PSYC1030 Quiz 4 Later Life Development

Why is 65 the agreed upon "old age"

Germany was first country to set up old aged pensions in the 1880's and common age of death 65-70

Why do we have an aging population

-Medical breakthroughs
-Improvements in public health
-Better nutrition
-Better understanding of diseases
-Preventative mechanisms
-Protective factors with respect to illness
-Less children being born

What is gerontology

The science of aging

What is filial piety

Duty and responsibility to older generation in Asian culture

What is a super centenarian

110+

Limit of human life span

120

Categorizing ages

65-75: Young old
75-85: Old old
85 + Oldest old

Life expectancy

Globally: Males 66, Females 71
Australia: Males 81, Females 85
USA: Males 77, Females 82

Africa life expectancy difference compared to global:

30 years less due to HIV

Why do you have an enhanced life span >60

-Children in developing world die <5
-Congenital conditions, shorten lifespan.
-High-risk occupations

What age is the fastest growing age group

75*

Is aging a linear phenomenon ?

No

In Canadian Aboriginals what age is the fastest growing segment of the population

>55

In 2014, American Indian and Alaskan's made up 0.5% of the older population
in the USA., how much projected by 2060

Almost 1%.

Indigenous global aging population statistics (including Aboriginal aussies)

-6% of global population
-5000 Groups over 70 countries
0.7% Aboriginal Aussies 65+

Statistics of 65+ Caucasian and Aboriginals

4% Aboriginal and Torres strait 65+
12% Caucasian 65+

Sociodemographics

Aussie VS USA

57% married (55)
26% widowed (28)
12% separated (13)
5% never married (4)

Percentage of >60 living in community in developed countries

92-95%
(5-8% nursing home)

What is a good predictor of voting patterns, religion and social interaction when older

What you were like when younger.

Cohen's stages of aging and the associated ages

-Midlife evaluation phase: 40-60
-Liberation phase: 60-70
-Summing up phase: 70-80
-Encore phase: 80-100

Midlife evaluation phase

Career change due to mastery

Liberation phase

Retirement

Summing up phase and Encore phase

Give back, produce, create, meaning, contribution, legacy

Changes in brain development supporting Cohen's theory of aging stages

Corpus collosum more interconnected

Percentage of elderly with contact from family and friends

-94% weekly
-5% Infrequent
-1% None

What factors shape romantic relationships in later life

-Maintaining independence
-Economic factors
-Family and friends
-Health care concerns

Benefits of adequate social support in older age

-50% more likely to survive

-Comparable to quitting smoking
-Greater benefit than cease obesity and increased exercise

Socio-economical selectivity

-Active pruning of social networks
-Energy and time put into meaningful relationships
-Due to being time limited
-Strategic

Define personality traits

Relatively enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, behaviours

Does your personality change over time

Yes personality traits change throughout life

Best indicator of personality later in life is what

Personality earlier in life

Big five high and low scores for elderly

-High scores: Agreeableness, Conscientiousness

-Low: Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness

Which personality trait is associated with better mental health

Agreeableness

What age is extraversion commonly present

Amongst centenarians

Life satisfaction statistics

77% all people
83% 65-75
73% 45-64

3 success factors for successful aging (Rowe and Kahn)

-Avoid disease and disability
-Cognitive and physical function
-Social engagement with life

Selection optimisation and compensation theory involves active choices to facilitate aging successfully, define:

-Selection: Identifying, prioritising and achieving goals

-Optimisation: Maximising performance to facilitate success

-Compensation: Adapting to interference with goals

Aging is best viewed from what perspective

Life span perspective