Adult and Adolescent Development - Final

vision changes in middle adulthood - presbyopia

happens around age 60, inability to adjust focus to varying distances

vision changes in middle adulthood

• pupil shrinks, lens yellow, vitreous and neural changes occur, blood supply decreases

  • poor vision in dim light, increased light sensitivity

  • cant differentiate colors

  • retinal sensitivity decreases

• glaucoma risk

whats the term for age related hearing loss in middle adulthood and when does it typically begin

presbycusis, between the ages of 45 and 64

What are early and later effects of presbycusis?

starts with loss of high frequencies, gradually extends to all frequencies

How does presbycusis affect speech perception?

Makes speech harder to understand, especially in noisy settings.

hearing changes in middle adulthood

• men show earlier more rapid decline

• hearing aids, modifications to listening environment, communication can help

skin changes in middle adulthood

• wrinkles

• sagging face, arms, legs

• dryness

• blood vessels more visible

how does body composition change in middle adulthood?

body fat increases, and muscle and bone mass decline

What is “middle-age spread,” and where is fat typically gained?

• common fat gain in the torso

  • men: upper abdomen and back

  • women: waist and upper arms

how can muscle loss in middle adulthood be managed?

exercise, especially resistance training

What happens to bones during middle adulthood?

• bones broaden but become more porous, leading to bone density loss

who is more at risk for bone loss and why

Women, due to declining estrogen; testosterone decline also affects men.

what are the effects of bone loss in midlife?

• weaker bones

• shrinking height from disk collapse

• easier fractures and slower healing

What is the climacteric, and how long does it last?

A 10-year gradual decline in fertility that ends with menopause.

when does menopause typically occur

• between the late 30s to 50s; earlier in non child bearing women, smokers

what causes menopause systems

a drop in estrogen levels

common effects of menopause

• shorter, then stopped periods

• sexual difficulties

• loss of bone mass

How does sexuality change in middle adulthood?

Sexual frequency drops, but activity often remains stable in long-term relationships.

what percentage of college students are over 25, and how many of them are women?

40% of US college students are over 25; nearly 60% of them are women

Why might sexual response slow down in midlife?

Due to the climacteric, which causes slower arousal.

How does partner availability affect sexuality in midlife?

More single women than men, making partner availability lower for women.

what reproductive changes occur in men during middle adulthood

• decrease in: sperm volume and semen after age 40

• gradual decline in testosterone

• erection difficulties

health risks in middle adulthood

• cancer and cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death in US

• economic disadvantage impacts poor health and premature death

• close connection between psychological and physical well-being

osteoporosis

• severe bone loss that leads to fragile, breakable bones

what causes osteoporosis

• normal aging

• decline in estrogen due to menopause speeds loss

• heredity

• lifestyle: diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use

  • women develop it earlier, men are often overlooked

double standard of aging

• aging men rated more positively, women more negatively in appearance and personality

What is crystallized intelligence based on?

Accumulated knowledge, life experience, good judgment, and social skills valued by culture.

what are examples of crystallized intelligence?

Vocabulary, verbal comprehension, general knowledge, and logical reasoning

When does crystallized intelligence peak and decline?

peaks in midlife, declines in the 80s

how does information processing change in middle adulthood?

Neural connections weaken, slowing down the brain’s ability to process information.

What happens as information moves through the cognitive system?

Information gets lost or delayed, and the brain slows down to make sense of it.

What part of executive function is especially affected

working memory capacity declines the most

how does executive functioning change in middle adulthood?

• Working memory weakens

• Spatial skills decline more than verbal skills

• Distractions are harder to ignore

• Multitasking and switching tasks become more difficult

• Problems show on long-focus tasks, but experience and practice help adults adapt

becoming a student in midlife

• 40% of US college students are over 25; nearly 60% of them are women

• reasons are diverse

  • job changes, seeking better income

  • life transitions

  • personal achievement, self-enrichment

• concerns of adult learners

  • ability to handle academic work

  • role overload

eriksons generativity

• giving to and guiding younger generations

• extending focus beyond self and partner

• personal goals + broader social good

• expressed through parenting, family relationships, volunteering, work, mentoring, creativity, productivity

• motivated by an optimistic belief in the future of humanity

eriksons stagnantion

• self centered, self indulgent, self absorbed

• lack of interest in young people

• focuses on what one can get from others, rather than what one can give

• little interest in being productive at work or in developing talents

levinsons four tasks of middle adulthood

1. young-old

2. destruction-creation

3. masculinity-femininity

4. engagement-separateness

What is the Young–Old task in Levinson’s theory?

Finding ways to balance being both young and aging — accepting age while staying connected to youthful energy.

