Lifespan Development & Health Review

Lifespan Development & Health Overview

• Exam will cover Chapters 11-16 focusing on early, middle, and late adulthood.

• Bring a #2 pencil.

Physical, Cognitive and Socioemotional Development in Early Adulthood (Chapters 11 & 12)

• Emerging Adulthood Characteristics:

  • Key transition phase in life, typically between ages 18-25.

  • Involves exploration of identity and life choices.

• Stress & Depression:

  • Increased stress can lead to mental health issues.

• Markers of Adulthood:

  • Completing education, employment, financial independence, and family formation.

• Obesity in Early Adulthood:

  • Rising rates linked to lifestyle choices and sedentary behavior.

• Benefits of Physical Activity (PA):

  • Improves physical health, mental well-being, and cognitive function.

• Alcohol/Drinking:

  • Patterns of consumption and associated health risks.

• Cognitive Development:

  • Creativity: Often peaks in early adulthood.

• Male Mortality Changes:

  • Notable increase in mortality rates for men.

• Attachment Styles:

  • Define how romantic relationships are formed and maintained.

• Cohabitation and Relationships:

  • Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love:

  • Types of Love: Passion, intimacy, commitment.

  • Importance of balance in relationships.

• Gender Differences in Friendships:

  • Differences in communication styles and emotional sharing.

• Leading Causes of Death:

  • Unintentional injuries, followed by chronic conditions.

• Erikson’s Stage for Early Adulthood:

  • Intimacy vs. Isolation - Importance of forming deep relationships.

Physical, Cognitive and Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood (Chapters 13 & 14)

• Physical Changes:

  • Notable changes in height, weight, and physical strength.

  • Declines in vision and joint functionality.

• Spirituality:

  • Increased interest as one ages.

• Gender Differences in Stress Response:

  • Males and females respond differently to stress and health risks.

• Chronic Health Disorders:

  • Conditions become more prevalent, including cardiovascular diseases.

• Leading Causes of Death:

  • Chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, stroke.

• Menopause:

  • Significant hormonal changes, physical and emotional effects.

• Mid-life Crisis:

  • Psychological phase characterized by self-reflection and change.

• Crystallized vs. Fluid Intelligence:

  • Crystallized: Accumulated knowledge and skills.

  • Fluid: Ability to reason and solve new problems.

• Peak Intelligences & Loss:

  • Seattle Longitudinal Study notes patterns of cognitive change.

• Generativity:

  • Focus on nurturing and guiding the next generation.

• Costa & McCrae’s Baltimore Study - Big 5 Factors:

  • Neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.

• Man’s Search for Meaning:

  • Victor Frankl: Importance of finding purpose in life.

• Valliant’s Studies:

  • Health behaviors at age 50 impact health at 75/80.

• Reasons for Divorce at Midlife:

  • Factors include lack of intimacy and communication issues.

• Parenting Styles:

  • Issues with lawnmower and helicopter parenting.

• Erikson’s Stage for Middle Adulthood:

  • Generativity vs. Stagnation - Importance of contributing to society.

Physical, Cognitive and Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood (Chapters 15 & 16)

• Centenarians and Supercentenarians:

  • Studying those living beyond 100 years.

• Biological Theories of Aging:

  • Theories explaining the biological processes that lead to aging.

• Changes in the Aging Brain:

  • Structural and functional changes impacting cognition.

• Visible Changes:

  • Skin, hair, and body shape changes.

• Common Health Issues:

  • Includes arthritis, osteoporosis, and diseases of the eye.

• Leading Causes of Death:

  • Chronic diseases and conditions prevalent among the older population.

• Benefits of Physical Activity and Nutrition:

  • Enhances quality of life and overall health.

• Memory Types:

  • Implicit Memory: Unconscious memory for skills and tasks.

  • Explicit Memory: Information that requires conscious thought.

• Work, Retirement, and Aging:

  • Adjustments in lifestyle and identity during retirement.

• Gender Differences in Health and Mortality:

  • Variations in health outcomes and life expectancy.

• Cognitive Decline:

  • Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease.

• Erikson’s Last Stage:

  • Integrity vs. Despair - Reflecting on life with a sense of fulfillment or regret.

• Activity Theory:

  • Remaining active leads to more satisfying late adulthood.

• Selectivity Theory:

  • Older adults prioritize meaningful social interactions.

• Life Review:

  • Reflecting on life experiences and their meaning.

• Ageism, Sexism, Racism in Late Adulthood:

  • Prejudices faced by older adults.

• Social Support:

  • Importance of community and family connections.

• Factors Associated with Successful Aging:

  • Health, family relationships, and community involvement.

• Types of Aging:

  • Differences between usual and successful aging.

• Reminiscence Therapy:

  • Therapeutic approach utilizing memories to improve well-being.

• Costa & McCrae’s Baltimore Study - Big 5 Factors:

  • Continued associations with health outcomes and disease prevalence.

The lifespan development and health overview encompasses the various stages of human growth and the associated physical, cognitive, and socioemotional changes. Here is a breakdown of the key aspects covered in the textbook across the following chapters:

Physical, Cognitive, and Socioemotional Development in Early Adulthood (Chapters 11 & 12)

• Emerging Adulthood Characteristics:
  Key transition phase in life, typically between ages 18-25, marked by exploration of identity and life choices.

• Stress & Depression:
  Increased stress during this time can lead to mental health issues, influencing overall well-being.

