Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Development Through the Lifespan Chapter 18 Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Erikson’s Theory: Ego Integrity versus Despair Ego Integrity Feel whole, complete, satisfied with achievements Feel whole, complete, satisfied with achievements Serenity and contentment Serenity and contentment Associated with psychosocial maturity Associated with psychosocial maturity Despair Feel many decisions were wrong, but now time is too short Feel many decisions were wrong, but now time is too short Bitter and unaccepting of coming death Bitter and unaccepting of coming death Expressed as anger, contempt for others Expressed as anger, contempt for others

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Peck: Three Tasks of Ego Integrity Ego differentiation versus work- role preoccupation Body transcendence versus body preoccupation Ego transcendence versus ego preoccupation

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Gerotranscendence Beyond ego integrity Cosmic, transcendent perspective Directed beyond self forward and outward Heightened inner calm Quiet reflection Senior Lifestyles

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Emotional Expertise Cognitive-affective complexity declines for many declines for many Affect optimization improves maximize positive emotions, dampen negative ones maximize positive emotions, dampen negative ones More vivid emotional perceptions make sure of own emotions make sure of own emotions use emotion-centered coping use emotion-centered coping

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reminiscence and Life Review Reminiscence Telling stories about people, events, thoughts and feelings from past self-focused: can deepen despair self-focused: can deepen despair other-focused: solidifies relationships other-focused: solidifies relationships knowledge-based: helps solve problems knowledge-based: helps solve problems Life Review Considering the meaning of past experiences A form of reminiscence For greater self- understanding Can help adjustment

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Personality in Late Adulthood Secure, multifaceted self-concept allows self-acceptance allows self-acceptance continue to pursue possible selves continue to pursue possible selves Shifts in some characteristics more agreeable more agreeable less sociable less sociable greater acceptance of change greater acceptance of change Resilience promotes adaptive functioning. Resilience promotes adaptive functioning.

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The New Old Age Third Age ages 65 to 79 and beyond ages 65 to 79 and beyond marked by personal fulfillment, self-realization marked by personal fulfillment, self-realization high life satisfaction high life satisfaction need more opportunities need more opportunities U.S. Serve America Act U.S. Serve America Act Fourth Age physical decline physical decline need for care need for care Senior Lifestyles

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Spirituality and Religion in Late Adulthood About three-fourths of U.S. elders say religion is “very important.” Over half attend services weekly. Many become more religious/spiritual with age. not all: about one-fourth get less religious not all: about one-fourth get less religious cultural, SES, gender differences cultural, SES, gender differences Physical, psychological benefits social engagement social engagement spiritual beliefs themselves spiritual beliefs themselves

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factors in Psychological Well-Being Control versus dependency Health poor health, depression linked poor health, depression linked suicide risk suicide risk Negative life changes Social support, interaction Senior Lifestyles

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Control and Dependency in Late Adulthood Dependency – support script attend immediately to dependent behaviors Independence – ignore script ignore independent behaviors Scripts work together both reinforce dependency make social contact less pleasant

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Depression and Suicide Physical illness, disability strong risk factors perceived negative physical health perceived negative physical health higher SES has stronger impairment–depression relationship higher SES has stronger impairment–depression relationship Mental and physical health challenges related mental health often more debilitating mental health often more debilitating Suicide rate highest over age 75 caregivers must provide autonomy when possible caregivers must provide autonomy when possible need for increase in mental health-care options need for increase in mental health-care options

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Life Changes and Social Support Elders are at high risk for negative life changes. multiple life changes test coping skills multiple life changes test coping skills women more at risk women more at risk Positive social support increases physical and mental well-being. religion religion informal (family, friends) informal (family, friends) formal (paid workers, agencies, community groups) formal (paid workers, agencies, community groups) elders must select domains of control elders must select domains of control best type affirms self-worth, belonging best type affirms self-worth, belonging

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Social Theories of Aging Disengagement theory mutual withdrawal of elders and society Activity theory social barriers cause declining interaction Continuity theory strive to maintain consistency between past and future Socioemotional selectivity theory social networks become more selective with age; extends lifelong process  emphasize emotion-regulating functions of social contact

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Age-Related Changes in Number of Social Partners Figure 18.1

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Social Contexts of Aging Communities majority live in suburbs – higher income majority live in suburbs – higher income minorities in cities – better transportation, social services minorities in cities – better transportation, social services few small town, rural – far from children; interact with neighbors, friends few small town, rural – far from children; interact with neighbors, friendsNeighborhoods prefer other seniors prefer other seniors fear of crime and victimization fear of crime and victimizationHousing prefer aging in place prefer aging in place