What is levinsons destruction-creation task?

Acknowledging past harmful actions and focusing on leaving a positive legacy.

What is the Masculinity–Femininity task?

Balancing masculine and feminine traits, regardless of gender identity.

What is the Engagement–Separateness task?

Finding a healthy balance between involvement in the world and personal reflection or independence.

valliants view of midlife

• “keepers of meaning”; older people as guardians of their culture

• “passing the torch” to next generation

• focuses on longer-term, less personal goals

factors that promote psychological well being in midlife

• good health and exercise

• sense of control and personal life investment

• positive social relationships

• good marriage

• mastery of multiple roles

gender identity and androgyny

• women increase in “masc” traits

• men increase in “fem” traits

• little change throughout adulthood

benefits of integrating masc/fem sides of personality

• better psych health

• flexibility to adapt to life’s challenges

• creativity, advanced moral reasoning, psychosocial maturity

marriage in middle adulthood

• middle ages households typically well off compared with other age groups

• contemporary view of midlife marriage: expansion, new horizons

• need for review and adjustment of marital relationship

• marital satisfaction predicts psychological well being

• psychological intimacy strengthened by physical affection, low conflict, and sense of fairness

how has the divorce rate changes in the US for adults aged 50+

• rate doubled over past 20 years

What factors contribute to rising midlife divorce rates?

• Longer life expectancy

• More social acceptance

• Greater financial independence

• More common among the highly educated or remarried

How do midlifers handle divorce compared to younger adults?

They tend to adjust more easily by using practical problem-solving and strong coping skills.

grandparenthood

• begins in early 50s; can spend one third of life as a grandparent

• significant milestone for most

• values means of fulfilling personal and societal needs

the skipped generation family

• increase in grandparents as primary caregivers

• assume role under stressful circumstances

• highly fulfilling; some view as a “second chance”

what makes caregiving stressful?

• Time demands, especially for women

• Declining parent health, more care needed

• Living together adds greatest stress

Who are middle-aged adults caring for both children and parents often called?

The “sandwich generation”, and their numbers are expected to increase.

• most of the time they do it willingly and feel personally rewarded

consequences of caring for aging parents

• Can take a toll emotionally, physically, and financially

• May lead to stress from juggling too many roles, missing work, feeling tired, trouble focusing, depression, or worry about one’s own aging

• What helps:

  • Positive work environment

  • Support from friends and family

  • Sharing responsibilities with relatives

  • Government programs like in-home care services

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friendships in middle adulthood

• mens friendships are less intimate than womens

• fewer friends: become more selective, try harder to get along with friends

• rely on friends more for pleasure, family for support and security

functional age

• what a person is able to do not considering their age

• there’s variation across individuals and even within the same person over time

• no single biological measure can predict how fast someone will age

variations in healthy life expectancy

• healthy life expectancy: years expected to live in full health without disease or injury

• japan ranks first - lowest rate of obesity and heart disease

• the US lags behind most other industrialized nations

• in developing nations, healthy life expectancy is reduced by:

  • poverty

  • malnutrition

  • disease

  • armed conflict

ADLs

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

• basic self care tasks

• bathing, dressing, eating

IADLs

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

• conducting business of daily life

• require some cognitive competence

• shopping, food prep, housekeeping, paying bills

Which areas of the brain show the most neuron loss with age?

• prefrontal cortex (executive function)

• corpus callosum (hemisphere communication)

• cerrebellum (balance, coordination)

• hippocampus (memory and spatial understanding)

How does aging affect the nervous system overall?

central nervous system and automatic nervous system are less efficient

how does the brain try to compensate for neuron loss?

It generates new neural fibers and may even form new neurons.

what happens to your vision as you age?

• increased sensitivity to glare

• can’t differentiate between colors

• cataracts

• decreased depth perception

what happens to hearing as you age?

• declines in detecting sounds

  • high frequencies most affected

  • speech perception: greatly affects life satisfaction

• not disruptive until 85+

• compensation: hearing aids and devices

what happens to taste & smell in later life?

• decline in taste buds on tongue

• greater difficulty recognizing familiar foods

• decline in odor sensitivity

  • decrease in smell receptors

• self protective function of odor sensitivity diminishes

what are the effects of sensory changes in late adulthood?

vision problems - harder to do daily tasks and enjoy leisure activities

hearing loss - can cause social isolation, reduced safety and enjoyment

decreased taste and smell: leads to pure nutrition and safety risk

Reduced sensitivity to touch - makes leisure and daily tasks more difficult

sleep & aging

• total sleep needs remain constant

• sleep timing changes: ealrier bedtime and wakening

• sleep difficulties

  • insomnia

  • nighttime waking

How can older adults overcome stereotypes of aging?

