1. The Unique Challenges of Middle Adulthood
Chapter 13

2. Physical Changes & Health
Appearance
Wrinkles (connective tissues weaken)
Gray hair (cessation of pigment production)
Baldness
Weight gain (due to BMR drop)

3. Physical Changes & Health
Changes in bones/joints
Loss of bone mass (severe: Osteoporosis)
Caused by deficiencies: calcium, D, estrogen
Leading cause of broken bones in older women
More common in women
Less bone mass, estrogen drop after menopause
65% of women > 60, all > 90 (20 million US women)
Treatment: prevention via diet & exercise

4. Physical Changes & Health
Changes in bones/joints
Cartilage deterioration
Arthritis: aching joints, inflammation
Hands, spine, hips NOT wrists, elbow or ankles
Symptoms cyclical
Treatment: drugs and exercise

5. Physical Changes & Health
Reproductive changes
Menopause: cessation of menstrual cycle
Begins late 40s, 50s
Estrogen symptoms: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness
Somatic symptoms: insomnia, headaches, rapid heart beat, stiffness in neck or shoulders
Vaginal walls shrink, thin, vagina decreases in size, vaginal lubrication decreases, external genitalia shrink
Sexual activity still common and related to partner

6. Physical Changes & Health
Treatment for menopause
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Estrogen & progesterone
Benefits
Reduce risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, alzheimer’s
Risks
Increased risk of cancer

7. Physical Changes & Health
Men experience decline in fertility
Sperm production decreases 30% between 25-60
Age 80 still 1/2 as fertile as 25
Enlargement of prostate gland
Increased risk for cancer
Gradual reduction in testosterone
Erectile dysfunction

8. Stress & Health
Stress: situation appraised as exceeding coping resources
Major life events
Daily hassles
Coping involves attempts to deal w/ stress
Stress depends on appraisals & coping

9. Stress & Health Events appraised differently at different ages
Family issues more stressful mid-life
Effects of chronic stress begin to manifest in middle adulthood
Take time to impact health

10. Stress & Health Stress has many effects on our health
Suppresses immune system, increases risk for CD disease, impairs cognitive function, raises cholesterol, causes angina, reduces estrogen in women, causes weight fluctuations, increases blood pressure, causes tension headaches...

11. Stress & Health Coping w/ stress Problem focused efforts Disclosure
Moderate exercise
Increases mental & physical health

12. Trait Units
Trait: Consistent ways of behaving, feeling and thinking over time & situations
Summarize, predict, explain
Internal causes of behavior (traits)
Assumptions:
Continuous dimensions from low to high
People have broad predispositions to respond

13. Big-5 Traits Adult personality Neuroticism Extraversion
Openness (curious, creative, imaginative)
Agreeableness (good natured, trusting, helpful)
Conscientiousness (organized, reliable, disciplined)
Traits stable during adulthood

14. Traits Are Stable Priorities Are NOT
During middle adulthood priorities change
Increasing concern over helping youth
Generativity - ensuring success of youth
Many avenues: parenting, mentoring, volunteering
Characterized by: prosocial traits/behavior, express caring attitudes about others, well-being
Stagnation - bored, indulgent, unable to deal with needs of children/youth

15. Gender Role Changes Middle adulthood males/females converge
Both report more ‘feminine’ characteristics
Nurturing, intimacy, tenderness, family concerns
Data mixed
Some report less feminine features
In sum gender roles appear most similar in middle/old age

16. Mid-Life Crisis Is there a mid-life crisis around age 40?
Most data suggests NO!
Problems more linked with unexpected events rather than particular periods of life
Unique challenges in mid-life
Ego-resilient people handle them best