CHAPTER CHAPTER 1313 Physical & Cognitive Physical & Cognitive

Development in Middle Development in Middle AdulthoodAdulthood

The Nature of The Nature of Middle Middle

AdulthoodAdulthood Defining Middle Adulthood40 to ~65

Physical Changes & HealthChanges in appearanceGray hair, baldness, weight gainChanges in bones & jointsLoss of bone massMakes bones weaker & more brittleOsteoporosisBones become porous & easy to breakMore common in women

Physical Physical Changes & Changes &

HealthHealth OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritisGradual onset & progression of pain & disability, with minor signs of inflammationBecomes noticeable in late middle age or early old ageCommon in people with joints subjected to routine overuse & abuse (athletes, manual laborers)Hands, spine, hips, & knees

Rheumatoid Rheumatoid ArthritisArthritisDisease of the joints that also develops slowly & typically affects different joints causing different types of pain than osteoarthritisMorning stiffness & aching in fingers, wrists, & ankles, with joints swelling

The Changing SensesThe Changing SensesVision Vision changeschangesPresbyopia:Presbyopia: loss of near vision loss of near vision

Glaucoma:Glaucoma: fluid pressure in the fluid pressure in the eye increases because of eye increases because of improper drainage or too much is improper drainage or too much is producedproduced

1-2% over 40 affected1-2% over 40 affected

African Americans particularly African Americans particularly susceptiblesusceptible

Untreated can cause blindnessUntreated can cause blindness

The Changing SensesThe Changing Senses Hearing declines Hearing declines

graduallygraduallyPresbycusis: Presbycusis: Loss of Loss of high frequency hearinghigh frequency hearing

About 12% About 12% between 45 & 65between 45 & 65Men are more Men are more prone than womenprone than womenSome loss due to Some loss due to environmentenvironmentAging brings loss of hair cellsAging brings loss of hair cellsEardrum becomes less elasticEardrum becomes less elastic

Physical Changes & Physical Changes & HealthHealth

ClimactericClimactericLoss of ability to bear childrenLoss of ability to bear childrenUsually begins in 40s & complete by late 50sUsually begins in 40s & complete by late 50s

MenopauseMenopauseDuring climacteric, menstruation becomes irregular & During climacteric, menstruation becomes irregular & eventually stopseventually stopsSome stop menstruating around 40, others may have Some stop menstruating around 40, others may have regular periods into mid-50sregular periods into mid-50sMost have last period in early 50sMost have last period in early 50sOvulation may continue for 1 – 2 years afterwardOvulation may continue for 1 – 2 years afterward

Physical Physical Changes & Changes &

HealthHealth Estrogen-related Estrogen-related symptomssymptomsHot flashes, night sweats, Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, & urine vaginal dryness, & urine leakageleakage

Symptomatic Symptomatic symptomssymptomsDifficulty sleeping, Difficulty sleeping, headaches, rapid heartbeat, headaches, rapid heartbeat, & stiffness or soreness in the & stiffness or soreness in the joints, neck, or shouldersjoints, neck, or shouldersEthnic differences in Ethnic differences in symptoms seem to be related symptoms seem to be related to culturesto cultures

Treating symptoms Treating symptoms of menopauseof menopauseHormone Replacement Hormone Replacement TherapyTherapy (HRT) (HRT)Taking low doses of Taking low doses of estrogen, often combine with estrogen, often combine with progestinprogestinHRT reduces estrogen-HRT reduces estrogen-related symptomsrelated symptomsAlso reduces risk of Also reduces risk of osteoporosisosteoporosisMay have role in helping May have role in helping prevent Alzheimer’sprevent Alzheimer’sDrawback is increased risk of Drawback is increased risk of endometrial and breast endometrial and breast cancer if taken for 10 or cancer if taken for 10 or more yearsmore years

Changes in MenChanges in Men Sperm production decline

30% between 25 & 60Enlargement & Enlargement & stiffening of prostate stiffening of prostate glandglandMay obstruct urinary May obstruct urinary tracttractProstate cancer Prostate cancer concernconcernGradual reduction in Gradual reduction in testosterone levels testosterone levels after mid-20safter mid-20s

