DevPsych - Ch 15

What is the age range for middle adulthood?

40–65 years.

What are two key characteristics of middle adulthood?

Gradual physical decline but increased experience/wisdom to compensate.

What is presbyopia?

Age-related farsightedness that begins in the 40s.

What is presbycusis?

Age-related hearing loss, especially for high-pitched sounds and in noisy settings.

What causes vision decline in midlife?

Cornea flattening, lens yellowing, pupil shrinkage, and loss of rods and cones.

Why does hearing loss tend to be more rapid in men?

Due to greater noise exposure over the lifespan.

How does skin age in middle adulthood?

Epidermis loosens from dermis, hypodermis loses fat (causing wrinkles), and sun exposure accelerates aging.

Why do women's skin tend to age faster than men's?

Thinner dermis and estrogen decline after menopause.

When does muscle mass and strength peak, and when does decline accelerate?

Peak in the 20s; decline accelerates after age 40.

What type of strength is maintained longer in midlife?

Isometric strength.

When does bone loss typically begin, and when does it increase significantly?

Begins around age 40; increases after age 50, especially in women (osteoporosis risk).

What is the average age of menopause?

Around 51 years (range 42–58).

What is perimenopause?

The transition period leading to menopause, marked by symptoms like hot flashes and erratic periods.

What is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and what is its trade-off?

Treatment to reduce menopause symptoms; can help but carries health risks.

How do cultural views influence the experience of menopause?

Some non-Western cultures view menopause more positively, affecting symptom experience.

Is there a male equivalent to menopause?

No; men experience gradual testosterone decline but no abrupt “male menopause.”

What is the trend in men's fertility during midlife?

Fertility decreases gradually, but most men remain fertile.

What are the top three causes of death in middle adulthood?

Cancer, heart disease, and unintentional injuries (e.g., opioid overdose).

What are "deaths of despair"?

Increased mortality in low-SES, rural white adults, often due to suicide, overdose, or alcohol-related disease.

How do cancer rates differ by sex in midlife?

Men: lung, prostate, colorectal; Women: lung, breast, colorectal.

What is the most common type of cancer overall?

Skin cancer.

What are the main components of cardiovascular disease?

Hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.

How do heart attack symptoms differ between men and women?

Women are less likely to report classic chest pain.

What is a key lifestyle strategy to prevent cardiovascular disease?

Don’t smoke, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy diet, and manage stress.

Which populations have higher rates of Type II diabetes?

African American, Mexican American, and Indigenous populations.

What is "hardiness"?

A personality trait characterized by control, commitment, and challenge, which buffers stress and improves health.

What is crystallized intelligence?

Accumulated knowledge and skills, which increase with age.

What is fluid intelligence?

Processing speed and abstract reasoning, which decline from the 20s onward.

What did the Seattle Longitudinal Study reveal about IQ across generations?

Cohort effects show IQ gains each generation (Flynn effect) due to education, nutrition, healthcare, and technology.

Which cognitive abilities decline in midlife?

Divided attention, inhibition, switching focus, working memory, and processing speed.

What helps compensate for memory decline in midlife?

Use of strategies like organization and elaboration.

What is Selective Optimization with Compensation?

A strategy focusing on strengths and adapting to losses to maintain performance.

Why are cognitive declines more evident in lab tests than in real life?

Experience, motivation, and task relevance improve real-world performance.

How does job satisfaction change in midlife?

Increases with age; shifts from extrinsic rewards (pay) to intrinsic rewards (meaning).

What is job burnout?

Physical and emotional exhaustion common in high-stress helping professions.

At what age does age discrimination often begin in the workplace?

Around age 50.

Who tends to report more workplace discrimination in midlife?

Women and people of color.

What is a common financial issue for many middle-aged adults regarding retirement?

Most are underprepared financially.

What improves retirement adjustment and life satisfaction?

Planning ahead.

Who conducted the Seattle Longitudinal Study?

K. Warner Schaie.

What is the Flynn Effect?

The rise in average IQ scores across generations.

Who developed Selective Optimization with Compensation?

Baltes & Carstensen.

What is osteoporosis?

A condition of weakened bones, more common in women after menopause.

What is the key difference between fluid and crystallized intelligence?

Fluid intelligence declines; crystallized intelligence increases or remains stable.

Name three components of hardiness.

Control, commitment, challenge.

What is expertise?

Deep knowledge in a specific domain that can compensate for cognitive declines.

Define age discrimination in the workplace.

Unfair treatment based on age, illegal but common after age 50.