PSYO220 Final

at what age does the decrease of grey matter in the brain level off?

60

the volume of cerebrospinal fluid (decreases/increases) over the lifespan

increases

climacteric

the years of middle or late adulthood in both men and women during which reproductive capacity declines or is lost.

menopause

the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines

perimenopausal phase

estrogen levels decrease and women experience more extreme variations in the timing of their menstrual cycles. In addition, about 75% of women experience hot flashes, sudden sensations of feeling hot.

premenopausal phase

the stage of menopause during which estrogen levels fall somewhat, menstrual periods are less regular, and anovulatory cycles begin to occur

postmenopausal phase

estradiol and estrone, both types of estrogen, drop to about one-quarter or less of their premenopausal levels. Progesterone decreases even more.

presbyopia

farsightedness caused by loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye, occurring typically in middle and old age.

presbycusis

a gradual loss of sensorineural hearing that occurs as the body ages

A fairly consistent finding from research on the brain is that in middle-aged adults,

cognitive tasks activate a larger area of brain tissue than they do in younger adults.

Suzanne is a woman in her early 50s. She's noticed that her menstrual cycles have become more and more irregular, with increasing amounts of time between them. She experiences instances of forgetfulness, confusion, and emotional mood swings. Often, she awakens feeling extremely hot in the middle of the night and is unable to fall back to sleep. Suzanne is most likely experiencing

perimenopause

During middle adulthood, the great majority of middle-aged adults

remain sexually active, although the frequency of sex declines somewhat.

Jerry is 50 years old. Lately, he is finding it more difficult to read the newspaper (the words are blurry). It sounds like Jerry is beginning to notice the effects of

presbyopia

Lifetime probability of developing cancer

men: 45% women: 42%

lifetime probability of dying of cancer

men: 29% women: 24%

most common type of cancer death

lung cancer (27%)

Atherosclerosis

condition in which fatty deposits called plaque build up on the inner walls of the arteries and cause them to harden

type a personality health risks

higher levels of cholesterol, higher risk of CVD

type d personality

people who experience emotions that include anxiety, irritation, and depressed mood

rate of death of heart disease for Canadian men between ages 45-54

101/100,000

rate of death of heart disease for Canadian women between ages 45-54

35/100,000

When summarizing the findings from research on age-related changes in health and physical exercise, researchers concluded that

a causal connection is evident between longevity and level of physical exercise.

One of the tolls that alcoholism takes on middle-aged adults is

damage in the brain causing impairments in memory and language functions.

selective optimization with compensation

The theory, developed by Paul and Margaret Baltes, that people try to maintain a balance in their lives by looking for the best way to compensate for physical and cognitive losses and to become more proficient in activities they can already do well.

when does creativity peak

late 30s-mid 40s

Research seems to show that, as we age, we use __________________ to balance the demands of competing tasks and to select one skill that can be improved by exercising as much as possible.

selective optimization with compensation

Young adults differ more from middle-aged adults with respect to

new episodic memories than to semantic memories.

Which cognitive function tends to improve in middle age?

verbal abilities

Daniel Goleman described the creative process as having four stages:

preparation, incubation, illumination, and translation.

Which of the statement best summarizes the current research on menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) for menopause?

The use of MHT should be approached cautiously and should be symptom-specific.

Middle-aged Canadian men are more likely to _______, while women are more likely to _______.

die from disease; suffer from non-fatal chronic ailments

What is the central physiological process of cardiovascular disease?

artherosclerosis

Canadian _______ report improved mental health with increasing age.

men and women

A review of the research findings on cognitive change in middle adulthood reveals that _______.

mental processes get slower, but actual losses are small

generativity-versus-stagnation stage

According to Erikson, a period in middle adulthood during which we take stock of our contributions to family and society.

generativity

the desire, in middle age, to use one's accumulated wisdom to guide future generations. more common in middle-aged women than middle-aged men

In order to achieve a sense of generativity, an individual must

turn outward from a preoccupation with self.

