1. Making It in Midlife Chapter 13

2. When you hear that a person is celebrating their 40 th birthday, what do you think?

3. “over the hill” Ready to retire Nothing good left for them Wow, that’s old!

4. Turning 40 is the “marker” of middle age. This is the point where health will start to decline Time to have set stage for healthy aging Eating Healthy Exercising

5. What does someone in their 40s look like? Weight gain between 30s and 50s Wrinkles Balding/grey hair Changes are dependent on lifestyle and genetics!

6. Loss of bone mass. YOU are at your peak bone mass NOW. Osteoporosis – bones become porous and easily break Leading cause of broke bones More common in women than men Calcium and Vitamin D contribute

7. Do you quit having sex after 50?

8. Sexual changes (Women) Menopause starts Loss of ability to produce children Last period by early 50s, but continue to ovulate for a year or two (hence later age pregnancies) Increased possibility for painful intercourse More trouble finding willing partners on women’s behalf

9. Sexual Changes (Men) Decline in quantity of sperm Reduction in testosterone Male Menopause! More trouble achieving erection Longer resolution phase

10. What are some of the stressful things individuals in their 40s and 50s are facing?

11. Stress and Health What is stress? The way you look at a situation Some is beneficial Excessive can cause death! How do you cope? Trying to resolve problem Redefine Focus on something else EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE (this even slows aging)

12. Job dependent Business job v/s service oriented Health Decreased immune system Heart problems Blood pressure Irritable bowel Behavior/Psychological Type A v/s Type B

13. With age comes intelligence?

14. Intellectual development in older ages is much slower and less observable Usually associated with developing expertise Traditional measures of IQ don’t usually measure older adults well.

15. Older adults tend to exhibit more practical intelligence They have more real life experiences Denny’s Theory (of practical intelligence) A broad range of skills and knowledge for functioning on a daily basis Unexercised abilities – not used very often Optimally exercised abilities – use the most The developmental course of both abilities is the same. Increase in young adulthood, plateau in middle age, and decline in older adultes

16. What are you an expert at?

17. Experts have extensive experience in particular areas Don’t always follow the rules More flexible, creative, and curious Expert performance PEAKS in middle age!!!! Hey guys, older adults really are smarter than you! Life long learning – higher need to know why, more experience, learn about real-world things, and generally internally motivated.

18. Personality traits are fairly stable across an individual’s lifespan. Costa and McCrae study 100+ men, three times – six years apart Even over the span between the first and last test personality was stable Important finding!!! A building block that can allow you to predict future reactions to situations 5 Factors (OCEAN)

19. Personality stays the same, but priorities change! What are your priorities right now?

20. Erikson’s stage Generativity verse stagnation Being productive by helping others to ensure the continuation of society by guiding the next generation. Deriving personal meaning from life Develop life story Pass knowledge to others, mentoring

21. Do you believe there is a such thing as a midlife crisis?

22. Evidence suggests: For most people midlife is no more or less traumatic than any other period But……… Fundamental change is found in many lives at this point When transition occurs, it is unpredictable and unique challenges may be present

23. Typical middle-aged couple issues Maintaining good marriage Parenting Children becoming adults Concerns about parents Women as kinkeepers The sandwich generation

24. Empty nest Fewer than 25% of parents actually report significant sadness when child leaves Boomerang children ½ of young adults return home at least once after college Men are more likely than women Low GPA more likely than high GPA

25. Caring for parents Usually falls on daughters/daughters-in-laws (filial obligation) Added stress to family Conflict with care decisions Children often try to “over care” for their parents Grandparenthood Most become grandparents in 40s and 50s Grandkids keep grandparents in touch with youth! Derives special meaning and value relationships. Provides opportunity to spread knowledge More are living independently of kids and grandchildren, as well as becoming grandparents earlier!