(c) 2012 the mcgraw-hill companies, inc. chapter 13 physical and cognitive development in middle...
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(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Chapter 13
Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood
PowerPoints developed by Nicholas Greco IV, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL
(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Changing Midlife
Today, many 50-year-olds are in better shape, more alert, and more productive than 40-year-olds a generation or two ago
Middle age is starting later and lasting longer
Jung -- “Midlife is the afternoon of life” Increasing percentage of population is
made up of middle-aged and older adults Best-educated and most affluent cohort
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Defining Middle Adulthood
Middle adulthood -- developmental period beginning about 40 and extending to 60–65 yearsperiod of declining physical skills and
increasing responsibilityshrinking time left in lifereach and maintain satisfaction in careerindividuals make choices
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Gains and Losses
Late midlife may be characterized by the loss of a parent, the last child leaving the home, becoming a grandparent, preparation for retirement, and actual retirement
Overall, gains and losses may balance each other in midlife losses may begin to dominate gains for many
individuals in late midlife
Midlife is characterized by individual variations
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Physical Changes
Some of the visible signsSkin begins to wrinkle and sagAreas of pigmentation in skin produce age
spotsThinning and graying hair
Interest in plastic surgery, Botox, weight control, and vitamins may reflect the desire to take control of the aging process
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Height and Weight
Individuals lose height in middle age Many gain weight
body fat makes up 20 percent or more of weight in midlife as compared to 10 percent in adolescence
almost 1/3 of adults 40–59 years are classified as obese
obesity increases probability of other health issues
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006)
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Strength, Joints, Bones Sarcopenia -- age-related loss of muscle
mass and strengthexercise can reduce the decline
Cartilage and connective tissue becomes less efficientjoint stiffness and difficulty in movement
Women experience twice the rate of bone lossBones break more easily and heal more
slowly
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Vision and Hearing
Accommodation of the eye -- ability to focus and maintain image on the retina declines between 40 and 59 yearsmore need for glasses and/or bifocals
Hearing also declines after age 40sensitivity to pitches decreasesmen lose sensitivity earlier than women
resulting from exposure to occupational noise
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Cardiovascular System
High blood pressure and cholesterol issues become problematic
Women’s blood pressure rises at menopause and typically remains higher than men’s
Exercise, weight control, proper dietary patterns can help decrease problems
Metabolic syndrome is an increasing problemCharacterized by hypertension, obesity, and insulin
resistance
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Lungs
Little change in lung capacity through most of middle adulthoodIn late 50s, proteins in lung tissue become
less elastic, decreasing lung capacity
Smokers experience most significant changeslung capacity improves with quitting smoking
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Sleep
Beginning in 40s, more wakeful periods are more frequent, and there is less of the deepest sleep
More time lying awake results in feeling less rested
Sleep problems are more common for those who use a higher number of prescription and nonprescription medications, are obese, are depressed, or have cardiovascular disease
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Health and Disease
Frequency of accidents declines Individuals are less susceptible to colds
and allergies Stress is found to be a factor in disease
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Chronic Disorders
Chronic disorders are rare in early adulthood
Chronic disorders -- slow onset and long duration
Stress is found to be a factor in disease Culture affects cardiovascular disease(Hertz, Unger, & Ferrano, 2006)
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Mortality Rates
In middle age, many deaths are caused by a single, readily identifiable cause
Leading causesheart diseasecancercardiovascular disease
Men have higher mortality rates than women for all of the leading causes of death
(National Center for Health Statistics, 2008)
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Sexuality
Climacteric -- midlife transition in which fertility declines
Menopausewomen’s menstrual periods completely ceaseside effects of menopause varycross-cultural studies reveal wide variations
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Treating Effects of Menopause
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) -- augments declining levels of reproductive hormone production by the ovaries usually estrogen and progestinnegative side effects for HRT
increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease
Decreased use of HRT has shown a related decline in the incidence of breast cancer
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Hormonal Changes in Middle-Aged Men
Most men do not lose capacity to father children Modest decline in sexual hormone level and
activity “Male menopause” probably has less to do with
hormonal change than with psychological adjustment to overall decline
Testosterone levels decline and can reduce sexual drive
Most erectile dysfunctions stem from physiological problemstreatment has focused on drug therapy
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Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence
Crystallized intelligence -- individual’s accumulated information and verbal skills
Fluid intelligence -- ability to reason abstractly; begins to decline in middle adulthood
When studying intelligence, whether data is collected cross-sectionally or longitudinally makes a difference in results
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Speed of Information Processing
Perceptual speed begins declining in early adulthood and continues declining in middle age
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Memory Controversy about whether memory declines in
the middle years -- most experts agree there is some decline, at least in late middle ageMore time is needed to learn new informationThe slowdown has been linked to working
memory -- the mental “workbench” where individuals manipulate and assemble information when making decisions, solving problems, and comprehending written and spoken language
Memory decline is more likely to occur when individuals do not use effective memory strategies
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Expertise
Expertise shows up more in middle adulthood
Expertise involves having extensive, highly organized knowledge and understanding of a particular domainresult of many years of experience, learning,
and effort
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Work in Midlife
Central during the middle years Reach peak of position and earnings Middle-aged adults may experience age
discrimination May have multiple financial burdens Time of evaluation, assessment,
rebalance, and reflection
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Career Challenges and Changes
Globalization of work Developments in information technologies Downsizing of organizations Early retirement Concerns about pensions and health care Some career changes are self-motivated;
others are the result of job loss
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Leisure
Leisure -- pleasant times after work when individuals are free to pursue activities and interests of their own choosingmidlife changes may produce more time for
leisure
Adults in midlife need to begin preparing for retirementleisure can be a part of this preparation
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Religion and Adult Lives
Majority of middle-aged adults profess religious beliefs and consider spirituality a major part of their lives
For some, religion is a major influence to some adults but may play little or no role in others’ lives
Females show stronger interest and participate more
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Religion and Health
Researchers have found that religious attendance is linked toa reduction of blood pressure and
hypertensionincreased longevity
Religion promotes healthlifestyle issuessocial networkscoping with stress
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Level of Spirituality in Four Adult Age Periods
INSERT FIGURE 13.5 HERE
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Meaning in Life
Frankl said that the three most distinct human qualities are:SpiritualityFreedom Responsibility