NU 344 Aging: Myths and Realities
A research design that combines cross-sectional with longitudinal design is: A) cross-sequential. B) cohort-sequential. C) time-sequential. D) selective-sequential.
Answer: A
According to modernization theory, scientific technology: A) creates new jobs primarily for the young. B) increases infant mortality and maternal deaths. C) reduces the need for literacy and education. D) increases the number of new jobs for older adults.
Answer: A
In all organ systems normal declines occur: A) after age 30. B) in one's 5th decade. C) after a physical trauma. D) after age 60.
Answer: A
In relation to modernization, occupation and education,: A) have a reversed J-shaped relation. B) show an increase, but later decline. C) suggest that after initial stages of modernization, status differences between generations widen. D) suggest that after initial stages of modernization, the status of older people falls.
Answer: A
In which country do older adults over age 70 receive free basic medical services? A) Japan B) the United States C) the United Kingdom D) China
Answer: A
Older immigrants to the U.S. are: A) less likely to be educated. B) less likely to receive government benefits. C) less likely to live in poverty. D) more likely to use health services.
Answer: A
The diverse cultures around the world illustrate that: A) there is a general need to achieve balance between elders' contributions to society and costs of supporting them. B) population aging is occurring at the same rate in developing and developed countries. C) there is a movement from low fertility urban societies to higher fertility rural societies. D) families no longer play a major role in supporting their elderly members.
Answer: A
The gastrointestinal system changes in the following way with aging: A) secretion of stomach digestive juices decreases. B) more enzymes are produced in the small intestine. C) constipation does not afflict most older people. D) food is passed through the stomach and intestines more rapidly.
Answer: A
The primary caregivers of Japanese elders are: A) middle-aged women. B) their grandchildren. C) middle-aged males. D) younger adult women.
Answer: A
The rectangularization of a population structure is due, in part, by: A) low birth rate. B) high birth rate. C) decreased life expectancy. D) both A and C.
Answer: A
The state which has the largest proportion of individuals aged 65 and above is: A) Florida. B) Minnesota. C) Utah. D) California.
Answer: A
Values of filial piety and ancestor worship in Japan are based on: A) Confucian values. B) Judeo-Christian values. C) Muslim values. D) Buddhist values.
Answer: A
What concept captures how earlier life experiences and decisions affect opportunities in later life? A) life course B) person-environment C) active-aging D) environmental press
Answer: A
Which of the following institutions and settings have contributed significantly to the study of aging during the 1950s and 1960s? A) The Baltimore Longitudinal Study B) The Alaska Institute of Aging C) The North Dakota Institute on Aging D) The New England Centenarian Study
Answer: A
Which of the following theories of aging is also called the oxidative stress model of aging? A) The Free Radical Theory B) The Wear and Tear Theory C) The Autoimmune Theory D) The Cellular Theory of Aging
Answer: A
Which two effects are confounded in cross-sectional research? A) age and cohort B) age and time-of-measurement C) cohort and time-of-measurement D) cohort and practice
Answer: A
With aging, the following changes are found in skin: A) secretions by sebaceous and sweat glands deteriorate B) there is generally an increase in blood circulation in the skin C) older individuals prefer cooler environments than younger persons D) the outer skin layer becomes thicker and more elastic
Answer: A
What can you tell about a population by looking at its population pyramid?
Answer: A population pyramid tells you about a population age composition and gender composition as well as support ratios. It breaks up the population into 10-year cohorts. As the population ages and fewer children are born, the pyramid becomes more column-shaped.
Thoroughly discuss Cowgill's Modernization Theory.
Answer: According to Modernization Theory, the decline in status attributed to older adults is due to health technology, scientific technology, urbanization and literacy, and mass education. As society becomes more modernized, older people lose political and social power.
A major advantage of longitudinal research designs is that they: A) allow for practice effects. B) eliminate cohort effects. C) allow a distinction between age and time by testing. D) compare different groups.
Answer: B
Among the following characteristics, which is the least important one for enhancing older people's status? A) knowledge of traditional skills B) chronological age C) information control D) their social contributions
Answer: B
Biological studies of aging using animal models demonstrate that: A) DHEA improves muscle strength and quality of life in humans. B) caloric restriction promotes health and longevity. C) low-fat diets from infancy can prolong life. D) both A and B.
Answer: B
Females born in 2006 have an average life expectancy of: A) 75.4 years. B) 80.7 years. C) 84.3 years. D) 99.5 years.
Answer: B
Regarding the urinary system with aging,: A) alcohol and caffeine consumption can prevent urinary incontinence. B) the renal system declines more than most other organs. C) dehydration is less of a problem with aging than in youth. D) changes in the renal system cause drugs to be excreted faster than in young people.
Answer: B
Selective dropout from longitudinal studies results in: A) poorer test scores with time. B) healthier and more motivated elders in the final sample. C) sicker and less educated elders in the final sample. D) few differences between drop-outs and those who remain.
Answer: B
Singapore is preparing for its aging population by: A) building long-term care facilities. B) encouraging self-sufficiency. C) lowering the mandatory retirement age to 60. D) passing legislation to mandate filial piety.
