Main description:

The original articles presented in this book represent both a set of analyses of families, peers, schooling, communities and the broader social and economic environment of childhood, and an illustration of how the use of indicators enhances understanding of children's risks and well-being. Covering a broad range of topics, from the theorizing of children's well-being to the development of measures at local and national level, the book also outlines pivotal methodological and conceptual issues. A distinguished, international group of researchers provide insights into the dynamics of children's well-being, using indicators as a means to confront new phenomena as well as to bridge data and theory. Both because of its perspectives on childhood and children's well-being and the range of topics covered, this book will be of value to researchers and students of the social sciences, as well as to policymakers and professionals in related fields.

Contents:

Introduction.- Preface.- Opening Chapter: 1. The Child Indicators Movement: Past, Present and Future; A. Ben-Arieh. - Section 1: Conceptualizing Indicators of Children Well-Being. - 2. Theorizing Indicators on Indicators, Signs, and Trends; I. Frones. - 3. Children's Conceptualisation(s) of their Well-Being; T. Fattore, J. Mason, and E. Watson. - 4. Achieving Consensus in Developing a National Set of Child Well-Being Indicators; S. Hanafin, A.M. Brooks. - 5. Young People's Perception of Being Safe - Globally & Locally; C. Fabiansson. - 6. Self-Reported Fears as Indicators of Young Children's Well-Being in Societal Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective; A.R. Lahikainen, M. Taimalu, P. Korhonen, and I. Kraav. - 7. What should we know about Children in Armed Conflict and how should we go about knowing it?; J. Pedersen, T. Sommerfelt. - 8. The Values Adolescents Aspire to, Their Well-Being and the Values Parents Aspire for Their Children; F. Cases, C. Figuer, M. Gonzalez, and S. Malo. - Section 2: Types of Indicators. - 9. Longitudinal Indicators: Beyond the Snapshot; K.A. Moore, S. Vandivere. - 10. The Well-Being of Twelve to Sixteen Year-Old Adolescents and their Parents: Results from 1999 and 2003 Spanish Samples; F. Casas, C. Figuer, M. Gonzalex, S. Malo, C. Alsinet, and S. Subarroca. - 11. Self-reports of Child Maltreatment in the U.S.: A Key Social Indicator; J.E. Kesner. - 12. The Potential Role of Conflict Resolution Schemas in Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment; G. Jutengren, K. Palmerus. - 13. Monitoring Indicators of Children's Victimization in School: Linking National-, Regional-, and Site-level Indicators; R. Benbenisti, R. Astor. - Section 3: Indices of Children Well Being. - 14. Indicators and Indices of Child Well-Being: A Brief American History; L.H. Lippman. - 15. Measuring trends in Child Well-Being: An Evidence-Based Approach; K.C. Land, V.L. Lamb, S.O. Meadows, and A. Taylor. - 16. An Index of Child Well-being in the European Union; J. Bradshaw, P. Hoelscher, and D. Richardson. - 17. An Index of the Condition of Children: The Ideal and a Less-then-Ideal Example; K.A. Moore, L. Lippman, S. Vandivere, C. McPhee, and M. Bloch. - Section 4: Using Indicators for Local, National and Comparative Studies. - 18. Health Outcomes for Children in Canada, England, Norway and the United States; S. Phipps. - 19. Child and Family Outcomes in New York and Tel Aviv: Using Social Indicators in a City Level Comparative Analysis; A. Ben-Arieh, J. Gal, L. Nepomnyaschy, and I. Garfinkel. - 20. Reporting on Children's Well-Being: the State of London's Children reports; S. Hood. - 21. Using Child and Family Indicators to Influence Communities and Policy in Los Angeles County; J. McCroskey, J. Milner. - 22. Native American Kids: American Indian Children's Well-Being Indicators for The Nation and Two States; A.A.A. Willeto. - 23. Neighborhood Characteristics, Parenting, and Children's Safety; J.R. McDonell. - 24. Indicators of Child Well-Being through a Neighborhood Lens; J. Korbin, C. Culton.