Families with Adolescents: Bridging the Gaps Between Theory, Research, and Practice

From a family development perspective, there continues to be growing interest in the study of marriage and family topics, and a parallel number of books that cover such issues. In these books, families with adolescents typically are treated as a single chapter, again with greater emphasis on research-based information. Still other books have a very narrow focus on family-based interventions, and, often as not, the treatment focus is on a single issue (e.g., substance abuse). Although rich in hands-on application material, these books typically contain little in the way of theory and research.

There is significant interest in the area of adolescence more generally, and a substantial number of books cover this topic from an individual development perspective. But no single book on the market today combines a theoretical, research, and application approach to the examination of families with adolescents. Many books underscore the importance of understanding the family context of adolescence and typically devote a single chapter to a review of relevant family-based research. Much less attention is given to application issues, and family theory is rarely if ever covered in these texts. Therefore, a book combining theoretical, research, and application topics is a much needed resource for this type of family-based information.

Adolescents and their Families is a valuable primary text for family scholars who have the opportunity to teach classes on topics pertaining to the families of adolescents, a practical secondary text for instructors of classes on family development, and a useful resource for prevention- and intervention-based professionals. The appeal of this book is greatly increased by its interdisciplinary approach, whereby literature from the family science field will be augmented with material from family-based work being conducted in psychology, sociology, social work, and other related fields.