From research into the idea of a mid-life crisis, the overall conclusion is that

some unique stresses and tasks occur at mid-life, but they do not overwhelm an adult's coping resources any more than at other ages.

Paula, a middle-aged woman, has faced numerous setbacks throughout her life: while still in her twenties, she divorced. She unexpectedly lost her job shortly after, and soon after that, she had to deal with the deaths of her parents. She managed to deal with these challenges, showing true resilience. Whitbourne would describe Paula's life pathway as

The Triumphant Trail.

The theoretical perspective on middle adulthood that focuses on normative and non-normative events and how adults in this age group respond to them is called the _________________ approach.

life events

skilled diplomacy

an approach to solving problems that involves confrontation of the spouse about an issue, followed by a period during which the confronting spouse works to restore harmony.

multigenerational caregivers

middle-aged adults who provide assistance to their parents and adult children at the same time; represents 30% of Canadian caregivers

caregiver burden

the extent to which caregivers believe that their emotional balance, physical health, social life, and financial status suffer because of their caregiver role

boomerang generation

young adults who move back into their parents' homes after living independently for a while

skip generation family

a family living situation in which children live with their grandparents and not their parents

companionate relationship grandparenting

The most common pattern is when grandparents have frequent contact and warm interactions with grandchildren.

remote relationships (grandparents)

The next most common pattern is when grandparents do not see their grandchildren, often due to remoteness caused by physical distance.

involved relationships (grandparents)

The least common pattern is when grandparents are directly involved in the everyday care of grandchildren or have close emotional ties with them.

During middle adulthood, many of the family life responsibilities that mean giving assistance in both directions of the generational chain have become

known as a mid-life squeeze, which in turn creates "the sandwich generation."

In middle adulthood, the total number of friendships

is lower than in young adulthood, but the friendships are as intimate and close as those at a younger age.

When researchers studied personality change across the lifespan, they found that

the five major traits of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism remained fairly stable throughout a person's life.

burnout

a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion created by long-term involvement in an emotionally demanding situation and accompanied by lowered performance and motivation

selection

Workers narrow their range of activities—for example, by focusing on only the most central tasks, delegating more responsibilities to others, or giving up or reducing peripheral job activities.

Optimization

Workers deliberately "exercise" crucial abilities—such as by taking added training or polishing rusty skills—so as to remain as close to maximum skill levels as possible.

compensation

Workers adopt pragmatic strategies for overcoming specific obstacles—for example, getting stronger glasses or hearing aids, making lists to reduce memory loads, or even carefully emphasizing strengths and minimizing weaknesses when talking to co-workers or bosses.

wealth builders in retirement

(31%) intend to spend their spare time finding new ways to make money and building on the wealth that they have already accumulated

anxious idealists in retirement

(20%) would like to do volunteer work and give money to charity after they retire, but they recognize that their tendency toward impracticality has left them with insufficient economic resources to do either

empowered trailblazers in retirement

(18%) expect to spend time travelling, taking classes, and doing volunteer work, and they believe that they are financially secure enough to meet these goals

stretched and stressed boomers in retirement

(18%) are in deep trouble financially, and they are well aware of it. Most are worried about how they will be able to pay for basic necessities such as food and health care.

leisure lifers in retirement

(13%) intend to spend most of their time engaging in recreational pursuits and are geared toward very early retirement in their early to mid-50s.

In middle adulthood,

promotions reach a plateau, but job satisfaction is still typically at its peak.

Middle-aged adults maintain high job productivity or performance because they engage in a process that Paul and Margaret Baltes call

selective optimization with compensation.

Adults who are involuntarily unemployed

experience heightened levels of anxiety and depression and higher risk of physical illness in the months after the job loss.

Georgina is a middle-aged woman who volunteers as a tour guide at the local art museum and at the Museum of Asian Culture. She does this because she believes that the arts are an important part of culture and must be preserved and passed on to future generations. What term would Vaillant apply to Georgina?

keeper of the meaning

Whitbourne's 40-year longitudinal study of psychosocial development affirmed that

across adulthood, at least through to mid-life, there are five life pathways of adaptation.

