Mattering as a Core Need in Children and Adolescents: Theoretical, Clinical, and Research Perspectives - Softcover

Flett, Gordon L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1433842785 ISBN 13: 9781433842788

Publisher: American Psychological Association, 2025

Synopsis

This book summarizes the psychological research on the concept of mattering in children and adolescents, and outcomes associated with the presence or absence of feelings of being valued by others. 

“This valuable book more than meets the objectives set: to more fully understand how the concept of mattering, of feeling valued, affects one's life and life circumstances. The book aims to be a "catalyst" -- through research and attention to the voices of youth, this book offers resources and a course of action for those who can provide a message of value that is intrinsic to a fulfilled life… It fills in the gaps of even the best research on child development. Everybody who has kids, knows kids, or works with kids, read this book!” --Doody's Review, 4 stars, 96 score

Mattering, the felt experience of being valued and necessary to others, is a unique and complex psychological construct. Differences in children’s sense of mattering to their family, friends, and significant others predict consequential outcomes at the individual, relationship, and societal levels.

Gordon Flett offers important, evidence-based insights from the psychological literature, drawing clear links between a lack of mattering and measures of children's depression, anxiety, suicide risk, aggression and violence. Conversely, he shows how mattering to others is reflected in measures of resilience, adaptability, motivation, and performance. Crucial links are also explored between social marginalization and mattering, and case material is used throughout the book to illustrate key points. The clinical chapters  describe mental health interventions that measure and address issues related to children’s sense of mattering in family, school, and community contexts.

About this title

About the Author

Gordon L. Flett, PhD is professor in the department of psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada. He is the global academic leader in the field of mattering, having published some 40 publications on the topic, including a special issue on mattering that appeared in the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment (2022) and was the first to appear in any journal. He is an associate editor of Canadian Psychology journal and the former director of the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research. Dr. Flett is also internationally recognized for his seminal contributions to research and theory on the role of perfectionism in pathology. He is the author, with Paul L. Hewitt, of Perfectionism in Childhood and Adolescence: A Developmental Approach (2022), published by APA Books. His other research interests include the nature and correlates of suicidality in the elderly. Dr. Flett is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, which has cited him as one of the top 25 most productive authors in psychology. His work on mattering has been featured in the New York Times and has been the topic of interviews in Scientific American and the Wall Street Journal. 

Edition details

• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1433842785
• ISBN 13: 9781433842788
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 303