Chapter 18: Psychosocial Development In Late Adulthood Flashcards
Is emotionality more positive or negative at this age? Why? What type of people are most positive vs. negative
Positive; no work, taxes, no kids, etc.
Extraverts are the most positive
Neurotics are the most negative
T/F personality traits remain stable
True
Erikson’s crisis
Ego integrity vs. despair (satisfied with who you are)
Eriksons virtue
Wisdom- acceptance of ones life and impending death
Practical application of that knowledge
Wise people are more optimistic
Coping methods: vaillant
Use of mature adaptive mechanisms-altruism, humor, anticipation, earlier in adulthood predicts psychosocial adjustment in late life
Coping methods: cognitive-appraisal method
Adults of all ages generally prefer problem-focused coping (action-oriented strategies)
T/F older adults do less emotion-focused coping (managing the emotional response) when the situation calls for it
False
- Take action to fix a problem
- can manage better than young adults
T/F religion is an important source of emotion-focused coping for many older adults
True
Source of social capital
What type of correlation is there between religion and spirituality and health
Positive
Who is most likely to be more involved in religious activities?
Older African American women than elderly whites
Women more than men
What is considered “successful aging”
Avoidance of disease and disability
Maintenance of high physical (exercise and eat well) and cognitive function (ex. Soduko)
Sustained, active engagement in social and productive activities
death rate goes up to what % more likely when lonely; when poor
15%, 19%
Successful aging: disengagement theory (Henry)
Aging brings a gradual reduction in social involvement- do less socially
Successful aging: activity theory (Neugarten)
The more active people are, the better they age
Successful aging: continuity theory (Atchiey)
Connection between past and present
Stories ex. Dunlevy’s example of the height chart, traditions
Successful aging: Baltes theory
It may depend on selective optimization with compensation
Getting older, do less, practice more often
Using stronger abilities to compensate for abilities that have weakened
What are some alternatives to retirement
Phased retirement, PT work, volunteer work, or possible starting a new career
T/F age has only negative aspects on job performance
False, it has both positive and negative
Negative because slower, may not be as agile and quick mind as younger worker
Positive because of experience, on time, friendly, more-committed, have less to do out of work
T/F individual differences are more significant than age differences
True
T/F older adults tend to be less satisfied with their work as well as less committed
False, but always depends more on individual work ethic
What percent of older adults can expect in poverty at some point
30%; retirement funding is shaky for middle-aged adults
What do the emotional impacts of retirement depend on
Personal, economic, social resources, and how long a person has been retired all affect morale
Where does the focus shift after requirement
Towards family, leisure and balanced investments (time spent between family, work and leisure.
Describe serious leisure
Leisure that requires skill, attention and commitment
Typically higher intellectual ability
What are the differences in living arrangements between developing and developed countries?
Developing countries: often live with children or grandchildren bc of poverty and low amounts of nursing homes
Developed countries: most with a spouse or alone
T/F White elderly are more likely to live with extended family than are minority elderly
False, minority elderly are more likely to live with extended family
T/F most elderly prefer to age in nursing homes
False, most prefer to ‘age in place’
Typically need assistance, usually a kid or spouse
Which gender typically lives longer
Women, typically more independence, men need women to take care of them
T/F most Americans who live alone are widowed
True
False in Europe, way more people lived alone
How common is institutionalization for the elderly in developing countries
Pretty rare, less than 5% of the older population
Proportion increases as age increases
What group of elderly are the most institutionalized
Widows
How is assisted-living different from nursing homes
You have more independence in assisted-living
Can typically handle most ADL, just not all IADL
What group is elder abuse most common in and who is typically guilty of it
Most common in frail or demented elderly living
Spouse and child typically due to caregiver burnout, their inability to fight back
True/false: frequency as well as importance of social contact in relationship declines
False, frequency typically declines, but the relationships tend to stay important to older people
Describe the socioemotional selectivity theory
Older people prefer to spend time with those who enhance their emotional well-being
T/F older people tend to have a stable inner circle of social support
True
What is the correlation between social support and health
Their is a positive correlation, social capital is a huge influence
T/F isolation is a risk factor for mortality
True
Describe the role of elderly in various cultures of multigenerational families
U.S.- the nuclear family, leave it to beaver, the middle
Hispanic and Asian: Intergenerational family with power held by older generations
African American and Irish American- collateral, egalitarian relationship among generations
True/false elderly have more respect in the US than in other countries
False
Which gender typically gets married later in life
Men, women tend to outlive their husbands and are less likely to remarry
T/F divorce in late adulthood is common
False
It is especially difficult when it occurs
T/F most older adults who have been divorced are remarried
True, most remarriages are more relaxed
Less stress, don’t have to worry about kids, work, etc.
T/F marriages that last late into adulthood tend to be more satisfying
True
Is there an increase or decrease in the % that reach late adulthood without marrying
Increase, also because gay marriage is illegal
How is the adjustment of older age homosexual compared to those of younger in terms of coming out and needs in a relationship
Have the same need for intimacy, social contact, and generativity
Adjustment to old age in influenced by coming-out status
Many wait till parents die, or depends on how long they have been out form
What are the effects of friendship in late adulthoods
Focus is on companionship and support over work and parenting
Older adults with closer friends are healthier and happier
T/F Adults enjoy time spent with friends over family
True, although family remains the main source of social support
What is the typical relationship between elderly parents and adult children
They are typically in request contact with each other.
Increasingly, parents are caregivers for grandchildren and great-grandchildren
T/F there is a disadvantage of childlessness in old age
False, there does not seem to be an important disadvantage
Although if they require care late in like, this may become a problem
Which gender or siblings tend to keep in closer contact?
Sisters,
All siblings order each other emotional support
T/F great-grandparents are typically more involved in children’s life than grandparents
False, mostly because of physical barriers
