Chapter 15

The term ______ is used to describe the midlife transition in which fertility declines.

climacteric

In a recent large-scale study, fluid intelligence declined in individuals 65 years of age and older but not in those who were 45 to 60 years old. This finding

contradicts Horn's assertion that fluid intelligence declines in middle adulthood.

Research on practical problem solving in young versus middle adulthood

has shown mixed results.

Which of the following refers to a condition in which the body does not produce enough testosterone?

male hypogonadism

As compared to cross-sectional findings about cognition in middle age, longitudinal studies find

many cognitive skills peak in middle age.

The time when women's menstrual periods completely cease is known as ___________.

menopause

As people in ______ adulthood prepare for retirement, they may have to adjust their idealistic hopes to realistic possibilities to meet their goals.

middle

Janie is in ______ adulthood and is able to have more leisure time due to increased paid vacation time and more available money.

middle

When is expertise more likely to occur?

middle adulthood

The developmental period that begins at approximately 40 to 45 years of age and extends to about 60 to 65 years of age is referred to as ___________adulthood.

middle or mid

In a recent study, undergraduate college students were shown a computer-generated graphic of different people and asked who they would choose for a work-related task. The students most often selected the

middle-age adult.

One study found that almost half of individuals 60 to 75 years of age considered themselves

middle-aged.

The term climacteric refers to the

midlife transition in which fertility declines.

Events such as the death of a parent, becoming a grandparent, and having one's last child leave the home are

more likely to occur in late midlife than in earlier midlife.

Which of the following side effects may be produced by menopause?

nausea hot flashes fatigue

What constitutes middle age is getting more difficult to determine because

of the increase in average life expectancy.

Which of the following are memory strategies that can be used to help combat memory decline?

organization imagery

The decline in memory in late middle age has been attributable to information _______ that builds up as we go through the adult years.

overload

For many people, middle adulthood a time of which of the following?

passing on something meaningful to the next generation declining physical skills becoming more aware of the young-old polarity

Historically, retirement has been a male transition, but now _______ expect(s) to retire.

both spouses

Generally, what has been concluded about menopause?

It is not the negative experience for most women it was previously considered to be.

People today grow up faster and age quicker than in past centuries.

F

Menopause typically occurs between the ages of

39 and 59.

Menopause typically occurs between the ages of

39-59

Late midlife is defined as the age period between

55 and 65 years.

Based on Willis and Schaie's analysis of individual variations in cognitive trajectories, which statement regarding the association between cognitive functioning in midlife and later functioning in old age is true?

Declines in memory, word fluency, and perceptual speed in midlife were associated with cognitive impairment in older adulthood.

______ intelligence is a person's ability to reason abstractly, and it typically begins to decline in middle adulthood.

Fluid

HRT, which was once routinely prescribed to treat some side effects of menopause, stands for ___________ __________________ ____________. (Watch your spelling!)

Hormone replacement therapy

Which statement is FALSE regarding work in midlife? It is not a central part of midlife. Many individuals reach their peak in position. Many middle-aged adults have reached their maximum earnings potential. Financial burdens may consume many middle-aged adults.

It is not a central part of midlife.

Which statement regarding changes in middle-aged adults' memory is false? Increases in memory are usually found in cross-sectional studies. There is still some controversy over whether memory declines in middle adulthood. Most experts conclude that memory does decline at some point in midlife. Many studies on memory compare 20-year-olds with 50-year-olds.

Increases in memory are usually found in cross-sectional studies.

Which of the following statements is true regarding hormone replacement therapy?

It can consist of various forms of estrogen, and usually a progestin.

Which statement regarding perimenopause is FALSE? It is a transition period from normal menstrual periods to no menstrual periods at all. It can last up to 10 years. During this time, women may complain of depressed feelings, headaches, and moodiness. It is most common in the thirties but can occur in the twenties.

It is most common in the thirties but can occur in the twenties.

Which of the following are recent historical trends with respect to retirement?

Many middle-aged adults are retiring due to job loss and subsequent inability to find another job. Couples are more likely than in the past to be planning for two retirements rather than one.

Which of the following statements regarding changes in midlife are true?

Medical discoveries have helped reduce the aging process for middle-aged adults today. Middle age is lasting longer than in years past. Many 50-year-olds are in better shape today than 40-year-olds a generation or two ago.

Which of the following statements about hormonal changes in middle-aged men is true?

Men do not lose fertility in middle age.

_________________ is the time for women in middle age, usually during their late forties or early fifties when their menstrual periods stop.

Menopause

______ adulthood is a time for evaluation, assessment, and reflection about work.

Middle

Which of the following statements regarding changes in midlife are true?

Middle age is lasting longer than in years past. Medical discoveries have helped reduce the aging process for middle-aged adults today. Many 50-year-olds are in better shape today than 40-year-olds a generation or two ago.

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding middle-aged workers?

Most have not yet reached their peak in earnings.

Which of the following is NOT a finding of the Seattle Longitudinal Study? Middle-aged men and women showed similar levels of peak performance in most cognitive abilities. Number facility decreased in middle age. Perceptual speed increased in middle adulthood. Four of the six intellectual abilities assessed reached their highest level of functioning in middle adulthood.