Changes in sexual performanceLess perceived demand to Less perceived demand to ejaculateejaculateNeed longer time & more Need longer time & more stimulation to achieve stimulation to achieve erection & orgasmerection & orgasmMuch longer resolution Much longer resolution phasephaseFrequent failures to Frequent failures to achieve orgasm & loss of achieve orgasm & loss of erection during intercourseerection during intercourseWith willing partner, With willing partner, sexual activity can be sexual activity can be lifelonglifelong

Cognitive Cognitive DevelopmentDevelopment

Practical Practical IntelligenceIntelligenceThe broad range of skills The broad range of skills related to how individuals related to how individuals shape, select, or adapt to their shape, select, or adapt to their physical & social environmentphysical & social environmentApplications of Practical Applications of Practical IntelligenceIntelligenceImportant approach in Important approach in assessing adults’ competence in assessing adults’ competence in performing everyday tasksperforming everyday tasks

Cognitive Cognitive DevelopmentDevelopment Becoming an ExpertBecoming an Expert

Crystallized intelligence tends to Crystallized intelligence tends to improve throughout one’s improve throughout one’s lifetimelifetimeExpert’s behavior patterns:Expert’s behavior patterns:Don’t always follow the rules as Don’t always follow the rules as novices donovices doMore flexible, creative, & curiousMore flexible, creative, & curiousHave superior strategies for Have superior strategies for accomplishing tasksaccomplishing tasksSpend more time planningSpend more time planningDeclines in expert performance Declines in expert performance not nearly as great as they are not nearly as great as they are for the abilities of information for the abilities of information processing, memory, & fluid processing, memory, & fluid intelligenceintelligence

Lifelong LearningLifelong LearningAdult learners differ from Adult learners differ from youngeryoungerHave a higher need to know why Have a higher need to know why they should learn something they should learn something before undertaking itbefore undertaking itEnter learning situations with Enter learning situations with more & different experiences on more & different experiences on which to buildwhich to buildMost willing to learn those things Most willing to learn those things they believe are necessary to they believe are necessary to deal with real-world problems deal with real-world problems rather than abstract, rather than abstract, hypothetical situationshypothetical situationsMore motivated by internal than More motivated by internal than external factorsexternal factors

IntelligenceIntelligenceFluid Fluid IntelligenceIntelligenceThe ability to deal with new problems The ability to deal with new problems & situations& situations

Inductive reasoning, spatial Inductive reasoning, spatial orientation, perceptual speed, & orientation, perceptual speed, & verbal memoryverbal memory

Crystallized Crystallized IntelligenceIntelligenceThe store of information, skills, & The store of information, skills, & strategies acquired through education strategies acquired through education & prior experiences, & through & prior experiences, & through previous use of fluid intelligenceprevious use of fluid intelligence

Religion & Meaning in Religion & Meaning in LifeLife

Individual Differences Individual Differences in Religious Interestin Religious InterestReligion is linked Religion is linked negatively to health negatively to health with some and positively with some and positively with others (e.g. cults)with others (e.g. cults)Mainstream religion has Mainstream religion has a positive or no a positive or no relationship to healthrelationship to healthFor some, it is important For some, it is important in coping with stressin coping with stressFor some, it aids in For some, it aids in examining life’s examining life’s meaningmeaning

Changing Priorities in Changing Priorities in MidlifeMidlife

Generativity Generativity v. Stagnationv. StagnationGenerativity: Being Generativity: Being productive by helping productive by helping others to ensure the others to ensure the continuation of society bye continuation of society bye guiding the next guiding the next generationgenerationGenerativity is grounded Generativity is grounded in the successful in the successful resolution of the previous resolution of the previous 6 phases6 phases

Many Avenues Many Avenues of Generativityof GenerativityParenting, mentoring, Parenting, mentoring, volunteering, foster volunteering, foster grandparentinggrandparenting

Personal concerns & Personal concerns & priorities of middle-age priorities of middle-age adults are different from adults are different from those of younger adultsthose of younger adults

