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Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

Middle adulthood, typically defined as ages 40-65, involves both physical and cognitive changes. Physically, menopause occurs around age 51 for women along with other gradual declines in sensory and motor abilities. Health risks like hypertension and cancer also emerge. However, most middle-aged adults remain healthy. Cognitively, fluid intelligence peaks in middle age while crystallized intelligence declines more slowly. Creativity and problem-solving abilities typically remain strong. Work patterns are shifting from age-defined to more integrated roles as people seek education and career changes throughout adulthood.

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485 views2 pages

Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

Middle adulthood, typically defined as ages 40-65, involves both physical and cognitive changes. Physically, menopause occurs around age 51 for women along with other gradual declines in sensory and motor abilities. Health risks like hypertension and cancer also emerge. However, most middle-aged adults remain healthy. Cognitively, fluid intelligence peaks in middle age while crystallized intelligence declines more slowly. Creativity and problem-solving abilities typically remain strong. Work patterns are shifting from age-defined to more integrated roles as people seek education and career changes throughout adulthood.

Uploaded by

zahasher
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PhysicalandCognitiveDevelopmentinMiddleAdulthood

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MIDDLEAGE:ACULTURALCONSTRUCT
Guidepost1:Whatarethedistinguishingfeaturesofmiddleage?
Theconceptofmiddleageissociallyconstructed.Itcameintouseasanincreasinglifespanledtonewrolesatmidlife.
Middleadulthoodisatimeofbothgainsandlosses.
Thespanofmiddleadulthoodcanbedefinedchronologically,contextually,orbiologically.
Mostmiddleagedpeopleareingoodphysical,cognitive,andemotionalcondition.Theyhaveheavyresponsibilitiesandmultiplerolesand
feelcompetenttohandlethem.
Middleageisatimefortakingstockandmakingdecisionsabouttheremainingyears.
PHYSICALDEVELOPMENT
PHYSICALCHANGES
Guidepost2:Whatphysicalchangesgenerallyoccurduringthemiddleyears,andwhatistheirpsychologicalimpact?
Althoughsomephysiologicalchangesresultfromagingandgeneticmakeup,behaviorandlifestylecanaffecttheirtimingandextent.
Mostmiddleagedadultscompensatewellforgradual,minordeclinesinsensoryandpsychomotorabilities,includingsuchagerelated
conditionsaspresbyopiaandpresbycusis,increasesinmyopia,andlossofenduranceduetoslowingofbasalmetabolism.Lossesinbone
densityandvitalcapacityarecommon.
Menopauseoccurs,onaverage,ataboutage51,followingthephysiologicalchangesofperimenopause.Attitudestowardmenopause,and
symptomsexperienced,maydependonpersonalcharacteristics,pastexperiences,andculturalattitudes.
Althoughmencancontinuetofatherchildrenuntillateinlife,manymiddleagedmenexperienceadeclineinfertilityandinfrequencyof
orgasm.
Sexualactivitygenerallydiminishesonlyslightlyandgradually,andthequalityofsexualrelationsmayimprove.
Amongwomen,sexualdysfunctiondecreaseswithageinmen,itisjusttheopposite.Alargeproportionofmiddleagedmenexperience
erectiledysfunction.Sexualdysfunctioncanhavephysicalcausesbutalsomayberelatedtohealth,lifestyle,andemotionalwellbeing.
The"doublestandardofaging"causeswomentoseemlessdesirableastheylosetheiryouthfulappearance.Forbothmenandwomen,
anxietyaboutgettingolderisheightenedinasocietythatplacesapremiumonyouth.
HEALTH
Guidepost3:Whatfactorsaffecthealthatmidlife?
Mostmiddleagedpeoplearehealthyandhavenofunctionallimitations.