Perceptual speed increased in middle adulthood.

Which of the following was an extensive study of intellectual abilities during adulthood?

Seattle Longitudinal Study

True or false: Whether it involves being a homemaker, volunteering, working a part-time job, or having a full-time career, work has a central role in middle adulthood.

T

Which of the following statements regarding menopause is FALSE?

The age of onset for menopause has decreased significantly in the 20th century.

Which of the following statements regarding sexual behavior in middle adulthood are true?

There is little biological decline in the ability to function sexually in middle age. Sexual activity usually occurs less frequently than in early adulthood.

in middle-age and older adults, more frequent sexual activity has been associated with

better cognitive functioning.

What causes hot flashes?

a decline in estrogen production

Which of the following descriptions fits middle adulthood?

a time to balance work and relationships amidst physical and psychological changes associated with aging

Timothy Salthouse disagrees with Schaie's findings and argues that cross-sectional research shows reasoning, memory, spatial visualization, and processing speed

begin declining in early adulthood and further decline in the fifties.

An assessment of individuals of different ages at the same point in time is a ______ study.

cross-sectional

Recent research suggests that ______ intelligence is a better predictor of practical problem solving in middle adulthood, while ______ intelligence is a better predictor in young adulthood.

crystallized; fluid

Adults who don't take annual vacations are at a greater risk for which of the following?

death

It has been concluded that in general, there is a(n) ______ during middle adulthood.

decline in memory

When assessing individual variations in intellectual functioning, Schaie identified which three groups?

decliners, stable, gainers

Speed of processing information ______ in middle adulthood.

decreases

Processing speed begins to decline in Blank______ adulthood.

early

Which of the following is NOT a reason why middle adulthood may allow more time for leisure? more paid vacations fewer family demands more money available to individuals more free time

fewer family demands

Middle adulthood has been defined as the age period between the

forties to mid-sixties.

Many experts conclude that in middle adulthood

gains and losses balance each other.

Because of _____, the workforce today is sometimes outsourced to other countries with a significantly less expensive labor force.

globalization

Dominic creates mental images to help him remember directions. What is the mental strategy Dominic is using?

imagery

Which of the following have contributed to the rectangularization of age distribution?

increased longevity baby boomers getting older

According to Horn, crystallized intelligence ______ in middle adulthood and fluid intelligence _______.

increases; decreases

Today, middle age is starting ______ and lasting ______ for increasing numbers of individuals.

later; longer

___________ refers to the pleasant times after daily work hours when individuals are free to pursue activities and interests of their own choosing.

leisure

Hobbies, sports, and reading are all examples of

leisure.

Sexual activity in middle adulthood usually occurs ______ in early adulthood.

less frequently than

Compared with those who never took vacations, men who went on annual vacations were ______ to die during the period of a 9-year study.

less likely

A(n) ______ study studies the same individuals over a period of time.

longitudinal

Whereas Schaie emphasizes _______ studies about age-related changes in cognitive functioning, researchers like Timothy Salthouse argue that it is important to heed _______ studies that illustrate earlier decline.

longitudinal; cross-sectional

What has promoted the rectangularization of age distribution?

low fertility rates aging of the baby-boom cohort increased longevity

In terms of gains (growth) and losses (declines), sociocultural supports typically ______ in middle adulthood.

peak

Identify the six mental abilities assessed in the Seattle Longitudinal Study.

perceptual speed inductive reasoning verbal comprehension verbal memory numeric ability spatial orientation

The transitional period from normal menstrual periods to no menstrual periods at all is known as

perimenopause.

In order to solve problems in their domain, experts are more likely than novices to use strategies that include all of the following, EXCEPT processing information automatically. flexibility and creativity. relying exclusively on recent experiences. using better shortcuts.

relying exclusively on recent experiences.

The challenges facing many of today's middle-aged workers include all of the following, EXCEPT globalization. pension and health care concerns. the decline in information technologies. downsizing of organizations.

the decline in information technologies.

Assessing parents' and offsprings' overall cognitive functioning between the ages of 60 and 67 years, Schaie found that

the parent generation showed cognitive declines during this time period, whereas their offspring showed stability or slight increases.

Which of the following statements is NOT a reason people in midlife typically become motivated to change jobs? they don't like the work they are doing they face pressure from employers to stay on the job rather than retire they feel behind schedule in reaching their occupational goals their job has become stressful

they face pressure from employers to stay on the job rather than retire

Middle adulthood is ______ studied.

under

In the Seattle Longitudinal Study, which four intellectual abilities peaked among men and women in middle age?

verbal ability spatial orientation verbal memory inductive reasoning

Crystallized intelligence includes which of the following?

verbal skills accumulated information

For women over 40, which of the following is a key determinant as to whether they engage in sexual activity?

whether they live with a spouse

The type of memory that allows individuals to manipulate and assemble information when making decisions, solving problems, and comprehending language is called ______ memory.

working

A consistent finding is that as adults become older their age identity, or self-perception of age, is ______ their chronological age.

younger than