NO quiz in Unit 9 Your final project is due at the end of Unit 9 ALL work MUST be submitted NO later than

______________

Middle adulthood: considered 35-60 yrs old

Relatively new concept since only half of all Americans who reached age 20 in the early 1900’s reached 65 years of age

What are some terms associated with midlife?

Midlife is often characterized as a time of questioning and internal focus

Adults at midlife are typically characterized by a new perspective of who they are and about their world, including: A new definition of self New expectations about what they want to

accomplish New satisfactions in living

Men are usually focused on their one primary role (father, worker, spouse, etc.)

Women may deal with role strain and conflict as they are often juggling multiple roles (wife, mother, daughter, worker, etc.)

Fear and anxiety can be prominent in midlife, and can affect the well-being of midlife adults

Why? How?

Well-being is normally defined as “a person’s emotional and psychological capacity to cope with environmental demands”

What are middle aged adults worried about? Men and women express fear of death and being alone at

midlife They often consider the impact of loosing their professional

abilities, and fear job loss Women fear – loss of sense of desirability Men fear the loss of sexual prowess

Such fears can turn into anxiety Women may begin to have increased anxiety

following the early stages of menopause Men are socialized to believe that age leads to

impotence and decreased influence and power

Generativity – reaching out to others in ways that guide future generations Generative individuals place themselves in roles that involve

caring and giving in meaningful ways to those who will outlive them

Middle aged adults may feel a sense of stagnation because they feel their interpersonal relationships and/or work have no meaning (Hoyer, 2003)

Most middle age adults are less fit, and some have dealt with life-threatening events, such as cancer or heart disease (leading cause of death in middle age)

Increasing evidence that such illnesses may not be purely physiological in nature

Stress is linked to physical illness; may have an effect on how illness affects an individual

One study discovered that physical shape in addition to personality factors – such as being Type A or Type B personality – influenced the course of heart disease

Type A Personality: impatience, competitiveness, and sometimes hostile perfectionism Cynical hostility: characterized by angry outbursts,

disagreeable behavior, and criticism and feelings of contempt toward others

Type B Personality: relaxed, easygoing, and generally amicable Type B personalities are less easily agitated than

Type A personalities

Recent research suggests that cynical hostility is likely key factor leading to health problems

One of the biggest health fears for women

Women who live up to age 85+ have 1 in 9 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime

Women age 30 have 1 in 2,500 chance of developing breast cancer

Risk factors: family history of breast cancer first period before age 12 or menopause after 50 being childless or having first child after 30 being overweight having sedentary life style eating a diet high in fat and drinking alcohol

PREVENTION, PREVENTION, PREVENTION!self examsyearly GYN checkupsmammograms

1 in 5 American men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime

Most men shy away from discussing prostate disease

WHY??

Communication styles: Men shy away from discussions about their health They are not comfortable talking about their problems let

alone a problem that involves a gland that produces seminal fluid and affects urinary flow

Many prefer not to undergo the digital rectal exam – the traditional test for detection

The American Cancer Society estimated that almost 50,000 men die each year from prostate cancer, about the same number as women who die from breast cancer

More men are afflicted with prostate cancer because they are living longer, into their 70s & 80s (when the disease is usually diagnosed)

Because prostate cancer takes an average of a decade to develop symptoms, men either take a “watchful waiting” approach or receive treatment

When a woman has not experienced a menstrual cycle for one year it’s a gradual process average age is 51 years old

Ovaries stop functioning & no longer produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone

Women who smoke and are childless are more likely to reach menopause earlier

Before menopause Symptom: irregular periods

During menopause Symptoms: periods stop, hot flashes, insomnia,

psychological effects (e.g., irritability, short-term memory loss, concentration problems)

After menopause Estrogen loss: changes in nervous system, dry skin

and hair, incontinence (bladder control problems), vaginal dryness, bone loss, cardiovascular changes

greater risk of osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of bones) and heart disease

True or false?

Men go through menopause.

TRUE!!!

Andropause (male menopause): testosterone production declines gradually with age, but change is minimal

Midlife adults seek more meaning in life & are interested in communication on a deeper level

“Life review” process – they reflect on how to mend or make better their relationships

By midlife, many people have accumulated a history of harms from people with whom they have had close relationships

Forgiveness is an essential mechanism for righting such wrongs

Studies are beginning to support the social and psychological benefits of forgiveness

Many people aren’t at peace with themselves for not asking for forgiveness, or remain angry at themselves for not being able to forgive

The process of forgiveness may lead to the emergence of a new self – can be liberating

Mental health benefits – decrease in anxiety, depression, and hostility, & increase in hope, self-esteem, and existential well-being

Four stages of the forgiveness process1. Uncovering the anger 3. Working on forgiveness2. Deciding to forgive 4. Discovery and release

20% of adults are functionally illiterate in U.S. They cannot read and write well enough to participate

in society – which can result in lower paying jobs and poverty

Functional literacy: a sixth-grade reading level Illiteracy afflicts mainly people who are poor,

uneducated, undereducated, and minorities They may have completed elementary school, or may

have even received a high school diploma Functionally illiterate adults are often embarrassed

about it, and hide their inability to read and write

60% of partners who divorce have children and become single parents

within 5 yrs 3/4 of single parent families become blended families

more than 33% of all US children are expected to live in a stepfamily before reaching 18 yrs of age

Having experienced conflict, loss, new commitment and divorce transition, these children are at higher risk for emotional & behavioral problems: boys are more likely to experience behavioral

problems whereas girls often experience an increase in

emotional problems

Quite often middle age adults will be caring for their adolescent children as well as their aging parents According to research by Steinbery (2004) the

most difficutl time for parents is when their kids are between 11 and 14 years old.

Parents and children are going through developmental changes – all of those changes lead to conflict and power struggles.

Approximately 20% of midlife adults are involved with caring for an aging parent While it may be a satisfying experience it can be

quite stressful and draining A social support group is very important as it may

provide: Much needed respite Reduce isolation and loneliness Affirm and validate feelings about the situation Encourage mutual sharing of coping strategies Instill hope

The experience of reaching midlife affects individuals in different ways Some people approach their later years with

anxiety and dread Others see midlife as a time of renewal and

opportunity

What does that mean for you as a Human Service Professional?