Answer: B
The distinction between active and dependent life expectancy is useful in illustrating: A) differences between men and women. B) that not all gains in life expectancy are positive. C) that most of the gain in life expectancy is a negative gain. D) the advantages of increased life expectancy for ethnic minorities.
Answer: B
Which country sponsors events such as "Respect for Elders Day" to promote family-based caregiving? A) Japan B) Korea C) Singapore D) Thailand
Answer: B
Which of the following factors is most important in mitigating the impact of modernization on older people? A) expectations of continued financial support by parents B) cultural values of respect toward elders C) continued participation of elders in the workforce D) strong national welfare systems
Answer: B
Which two effects are confounded in longitudinal research? A) age and cohort B) age and time-of-measurement C) cohort and time-of-measurement D) cohort and practice
Answer: B
With age, vital lung capacity: A) declines very little over the life span of the average person. B) declines at about half the rate for master athletes when compared to sedentary men. C) declines more for older women than for older men. D) declines and thus impairs daily functioning.
Answer: B
A major problem with the cross-sectional research method is that: A) respondents become test wise. B) respondent attrition (loss of subjects) can occur over time. C) cohort effects may emerge rather than the effects of aging. D) the message of measurement may change over time.
Answer: C
According to modernization theory, which of the following statements is not true? A) Cultural values can mitigate the negative effects of modernization. B) Social changes that accompany modernization cause younger and older generations to become increasingly separated. C) Urbanization has improved the status of older adults. D) Both A and B.
Answer: C
According to social exchange theory,: A) as society becomes more modernized, older people lose respect. B) most societies have a sense of reverence and deference toward elders. C) it is possible to achieve a balance between costs and contributions made by older adults and the extent of power and respect they command. D) none of the above.
Answer: C
According to the text: A) the "young-old" are those individuals aged 50-65. B) the "old-old" are those aged 65-75. C) the "oldest-old" are those aged 85+. D) "old-old" refers to all people age 65+.
Answer: C
In terms of psychological age, which of the following people is the youngest? A) Michelle, a college graduate at age 17 B) Anne, a secretary at age 25 C) Cathy, a college sophomore at age 48 D) Sarah, a school teacher at age 55
Answer: C
Regarding urinary functions, increased age results in: A) a decrease in bladder function but relatively little change in kidney function. B) very small percentage of elders (3 to 5 percent) with problems. C) urinary incontinence among as many as 30 percent in the community. D) an increase of kidney volume and weight.
Answer: C
Societies in advanced stages of modernization may become more aware of the older population's devalued status through: A) religious organizations. B) politicians. C) advertising and television. D) peer pressure.
Answer: C
The elderly support ratio: A) assumes the low birth rate will increase. B) projects that by 2030 there will be 5 working people per retired person. C) does not take into account that some older people remain in the work force. D) assumes the population aged 18-65 are in the "working years" .
Answer: C
Which is not a reason for the growth of the old-old in developing countries? A) immunization B) medical care C) increasing birth rates D) improved nutrition
Answer: C
Which model provides a way to view the interactions between a person and his/her environment? A) active aging B) resilience C) competence model D) environmental press model
Answer: C
Which of the following is true about educational attainment among the population aged 65+? A) More white women than white men have college degrees. B) For African Americans over age 70 years, more men than women completed college. C) Baby Boomers are more educated than the oldest old. D) None of the above are true.
Answer: C
Which of the following statements about the care of older persons in Japan is true? A) Demand for nursing homes, especially in Japan's big cities, is low. B) Japanese families assume no more responsibility for their older relatives than do Western families. C) The proportion of older couples living with adult children has declined since 1985. D) The old are such a small proportion of the Japanese population that their care is not a significant problem.
Answer: C
Which stages are part of the four-stage life cycle for high-caste men in traditional Hindu law? A) student, householder, sage, mendicant B) student, merchant, ascetic, mendicant C) student, householder, ascetic, mendicant D) teacher, householder, ascetic, mendicant
Answer: C
With regard to bone changes and gender,: A) men tend to lose more bone mass than women as they age. B) men tend to develop kyphosis more so than women. C) bone mineral density declines mostly because of estrogen levels declining. D) bone mineral density declines mostly because of a loss of testosterone.
Answer: C
What is a centenarian, and what have studies found about centenarians and their lives?
Answer: Centenarians are individuals who are over 100 years old. There are a variety of studies on these individuals and they look at both genetic and social factors. Genetic factors determine how well an older person copes with disease, but environmental factors may also influence overall health and functional ability.
A true biological change with aging: A) is universal for all members of the species. B) tends to be progressive and gradual over time. C) results in a series of diseases of aging. D) both A and B.
Answer: D
According to Cowgill's modernization theory, the application of health technology includes all of the following except: A) reduced infant mortality. B) reduced maternal death. C) prolonged adult life. D) decreased the number of older persons.
Answer: D
Causes for the decline in the percentage of parents living with children in Japanese culture include: A) industrialization. B) urbanization. C) increasing number of children since 1950. D) both A and B.
