Middle Adulthood Development Psychology PDF

Middle Adulthood Middle Adulthood - 40 to 60 or 65 years old Middle age is a mix of new opportunities and expanding resources accompanied by decline in physical activities (Lois Verbrugge). A. Changes in Appearance - Getting wrinkles and gray hair is inevitable - Wr...

Middle Adulthood Middle Adulthood - 40 to 60 or 65 years old Middle age is a mix of new opportunities and expanding resources accompanied by decline in physical activities (Lois Verbrugge). A. Changes in Appearance - Getting wrinkles and gray hair is inevitable - Wrinkles due to changes in the structure of the skin and connective and supporting tissues and cumulative.Effects of damage from exposure to sunlight, pollution and smoking. - Gray hair due to cessation of pigment production. - Baldness for male. - Middle-aged bulge occurs. B. Changes in Bones and Joints Osteoporosis - Severe loss of bone mass in which the bones become porous and easy to break. - Also caused by deficiencies of calcium, vitamin D, estrogen depletion and lack of weight bearing exercise that builds up bone mass. - Calcium and vitamin D supplements after menopause may slow the rate of bone loss and delay onset of osteoporosis. - Moderate weight exercise like weight lifting and jogging is helpful. Arthritis ○ Osteoarthritis - Marked by gradual onset of bone damage with progression of pain and disability with minor signs of inflammation. ○ Rheumatoid Arthritis - A disease of the joints that affects different joints, causes different types of pain and is more destructive than osteoarthritis. C. Changes in Sensory Abilities - The most troublesome and most marked changes are in the eyes and ears. D. Reproductive Changes in Women Menopause or Climacteric - The point at which menstruation stops at age 45-55. - Loss of ability to bear children. - Reproductive technology such as fertility drugs and in vitro fertilization has made it possible for postmenopausal women to have children. - There is a decrease of estrogen and progesterone levels and changes in the reproductive organs and changes in sexual functioning. Perimenopause - The individually varying time of transition from regular menstruation to menopause. - Physical and Psychological symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. - Hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, mood changes, difficulty in concentrating, vaginal dryness, changing cholesterol levels, and a variety of headaches and pains. - Low libido is common for women.  Treatment for Menopause Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) - medication therapy in which women take low doses of estrogen which is often combined with progestin to counter symptoms associated with menopause. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Prostate cancer is a threat during middle age. Experience physiological changes in sexual performance. Other health issues during middle age: Hypertension is a leading chronic disorder. Immune system functioning declines with aging. Emotional stress is a factor contributing to cardiovascular disease. Cognitive Development 1. Fluid Intelligence - Consists of the abilities that make you a flexible and adaptive thinker, to make inferences and to understand the relations among concepts. 2. Crystallized Intelligence - Knowledge acquired through life experience and education in a particular culture. - Includes knowledge, comprehension of communication, judgment and information. - Game shows like Jeopardy, Family Feud, and Wheel of Fortune are based on contestants' accumulated crystallized intelligence. 3. Practical Intelligence - Range of skills related to how individuals shape, select or adapt to their physical and social environments. - More realistic in dealing with real life situations. Life-long learners are common at this stage. Information Processing - Speed of information processing continues to decline. - Working memory declines in middle age. - Expertise often increases at this stage. - Practical problem solving remains stable in the early and middle adulthood years. Socioemotional Development 1. Life Transition and Midlife Crisis - Presents unique issues and challenges that must be negotiated. Ego resilience - a powerful personality resource that enables people to handle midlife challenges. - High ego resilience as an opportunity for change and growth. - Low ego resilience leads to stagnation and decline. 2. Erik Eikson’s Psychosocial Stage Generativity vs. Stagnation (40 - 60 years) Middle Adulthood Characteristics: A chief concern is to assist the younger generation in developing and leading useful lives.  Predominant Social Setting: Parenthood and work Psychosocial Crisis: Reaching out beyond one's own immediate concerns to embrace the welfare of society and of future generations. Outcome: Adults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often having children and creating a positive change that benefits other people. Success leads to feelings of usefulness and accomplishment, while failure in shallow involvement in the world. Strengths or Virtues if Crisis is Resolved: Care 3. Stability and Change - Stable characteristics are intellectual orientation, self-confidence and openness to new experience. - Characteristics that changed are nurturance, hostility and self control. - Mellowing at this stage - Change in personality traits across adulthood occurs in a positive direction, reflecting maturity. - Changes in personality are linked to life experiences. Relationships 1. Love and marriage at midlife - Affectionate love increases and many say that their marriage is very good or excellent. 2. Empty Nest: Letting Go - Becoming friends and Empty Nest - children leave home. - Having positive feelings about potential growth in their relationship with children. - They become friends eventually. - However, there is a rising number of those going back to their parents for varied reasons like failed marriage or financial problems. 3. Giving Back: Middle-aged adults and their aging parents Sandwich Generation - middle-aged adults are caught between the competing demands of two generations: their parents and their children. Filial Obligation - a sense of obligation and responsibility to care for one’s parents. Time to give back or payback time Caregiving is a major source of both stress and rewards. 4. Sibling Relationships and Friendships - Two important relationships continue in middle age 5. Grandparenting - Different grandparent roles and styles. - Disciplining problems present as an issue to some couples. - Fondly called APOStolic duties in the Philippines. Careers, Work, and Leisure 1. Work - Midlife is a time of reflection, assessment and evaluation of their current work and what they plan to do in the future. - Issue of career change or continue with what they are doing. 2. Career Challenges and Changes - Challenges like globalization of work, information technology, early retirement, downsizing of organizations and pensions and health care. 3. Leisure and Other Activities - Important because of physical changes and because of preparation for an active retirement.