How is midlife changing 50--year-olds now are better in shape or alert more productive than their 40-year-old counterparts from a generation or two earlier 60 is the new 40 because more of midlife age starting later and lasting longer. The new in midlife age are more healthier, active, and productive because of healthier lifestyles and medical discoveries middle adulthood the developmental period that begins at approximately 40-45 years of age and extends to about 60-65 years of age Rectangularization The age structure of the population could be represented by a pyramid with the largest percentage of the population in the childhood years. The percentage of people at different ages in the lifespan are more similar creating what is called the rectangularization of the age distribution (a vertical rectangle) Rectangularization has been created by health advances that promote longevity, low fertility rates, and the age of the baby boom cohort How is middle aged today different from the way it was for past generations Gains and losses as well as biological and social cultural factors balance each other Biological functioning declines in middle adulthood, social cultural support such as education, career, and relationships may peek in middle adulthood A pivotal period because it is a time of balancing growth and decline, linking earlier and later periods of developmental, and connecting younger and older generation Middle age is lasting longer than it did for previous generation How is middle adulthood defined and what are some of its characteristics Age period 55 test 65 as late midlife Late midlife is more likely to be characterized by the death of a parent, the last child leaving the parental home, becoming a grandparent, the preparation for a retirement, and in most cases of actual retirement Middle adulthood is full of changes twist and turn the path is not fixed. People move in and out of states for success and failure life-span perspective There are four types of age chronological , Biological, psychological, and social What physical changes characterized middle adulthood Visible Signs Height and weight Strength, joints, and bones Vision and hearing Cardiovascular system Lungs Sleep Physical changes in middle life Genetic makeup and lifestyle factors play important roles in determining whether a chronic disease will appear and when. Middle Ages is a windows through which we can glimpse later life while there is still time to engage in prevention and to influence some aspects of aging Multiple adaptive factors, such as positive health behaviors (physical exercise and sleep), sense of control, social support and social connections, and emotion regulation help to buffer declines in physical health and cognitive functioning in middle age visible signs of aging -Wrinkling and sagging of skin -Appearance of aging spots -Hair becomes thinner and grayer -Nails become thicker and more brittle -Yellowing of teeth height and weight in aging Individuals you lose height in middle age and many gain weight Men from 30 to 50 years of age lose about 1 inch in height then may lose another inch from 50 to 70 years of age Decreased in height is due to bone loss in the vertebrae 10% of bodyweight and adolescent it makes up 20% or more in middle age Obesity increases from early to middle adulthood Obesity remains the same for a middle age as you age 60 to older Women had a higher rate of obesity than men in middle age and 44.7% rate for women was higher than for women in early and late adulthood Being overweight is a critical problem that's linked to earlier death, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease strength, joints, and bones in middle adulthood Sarcopenia is given to age related loss of muscle mass and strength 1 to 2% per year after age 50 muscle loss with age occurs The loss of strength occurs in back and legs Smoking and diabetes were risk characters for acquired loss of muscle mass in middle age women and obesity is a significant risk factor for Sarcopenia In the 20s peak function of the body's joints usually occur Tendons and ligaments become less effective in middle adulthood many experience joint stiffness in more difficulty in movement Maximum bone density occurs by the mid to late 30s after there is a prognosis of loss of bone Women lose bone mass twice as fast as men do By the end of the middle life phones break more easily and heal more slowly An intake of fruit and vegetables was linked to increase in bone density in middle-aged and older adults sarcopenic obesity combined loss of muscle mass with weight gain occurring in old age Linked to hypertension vision and hearing in middle age Vision problems especially difficulty reading the newspaper and recognizing people on the street were linked to decreased life satisfaction, decrease self-esteem, and increased depressive symptoms and increase social isolation Here and can start declining age 40 cardiovascular system in middle age Cholesterol in the blood increases during the adult years and in midlife begins to accumulate on the artery walls increasing the risk of a cardiovascular disease Cholesterol comes into form LDL and HDL At menopause A women's blood pressure rises shapely and usually remains above that of a man the life's later years Cognitive impairments in late adulthood Many cardiovascular