Handbook of Children’s Risk, Vulnerability and Quality of Life

This comprehensive handbook bridges the critical gap between children's quality of life research and the study of childhood risk and vulnerability, offering a nuanced framework that moves beyond simplistic measures of well-being. The collection rigorously examines how various risks—from poverty and conflict to discrimination and environmental hazards—directly shape children's lived experiences and subjective well-being across global contexts. By integrating vulnerability studies with quality of life indicators, the work provides multidimensional insights into how children actually navigate and perceive their worlds amid adversity.

What distinguishes this volume is its commitment to treating children as experts on their own lives, prioritizing their voices and perspectives in understanding risk exposure and resilience mechanisms. Researchers and policymakers will find invaluable the evidence-based connections between structural vulnerabilities and children's self-reported quality of life, making it essential reading for anyone developing interventions that address both protection and flourishing. The handbook ultimately reframes how we conceptualize childhood well-being in high-risk environments, demonstrating that understanding risk is fundamental to improving children's lives.