Over a relatively brief period of time pediatric psychology as an organized field has evolved and expanded as a science and in clinical practice. Reflecting a newer focus on family roles in health and illness, the present volume is relevant to a variety of fields because family issues and pediatric medicine inherently interact with numerous disciplines and approaches.

This volume fills the need for a resource indicating research advancements that links pediatric psychology and pediatrics with family issues. The articles -- selected from special issues of Pediatric Psychology -- cover such topics as chronic illnesses and handicapping conditions, failure to thrive, spina bifida, recurrent abdominal pain, and health promotion. These pediatric conditions are considered in terms of concomitant psychosocial effects on parents and siblings, family resources and environment, adjustment and maladjustment, interventions and programming utilizing and assisting families.