• Stereotype threat can raise stress, lower confidence, and harm memory and thinking

• A positive attitude toward aging can reduce stress, support healthy adjustment, and is even a source of pride in some cultures

leading causes of death in late adulthood

heart disease and cancer

what is primary aging?

primary (biological)

• Biological aging that happens naturally over time

• Genetically influenced

• Affects everyone, even in good health

what is secondary aging?

• Results from hereditary defects or negative environmental factors (like poor diet, illness, or smoking)

• Varies between individuals

• A major contributor to frailty and health decline

what is dementia?

a condition that causes serious problems with thinking and behavior, disrupting daily life.

two common types of dementia?

• Alzheimer’s disease: about 70% of all cases

• Vascular dementia: about 15% of cases

what are the early symptoms of alzheimer’s disease?

• progressively worsening memory problems

• personality changes

• anxiety in response to uncertainty, depression

what are the progressing symptoms of alzheimers?

• motor and speech problems

• sleep disturbances, delusions

• loss of recognition of objects, familiar people

what brain changes occur with alzheimers?

• neurofibrillary tangles form inside neurons

• cerebral cortex is damaged, affects thinking and memory

• synapses deteriorate

what are the risks fro alzheimers disease?

• genetic predisposition

• unhealthy lifestyle: high fat diet, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking,

• health issues: diabetes, head injuries

what helps protects against alzheimers?

• education, complex cognitive activities

• mediterranean diet

• stimulating social and leisure activities

• regular exercise

what kind of support help people with alzheimers?

• drug and insulin therapies

• family support programs

• routines that are stable and familiar

how does explicit memory change in late adulthood?

It declines significantly, especially on tasks that require intentional recall (like remembering facts or events).

What makes episodic memory especially difficult?

• Slower processing and weaker working memory = fewer details retained

• Poor attention to context

• Trouble remembering where or how they learned something (source memory)

how does implicit memory change in late adulthood?

It shows less decline than explicit memory because it relies on familiarity, not conscious effort

Why is recognition easier than recall for older adults

Because recognition is supported by environmental cues, while recall requires more mental effort.

How does semantic memory compare to episodic memory in old age?

Semantic memory (facts and knowledge) declines less than episodic memory (personal experiences).

eriksons ego integrity vs despair

ego integrity - people who feel proud of their life and accept it feel whole, complete, and connected to all of humanity, which supports good mental health

despair - people believe they made too many wrong choices and feel it’s too late to change, they struggle to accept death and often showing bitterness or blame toward others

what is ego differentiation in pecks tasks of ego integrity

Finding self-worth beyond work roles, through family, friendships, and community life.

what is body transcendence in pecks tasks

focusing on mental, emotional, and social strengths instead of physical decline.

what is ego transcendence in pecks tasks?

Accepting the reality of death by making life more meaningful and secure for younger generations.

what is reminiscence in late adulthood?

Telling stories about the past, often used to reflect, connect with others, or teach.

what are the types of reminiscence?

• self focused: builds self concept, looks inwards

• other focused: looks at relationships

• knowledge based: effective problem solving strategies, teaching younger people

what is life review?

A deeper form of reminiscence with the goal of gaining greater self-understanding.

depression risk factors in late adulthood

• physical decline, chronic disease

• perceived negative health

• social isolation, lack of personal control

• women of advanced age unable to care for others

what is continuity theory?

Older adults try to maintain consistency in routines, roles, and activities that reflect their past lifestyle, helping them adjust to aging.

What is socioemotional selectivity theory?

As people age, they become more selective with social relationships, focusing on emotionally meaningful connections that bring comfort and joy.

What is the trend in divorce during late adulthood?

Divorce is still uncommon, but the rate is rising. Men often have a harder time adjusting than women.

How does dating and remarriage change with age?

• Dating declines in later life

• Men are more likely to date and remarry

• Older adults are more selective, but remarriages tend to be more stable

What are common cohabitation patterns in late adulthood?

• Cohabiting relationships are often stable

• Some couples choose “living apart together” as an alternative to cohabiting or marrying

elder maltreatment including risk factors & prevention

forms

• physical abuse

• physical neglect

• emotional abuse

• sexual abuse

• financial abuse

usually a trusted family member or caregiver

ways older adults realize their goals

• optimism and sense of self efficacy

• strengthening of self concept

• acceptance of change

• mature sense of spirituality and faith

• high quality relationship, social support

what are the five coping strategies in kubler-ross’ theory?

• denial

• anger

• bargaining

• depression

• acceptance