Week 2 Theories Flashcards
What is the Functional Consequences Theory?
Miller’s functional consequences theory focuses on the needs that are unique to older individuals.
It proposes that the ability of older adults to maintain maximal self-care and overall wellness is affected by the interaction of normal AGE-RELATED CHANGES and additional RISK FACTORS the individual encounters.
What are Functional consequences? Give an example of a positive and negative functional consequence.
Functional consequences: observable effects of actions, risk factors and age-related changes that influence the quality of life or day-to-day activities.
* Negative functional consequences: those that interfere with functioning or quality of life
* Positive functional consequences: those that facilitate the highest level of functioning, least dependency and best quality of life. They are wellness outcomes.
What is the difference between the Functional Consequences Theory and Functional Assessment?
Functional Assessment:
- Focuses on older adult’s ability to perform activities of daily living that affect survival and quality of life
Functional Consequences Theory is broader because it:
* Distinguishes age-related changes that increase vulnerability and risk
* Focuses on consequences
* Focuses on assessment of conditions that affect function
* Leads to interventions to address the negative
* Leads to wellness outcomes
What are 3 Theoretical Perspectives on Aging?
- Biological Theories of aging
- Sociocultural Theories
- Psychological Theories
What is the basis for Biologic theories of aging?
- Biologic theories of aging: basic aging processes affecting all living organisms
- Explains gradual, progressive decline in physiologic functioning
- Each theory attempts to explain a specific aspect of aging.
- No single theory can explain the complex phenomenon of aging
Wear-and-tear theory
Body can be likened to a machine that is expected to function well during the period of its warranty, but that will wear out at a
fairly predictable time.
Cross-linkage theory
Biochemical processes create linkages, or connections, between structures that normally are separated. This causes a buildup of collagen-like substances that leads to failure of tissues and organs
Free radical theory
They are waste products of metabolism and they can damage cells. Healthy bodies have protective mechanisms that can remove
and repair damaged cells; however, these mechanisms become less effective
with increased age and cellular damage becomes cumulative.
Genetic theory
emphasizes the role of genes in the development of age- related changes
Immunosenescence/immune theory
Immunosenescence, which is an age-
related decline of the immune system, increases the susceptibility of older
people to diseases, such as cancer and infections. The immune system may
even attack healthy cells, leading to autoimmune conditions, such as
rheumatoid arthritis.
What is the basis for Sociocultural Theories on Aging?
Explain how a society influences its old people and how old people influence
their society
Disengagement theory
a society and older people engage in a mutually beneficial process of reciprocal withdrawal to maintain social equilibrium
Activity theory
older people remain socially and psychologically fit if they remain actively engaged in life
Subculture theory
states that old people, as a group, have their own norms, expectations, beliefs and habits; therefore, they have their own subculture
Age stratification theory
People pass through society in cohorts that are aging socially, biologically and psychologically. New cohorts are continually being born, and each experiences a unique sense of history
Person–environment fit theory
considers the interrelationships between personal competence and the environment. (ego strength, motor skills, biologic health, cognitive capacity and sensory–perceptual capacity.)
Human Needs Theory
- Five categories of basic human needs, ordered from lowest to highest: physiologic needs, safety and security needs, love and belongingness, self-esteem and self-actualization
- Attainment of lower-level needs takes priority over higher-level needs
- Human needs theory allows the nurse to determine priorities of nursing care for older adults.
Life-Course vs Personality Theories
- Two closely related types
- Life-course theories address old age within the context of the life cycle.
- Personality development theories identify personality types as predictive forces of successful or unsuccessful aging.
- Both types emphasize that old age is part of a lifelong developmental process.
Selection, optimization and compensation Theory
According to this theory, older adults select certain goals and tasks while disengaging
from other goals; they optimize necessary resources to achieve these goals; and they
compensate by establishing new resources to substitute for lowered or lost abilities
and skill
Socioemotional selectivity theory
Proposed to explain emotional well-being during older adulthood. Older adults
recognize that their time is limited, so they focus on emotional goals rather than on
knowledge-seeking goals
Strength and Vulnerability Integration Theory
Experience age-related gains as well as losses in emotion-related processes, and
overall older adults maintain a positive level of emotional experience
Gender-related theories
- Compare and contrast male and female performance data.
- Examine the nature of change in gender roles.
- Study the relationship between gender role differences and social roles and social power.
