Chapter 18%26190

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Development Through the LifespanDevelopment Through the Lifespan

Chapter 18

Emotional and Social

Development inLate Adulthood

Chapter 18

Emotional and Social

Development inLate Adulthood


Emotional Expertise in Late AdulthoodEmotional Expertise in Late Adulthood

Cognitive-affective complexity Declines for many, but 30-40% retain emotional

regulation and optimistic outlook

Affect optimization improves Maximize positive emotions, dampen negative ones

More vivid emotional perceptions Make sure of own emotions – more objective Use emotion-centered coping more often

Cognitive-affective complexity Declines for many, but 30-40% retain emotional

regulation and optimistic outlook

Affect optimization improves Maximize positive emotions, dampen negative ones

More vivid emotional perceptions Make sure of own emotions – more objective Use emotion-centered coping more often


Personality inLate AdulthoodPersonality inLate Adulthood Secure, multifaceted (complex) self-concept

Allows self-acceptance psychological well-being Continue to pursue possible selves

Resilience in old age More agreeable (A)

Generous, optimistic Less sociable (E)

More selective Greater acceptance of change (O)

Better coping

Secure, multifaceted (complex) self-concept Allows self-acceptance psychological well-being Continue to pursue possible selves

Resilience in old age More agreeable (A)

Generous, optimistic Less sociable (E)

More selective Greater acceptance of change (O)

Better coping


Factors in Psychological Well-BeingFactors in Psychological Well-Being

Control versus dependency Stereotypes lead many to assume older adults need support and

are incapable of independence Promotes dependency

Health Mental Health - Depression Poor health, depression linked Suicide risk

Negative life changes Less damaging, more frequent

Social support Social interaction

Control versus dependency Stereotypes lead many to assume older adults need support and

are incapable of independence Promotes dependency

Health Mental Health - Depression Poor health, depression linked Suicide risk

Negative life changes Less damaging, more frequent

Social support Social interaction


Marriage in Late AdulthoodMarriage in Late Adulthood

Satisfaction peaks in late adulthood – about 20-25% last 50 yrs Fewer stressful responsibilities Fairness in household tasks Joint leisure Emotional understanding,

regulation Same for gay/lesbian couples, but legal

issues make late adulthood difficult

Satisfaction peaks in late adulthood – about 20-25% last 50 yrs Fewer stressful responsibilities Fairness in household tasks Joint leisure Emotional understanding,

regulation Same for gay/lesbian couples, but legal

issues make late adulthood difficult


Divorce, Remarriage, CohabitationDivorce, Remarriage, Cohabitation

Divorce

Few divorces in late adulthood, but increasing (2nd marriages) Hard to recover; especially women

Remarriage

Rates low; decline with age Higher for divorced than widowed Late remarriage stable

Cohabitation

Growing trend – less remarriage Financial and family reasons Relationships stable


WidowhoodWidowhood

Most stressful event of life for many Create new identity

Many more women than men Women live longer

Few remarry; most live alone Must cope with loneliness

Reorganizing life harder for men More likely to remarry

Most stressful event of life for many Create new identity

Many more women than men Women live longer

Few remarry; most live alone Must cope with loneliness

Reorganizing life harder for men More likely to remarry


Friendships in Late AdulthoodFriendships in Late Adulthood Friends provide:

Intimacy Companionship Acceptance Link to community Help with loss

Feels closest to a few nearby friends Social groups get smaller, but better!

Often includes siblings 80% have living sibling over 65

Strong predictor of mental health

Friends provide: Intimacy Companionship Acceptance Link to community Help with loss

Feels closest to a few nearby friends Social groups get smaller, but better!

Often includes siblings 80% have living sibling over 65

Strong predictor of mental health


Relationships with Adult ChildrenRelationships with Adult Children

Quality of relationship affects elders’ physical, mental health 80% have living children

Assist each other in 60’s and 70’s Direction changes toward children helping as parents age Closeness affects willingness to help Emotional support most often

Parents try to avoid dependency

Quality of relationship affects elders’ physical, mental health 80% have living children

Assist each other in 60’s and 70’s Direction changes toward children helping as parents age Closeness affects willingness to help Emotional support most often

Parents try to avoid dependency


Decision to Retire – most adapt well; 30 % report difficultyDecision to Retire – most adapt well; 30 % report difficultyRetire

