Young Adulthood & Successful Ageing

Question 1

what age range is defined as ‘emerging adulthood’?

Answer 1

18-40 - late teens and early 20s are a transition period

Question 2

is it possible to compensate ageing through lifestyle choices?

Answer 2

yes - attenuating the effects of primary ageing and attempting to prevent aspects of secondary

Question 3

what is seen as good health/ageing?

Answer 3

being optimistic, experiencing positive emotions and behaviours such as adequate exercise and following medical advice

Question 4

what can lead to poor ageing?

Answer 4

anger, hostility, social isolation, lack of exercise, substance abuse

Question 5

what changes biologically as you age?

Answer 5

• the brain
• reproduction
• heart and lungs
• immune system

Question 6

how does the brain change in young adulthood?

Answer 6

• frontal lobe fully develops
• volume loss in the brain - slower info processing
• physical exercise and environmental stimulation helps produce new neurons

Question 7

how do the lungs change in young adulthood?

Answer 7

1% decline per year from 35y/o in oxygen volume

Question 8

what changes psychologically during young adulthood?

Answer 8

• relationship formations
• mental health (18-24 worst)
• decision making
• IQ
• creativity

Question 9

how do romantic relationship formations change over young adulthood?

Answer 9

the idea of intimacy vs isolation - a relationship without losing the sense of self

Question 10

Robards et al. (2012) study on single people found what?

Answer 10

they were less healthy and less satisfied but they perhaps had more scope for autonomy and personal growth

Question 11

what social changes happen during young adulthood?

Answer 11

• parenthood
• social network
• occupation

Question 12

how does your social network change during young adulthood?

Answer 12

• new relationships formed/detachment from family depending on proximity
• reduced number of friends by middle adulthood

Question 13

how does occupation change during young adulthood?

Answer 13

• career choice, financial reward vs service to community
• education & family influence - e.g. single parents
• gender biases in work?
• job satisfaction rises from early adulthood to retirement - dependent on job security/work-life balance

Question 14

what is the importance of ageing well?

Answer 14

• life expectancy has increased steadily over past decades (62.9 in 1940, 81.5 in 2021)
• the proportion of older adults exceeds the rate of population growth - ageing population - which strains economy and healthcare

Question 15

Rowe & Khan (1998) identified successful ageing as what?

Answer 15

absence of disease and disability, high cognitive & physical function and engagement with life

Question 16

what are some biological factors that influence successful ageing?

Answer 16

• exercise - compensates for physical and cognitive changes
• obesity - bad health effects
• diet - decline in nutrition when leaving home, eating disorders etc
• smoking - bad, but immediate effects after quitting

Question 17

psychological factors that influence successful ageing?

Answer 17

• self efficacy
• sense of control - internal locus promotes action/responsibility
• education - improves physical and cognitive function which predicts subjective wellbeing

Question 18

social factors that influence successful ageing?

Answer 18

• socioeconomic status
• life stress - impacts physical health, those who look after their health have ‘organ reserve’ to deal w stress
• gender - women live longer than men