When a couple has learned which strategies work best when resolving disagreements, and therefore sense that they have control of the relationship, they have accomplished what?

marital self-efficacy

Which of the following is not a true statement regarding the "empty nest"?

Women are likely to respond with symptoms of depression and stress.

What are the cumulative negative effects to the caregiver that are associated with caregiving collectively termed?

caregiver burden

The Fowler family lives in a duplex. Grandma Fowler lives in one half and Mr. and Mrs. Fowler and their children in the other half. Every day when the children get off of the school bus, Grandma meets them and prepares their afternoon snack. She helps them with their homework until their parents get home from work. What kind of relationship does Grandma Fowler have with her grandchildren?

involved

Which of the Big Five traits are likely to decline as adults age?

openness, extraversion, neuroticism

Edward drags himself to work every day. He no longer finds his work interesting or rewarding, but he doesn't believe he has any options other than to continue in his present position. Moreover, he thinks that his boss and co-workers do not appreciate the quality of his work. George seems to be experiencing

burnout

Orland, age 50, has always been the top seller in her real estate company. Nonetheless, she never rests on her laurels. Three times a year, she attends workshops on salesmanship, closing, and real estate law. Baltes and Baltes would suggest that Orland is using which strategy?

optimization

Lauren used to work as a customer service agent in the call centre of a large corporation. Recently, the company decided to go to an automated customer help system in which computers answer calls and refer callers to the company's website. Lauren was laid off, making her what the text would call

an involuntary career changer.

The findings of Ken Dychtwald in a survey of more than 3000 Baby Boomers about their retirement plans reflect that

Most plan to work into retirement, but to combine paid work with other pursuits.

gerontology

study of the aging process

Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

They plan to track 50 000 Canadians aged 45 to 85 for at least 20 years. The researchers will be looking at factors that affect how adults age, why some people stay healthy as they get older and others develop health problems, and the life-changing events people face as they get older and how they cope.

the estimated maximum lifespan is

120 years

octogenarian

person in his or her eighties

estimated typical lifespan is

79.4 for men; 83.6 for women

Hayflick limit

The number of times a human cell is capable of dividing into two new cells. The limit for most human cells is approximately 50 divisions, an indication that the life span is limited by our genetic program.

telomeres

DNA at the tips of chromosomes; stop signal

telomerase

an enzyme that restores telomeres to the ends of their chromosomes, ensuring that these cells can continue to replicate themselves

cross-linkage theory of aging

over time, protein fibers that make up the body's connective tissue form bonds, or links, with one another. When these normally separate fibers cross-link, tissue becomes less elastic, leading to many negative outcomes

free radicals

Unstable molecules that cause biochemical aging, especially wrinkling and sagging of the skin.

functional status

a person's actual performance of activities and tasks associated with current life roles

activities of daily living

The basic activities a person usually accomplishes during a normal day, such as eating, dressing, and bathing.

instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)

tasks necessary to conduct the business of daily life and also requiring some cognitive competence, such as telephoning, shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, and paying bills

frail elderly

People over age 65, and often over age 85, who are physically infirm, very ill, or cognitively disabled.

The fastest growing segment of the population in Canada is

the oldest old (over age 85).

Genetic influences on longevity

are minimal before the age of 60, but increase thereafter.

_________________ is the single largest factor determining the trajectory of an adult's physical and mental status over the years beyond age 65.

health

four main changes that occur in the brain during adult years

reduction of brain weight, a loss of grey matter, a decline in the density of dendrites, and slower synaptic transmission speed

dendritic pruning in middle and late adulthood results in

a loss of useful dendritic connections

synaptic plasticity

the redundancy in the nervous system that ensures that it is nearly always possible for a nerve impulse to move from one neuron to another or from a neuron to another type of cell

occurrence rate of cataracts in older populations

1/5

occurrence rate of glaucoma in older populations

6%

macular degeneration

breakdown or thinning of the tissues in the macula, resulting in partial or complete loss of central vision

first stage of hearing loss

high and low frequency

second stage of hearing loss

word discrimination

tinnitus

ringing or buzzing in the ears