Sociology Exam 3
hospice
type of healthcare that treats terminally ill people when "cure-oriented treatments" are no longer an option. not focused on getting better or curing the illness, focused on passing out of this life in comfort and peace. offers a place to go for people to die in comfort, or home services to pass in a familiar environment
filial piety
(deference and respect to one's parents and ancestors in all things) as defining all other virtues
age in men
-decrease in male sexual performance that occurs as a result of primary aging is medicalized and constructed as needing treatment so that a man may maintain a sense of youthful masculinity -aging men have fewer opportunities to assert their masculine identities in the company of other men (sports participation, etc) -some social scientists observed that the aging male body is depicted in the western world as genderless
age in women
-social security favors men over women -elderly female patients are more likely than elderly men to have their healthcare concerns trivialized and are more likely to have their health issues labeled psychosomatic -mass-media often depicts elderly females in terms of negative stereotypes and as less successful than older men
young old
65-74 years old today's are generally happier, healthier, and financially better off than the young old of previous generations
middle-old
75-84 years old
why are aging boomers a concern for economic observers?
Although the baby boom generation earned more than previous generations and enjoyed a higher standard of living, they did not adequately prepare for retirement.
age and poverty
Among people over sixty-five years old, the poverty rate fell from 30 percent in 1967 to 9.7 percent in 2008, well below the national average of 13.2 percent. However, given the subsequent recession, which severely reduced the retirement savings of many while taxing public support systems. the national poverty rate among the elderly had risen to 14 percent by 2010
health by socioeconomic status
More of a factor than race One of the most consistent predictions of morbidity and mortality Economics/education Smoking, poor eating habits, poor exercise
exchange theory
The rational choice theory applied to relationships and sociology. Basically says that people will look for relationships that get them the best net benfits. the only means to avoid being discarded is to engage in resource management, like maintaining a large inheritance or participating in social exchange systems via child care.
anger
The second stage in the Kubler-Ross model, when people begin to see the loss of life as unfair and unjust
bargaining
The third stage in the Kubler-Ross model, when people usually beg or pray to a higher power to undo the situation, usually through promises to be a better person.
health by gender
Women are affected adversely both by unequal access to and institutionalized sexism in the healthcare industry. In 2018, roughly one in four (26%) women—compared to one in five (19%) men—reported delaying healthcare or letting conditions go untreated due to cost. Because of costs, approximately one in five women postponed preventive care, skipped a recommended test or treatment, or reduced their use of medication due to cost 75 percent of all diagnoses of Borderline Personality Disorder
mental disorder
a condition that makes it more difficult to cope with everyday life
gerontology
a field of science that seeks to understand the process of aging and the challenges encountered as seniors grow older
aging boom
a period when its elderly population will dramatically increase
grief
a psychological, emotional, and social response to the feelings of loss that accompanies death or a similar event
disability
a reduction in one's ability to perform everyday tasks
mental illness
a severe, lasting mental disorder that requires long-term treatment
aging is
a social construction, both global and local, in the way individuals and nations define who is elderly - the shared meaning of the concept of elderly is created through varying perspectives on aging.
primary aging
age-related physical changes that have a biological basis and are universally shared and inevitable
secondary aging
aging that occurs due to controllable factors like exercise and diet
madrid plan
an internationally coordinated effort to create comprehensive social policies to address the needs of the worldwide aging population. The plan identifies three themes to guide international policy on aging: 1) publicly acknowledging the global challenges caused by, and the global opportunities created by, a rising global population; 2) empowering the elderly; and 3) linking international policies on aging to international policies on development
at what age does youth end?
boomer: 31 gen x: 31 millennial: 40
at what age is the prime of life?
boomer: 50 gen x: 47 millennial: 36
at what age is someone old?
boomer: 73 gen x: 65 millennial: 59
life phases
children - love to play and learn preteen - begin to test independence teenager - anticipate the promises and challenges of adulthood adult - become focused on creating families, building careers, and experiencing the world as independent people old age - may be time to explore hobbies and activities that there was no time for earlier in life
baby boomers
cohort born between 1946 and 1964. first group of children and teenagers with their own spending power and therefore their own marketing power. redefined what it means to be young, middle-aged, and now old increasing burdens on the entire US healthcare system. american geriatrics society notes that from 2013-2025, there will be a 45% increase in demand for physicians who specialize in geriatrics
direct purchase insurance
coverage that an individual buys directly from a private company
perception of age
cultures that value youthfulness and beauty above all else lead to negative thoughts towards this, whereas a culture that reveres the elderly for their life experiences and wisdom contributes to a more positive thought towards this
social construction of illness
deals with such issues as the way some patients control the manner in which they reveal their diseases and the lifestyle adaptations patients develop to cope with their illnesses.
impairment
describes physical limitations
ageism
discrimination based on age
autism spectrum disorders
encompass a group of developmental brain disorders that are characterized by "deficits in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and engagement in repetitive behaviors or interests" Because of its impact on relationships and especially verbal communication, children (and their parents) can be shunned, grossly misunderstood, and mistreated.