problems in middle-age Cardiorespiratory fitness predicted lower cardio vascular disease risk Death due to cardiovascular disease has been decreasing in the United States since the 1970s Regular exercise and healthy eating habits also have considerable benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease American heart association has proposed lives simple seven a list of things people can do to improve their cardiovascular health Managing blood pressure Control cholesterol Reduced blood sugar Get active Eat better Lose weight Quit smoking socioeconomic status (SES) Defines the economic and social position of a person in terms of income, wealth, education, and occupation Play a role in cardiovascular disease in middle adulthood metabolic syndrome a condition characterized by hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance lungs in middle adulthood -decreased elasticity -decreased capacity -exercise and physical activity reduce these factors sleep in middle adulthood -Beginning in 40s, more wakeful periods, and less of the deepest sleep -More time lying awake, less rested -sleep under 7 hours -recommended that 26 to 64 year olds should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night -Sleep problems more common for those who use a higher number of medications, are obese, depressed, or have cardiovascular disease, morbidity Poor sleep quality is linked to what outcomes? Lower level of executive functions, slower processing speed, increased learning difficulties, and poor memory recall chronic disorders Characterized by slow onset and long duration, rare and early adulthood increase and middle adulthood and become common in late adulthood chronic disorders in middle adulthood Disease and persistent health problems become more common in middle adulthood for some individual's HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) A cholesterol-carrying particle in the blood, made up of cholesterol and other lipids surrounded by a single layer of phospholipids in which proteins are embedded. An HDL particle carries less cholesterol than a related lipoprotein, LDL, and may be correlated with a decreased risk of blood vessel blockage. LDL (low density lipoprotein) A cholesterol-carrying particle in the blood, made up of cholesterol and other lipids surrounded by a single layer of phospholipids in which proteins are embedded. An LDL particle carries more cholesterol than a related lipoprotein, HDL, and high LDL levels in the blood correlate with a tendency to develop blocked blood vessels and heart disease. How healthy are middle aged adults Middle age adult experience a decline in physical health if they're not active before What are the main causes of death in middle age Chronic diseases Cancer number one cause Cardiovascular disease How sexually active are individuals in the middle adulthood A decline in sexual hormone level and activity What kind of change is characterized the sexuality of women in a man as they go through middle age Menopause and testosterone decline climacteric midlife transition in which fertility declines menopause Cessation of a woman's menstrual periods, usually during the late forties or early fifties perimenopause the transitional period from normal menstrual periods to on menstrual periods at all, which often takes up to 10 years mortality rate in middle adulthood Chronic diseases are now the main cause of death for individuals in middle adulthood Many deaths are caused by a single, readily identifiable condition, Whereas in old age, death is more likely to result from the combined effects of several chronic conditions 2005- 45 to 64 years of age in the United States died of cancer followed by cardiovascular disease 2011 and 2017 death in middle age was due to cardiovascular disease increased by 4% and that was linked to increase in obesity death in the middle age based on cancer has the declined but cancer continues to be the number one cause of death in middle age followed by cardiovascular disease Men have higher mortality rates than women for all of the leading causes of death Hormonal changes in middle aged Men -decline in sexual hormone level and activity -erectile dysfunction: inability to achieve and maintain an erection Do men go through anything like the menopause that women experience What testosterone production about one percent eight year during middle adulthood and sperm count usually declines slowly but men do not lose their fertility middle age male hypogonadism a condition in which the body does not produce enough testosterone hormone replacement therapy -Used for relief or prevention of menopausal symptoms (e.g., hot flashes, vaginal atrophy), osteoporosis (increased estrogen, decreased osteoclast activity). -Unopposed estrogen replacement therapy increases risk of endometrial cancer, so progesterone is added. Possible increased cardiovascular risk. Testosterone replacement therapy can restore diminished sex drive in women, and increase sexual desire, energy, and vitality in men erectile dysfunction The inability to adequately achieve and maintain an erection to attain satisfactory sexual performance Sexual Attitudes and Behavior -Sexual activity occurs less frequently than in early adulthood -Middle-aged men are more interested in sex than middle-aged women -Living with a spouse or partner