Chapter 15

Careers, Work, and Leisure Work in Midlife

The role of work is central during middle age In the US, about 80% of people aged 40--59 years of age are employed A time of evaluation, assessment, and reflection about work Current Challenges and Changes Currently, middle-aged workers face several challenges in the 21st century --Globalization and exporting of jobs --Rapid developments in information technologies --Downsizing organizations --Early retirement --Pensions and health care

Physical Development Physical Changes

Visible Signs Wrinkling and sagging of skin --Making someone look older than what they actually are Appearance of aging spots Hair becomes thinner and grayer Joints will also change, the ability to function decreases and natural cushion deteriorates Nails become thicker and more brittle Yellowing of teeth

Sleep

Wakeful periods become more frequent in the 40's Less deep sleep (stage 4)

Vision and Hearing

Accommodation of the eye (ability to focus and maintain an image) experiences sharp declines between 40--59 years Difficulty viewing close objects Reduced blood supply decreases visual field Hearing can start to decline by the age of 40 Hearing loss is greater in men than women High-pitched sounds are typically lost first

The Nature of Middle Adulthood Changing Midlife

Age Identity- as adults become older, their age identity is younger than their chronological age This is what you are going to say you feel like Your body lets you know you are a little older and your body is limited on what it can do They think they are younger than their chronological age An increasing percentage of the population is made up of middle-aged and older adults --Longevity due to good medical care and lifestyles "Rectangularization" of the age distribution --Instead of becoming narrower as you get older, it stays the same in terms of age --Men might be in more physical and dangerous workplaces that could change their life; men are more willing to take risks Reaching and maintaining career satisfaction Middle adulthood is the age period in which gains (growth) and losses (decline) balance each other

Awareness of the young-old polarity

Aware that they are in a position where you realize life isn't going to last forever Realizing you are in the later stage of your life --Losing close friends that are in the same age range as you

Health and Disease

Chronic Disorders: a slow onset and a long duration Rare in early adulthood but increase in middle age

Mortality Rates

Chronic diseases are the main cause of death during the middle adulthood Heart disease Cancer In 2005, cancer was the leading cause of death in 45--64 year olds followed by cardiovascular disease

Sexuality

Climacteric: the midlife transition in which fertility declines Menopause: time in middle age (late 40s to early 50s) when a woman's menstrual periods completely cease Perimenopause: transitional period; often takes up to 10 years Heredity and experience influence the onset of menopause Menopause: Hot flashes, nausea, fatigue, and rapid heartbeat Not the negative experience it once was

Cognitive Development Intelligence

Crystallized Intelligence: an individual's accumulated information and verbal skills Continues to increase in middle adulthood Fluid Intelligence: the ability to reason abstractly May begin to decline in middle adulthood The Seattle Longitudinal Study: study of intellectual abilities in adulthood years Peak performance on vocabulary, verbal ability, inductive reasoning, and spatial orientation was attained in middle age Decline in numerical ability and perceptual speed

Late Midlife (55 to 65) is likely to be characterized by:

Death of parent Last child leaving the parental home Becoming a grandparent Preparation for an actual retirement --Common to many people in this age span --Might also lose certain relationships such a parents

Cardiovascular System

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease can be caused by high blood pressure and high cholesterol Prominent factors are: --Foods high in sodium --Sedentary lifestyle- eating foods high in saturated and trans fat --"Free pass" thinkers Metabolic Syndrome: a condition characterized by hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance Critical to your well being Exercise, weight control, and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can often help The kinds of things you can do to be healthy

Height and Weight

Individuals lose height and gain weight Both obesity and severe weight loss can pose health risks --Some people can look way too thin or way to big

Transmitting something meaningful to the next generation

Information from family member being passed on --The value of time --Showing up to class late with a professor from an older generation --The value of hardwork and perseverance --In reference to sports

Lungs

Lung tissue becomes less elastic at about age 55, decreasing the lung's capacity

Defining Middle Adulthood

Middle Adulthood: 40--50 years of age to about 60--65 years of age Declining physical skills and increasing responsibility Increased responsibility of grandkids instead of your own kids Jobs or responsibilities you take on in the world Gaining expertise as you get older

Hormonal Changes in Middle-Aged Men

Modest decline in sexual hormone level and activity Erectile Dysfunction: inability to achieve and maintain an erection May stem from physiological problems

Religion and Meaning in Life Religion and Adult Activities

More than 70% of middle-aged adults are religious and consider spiritually a major part of their lives Increase in spirituality tends to occur between late middle adulthood and late adulthood Women have consistently shown a stronger interest in religion than males

Leisure

Pleasant times after work when individuals are free to pursue activities and interests of their own choosing Compared with those who never took vacations, men who went on annual vacations were 21% less likely to die over the 9 years studied, and 32% less likely to die of coronary disease

Religion and Health

Religion is positively linked to health Frankl (1984) identified the three most distinct human qualities as: --Spirituality --Freedom --Responsibility

Strength, Joints, and Bones

Sarcopenia: age-related loss of muscle mass and strength General process due to aging Cushions for bone movement becomes less efficient, often leading to joint stiffness and more difficulty in movement Progressive bone loss

Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors

Sexual activity occurs less frequently in early adulthood Middle-aged men are more interested in sex than middle-aged women Living with a spouse or partner makes all the difference in terms of engaging in sexual activity

Information Processing

Speed of Information Processing Perceptual speed begins declining in early adulthood and continues to decline in middle adulthood Expertise --Expertise often shows up more in middle adulthood than in early adulthood --Rely on accumulated experience --Process information automatically and analyze it more efficiently --Have better strategies and shortcuts to solving problems --Are more creative and flexible in solving problems Memory --Verbal memory declines during middle adulthood according to most researchers --Linked changes in working memory and ineffective memory strategies Practical Problem Solving --Remains stable in early and middle adulthood, then declines in late adulthood

Stress and Disease

The Immune System and Stress Stress and the Cardiovascular System Culture and Health