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Implications of environmental variables for the quality of life
JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3, 119-120 (1992) Editor's Introduction
Implications of Environmental Variables for the Quality of Life RODNEY R. COCKING
National Institute of Mental Health One of the objectives of the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology is to initiate and promote the study of new areas of investigation for both applied and developmental issues. Occasionally, the editors invite members of the scientific community to examine topics or issues underrepresented in the current literature in hopes that studies and reports will be generated. One such topic is the impact of environmental variables upon individuals' quality of life. Division 38 of the American Psychological Association, to be sure, has promoted health psychology. The health-behavior relationship also has a research history at the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Mental Health. Specifically lacking, however, are explorations which define the field of "environmental influences" and, further, which link these studies to particular psychological and behavioral outcomes. As a subject of scientific inquiry, environmental influences are apt to be regarded as the domain of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), rather than developmental psychology. One purpose of the following set of brief articles is to explore the range of research topics bearing upon quality life as an outcome of human environments. The articles that follow were not chosen to give different perspectives on a single topic. Rather, they illustrate diversity in defining environmental variables and suggest different models for exploring psychological meaning of environmental influences. Environmental influences are most often thought of for physiological and social outcomes. These commentaries, by contrast, illustrate a range of p s y c h o l o g i c a l influences. Personal relevance and quality of life emerge as critical to the psychological dimension in these articles. The articles for this special issue were part of a larger symposium entitled, "Does Environment Really Contribute to Healthy, Quality Life?" The symposium was organized by Mary Jasnoski of George Washington University for presentation at the 1991 American Psychological Association Convention in San Francisco. The editor thanks Sandra Calvert for bringing these articles to the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology and for editorial assistance. The views expressed in these articles are those of the individual authors and not their respective institutions. Correspondence and requests for reprints should be sent to Rodney R. Cocking, National Institute of Mental Health, Behavioral Sciences Research Branch, 5600 Fisher's Lane, Room 11C-16, Rockville, MD 20857.
119
120
COCKING
The articles are sequenced to illustrate the range of psychological influences, from the most proximal of variables to those that are more distal to the individual. Personal health and beliefs that derive from health-related concerns are conceptualized as the most proximal psychological variables, whereas the influences of variables such as communication media are seen as much more distal to the individual. All, however, are environmental variables and all affect individuals' judgments, choices, and decisions. The point of this collection of articles is that environments affect healthy choices along a broad range of variables that impact the quality of healthy lives. The challenge is to define the relevant variables in functional terms in order to understand how they contribute to critical behaviors including problem-solving, risk-taking, and decision-making processes that figure into healthy lives and quality of life.
Implications of Environmental Variables for the Quality of Life RODNEY R. COCKING
National Institute of Mental Health One of the objectives of the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology is to initiate and promote the study of new areas of investigation for both applied and developmental issues. Occasionally, the editors invite members of the scientific community to examine topics or issues underrepresented in the current literature in hopes that studies and reports will be generated. One such topic is the impact of environmental variables upon individuals' quality of life. Division 38 of the American Psychological Association, to be sure, has promoted health psychology. The health-behavior relationship also has a research history at the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Mental Health. Specifically lacking, however, are explorations which define the field of "environmental influences" and, further, which link these studies to particular psychological and behavioral outcomes. As a subject of scientific inquiry, environmental influences are apt to be regarded as the domain of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), rather than developmental psychology. One purpose of the following set of brief articles is to explore the range of research topics bearing upon quality life as an outcome of human environments. The articles that follow were not chosen to give different perspectives on a single topic. Rather, they illustrate diversity in defining environmental variables and suggest different models for exploring psychological meaning of environmental influences. Environmental influences are most often thought of for physiological and social outcomes. These commentaries, by contrast, illustrate a range of p s y c h o l o g i c a l influences. Personal relevance and quality of life emerge as critical to the psychological dimension in these articles. The articles for this special issue were part of a larger symposium entitled, "Does Environment Really Contribute to Healthy, Quality Life?" The symposium was organized by Mary Jasnoski of George Washington University for presentation at the 1991 American Psychological Association Convention in San Francisco. The editor thanks Sandra Calvert for bringing these articles to the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology and for editorial assistance. The views expressed in these articles are those of the individual authors and not their respective institutions. Correspondence and requests for reprints should be sent to Rodney R. Cocking, National Institute of Mental Health, Behavioral Sciences Research Branch, 5600 Fisher's Lane, Room 11C-16, Rockville, MD 20857.
119
120
COCKING
The articles are sequenced to illustrate the range of psychological influences, from the most proximal of variables to those that are more distal to the individual. Personal health and beliefs that derive from health-related concerns are conceptualized as the most proximal psychological variables, whereas the influences of variables such as communication media are seen as much more distal to the individual. All, however, are environmental variables and all affect individuals' judgments, choices, and decisions. The point of this collection of articles is that environments affect healthy choices along a broad range of variables that impact the quality of healthy lives. The challenge is to define the relevant variables in functional terms in order to understand how they contribute to critical behaviors including problem-solving, risk-taking, and decision-making processes that figure into healthy lives and quality of life.