makes all the difference in terms of engaging in sexual activity What characterizes the nature of chronic disorders ... Intelligence Focuses on the concepts of fluid and crystallized intelligence, the Seattle longitudinal study, cohort effects fluid and crystallized intelligence fluid intelligence: one's ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood. crystallized intelligence: one's accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age crystallized intelligence accumulated information and verbal skills, which increase in middle age, according to Horn fluid intelligence the ability to reason abstractly, which begins to decline from middle adulthood onward, according to Horn Seattle Longitudinal Study Individuals change and stability in intelligence, and the study is regarded as one of the most thorough examinations to how people develop and change as they go thorough adulthood The Seattle Longitudinal Study concluded that middle age is a time of: peak performance for verbal abilities and verbal memory. Verbal comprehension Verbal memory Numeric facility Spatial orientation Inductive reasoning Perceptual speed verbal comprehension ability to understand ideas expressed in words Verbal Memory ability to encode and recall meaningful language units, such as a list of words Numeric facility ability to perform simple mathematical computations such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication spatial orientation ability to visualize and mentally rotate stimuli in two and three dimensional space inductive reasoning ability to recognize and understand patterns and relationships in a problem and to use understanding to solve other instances of the problem perceptual speed ability to quickly and accurately make simple discriminations in visual stimuli Information processing speed of processing information, memory, expertise, and practical problem-solving skills speed of information processing Perceptual speed begins declining in early adulthood and continues to decline in middle adulthood memory in middle adulthood -Working memory decreases from 20s to 60s less use of memory strategies may be due to slower processing, attention problems -Adults can compensate self-pacing strategy reminders relevant information -Few changes in: factual knowledge procedural knowledge metacognitive knowledge expertise in middle adulthood extensive, highly organized knowledge base provides efficient, effective approaches to solving problems result of years of experience Strategies that distinguish experts from novice include these Experts are more likely to rely on their accumulated experience to problem solve Experts often process information automatically and analyze it more efficiently when solving a problem in their domain than novices do Experts have better strategies and shortcuts for solving problems in their domain than novices do Experts are more creative and flexible and solving problems in third domain than novices are Practical Problem Solving in middle adulthood -evaluate real-world situations -analyze how best to achieve goals that have high uncertainty -aided by expertise - increase in performance from early adulthood to middle adulthood with performance then beginning to decrease at about 50 years of age What are some issues that workers face in the midlife Career progress, deciding whether to change jobs or careers, determining how and when to rebalance family and work, and planning for retirement What role does leisure play in the lives of middle-aged adults More money is available to many individuals, and there may be more free time and paid vacations work in middle adulthood job satisfaction peaks dissatisfaction can occur glass ceiling for women burnout reevaluation and change Work in midlife - The role of work is central during middle age - In the U.S., about 80% of people aged 40-59 years of age are employed - A time of evaluation, assessment, and reflection about work Religion Is an organized that the believes, practices, rituals, and symbols that increase in invisible's connection to a scared or transcendent other Religiousness the degree of affiliation with an organized religion, participation in prescribed rituals and practices, connection with its beliefs, and involvement in a community of believers Spirituality involves experiencing something beyond oneself in a transcendent manner and living in a way that benefits others and society Religion, spirituality , and adult lives Middle-age adults describe themselves as religious and said that spirituality was a major part of their lives Significant increase in spirituality occurred between late middle adulthood Religion, Spirituality, and Health - Religion is positively linked to health - Religious commitment helps to moderate blood pressure and hypertension How might religion influence physical health ... meaning-making coping drawing on beliefs, values, and goals to change the meaning of a stressful situation, especially in times of high levels of stress such as when a loved one dies Religion, spirituality, and coping Religious coping is often beneficial during times of high stressed High stress group spiritual support was significantly related to low rate of depression and high levels of self esteem Positive religious core beliefs, worry less, were less anxious, and had a lower level