Changing Changing Priorities in Priorities in

MidlifeMidlife StagnationStagnationBeing unable to Being unable to deal with the needs deal with the needs of one’s children or of one’s children or to provide to provide mentoring to mentoring to younger adultsyounger adults

Gender-role IdentityGender-role Identity

Men & women are Men & women are most different in most different in their gender-role their gender-role identities in late identities in late adolescence & adolescence & young adulthood young adulthood but become but become increasingly similar increasingly similar in midlife & old agein midlife & old age

Midlife Transition & Crisis

Most people believe they will have a midlife crisisEvidence fails to support the idea of a crisisThose experiencing a crisis tend to be suffering from general problems of psychopathologyPeople do experience some sort of fundamental change at some point during adulthoodEgo resilience: A personality resource that enables one to handle midlife changesEgo resilience may account for the 2 outcomes (Generativity & Stagnation) in Erikson’s view of midlife

Middle Age Family Middle Age Family DynamicsDynamics

Becoming Friends/Empty NestBecoming Friends/Empty NestParent child relationships tend to Parent child relationships tend to improve when children become young improve when children become young adultsadults

Key factor to improvement is extent to Key factor to improvement is extent to which parents foster & approve of their which parents foster & approve of their children’s attempts at being children’s attempts at being independenceindependence

When children leave, parents better able When children leave, parents better able to ascertain how the children turned outto ascertain how the children turned out

When Children ReturnWhen Children Return

Empty Nest Satisfaction Empty Nest Satisfaction Short-livedShort-lived½ of children return after leaving½ of children return after leavingMen more likely than women to move backMen more likely than women to move backChildren w/low GPAs, low sense of Children w/low GPAs, low sense of autonomy, or an expectation that their autonomy, or an expectation that their parents would provide a large portion of parents would provide a large portion of their income following graduationtheir income following graduationAdult children whose parents were Adult children whose parents were verbally or physically abusive unlikely to verbally or physically abusive unlikely to move back, as well as those marriedmove back, as well as those married

Caring for aged parentsCaring for aged parents

Most middle-age Most middle-age adults have adults have parents in pretty parents in pretty good healthgood healthA growing number A growing number need some sort of careneed some sort of careJob generally falls on Job generally falls on daughter or daughter-daughter or daughter-in-lawin-lawDaughters 3 X as likely Daughters 3 X as likely to care for parent(s)to care for parent(s)

Filial ObligationFilial ObligationSense of Sense of responsibility to responsibility to care for parent if care for parent if necessarynecessaryAll but a small All but a small percentage of care percentage of care to older adults is to older adults is provided by adult provided by adult children & other children & other family membersfamily members

Caregiving Caregiving StressStress

2 Main Sources 2 Main Sources of Stressof StressTrouble coping with declines in parents’ functioningWhen caregiving is seen as confining, or seriously infringes on other responsibilities or leads to conflicts

Caring for Caring for parent entails parent entails psychological psychological costscostsDepression, resentfulness, anger, & guiltFinancial pressures especially when parent has chronic conditionStresses for caring difficult for womenCoincides with peak employment yearsRewards as wellParent(s) loss of independence & autonomyMost move in as last resort2/3 receiving help with daily activities feel negatively about it

GrandparentGrandparentinging Interaction with GrandchildrenInteraction with Grandchildren

Many functions of Many functions of grandparents reflect social & grandparents reflect social & personal dimensionspersonal dimensionsSocial needs & expectations Social needs & expectations of what grandparents are of what grandparents are supposed to dosupposed to doPersonal satisfaction & Personal satisfaction & individual needs fulfilled by individual needs fulfilled by grandparentgrandparent

Meaning of Grandparenting Meaning of Grandparenting Along 5 DimensionsAlong 5 DimensionsCentralityCentralityGrandparenting is most Grandparenting is most important thing in their livesimportant thing in their livesValued ElderValued ElderSeen as being wiseSeen as being wiseIndulgenceIndulgenceSpoiling the grandchildrenSpoiling the grandchildrenReinvolvement with personal pastReinvolvement with personal pastRecalling the relationship had Recalling the relationship had with own grandparentswith own grandparentsImmortality through clanImmortality through clanTaking pride in the fact that they Taking pride in the fact that they will be followed by 2 generationswill be followed by 2 generations

