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Psychosocial, Retirement, Relationships and Societal Issues
Chapter 15
Psychosocial Aging
Continuity Theory: cope w/ daily life... Application of familiar strategies Maintain internal/external psych structures
Internal = inner past, self-concept, experiences• Provides connection to past, feelings of mastery/esteem
External = physical/social environments• Provides connections to people
Psychosocial Aging
Maintaining continuity key for healthToo little = feeling life is unpredictableToo much = boredomOptimal = challenge w/in resources
Psychosocial Aging
Competence & environmental press Competence: upper limits of functioning
Physical health, motor skills, etc.
Environ press: demands placed on personPhysical, social, interpersonal
High competence + moderate press = good adjustment w/ adaptive behaviors/outcomesOther healthy combinations possibleIndiv differences (proactivity = high competence)
Personality & Spirituality
Integrity vs. despair: process of evaluationLife review
Integrity = satisfied w/ choices, experiences, & that life is coming to a closeFeel happy to have lived the life they did, high
esteem
Despair = regret, bitter, guilty, meaningless, fear deathDepressed, unhappy
Well being & social cognition
Subjective well being: positive evaluation of one’s life (life satisfaction, happiness, esteem)
Factors impacting SWB includeChronic illnessSocial networkStressControl beliefs
• Impact goals, behavior
Religiosity & Spirituality
Use of religion common among older adults (cope w/ stress)
Even more than friends, family
Spiritual support common Seeking help from religious activities, church
members, God Linked w/ well-being (more the better)
Religiosity & Spirituality
Turning to God/religion for help Determining what can/cannot be changed Focusing efforts on changeable things Emotionally separating from stable features
God will take care of those things
Retirement
Relatively recent phenomenon (few before 1930s)
Retirements increasing rapidly & fixed career length part of expectations
Retirement: process of w/drawal from full time participation in a occupation Crisp Blurred (> 50% & more men)
Career job v. bridge job before final retirement
Retirement
Why? Choice due to financial security or health Forced due to job loss
Loss of identity, roles, esteem
Women more likely to retire to care for dependents
Adjustment to Retirement
Life transition involving changing roles Positive adjustment linked w/
Financial securitySocial supportHealthVoluntary retirementHigh competenceEmphasis on family roles (only for men)
Friends & Family
Importance of relationships increases Most valued thing in life Social convoy: group w/ us during life providing
supportCritical all throughout adulthood
Friendships Quality key in late life (fewer in number than earlier)
Close friend buffers against stress Women have more
Friends & Family
Sibling relationships Important for most adults (especially sisters)
Diversity in relationshipsIntimate (14%)Congenial (30%)Loyal (34%)Apathetic (11%) - far less common among AAHostile (11%) - far less common among AA
Marriage
Marital satisfaction improves in later life Children leave Unhappy marriages broken up
Less conflict, more pleasureSimilar in health
Marriage helps respond adaptively Disease, disabilities Housework more egalitarian
Caring for Partner
Disease, accident one cares for the other New role (leader, parent) Division of labor changes Intimacy, companionship, marital satisfaction
decreases Frustration, guilt, depression
Less for those high in competence
Widowhood
Most older couples will end due to death Most common for women
> 50% women, 15% men over 65 Social isolation (worse for men)
Men at higher risk for dying, depression• Limited social resources & life skills
Women higher risk of povertyMen 5X more likely to form new romantic
relationships & remarry (but not friendships)
Social Issues
Minority of older adults are frail Disabilities, illness or various impairments Declining competence (needs help w/ daily activities)
Anxiety and depression commonIncreases w/ age
• 5% 65-74• 20% over 85
Nursing Homes
Not desirable for most but often necessary 5% older adults live in nursing homes 50% > 85 will spend some time
Assisted living facilities increasing Supportive (but not full time) care
Nursing Homes
Characteristics of typical resident> 85White femaleRecent hospital stayRetirement housingUnmarried/lives aloneNo children or nearby siblingsCognitively impairedProblems w/ daily living activities
Nursing Homes
What makes a good nursing home? Quality of life issues
Food, physical facilities, grooming & personal careStaff (enough, training)Safety
Person centered policiesPromote well being by enhancing personal control
& treating residents w/ respectReduce patronization, infantilization
Elder Abuse
Many forms Physical Sexual Emotional/psychological Financial Abandonment Neglect Self-neglect
Elder Abuse
Prevalence 1996 (551,000 > 60) Neglect most common (60%)
Elder abuse victims (90% abused by family)
Women more likely to be abused > 80 higher risk of abuse Poverty Level of impairment
Elder Abuse
Causes History of abuse Stress Intrapersonal and interpersonal problems Poor social support
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