of depression symptoms How is religion linked to the ability to cope with stress Believe in prayer Meaning in life having a purpose and putting time and energy into attaining important goals having a sense of meaning in life can lead to clearer guidelines for living one's life and enhanced motivation to take care of oneself and reach goals work in middle adulthood job satisfaction peaks dissatisfaction can occur glass ceiling for women burnout reevaluation and change Career Challenges and Changes Challenges for middle aged workers Globalization of work - replaced many jobs done by white men Rapid developments in information technologies Downsizing of organizations Early retirement Concerns about pensions and health care Changes Self-motivated Consequence of losing one's job Change careers Leisure the pleasant times when individuals are free to pursue activities and interests of their own choosinghobbies, sports, or reading Stages of Adulthood Two prominent theories that defines stages of adult development are Erik Erikson's lifespan view and Daniel Levinson's seasons of a man's life Erikson's stage of generativity versus stagnation -generativity: adults' desire to leave legacies of themselves to the next generation -stagnation: develops when individuals sense that they have done nothing for the next generation What is best way conceptualize middle age? Is it a stage or crisis? ... How extensively is middle age influenced by life events ... Do middle-aged adults experience stress and personal control differently from adults at other life stages ... Is personality linked with contexts such as the point in history when individuals go through midlife, their culture, and their gender ... Levinson's Seasons of a Man's Life - trasitions from one period to the next are particularly stressful and it is during these times that major changes in a person's life structure usually occur - not supported by research The seasons of a man's life This is the name of the study that Daniel Levinson conducted. He interviewed 40 middle-aged men regarding midlife changes. How pervasive are midlife crises? The 40s are a decade of reassessing and recording the truth about the adolescent and adult years Only a minority of adults experience a midlife crisis midlife crisis a stage of uncertainty and indecision brought about by the realization that life is finite Individual variations -middle-aged adults interpret, shape, alter, and give meaning to their lives -in 1/3 of cases where individuals report experiencing a midlife crisis (triggered by life events such as job loss, financial problems, or illness) The Life-Events approach the view that a person's state of well-being can be threatened by major life changes contemporary life-events approach Approach emphasizing that how a life event influences the individual's development depends not only on the event but also on mediating factors, the individual's adaptation to the life event, the life-stage context, and the sociohistorical context. Stress and personal control in midlife Middle-aged adults experience more "overload" stressors that involve juggling too many activities at once Developmental changes in perceived personal control Some aspects of personal control increase with age while others decrease Stress, personal control, and age • Middle-aged adults experience more "overload" stressors that involve juggling too many activities at once • Some aspects of personal control increase with age while others decrease Stress and Gender -fight or flight: become aggressive, socially withdraw, or drink alcohol -tend or befriend: seek social alliances with others, especially female friends fight or flight the view that when men experience stress, they are more likely to become aggressive, withdraw from social contact, or drink alcohol tend and befriend Taylor's view that when women experience stress, they are more likely to seek social alliances with others, especially female friends social clock The timetable according to which individuals are expected to accomplish life's tasks, such as getting married, having children, or establishing themselves in a career. Contexts of midlife development -historical contexts (cohort effects): changing historical times and different social expectations influence (how different cohorts move through the life span) Historical contexts (cohort effects) Changing historical times and different social expectations influence how different cohorts move through the life span Gender Contexts (middle adulthood) Stage theories have a male bias Demands of balancing career and family are usually not experience has intensely by men Cultural Contexts in middle adulthood The ways in which a society defines adulthood longitudinal studies A research method that studies the same participants multiple times over a period of time Costa and McCraes Baltimore study Focused on the big five factors of personality; openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (emotional stability) (OCEAN) emotional stability, extraversion, openness, and agreeableness were lower in early adulthood, peaked between 40 and 60 years of age, and decreased in late adulthood, while conscientiousness showed a continuous increase from early adulthood to late adulthood. Most research studies indicate that the greatest change occurs in early