ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part focuses on the nature of family and peer relationships, establishing their central place in daily life, and their formative role in mental health. Developmental changes are all important markers of transition and stress, but variables whose effects on mental health are likely to be both mediated and moderated by complex interpersonal processes. The life events tradition of stress research has made significant contributions to research on the etiology of particular disorders, such as depression, and has contributed to a large body of research on a broad spectrum of mental and physical health responses to stress. Of particular interest is the dual emphasis on the interpersonal dimensions of life event stressors and the interpersonal effects of life event stressors. Most research on adolescents focuses on the adolescents themselves and not significant others.
