This textbook provides an up-to-date guide to theories within psychology and sociology relevant to understanding the major life transitions within adulthood and older age and demonstrates how they can be applied in practice. In doing so, it offers a psychosocial approach that will equip readers to meet the combined physical, psychological and social needs of those in their care.
In this book the impact of biological factors on adult experience is acknowledged alongside a careful exploration of the socially constructed nature of different stages of adulthood across the lifespan. In its analysis of developmental stages, the book covers key issues of current concern including emerging and early adulthood, ‘the sandwich generation’ (those caring for both their children and their parents), later life, medicalisation, neurodiversity, long term and degenerative conditions, bereavement, and grief. Both vulnerabilities and ways to enhance resilience encouraging healthy ageing are examined.
Utilising practice-oriented case studies and reflective questions it illustrates how psychosocial perspectives may be applied within family, workplace, health, and social care contexts. It offers under graduate and graduate students of social work, nursing, mental health, education, psychology, human development, gerontology and ageing, the tools needed to evaluate the interlocking psychosocial factors influencing the lives of adults at different stages of life.
By:
Jennifer M. Waite-Jones,
Alison M. Rodriguez
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan
Country of Publication: Switzerland
Dimensions:
Height: 235mm,
Width: 155mm,
ISBN: 9783031881763
ISBN 10: 3031881761
Pages: 303
Publication Date: 12 June 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Chapter 1 Introduction.- Chapter 2 Psychosocial Theories.- Chapter 3 Emerging Adulthood, Health, and Wellbeing.- Chapter 4 Identity and Family Formation During Young Adulthood.- Chapter 5 The Sandwich Generation.- Chapter 6 Later Life.- Chapter 7 Medicalised Lives and Competing Concepts of Care.- Chapter 8 Neurodiversity.- Chapter 9 Living with Long Term and Degenerative Conditions in Older Adulthood.- Chapter 10 Bereavement Experiences in Adulthood.- Chapter 11 Conclusion.
Jennifer M. Waite-Jones, PhD, MSc, PGCE, BA (Hons), is Visiting Lecturer in Health and Developmental Psychology, at the School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, UK, where she specialises in child, adolescent and adult health and development. Alison M. Rodriguez, PhD, MSc, PCPD, BSc (Hons), is Associate Professor in Child and Family Health, at the University of Leeds, UK. She is a psychologist with extensive teaching, research, supervision and examining experience of undergraduate and post-graduate students.