adulthood. Positive forms of these factor of personality relate to good health. big five factors of personality openness, consciousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism( emotional stability) openness to experience A personality dimension that characterizes someone in terms of imagination, sensitivity, and curiosity. Conscientiousness A personality dimension that describes someone who is responsible, dependable, persistent, and organized Extraversion A personality dimension describing someone who is sociable, gregarious, and assertive Agreeableness A personality dimension that describes someone who is good natured, cooperative, and trusting. Neuroticism (emotional stability) refers to degree of emotional stability, impulse control, and anxiety Berkeley Longitudinal Studies The most stable characteristics were the degree to which individuals were intellectually oriented, selfconfident, and open to new experiences. The characteristics that changed the most included the extent to which the individuals were nurturant or hostile and whether or not they had good self-control. Helson's Mills College Study Longitudinal study on stability and change in personality in adulthood. Studies women longitudinally and found 3 main groups: family oriented, career oriented, and those who followed neither path. George Vaillant's Studies Explored the question: Does personality at middle age predict what a person's life will be like in late adulthood? individuals at 50 years of age were not heavy smokers, did not abuse alcohol, had a stable marriage, exercised, maintained a normal weight, and had good coping skills, they were more likely to be alive and happy at 75 to 80 years of age. Conclusions in middle age ... cumulative personality model of personality development - people get better at interacting in ways that promote stability with their environment as they age. -- more stability in personality at midlife Love, marriage, and divorce at midlife Security, loyalty, and mutual emotional interest are more important, most married individuals are satisfied with their marriage during midlife Divorce is less intense now than in early marriage ... Divorce ... empty nest syndrome a decrease in marital satisfaction that occurs after children leave home, because parents derive considerable satisfaction from their children The empty nest and it's refilling - Some marital dissatisfaction, especially during adjustment period. - More adult children are returning to live at home: after an unsuccessful career or divorce. - PRIVACY! Sibling relationship and friendship Continue over entire lifespan Majority are close in adulthood Strategies for parents and their young adult children ... Grandparenting Mentoring, spending time with them, strengthening family bonds Grandparent roles and styles Three prominent meanings Source of biological reward and continuity Source of emotional self-fulfillment Remote role grandparenting styles involved, companionate, remote The changing profile of grandparents -Most common reasons are divorce, adolescent pregnancies, and parental drug use -Full-time grandparenting has been linked to health problems, depression, and stress Intergenerational relationships • Middle-aged adults express responsibility between generations • Midlife adults play important roles in the lives of the young and the old Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 The act requiring certain federal contractors to take affirmative action for disabled persons. Occupational rehabilitation structured program that uses exercise, education, aerobic conditioning, and actual or simulated work tasks to increase an individual's functional capacities for safe and productive return to work Occupational rehabilitation these include Ergonomic oversight, injury prevention Job demand analysis Pre-work screen development Vocational evaluations Functional capacity evaluations Transition services from school to work Workstation evaluation and associated modified duty activity Work hardening and work conditioning Ergonomics the applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safety Engineering controls Involve the design and or modifications of a workspace and or tools The goal of engineering control is to reduce or eliminate the presence of any combination of the risk factors work practice controls Include the policies and procedures the employer can implement to support safe work practices Administrative controls Addresses the duration frequency and severity of exposure to particular risk factors Job Demand Analysis (JDA) Quantify the physical and environmental demand components of a job and subsequently provides a comprehensive description of its physical, psychosocial, and environmental requirements Prework screening tool A host of testing components used to assess a prospective employees ability to perform the essential requirements of the job prior to hire Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) Objective evaluation process, also referred to as work capacity evaluation/assessment, to determine functional and physical abilities related to essential job tasks Worksite evaluation On-the-job assessments to determine whether an individual can return to work after onset of disability or whether a person can benefit from reasonable accommodations to maintain employment