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Housing Arrangements in Late Adulthood Ordinary homes own home – preferred and most control own home – preferred and most control with family with family number living alone increasing number living alone increasing Residential communities congregate housing congregate housing life-care communities life-care communities Nursing homes restricts autonomy, social integration restricts autonomy, social integration Green House model better Green House model better ©Yuri Arcurs/Dreamstime.com

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Marriage in Late Adulthood Satisfaction peaks in late adulthood fewer stressful responsibilities fairness in household tasks joint leisure emotional understanding, regulation If dissatisfied, harder for women ©Rmarmion/Dreamstime.com

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Long-Term Gay and Lesbian Partnerships Most happy, highly fulfilling healthier, happier than singles Coping with oppression may strengthen skill at coping with physical aging. Face legal, health-care issues

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Divorce, Remarriage, Cohabitation Divorce Few divorces in late adulthood, but increasing hard to recover; especially women hard to recover; especially women Remarriage Rates low; decline with age higher for divorced than widowed higher for divorced than widowed late remarriage stable late remarriage stable Cohabitation Growing trend financial and family reasons financial and family reasons relationships stable relationships stable

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Widowhood Most stressful event of life for many one-third of elderly one-third of elderly significantly more women than men significantly more women than men Few remarry; most live alone must cope with loneliness must cope with loneliness Reorganizing life harder for men more likely to remarry more likely to remarry

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Possible Sources of Support for the Widowed FamilyFriends Senior centers Support groups Religious activities Volunteer activities Senior Lifestyles

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Never-Married, Childless Older Adults About 5% in North America Develop alternative meaningful relationships youths friends relatives Men more likely to be lonely Senior Lifestyles

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Changes in Aid Among Siblings Figure 18.2

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Friendships in Late Adulthood Friends provide: intimacy intimacy companionship companionship acceptance acceptance link to community link to community help with loss help with loss Feel closest to a few nearby friends Choose friends similar to self Sex differences continue ©Monkey Business Images/Dreamstime.com

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Relationships with Adult Children Quality of relationship affects elders’ physical, mental health Assist each other direction changes toward children helping as parents age direction changes toward children helping as parents age closeness affects willingness to help closeness affects willingness to help emotional support most often emotional support most often parents try to avoid dependency parents try to avoid dependency Sex differences mother–daughter ties often closest mother–daughter ties often closest

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Relationships with Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren Half of elders have adult grandchildren. wider network of support wider network of support Relationships vary involvement during childhood involvement during childhood predicts later relationship gradually reduced contact for many gradually reduced contact for many grandparents still express affection grandparents still express affection Limited, but affectionate role with great- grandchildren Absolute Family

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Elder Maltreatment Physical abuse Physical neglect Emotional abuse Sexual abuse Financial abuse © Ginasanders/Dreamstime.com

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Risk Factors for Elder Maltreatment Dependent victim Dependent perpetrator emotionally or financially emotionally or financially Psychological disturbance, stress of perpetrator History of family violence Low-quality nursing homes Dependent victim Dependent perpetrator emotionally or financially emotionally or financially Psychological disturbance, stress of perpetrator History of family violence Low-quality nursing homes

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Decision to Retire Retire adequate retirement benefits adequate retirement benefits compelling leisure interests compelling leisure interests low work commitment low work commitment declining health declining health spouse retiring spouse retiring routine, boring job routine, boring job Keep working limited or no benefits limited or no benefits few leisure interests few leisure interests high work commitment high work commitment good health good health spouse working spouse working flexible work schedule flexible work schedule pleasant, stimulating work pleasant, stimulating work

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Adjusting to Retirement Most people adapt well. up to 30% report some adjustment difficulties up to 30% report some adjustment difficulties Factors in adjustment financial worries financial worries workplace factors workplace factors spouse influence spouse influence sense of personal control sense of personal control social support social support ©Suprijono Suharjoto/Dreamtime.com

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Leisure Activities Interests usually continue from earlier in life. choose personally gratifying pursuits choose personally gratifying pursuits frequency and variety drop with age frequency and variety drop with age Involvement in rewarding leisure linked to better health, reduced mortality self-expression self-expression new achievements new achievements helping others helping others social interactions social interactions Senior Lifestyles

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Age-Related Changes in Volunteering Figure 18.4

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Optimal Aging Minimize losses, maximize gains focus less on outcomes, more on processes and reaching personal goals some factors controllable, others not social policies can help Senior Lifestyles