Adequate retirement benefits

Compelling leisure interests

Declining health Spouse retiring Routine, boring job Positive marriage

Retire Adequate retirement

benefits Compelling leisure

interests Declining health Spouse retiring Routine, boring job Positive marriage

Keep Working Limited retirement

benefits Few leisure interests Good health Spouse working Flexible work schedule Pleasant, stimulating

work Negative relationship

Keep Working Limited retirement

benefits Few leisure interests Good health Spouse working Flexible work schedule Pleasant, stimulating

work Negative relationship


Age Changes in VolunteeringAge Changes in Volunteering


Successful AgingSuccessful Aging

Minimize losses and maximize gains Focus less on

outcomes, more on processes and reaching personal goals

Some factors controllable, others not

Minimize losses and maximize gains Focus less on

outcomes, more on processes and reaching personal goals

Some factors controllable, others not

Optimism Selective optimization

with compensation Quality Relationships Self and Emotional

Understanding Balance between

control and dependence

Optimism Selective optimization

with compensation Quality Relationships Self and Emotional

Understanding Balance between

control and dependence


Development Through the LifespanDevelopment Through the Lifespan

Chapter 19

Death, Dying, and

Bereavement

Chapter 19

Death, Dying, and

Bereavement


Phases of Dying – how we die Phases of Dying – how we die

Long and drawn out for 75% Gentle for 20% (usually with narcotics)

Agonal phase Suffering in first moments body can no

longer support life Gasps, muscle spasms

Clinical death Heart, breathing, brain stopped, but still can

resuscitate Mortality

Permanent death, no resuscitation

Long and drawn out for 75% Gentle for 20% (usually with narcotics)

Agonal phase Suffering in first moments body can no

longer support life Gasps, muscle spasms

Clinical death Heart, breathing, brain stopped, but still can

resuscitate Mortality

Permanent death, no resuscitation


Defining Death – when to halt treatmentDefining Death – when to halt treatment

Fuzzy line between life and death in modern society Medical – cessation of vital function (respiratory/cardiac response)

Brain death Irreversible stoppage of all activity in brain stem Could include respiration and cardiac activity

Persistent vegetative state Activity in cerebral cortex stopped Brain stem still active

Definition can vary Country, context, living will

Fuzzy line between life and death in modern society Medical – cessation of vital function (respiratory/cardiac response)

Brain death Irreversible stoppage of all activity in brain stem Could include respiration and cardiac activity

Persistent vegetative state Activity in cerebral cortex stopped Brain stem still active

Definition can vary Country, context, living will


Appropriate DeathAppropriate Death

Death rarely comes the way we hope or plan But we can ease the transition (hospice care)

Medical, psychological, spiritual support

Makes sense with person’s pattern of living, values – appropriate death Integration of life that precedes Maintain identity and some sense of control Preserve or restore relationships Reduce suffering – palliative care (ease, not cure)

Nature of disease, family/health support, coping style all effect individual desires and responses

Death rarely comes the way we hope or plan But we can ease the transition (hospice care)

Medical, psychological, spiritual support

Makes sense with person’s pattern of living, values – appropriate death Integration of life that precedes Maintain identity and some sense of control Preserve or restore relationships Reduce suffering – palliative care (ease, not cure)

Nature of disease, family/health support, coping style all effect individual desires and responses


Kübler-Ross’s TheoryKübler-Ross’s Theory

Stage theory of emotional response to death Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

Heavily criticized, not universal Pattern doesn’t exist, not all parts expressed Other responses common

Stage theory of emotional response to death Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

Heavily criticized, not universal Pattern doesn’t exist, not all parts expressed Other responses common


Grief ProcessGrief Process

Avoidance “Emotional anesthesia” – numbness

Confrontation Most intense grief when dealing with death Range of emotional/behavioral responses

Restoration As emotions subside, focus is on how to move forward Dual-process model of coping with loss - Alternate

between dealing with emotions and with life changes

Avoidance “Emotional anesthesia” – numbness

Confrontation Most intense grief when dealing with death Range of emotional/behavioral responses

Restoration As emotions subside, focus is on how to move forward Dual-process model of coping with loss - Alternate

between dealing with emotions and with life changes


Death EducationDeath Education

Increased need to help those dying has improved education regarding death awareness/preparation

Courses in death and dying increasing at many levels Goals

Understand physical, psychological changes in dying Learn to cope with death of loved ones Inform consumers of medical, funeral services Understand social, ethical issues

Increased need to help those dying has improved education regarding death awareness/preparation

Courses in death and dying increasing at many levels Goals

Understand physical, psychological changes in dying Learn to cope with death of loved ones Inform consumers of medical, funeral services Understand social, ethical issues

Health & Medicine

Chapter 18%26190