1. Experiencing Middle Age
Chapter 12
Experiencing Middle Age

2. Physical Changes & Health
Appearance
Graying hair
Wrinkles
Middle aged bulge
Osteoporosis
Climacteric
Major biological change in women
Loss of ability to bear children
Begins in 40’s – Complete by late 50’s

3. Physical Changes cont…
Menopause
During climacteric, menstruation becomes irregular then stops
Estrogen-related Symptoms
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Vaginal dryness
Urine leakage

4. Cont… Somatic Symptoms Decline of estrogen also related to:
Sleeping difficulties
Headaches
Rapid heart beat
Stiffness/soreness in joints, neck, or shoulders
Decline of estrogen also related to:
Osteoporosis
Cardiovascular disease (Before 50, men 3 to 1 – at 60, equal to men)
Memory loss
Hormone Replacement Therapy

5. Reproductive Changes in Men
Sperm count decreases
More time to achieve erection
More time to achieve orgasm
Longer resolution period

6. Other Health Related Factors
Stress
Appraise situation
Day-to-day hassles
Coping
Types of Behavior: Type A or Type B
Exercise
Aerobic
Anaerobic

7. Cognitive Development
Practical intelligence
Lifelong learning
Why should we learn?
Have more experience
Most willing to learn necessary things
More motivated by internal factors than external factors

8. Personality – 5 Factor Model Costa & McCrae
Neuroticism
Extraversion
Openness to experience
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness

9. Midlife Issues Change in the rule Priorities change in midlife Family
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Family
Kin keeper
Sandwich generation
Letting go: middle-aged adults & their children
Caring for parents
When children come back
Care-giving stress
Grandparenthood