Tâm lý học - Chapter 15: Physical and cognitive development in middle adulthood

Chapter 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle AdulthoodLife-Span DevelopmentThirteenth Edition1Changing MidlifeAge Identity – as adults become older, their age identity is younger than their chronological ageAn increasing percentage of the population is made up of middle-aged and older adults“Rectangularization” of the age distributionThe Nature of Middle Adulthood2Defining Middle AdulthoodMiddle Adulthood: 40–45 years of age to about 60–65 years of ageDeclining physical skills and increasing responsibilityAwareness of the young-old polarityTransmitting something meaningful to the next generationReaching and maintaining career satisfactionThe Nature of Middle Adulthood3Defining Middle AdulthoodMiddle adulthood is the age period in which gains (growth) and losses (decline) balance each otherLate Midlife (55 to 65) is likely to be characterized by:Death of a parentLast child leaving the parental homeBecoming a grandparentPreparation for and actual retirementThe Nature of Middle Adulthood4Physical Changes:Visible SignsWrinkling and sagging of skinAppearance of aging spotsHair becomes thinner and grayerNails become thicker and more brittleYellowing of teethPhysical Development5Physical Changes:Height and WeightIndividuals lose height and gain weightBoth obesity and severe weight loss can pose health risksPhysical Development6Physical ChangesStrength, Joints, and BonesSarcopenia: age-related loss of muscle mass and strengthCushions for bone movement become less efficient, often leading to joint stiffness and more difficulty in movementProgressive bone lossPhysical Development7Physical ChangesVision and HearingAccommodation of the eye (ability to focus and maintain an image) experiences sharp declines between 40–59 yearsDifficulty viewing close objectsReduced blood supply decreases visual fieldHearing can start to decline by the age of 40High-pitched sounds are typically lost firstPhysical Development8Physical ChangesCardiovascular SystemHigh blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseaseMetabolic Syndrome: a condition characterized by hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistanceExercise, weight control, and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can often helpPhysical Development9Physical ChangesLungsLung tissue becomes less elastic at about age 55, decreasing the lung’s capacitySleepWakeful periods become more frequent in the 40’sLess deep sleep (stage 4)Physical Development10Physical DevelopmentPhysical Changes11Health and DiseaseChronic Disorders: a slow inset and a long durationRare in early adulthood but increase in middle ageStress and DiseaseThe Immune System and StressStress and the Cardiovascular SystemCulture and HealthPhysical Development12Mortality RatesChronic diseases are the main cause of death during middle adulthood Heart diseaseCancerIn 2005, cancer was the leading cause of death in 45–64-year-olds followed by cardiovascular diseasePhysical Development13SexualityClimacteric: the midlife transition in which fertility declinesMenopause: time in middle age (late 40s to early 50s) when a woman’s menstrual periods completely ceasePerimenopause: transitional period; often takes up to 10 yearsHeredity and experience influence the onset of menopausePhysical Development14SexualityMenopauseHot flashes, nausea, fatigue, and rapid heartbeatNot the negative experience it once wasHormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is controversial; long term use should be seriously reevaluatedPhysical Development15SexualityHormonal Changes in Middle-Aged MenModest decline in sexual hormone level and activityErectile Dysfunction: inability to achieve and maintain an erectionMay stem from physiological problemsSexual Attitudes and BehaviorSexual activity occurs less frequently than in early adulthoodMiddle-aged men are more interested in sex than middle-aged womenLiving with a spouse or partner makes all the difference in terms of engaging in sexual activityPhysical Development16Physical DevelopmentSexuality17IntelligenceCrystallized Intelligence: an individual’s accumulated information and verbal skillsContinues to increase in middle adulthoodFluid Intelligence: the ability to reason abstractlyMay begin to decline in middle adulthoodCognitive Development18Cognitive DevelopmentIntelligence19IntelligenceThe Seattle Longitudinal Study: study of intellectual abilities in adulthood years (Schaie)Peak performance on vocabulary, verbal ability, inductive reasoning, and spatial orientation was attained in middle ageDecline in numerical ability and perceptual speedCognitive Development20Cognitive DevelopmentIntelligenceInsert Figure 15.621Information ProcessingSpeed of Information ProcessingPerceptual speed begins declining in early adulthood and continues to decline in middle adulthoodExpertiseExpertise often shows up more in middle adulthood than in early adulthoodRely on accumulated experienceProcess information automatically and analyze it more efficientlyHave better strategies and shortcuts to solving problemsAre more creative and flexible in solving problemsCognitive Development22Information ProcessingMemoryVerbal memory declines during middle adulthood according to most researchersLinked to changes in working memory and ineffective memory strategiesPractical Problem SolvingRemains stable in early and middle adulthood, then declines in late adulthoodCognitive Development23Work in MidlifeThe role of work is central during middle ageIn the U.S., about 80% of people aged 40-59 years of age are employedA time of evaluation, assessment, and reflection about workCareers, Work, and Leisure24Work in MidlifeCurrent Challenges and ChangesCurrently, middle-aged workers face several challenges in the 21st centuryGlobalization and exporting of jobsRapid developments in information technologiesDownsizing organizationsEarly retirementPensions and health careCareers, Work, and Leisure25LeisurePleasant times after work when individuals are free to pursue activities and interests of their own choosingCompared with those who never took vacations, men who went on annual vacations were 21% less likely to die over the 9 years studied, and 32% less likely to die of coronary diseaseCareers, Work, and Leisure26Religion and Adult LivesMore than 70% of middle-aged adults are religious and consider spirituality a major part of their livesIncrease in spirituality tends to occur between late middle adulthood and late adulthoodWomen have consistently shown a stronger interest in religion than malesReligion and Meaning in Life27Religion and Meaning in LifeReligion and Adult Lives28Religion and HealthReligion is positively linked to healthFrankl (1984) identified the three most distinct human qualities as:SpiritualityFreedomResponsibilityReligion and Meaning in Life29Meaning in LifeBaumeister and Vohs (2002) argue that the quest for the meaning of life may be understood in terms of four main needs:Need for purposeNeed for valuesNeed for a sense of efficacyNeed for self-worthReligion and Meaning in Life30