• Markers of Adulthood:
  Important milestones such as completing education, achieving employment, financial independence, and family formation signify the transition into adulthood.

• Obesity in Early Adulthood:
  Rising rates linked to lifestyle choices and sedentary behavior, directly impacting health outcomes.

• Benefits of Physical Activity (PA):
  Engaging in regular physical activity improves physical health, mental well-being, and cognitive functioning.

• Alcohol/Drinking:
  Patterns of consumption and potential health risks related to alcohol use are examined.

• Cognitive Development:
  Creativity often peaks in early adulthood, showcasing the cognitive capabilities at this stage.

• Male Mortality Changes:
  An observed increase in mortality rates for men during early adulthood highlights health concerns.

• Attachment Styles:
  These styles define how romantic relationships are formed and maintained, playing a crucial role in socioemotional development.

• Cohabitation and Relationships:
  Understanding relationships through Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love, which identifies types of love (passion, intimacy, and commitment) and emphasizes the importance of balance in relationships.

• Gender Differences in Friendships:
  There are notable differences in communication styles and emotional sharing between genders.

• Leading Causes of Death:
  Unintentional injuries and chronic conditions are prevalent causes of mortality in early adulthood.

• Erikson’s Stage for Early Adulthood:
  The focus during this stage is on Intimacy vs. Isolation, highlighting the importance of forming deep relationships.

Physical, Cognitive, and Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood (Chapters 13 & 14)

• Physical Changes:
  Individuals experience notable changes in height, weight, physical strength, and a decline in vision and joint functionality.

• Spirituality:
  As individuals age, an increased interest in spirituality often develops, influencing their worldview.

• Gender Differences in Stress Response:
  Males and females exhibit different responses to stress, affecting health risks.

• Chronic Health Disorders:
  An increase in prevalence of chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, during this life stage.

• Leading Causes of Death:
  Predominantly chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

• Menopause:
  The onset of menopause signifies significant hormonal changes with both physical and emotional effects.

• Mid-life Crisis:
  A psychological phase characterized by self-reflection and potential changes in life direction.

• Crystallized vs. Fluid Intelligence:

  • Crystallized: Accumulated knowledge and skills.

  • Fluid: Ability to reason and solve new problems, which may decline with age.

• Peak Intelligences & Loss:
  Insights from the Seattle Longitudinal Study identify patterns of cognitive change in middle adulthood.

• Generativity:
  This stage focuses on nurturing and guiding the next generation as a central theme of development.

• Costa & McCrae’s Baltimore Study - Big 5 Factors:
  Examining the impact of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness on personality.

• Man’s Search for Meaning:
  Victor Frankl emphasizes the importance of finding purpose in life as a motivator during middle adulthood.

• Valliant’s Studies:
  Findings indicate that health behaviors at age 50 significantly impact health outcomes at ages 75-80.

• Reasons for Divorce at Midlife:
  Common factors include lack of intimacy and communication issues in relationships.

• Parenting Styles:
  Addressing modern parenting challenges, such as lawnmower and helicopter parenting styles, in relation to child development.

• Erikson’s Stage for Middle Adulthood:
  Defined by Generativity vs. Stagnation, emphasizing contributions to society.

Physical, Cognitive, and Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood (Chapters 15 & 16)

• Centenarians and Supercentenarians:
  Research focused on individuals living beyond 100 years old, contributing to knowledge about aging.

• Biological Theories of Aging:
  Various theories explaining biological processes that lead to aging indicators and effects.

• Changes in the Aging Brain:
  Structural and functional changes that occur, impacting memory and cognitive functions.

• Visible Changes:
  Discussing skin, hair, and body shape changes common in late adulthood.

• Common Health Issues:
  Health challenges faced by older adults include arthritis, osteoporosis, and diseases affecting vision.

• Leading Causes of Death:
  Chronic diseases dominate the mortality statistics among older populations.

• Benefits of Physical Activity and Nutrition:
  Good nutrition and physical activity are shown to enhance the quality of life and overall health.

• Memory Types:

  • Implicit Memory: Unconscious memory for skills and tasks.

  • Explicit Memory: Information that requires conscious thought to recall.

• Work, Retirement, and Aging:
  Adjustments in lifestyle and identity that occur during retirement, impacting social and familial roles.

• Gender Differences in Health and Mortality:
  Exploring variations in health outcomes and life expectancy between genders.

• Cognitive Decline:
  Issues like dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease are prevalent.

• Erikson’s Last Stage:
  Integrity vs. Despair focuses on reflecting on life with a sense of fulfillment or lingering regrets.

• Activity Theory:
  Suggests that remaining active is vital for a satisfying late adulthood experience.

• Selectivity Theory:
  Older adults may prioritize more meaningful social interactions as they age.

• Life Review:
  The process of reflecting on life experiences to derive meaning from them is an important aspect of this stage.

• Ageism, Sexism, Racism in Late Adulthood:
  Discussing the prejudices experienced by older adults in society and its implications.

• Social Support:
  Emphasizes the importance of community and family connections for psychological well-being.

• Factors Associated with Successful Aging:
  Highlighting the roles of health, family relationships, and community involvement in promoting successful aging outcomes.

• Types of Aging:
  Differences between usual aging, which may involve decline, and successful aging, characterized by vitality.

• Reminiscence Therapy:
  A therapeutic approach that utilizes memories to enhance well-being.

• Costa & McCrae’s Baltimore Study - Big 5 Factors:
  Studies continue to reflect associations between these personality factors and health outcomes into late adulthood.