Chapter 15

Physical & Cognitive development in Middle Adulthood

Middle adulthood• Ages 40-65- arbitrary age range • Satisfaction• Relationships with family and friends• Work leisure • Leisure• Finances• Physical/mental health• Religious/spiritual lives

Physical changes

• Sensory and psychomotor functioning

• Eyesight changes- especially for reading (near vision/prebyopia/distance vision-nearsightedness- mypoia)

• Dynamic vision (reading moving signs)

• Sensitivity to light

• Visual search

• Speed of processing information

Physical changes• Sensitivity to taste and smell declines• Women loose sweet tooth/men things not sour

enough• Decrease sensitivity to touch (after age 45)• Decrease sensitivity to pain (50)• Strength and coordination decline by age 45;

10-15% by age 60- due to loss of muscle fiber• Endurance holds up• Metabolism slows after age 40• Tasks involving choice of response and complex

motor skills decline

Structural changes

• Skinless taught sand smooth/ less sweat

• Loss of calcium

• Smoking, alcohol, poor diet speed bone loss

• Vitamins and exercise can reduce loss

SexualityFemales• Fertility declines though sexual enjoyment

remains• Menopause• mid 30’s/40’s, less estrogen

• hot flashes may occur as metabolism slows• vaginal dryness, urinary infections, urinary

dysfunction may occur• sexual desire usually remains• sometimes psychological problems

Sexuality

males

• no menopause equivalent

• erections slow, orgasms less frequent, longer to ejaculate and longer refractory

• erectile dysfuntion may/may not occur

• hypertension (chronically high blood pressure) is common

Sexual Dysfunction

• A persistent disturbance in sexual desire or sexual response

• Forms of dysfunction:– Lack of interest– Painful intercourse– Difficulty in arousal– Premature ejaculation

Behavioral influences on Health

• Nutrition, smoking, alcohol abuse, physical activity impact health

Socioeconomic

• Poorer tend to have more problems, poorer health, lower life expectancy

Female Health• Bone loss or osteoporosis (porous bones)• Breast cancer- increase with age, overweight,

excessive alcohol use, early menarche or late menopause, genetics, had children late or had fewer children

• Hysterectomy- often overused• Hormone replacement therapy- may help reduce

negative effects• Psychosocial influences may include emotional or

physical problems.• Stress usually less an issue for the middle-aged• Occupational stress and burnout can occur;

unemployment stress

Cognitive development

• In their prime!

• No significant reductions in most abilities until 60’s.

Fluid and crystallized intelligence (Horn & Cattell)

Fluid intelligence- ability to solve problems requiring little or no previous knowledge decline with age

 

Crystallized intelligence- ability to remember and use information acquired over lifetime- less impact

Increased sense of competence in solving problems

With experience, information processing and fluid intelligence become encapsulated (dedicated) to specific types of knowledge. Processing time may slow, but competence remains.

 Engaging in activities requiring thought and

strategy and recall retain memory and skills longer

 Creativity remains intact!

Creative achievers

Biology, personal, social and cultural forces

• Becoming expert in one area may hamper creativity and versatility