Diet,exercise,alcoholuse,andsmokingaffectpresentandfuturehealth.Preventivecareisimportant.
Hypertensionisamajorhealthproblembeginninginmidlife.AIDStendstobemoresevereinolderpeoplebecauseofweakenedimmune
functioning.
Leadingcausesofdeathinmiddleagearecancer,heartdisease,liverdisease,andstroke.Diabetesalsoisamajorcauseofdeath.
Lowincomeisassociatedwithpoorerhealth,inpartbecauseoflackofinsurance.
AfricanAmericans'elevatedhealthrisksmaybeduetoacombinationofhereditaryfactors,lifestylefactors,poverty,andstresscausedby
discrimination.
Postmenopausalwomenbecomemoresusceptibletoheartdiseaseandbonelossleadingtoosteoporosis.Chancesofdevelopingbreast
canceralsoincreasewithage,androutinemammographyisrecommendedforbeginningatage40.
AboutoneinthreeU.S.womenhasahysterectomybyage60,usuallybecauseofuterinefibroids,abnormaluterinebleeding,or
endometriosis.Manyexpertsbelievethisprocedureisoverused.
Hormonereplacementtherapy(HRT)isoftenprescribedforsymptomsrelatedtomenopause,butthereismountingevidencethatitsrisks
mayoutweighitsbenefitsinlongtermuse.Alternativetreatmentsarebeingtested.
Personalityandnegativeemotionalitycanaffecthealth.
Stressisrelatedtoavarietyofphysicalandpsychologicalproblems.Anaccumulationofminor,everydaystressorscanbemoreharmful
thanmajorlifechanges.Everydayhasslestendtodecreasewithage,perhapsbecausepeoplelearnstrategiesformanagingstress.
Causesofoccupationalstressincludeworkoverload,interpersonalconflict,sexualharassment,acombinationofhighpressureandlow
control,andinabilityto"unwind."Continualstressmayleadtoburnout.
Unemploymentcreatespsychologicalaswellasfinancialstress.Physicalandpsychologicaleffectsmaydependoncopingresources.
COGNITIVEDEVELOPMENT
MEASURINGCOGNITIVEABILITIESINMIDDLEAGE
Guidepost4:Whatcognitivegainsandlossesoccurduringmiddleage?
TheSeattleLongitudinalStudyfoundthatmostbasicmentalabilitiespeakduringmiddleage.Fluidintelligencedeclinesearlierthan
crystallizedintelligence.
THEDISTINCTIVENESSOFADULTCOGNITION
Guidepost5:Domatureadultsthinkdifferentlythanyoungerpeopledo?
Sometheoristsproposethatcognitiontakesdistinctiveformsatmidlife.Advancesinexpertise,orspecializedknowledgehavebeen
attributedtoencapsulationoffluidabilitieswithinaperson'schosenfield.Expertisealsodependsonthesocialcontext.
Postformalthoughtseemsespeciallyusefulinsituationscallingforintegrativethinking.
Theabilitytosolvepracticalproblemsisstrong,andmaypeak,atmidlife.
CREATIVITY
Guidepost6:Whataccountsforcreativeachievement,andhowdoesitchangewithage?
Creativeperformancedependsonpersonalattributesandenvironmentalforces,aswellascognitiveabilities.
Creativityisnotstronglyrelatedtointelligence.However,accordingtoSternberg,theinsightful,analytic,andpracticalaspectsof
intelligenceplayapartincreativeperformance.
Anagerelateddeclineappearsinbothpsychometrictestsofdivergentthinkingandactualcreativeoutput,butpeakagesforoutputvaryby
occupation.Lossesinproductivitywithagemaybeoffsetbygainsinquality.
WORKANDEDUCATION:AREAGEBASEDROLESOBSOLETE?
Guidepost7:Howhaveworkpatternschanged,andhowdoesworkcontributetocognitivedevelopment?
Ashiftfromagedifferentiatedtoageintegratedrolesappearstobeoccurringinresponsetolongerlifeandsocialchange.
Ginzberg'stheory,basedonmorerecentchangesinworklife,describestwobasiccareerpaths:stabilityandchange.
Complexworkmayimprovecognitiveflexibility.Changesintheworkplacemaymakeworkmoremeaningfulandcognitivelychallengingfor
manypeople.
Guidepost8:Whatisthevalueofeducationformaturelearners?
Manyadultsgotocollegeatanontraditionalageorparticipateincontinuingeducation.Adultsgotoschoolchieflytoimproveworkrelated

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skillsandknowledgeortoprepareforachangeofcareer.
Matureadultshavespecialeducationalneedsandstrengths.

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