Relationships in Late Adulthood Flashcards
Marriage in Late Adulthood
Satisfaction peaks in late adulthood -Fewer stressful responsibilities -Fairness in household tasks -Joint leisure -Emotional understanding, regulation If dissatisfied, harder for women
Long-Term Gay and Lesbian Partnerships
-Most happy, highly fulfilling
(Healthier, happier than singles)
-Coping with oppression may strengthen skill at coping with physical aging
Divorce
- Few divorces in late adulthood, but increasing
- Hard to recover; especially women
Remarriage
- Rates low; decline with age
- Higher for divorced than widowed
- Late remarriage stable
Cohabitation
- Growing trend
- Financial and family reasons
- Relationships stable
Widowhood
- Most stressful event of life for many
- Few remarry; most live alone (Must cope with loneliness)
- Reorganizing life harder for men (More likely to remarry)
Possible Sources of Support for the Widowed
- Family
- Friends
- Senior centers
- Support groups
- Religious activities
- Volunteer activities
Never-Married, Childless Elders
- About five percent in North America
- Develop alternative meaningful relationships with Youths, Friends, Relatives
- Men more likely to be lonely
Friendships in Late Adulthood
- Friends provide: Intimacy, Companionship, Acceptance, Link to community, Help with loss
- Feels closest to a few nearby friends
- Chooses friends similar to self
- Sex differences continue
Relationships with Adult Children
Quality of relationship affects elders’ physical, mental health
Assist Each Other(Relationships with Adult Children)
- Direction changes toward children helping as parents age
- Closeness affects willingness to help
- Emotional support most often; Parents try to avoid dependency
Sex Differences (Relationships with Adult Children)
Daughters closer
Relationships with Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren
Half of grandchildren are adults (Wider network of support)
- Relationships vary (Involvement during childhood predicts later relationship; Gradually reduced contact for many; Grandparents still express affection)
- Limited role with great-grandchildren
Successful Aging
Minimize losses and maximize gains
- Focus less on outcomes, more on processes and reaching personal goals
- Some factors controllable, others not
- Social policies can help