Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2004, pp. 259--260

Book Review

Resilience in Children with Special Needs

D. B. Bugental. Thriving in the Face of Childhood Adversity. NY: PsychologyPress. 1-841-69058-9 (217 pp., $49.95).

This was an original and appealing book, illustrating the importance of enhancingresilience in the face of childhood medical and physical disorders (MPDs). Thecase examples were compelling and thoughtfully illuminated key points aboutthe psychosocial stressors and challenges faced by children with MPDs. Dis-cussion of MPDs was divided into 3 areas: children with permanent mobilityconstraints, children who appear to be inattentive, and children with appearanceanomalies. The book begins with information about how attitudes toward childrenwith MPDs differ across cultures and have changed over time. This was very inter-esting; integrating how time and culture have interacted to influence conceptual-izations of children with MPD may have further improved the information that waspresented.

Additionally, the description of the physiological reaction involving thehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) that leads to coping or masteryof stress in MPD children provided a biological explanation for why children maythrive although they face many stresses related to having an MPD. One factor thatmay have needed more emphasis, though, was the influence of severity of thechild’s condition on his or her ability to thrive or adapt. It often is the case thatchildren with more mild levels of disability may adapt better and fare better—inthat they may face fewer negative reactions from others and have more resourcesto overcome stresses—compared to children with more severe levels of disability.

The description of negative parental reactions and of parental perceptionsof power in relation to child-rearing abilities was a unique way to present ideasfor positive parenting. Including other explanations of “positive” parenting skills(e.g., the importance of providing choices and spending special time with children)would provide even more information to assist parents in finding ways to improvechild and family functioning.

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C© 2004 The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

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The book concludes with information about a home visiting program, withone enhanced condition that emphasized a problem-solving approach to facilitatepositive parenting and reduce “blaming” of the child for problem behaviors andsituations. This intervention was beneficial in reducing physical abuse, spanking,and slapping. It also enhanced health benefits for children with MPDs. Furtherdescription of the home visits and interventions to promote problem solving forparents would have provided information for clinicians or parents interested inreplicating components of the program or specific interventions implemented byhome visitors. Moreover, learning about interventions to improve peer acceptanceand classroom inclusion would have provided more information for clinicians,educators, and parents searching for ideas to help their child succeed in school andother social settings. Perhaps Dr. Bugental will address these topics in future books.In summary, this was a very enjoyable book that promotes a fresh perspective forincreasing knowledge about how children with MPDs can overcome stressors andthrive in the face of adversity.

—Laura Nabors

LAURA NABORS Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychol-ogy at the University of Cincinnati. She received her doctorate in clinical psychol-ogy from the University of Memphis and completed a postdoctoral fellowship atthe Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center at the University of NorthCarolina in Chapel Hill. Her interests include improving psychosocial function-ing for children with physical differences and special needs as well as examiningpeer relationships for these children. Contact information: Laura Nabors, MailLocation 376, Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati,Ohio 45221-0376; e-mail: naborsla@email.uc.edu.