Answer: D
Characteristics of modernization that contribute to the decline of older adults' status in traditional societies include: A) literacy. B) health technology. C) employment status. D) both A and B.
Answer: D
Compared with those that drop out, participants that remain in a longitudinal study are generally: A) more educated. B) healthier. C) more motivated. D) all of the above.
Answer: D
Countries that do not favor allowing the immigration of young workers support the following solution(s) to labor shortage: A) persuade part time workers to become full time. B) encourage women to enter the workforce. C) raise the birthrate. D) all of the above.
Answer: D
In relation to aging and sensation,: A) over the life span, the sense of touch remains generally the same. B) older persons tend to overreport actual pain experienced. C) older persons can discriminate levels of pain as well as young persons. D) loss of nerve endings causes a decline in touch sensitivity with aging.
Answer: D
Regarding age-related dangers in body composition,: A) proportion of fatty tissue decreases. B) muscle mass remains essentially the same as one ages. C) aging results in increased obesity. D) changes in body composition affect drug metabolism.
Answer: D
Regarding the Gerontological Society of America and its publications,: A) the Journals of Gerontology deal primarily with the psychology of aging. B) this organization focuses on elders' social welfare. C) this is a national organization of physicians interested in older patients. D) this organization includes educators, researchers, and clinicians.
Answer: D
Significant elevation of blood pressure is associated with all the following factors except: A) diet. B) obesity. C) lifestyle. D) old age.
Answer: D
The expansion of research in social gerontology in the late 19th century and early 20th century is due to: A) the growth of the population over age 65. B) the need to modify policies for an older population. C) a mandate by universities and research institutes. D) both A and B.
Answer: D
The major change in liver functioning with age is that: A) the liver increases in size. B) alcohol has less harmful affects than in younger people. C) jaundice occurs at about the same rate as in younger people. D) metabolism of medications by the liver declines.
Answer: D
The major premise of modernization theory is that with modernization: A) older people's status increases in most societies B) there are more opportunities for intergenerational interaction C) older people experience a higher quality of life D) older people often lose political and social power
Answer: D
The oldest-old subgroup: A) is the slowest growing segment of the U.S. population. B) has about as much education as younger groups. C) has the same income as younger groups. D) is the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.
Answer: D
The rectangular survival curve: A) is considered to be the ideal survival curve and is dependent on a fixed maximum lifespan. B) has become more rectangular over the past century. C) is not a good representation of changes in worldwide life expectations. D) both A and B.
Answer: D
The state which has the largest number of individuals aged 65 and above is: A) Florida. B) Oregon. C) Washington. D) California.
Answer: D
The term "compression of morbidity" refers to: A) fewer people dying from disease. B) functional decline due to disease is avoided. C) increased life expectancy. D) illness affecting only the last few years of life.
Answer: D
Which is true of role changes and suicide among older adults? A) Generally, Japanese women aged 75 and older have lower suicide rates than their counterparts in English speaking countries. B) In the U.S., suicide rates increase for the 65 and older group when compared to the 40 -50 age group. C) Suicide rates of older women do not differ by country. D) Asian men aged 75 and older have higher suicide rates than any other age group of Asian men.
Answer: D
Which of the following countries has the highest proportion of older adults? A) Sweden B) Greece C) Italy D) Japan
Answer: D
Discuss the pros and cons of using longitudinal research design for studying gerontological topics.
Answer: Eliminates cohort effects by studying the same people over time, but does not allow a distinction between age and time of testing, cannot separate effects of other variables and has the potential for practice effects. Attrition and resulting selective dropout can compromise a longitudinal study.
Discuss "retired husband syndrome."
Answer: In Japan, the medical condition has been observed among women whose husbands have retired by age 60-65 and remain at home full-time, demanding attention from their wives. Women are reporting psychosomatic symptoms related to stress resulting from having to serve their husbands.
Explain Japan's aging crisis.
Answer: Japan is experiencing the most rapid rate of population aging in the world. By 2050, the 65 and older group will comprise 30% of the country's population. Resistance to immigration, which would bring in younger workers, is contributing to the need of economic support of retirees.
Discuss the effects of culture and modernization in Japan.
Answer: Japanese culture has traditionally revered older adults, however, the economic demands placed on the nuclear family have challenged this practice. The unprecedented numbers of older people have increased the costs of maintaining older members and have created dilemmas for the younger family members who are responsible for their care.
Identify the main reason the older population is growing.
Answer: One of the key factors contributing to the growth of older population is longer life expectancy. In 1900, the average life expectancy was 47 years. By 2008, the average life expectancy was 78.1 years.
Define skipped generation households and discuss study findings about older Chinese adults living in three generation households vs. those living in skipped generation households.
Answer: Skipped generation households are those whose grandparents care for grandchildren in the absence of the child's parents. Those living in three generation households reported greater life satisfaction and less depression than those living in skipped generation households.
Explain the concept of the active aging framework.
Answer: The active aging framework is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. It shifts our thinking of old age as a time of passivity to one of continued participation in life and that aging is a lifelong process.
