This encyclopedia contains 106 articles on adult development that were written by more than 75 specialists in such diverse fields as anthropology, communication, education, health sciences, history, and psychology. In a guide to related topics that is presented at the beginning of the encyclopedia, the 106 articles are grouped under the following broad topics: adulthood as a time of life; communicating; competency and coping; gender and sex influences; generations; health, illness, and survival; interpersonal relationships; mental illness; paths through life; perceiving self and world, personal change and development; social and environmental influences; theoretical perspectives; and thought processes. Many articles include substantial bibliographies. An introduction, a list of contributors, an alphabetical list of articles, and an index are also included. (MN)