Grandparents Caring Grandparents Caring for Grandchildrenfor Grandchildren

Grandparents more likely to have Grandparents more likely to have independent lives from children or independent lives from children or grandchildrengrandchildrenBiggest change for grandparents are Biggest change for grandparents are increasing number becoming custodial increasing number becoming custodial parents for grandchildrenparents for grandchildrenRaising grandchildren not easyRaising grandchildren not easyRates of problem behavior, hyperactivity, Rates of problem behavior, hyperactivity, & learning problems are high & have & learning problems are high & have negative effect on relationshipnegative effect on relationship

Stress & Health A number of specific A number of specific

changes in the body (e.g. changes in the body (e.g. increased heart rate, increased heart rate, sweaty palms, hormone sweaty palms, hormone secretions) brought about secretions) brought about by external situationsby external situations

Stress results when you Stress results when you appraise a situation or appraise a situation or event as taxing or event as taxing or exceeding your personal, exceeding your personal, social, or other resources social, or other resources & endangering your well-& endangering your well-beingbeingDay-to-day hassles that upset & annoy Day-to-day hassles that upset & annoy us prove to be most stressfulus prove to be most stressfulCulture plays an important role in how Culture plays an important role in how stress is perceivedstress is perceived

Stress & Stress & HealthHealth CopingCoping

Any attempt to deal with Any attempt to deal with stressstress

People appraise different People appraise different situations as stressful at situations as stressful at different times and at different times and at different agesdifferent ages

Stress, coping, & physical Stress, coping, & physical healthhealthChronic stress suppresses Chronic stress suppresses the immune systemthe immune systemIncreases susceptibility to Increases susceptibility to viral infection, increases viral infection, increases risk of atherosclerosis & risk of atherosclerosis & hypertension, & impaired hypertension, & impaired memory & cognitionmemory & cognition

Type A behavior patternType A behavior patternIntensely competitive, Intensely competitive, angry, hostile, restless, angry, hostile, restless, aggressive, & impatientaggressive, & impatient

Type B behavior patternType B behavior pattern

Opposite of type AOpposite of type AType A 2 X more likely to Type A 2 X more likely to develop cardiovascular develop cardiovascular diseasediseaseSome type A Some type A characteristics may be characteristics may be motivating for some motivating for some peoplepeopleMotivated to stick to diet Motivated to stick to diet or exerciseor exercise

ExerciseExercise

Aerobic Aerobic ExerciseExerciseExercise that places moderate stress on the heart by maintaining a pulse rate between 60% & 90% of one’s maximum heart rateSubtract age from 220 for Subtract age from 220 for maximum heart ratemaximum heart rateProducts of aerobic exerciseProducts of aerobic exercise

PersonalityPersonality The 5-Factor Model of Personality TraitsThe 5-Factor Model of Personality Traits Opposing dimensionsOpposing dimensions

Neuroticism v. StabilityNeuroticism v. StabilityAnxious, hostile, self-conscious, depressed, impulsive, & vulnerableAnxious, hostile, self-conscious, depressed, impulsive, & vulnerableExtraversion v. IntroversionExtraversion v. IntroversionThriving on social interaction, likes to talk, takes charge easily, readily Thriving on social interaction, likes to talk, takes charge easily, readily expresses opinions & feelings, likes to keep busy, much energy, prefers expresses opinions & feelings, likes to keep busy, much energy, prefers stimulating & challenging environmentsstimulating & challenging environmentsOpenness v. Closed to ExperienceOpenness v. Closed to ExperienceVivid imagination & dream life, appreciation of art & strong desire to try Vivid imagination & dream life, appreciation of art & strong desire to try anything onceanything onceAgreeableness v. AntagonismAgreeableness v. AntagonismBeing accepting, willing to work w/others, & caringBeing accepting, willing to work w/others, & caringConscientiousness v. UndirectednessConscientiousness v. UndirectednessHard-working, ambitious, energetic, scrupulous, & perseveringHard-working, ambitious, energetic, scrupulous, & persevering