional psychological theories, a strong conceptual framework addressing four domains for understanding adolescent development undergirds the volume: developmental continuities from childhood primary changes (biological, cognitive, social) contexts of development adolescent outcomes. A major federal government initiative is the development of programs to support underserviced urban areas. Directly relevant to this initiative, this volumecontributes significantly to gaining a realistic understanding of the contexts and institutions within which urban youths live and learn. Cover 1 Adolescent development and school achievement in urban communities 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Preface 11 Acknowledgments 13 1.Urban And Underserviced Communities 14 Part I: The Adolescent as an Individual: Theory and Contexts 26 2. Adolescent Development in Underserviced Communities: A Conceptual Framework 28 3. The Importance of Housing, Neighborhood and Community Contexts 40 4. Personal Characteristics Associated with Resilience and Vulnerability in Urban Adolescents 51 Part II: The Fundamental Changes of Adolescence 64 5. Adolescent Physical Development and Health 66 6. Cognitive Development: Improving Reasoning and Decision-Making Skills Among Urban Youth 78 7. Adolescent Social Changes: Role Transitions from Childhood to Adolescence 90 Part III: Immediate Contexts for Adolescent Development 102 8. The Urban Family 104 9. Peers and Academic Adjustment in Urban Contexts 116 10. Urban Schools and Adolescent Development 128 11. Physical Activity and Media Use 140 12. Civic Engagement:Volunteerism, Community Involvement, and Political Action 153 13. Religion and America’s Urban Youth 164 14. Adolescents and Adults in the Urban Context: Mentorship Relationships 176 15. Partnerships between Schools,Teachers, Children, Families, and Communities 190 Part IV: Positive Outcomes Associated with Adolescence 204 16. Transformations in Relationships, Independence, and Interdependence 206 17. Youth, Families, Culture, and Context: Promoting Urban Adolescent Sexual Health 218 18. Personal, Ethnic, and Cultural Identity in Urban Youth: Links with Risk and Resilience 229 19. The Role of Parents and Peers in the Psychological and Academic Adaptation of Youth in Urban Communities 240 20. Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Positive Transitions in Urban Communities 252 Conclusion 265 About the Editors and Contributors 267 Index 271 This Timely Volume Explores Essential Themes, Issues, And Challenges Related To Adolescents' Lives And Learning In Underserviced Urban Areas. Distinguished Scholars Provide Theoretically Grounded, Multidisciplinary Perspectives On Contexts And Forces That Influence Their Development And Achievement. The Emphasis Is On What Is Positive And Effective, What Can Make A Real Difference In The Lives And Life Chances For Urban Youths, Rather Than Deficits And Negative Dysfunction. Going Beyond Solely Traditional Psychological Theories, A Strong Conceptual Framework Addressing Four Domains For Understanding Adolescent Development Undergirds The Volume: Developmental Continuities From Childhood Primary Changes (biological, Cognitive, Social) Contexts Of Development Adolescent Outcomes A Major Federal Government Initiative Is The Development Of Programs To Support Underserviced Urban Areas. Directly Relevant To This Initiative, This Volume Contributes Significantly To Gaining A Realistic Understanding Of The Contexts And Institutions Within Which Urban Youths Live And Learn-- The Adolescent As An Individual: Theory And Contexts -- The Fundamental Changes Of Adolescence -- Immediate Contexts For Adolescent Development -- Positive Outcomes Associated With Adolescence. Edited By Gary L. Creasey And Patricia A. Jarvis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This timely volume explores essential themes, issues, and challenges related to adolescents' lives and learning in underserviced urban areas. Distinguished scholars provide theoretically grounded, multidisciplinary perspectives on contexts and forces that influence their development and achievement. The emphasis is on what is positive and effective, what can make a real difference in the lives and life chances for urban youths, rather than deficits and negative dysfunction. Going beyond solely traditional psychological theories, a strong conceptual framework addressing four domains for understanding adolescent development undergirds the volume: Developmental continuities from childhood Primary changes (biological, cognitive, social) Contexts of development Adolescent outcomes A major federal government initiative is the development of programs to support underserviced urban areas. Directly relevant to this initiative, this volume contributes significantly to gaining a realistic understanding of the contexts and institutions within which urban youths live and learn"-- Provided by publisher This timely volume explores essential themes, issues, and challenges related to adolescents’ lives and learning in underserviced urban areas. Distinguished scholars provide theoretically grounded, multidisciplinary perspectives on contexts and forces that influence adolescent development and achievement. The emphasis is on what is positive and effective, what can make a real difference in the lives and life chances for urban youths, rather than deficits and negative dysfunction. Going beyond solely traditional psychological theories, a strong conceptual framework addressing four domains for understanding adolescent development undergirds the volume: developmental continuities from childhood primary changes (biological, cognitive, social) contexts of development adolescent outcomes. A major federal government initiative is the development of programs to support underserviced urban areas. Directly relevant to this initiative, this volume contributes significantly to gaining a realistic understanding of the contexts and institutions within which urban youths live and learn.