chap 25 Late Adulthood: Self, Relationships & Well-Being

Multidimensional construct: how old one feels and age-group one identifies with.
After $40$ , adults feel ≈20% younger than chronological age; increases with advancing age.
Younger subjective age → greater life satisfaction, wellness, longevity, better health.

Big Five longitudinal findings (ages $50–80$ ):
- Emotional stability increases.
- Agreeableness rises modestly.
- Conscientiousness rises to ≈ $75$ , then slowly declines.
Overall: personality is stable but not static; small, positive changes occur.

Self-evaluations become domain-specific (e.g., health, cognition) rather than global.
Possible selves framework: future-oriented self-images support optimism and adjustment.
Multifaceted view buttresses self-acceptance and Eriksonian ego integrity.

Retirement = loss of income, work relationships, and work-based identity.
If retirement is from something (escape) rather than to something (purpose), self-esteem may suffer.
Internally motivated, planned retirements → greater growth, lifestyle continuity, meaning.

Late adulthood marked by pruning of social networks; preference for close, emotionally meaningful ties.
Socio-emotional Selectivity Theory (Carstensen): limited time horizon → prioritize positive interactions.
Social support correlates with physical/mental health and life satisfaction.
Older adults often feel less lonely than younger adults.
Spousal loss: ≈ $60\%$ of women & $22\%$ of men in mid-70s are widowed.

Religious service attendance increases in late adulthood (until mobility limits).
Belief in God: > $65\%$ of adults $65+$ deem religion very important.
Strong spirituality outcomes: higher optimism, self-esteem, life satisfaction, well-being, meaning amid loss.

Life Review (Butler): systematic reminiscence to evaluate, integrate, and find meaning.
Erikson’s Stage 8: Ego Integrity vs. Ego Despair
- Ego Integrity: coherence, acceptance of successes & failures, sense of life’s value; linked to self-acceptance, family ties, community, readiness for death.
- Ego Despair: preoccupation with regrets, wrong choices, fear of death; manifests as anger, bitterness.

LS = cognitive arm of SWB; global appraisal of life.
Paradox of well-being: high LS despite health decline.
- Explanations: Goal-adjustment, SOC model (Selection–Optimization–Compensation), maintaining growth-related goals.
Primary control (change environment) declines; older adults excel at secondary control (adjust aspirations, reframe goals).

Older adults display attentional bias toward positive stimuli and memories.
Outcomes: Increased gratitude, reduced regret, lower anger/anxiety; contributes to resilience.

Life Review Therapy: Structured reflection emphasizing strengths; boosts purpose, reduces depression.
Role Adjustment: Retirement as role expansion; channel skills into volunteering/mentoring.
Social Network Facilitation: Advocate for community programs, groups, hobbies; encourage volunteering.
Cultural Competence: Recognize heterogeneity; avoid monolithic stereotypes.

Subjective age younger than chronological ⇒ higher LS, wellness, cognition.
Late adulthood Big Five: ↑ agreeableness & conscientiousness; ↑ emotional stability.
Self-concept becomes multifaceted; evaluation by specific domains.
Social & emotional selectivity → smaller yet richer networks; support = health & LS buffer.
Life review mediates Erikson’s crisis; ego integrity yields wholeness, despair yields bitterness.
LS influenced by health, SES, vitality, meaningful engagement; paradox of maintained SWB.
Positivity effect enables resilience.

Aging is partly a matter of perspective; mindset shapes outcomes.
Adjusting goals and embracing flexibility are central adaptive strategies.
Counselors, healthcare providers, and policy makers should facilitate opportunities for