Chapter 13: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood Flashcards
what age range are we talking about during middle adulthood?
40-60/65ish
what are some physical changes that occur in middle adulthood?
begin to age! (genes and lifestyle influenced)
-skin changes
-decrease in height due to bone loss
-possible gain in weight
-hearing and vision declines (think about readers)
-High blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol,
cardiovascular disease increase
what are some factors that help buffer declines in health and cognitive functioning?
positive health behaviors, a sense of control,
social support, social connections, emotion regulation
what is poor sleep quality linked to?
lower level of executive function, lower processing
speed, increased learning difficulty, and poorer memory recall
what is the leading cause of death? what was it in the 20th century?
today: chronic disorders like cancer, followed by cardiovascular disease
20th century: infectious diseases
define menopause?
woman’s menstrual periods cease completely
(caused by a dramatic drop in the production of estrogen)
TRUE ohur FALSE: men have modest decline in sexual hormone level activity and lose their fertility?
FALSE: they do not lose their fertility…they just have some erectile dysfunction
what is the difference between crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence?
crystallized intelligence: accumulated knowledge and verbal skills
fluid intelligence: ability to reason abstractly
what does John Horn argue about cognitive development?
-argues that crystallized intelligence
-continues to increase through middle adulthood,
while fluid intelligence begins to decline (but
possibly not until after age 60)
what is the Seattle Longitudinal Study?
test of 6 cognitive abilities to see what peaks and declines during middle adulthood
what 2 abilities shows a steady decline in middle adulthood?
numerical ability and perceptual speed
TRUE or FALSE: the speed of information processing shows the earliest declines?
true!
what percent of middle age adults (45-54) were in the workforce in 2019?
81%
what is it important to partake in leisure activities?
its associated with less cognitive decline, less depression, more positive emotions and a longer life
as the levels of spirituality go up, what are some of the positive links between religion, health and longevity?
healthy lifestyle factors, social network/support, coping mechanisms, relaxed meditation of prayer and a sense of meaning in life