personality disorders
enduring and inflexible pattern of long duration leading to significant distress or impairment, that is not due to use of substances or another medical condition. In other words, personality disorders cause people to behave in ways that are seen as abnormal to society but seem normal to them.
feminization of the aging poor
evident in peripheral nations, directly due to the number of elderly women in those countries who are single, illiterate, and not a part of the labor force
denial
first stage of the kubler ross model - the person does not want to believe they are dying, common thoughts like "I feel fine" or "This is not really happening to me"
public healthcare
government funded -medicare and -medicaid
socialized medicine system
government owns and runs the system. employs the doctors, nurses, and other staff, owns and runs the hospitals. ex: great britain -also seen in US veterans health administration
the graying of america
greater than tenfold increase in the elderly population, compared to a mere tripling of both the total population and of the population under 65-years-old
cohort
group of people who share a statistical or demographic trait
functionalism on health
health is vital to the stability of the society, and therefore sickness is a sanctioned form of deviance. since the sick are unable to fulfill their normal societal roles, their sickness weakens the society. doctors serve as gatekeepers, deciding who is healthy and who is sick—a relationship in which the doctor has all the power. - sick role
employment based insurance
health plan coverage that is provided in whole or in part by an employer or union; it can cover just the employee, or the employee and his or her family
affordable care act
increased eligibility to programs like medicaid, helped guarantee insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, established regulations to make sure that the premium funds collected by insurers and care providers go directly to medical care.
what do gerontologists do?
investigate age, aging, and the aged. study what it is like to be an older adult in a society and the ways that aging affects members of a society.
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
marked by difficulty paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity. As a result, it can lead to educational and behavioral issues in children, success issues in college, and challenges in workplace and family life.
geriatrics
medical specialty that focuses on the elderly
dependence
newborns - depend on caregivers for everything toddlers to adolescents to teenagers - assert their independence more and more
activity theory
notion that elderly people need to find replacement roles for those they've lost. activity levels and social involvement are the key to this process. more active = more happy
health in high-income nations
obesity in high-income nations due to Improvements in technology and reduced family size have led to a reduction of work to be done in household production. Unhealthy market goods, including processed foods, sweetened drinks, and sweet and salty snacks are replacing home-produced goods. Leisure activities are growing more sedentary, for example, computer games, web surfing, and television viewing. More workers are shifting from active work (agriculture and manufacturing) to service industries. Increased access to passive transportation has led to more driving and less walking.
old old
over 85
sick role
patterns of expectations that define appropriate behavior for the sick and for those who take care of them.
aging and sexuality
people continue to have sex after age 65, though they do not always do so safely -sexual dysfunctions in men has been addressed and there are many pharmaceuticals available. However, this is not the same for women
death
people tend to perceive this based on the values of their culture. -viewing this as a loss is considered normal in the U.S.
legitimation
physician must certify that the illness is genuine.
private healthcare
privately funded -employment-based -direct purchase
health in low-income nations
problems with infectious diseases, high infant mortality rates, scarce medical personnel, and inadequate water and sewer systems
medicare
provides health services to people over 65 or those who meet other standards for disability
aging
reflects physiological process of growing older, but also our attitudes and beliefs about the aging process
individual mandate
requires everyone to have insurance coverage by 2014 or pay a penalty
conflict theory on health
rooted in capitalist society capitalism and the pursuit of profit lead to the commodification of health: the changing of something not generally thought of as a commodity into something that can be bought and sold in a marketplace. -people with money and power (dominant group) are the ones who make decisions about hoe the healthcare system will be run. health disparities among impoverished and minorities creates inequality -accurate in pointing out certain inequalities in the healthcare system, they do not give enough credit to medical advances that would not have been made without an economic structure to support and reward researchers: a structure dependent on profitability. don't point out the work and expertise of doctors.
conflict theory on age
social groups compete with other groups for power and scarce resources. Applied to society's aging population, the principle means that the elderly struggle with other groups—for example, younger society members—to retain a certain share of resources. At some point, this competition may become conflict. -modernization theory -age stratification theory -exchange theory
stigmatization of illness
society and even the healthcare institutions discriminate against certain diseases, like mental disorders, AIDS, STDs, and skin disorders
death with dignity
some do not wish to continue a life when they are in constant pain and no longer enjoy life. oregon was the first state to pass a law to allow this. requires 2 physicians for legal assisted suicide
symbolic interactionism
stress that the changes associated with old age, in and of themselves, have no inherent meaning. Nothing in the nature of aging creates any particular, defined set of attitudes. Rather, attitudes toward the elderly are rooted in society. assumes that if people develop a sense of identity through their social interactions, their sense of self is dependent on those interactions. -subculture of aging theory -selective optimization with compensation theory -gerotransendence
Epidemiology
study of the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases
selective optimization with compensation theory
successful personal development throughout the life course and subsequent mastery of the challenges associated with everyday life are based on the components of selection, optimization, and compensation. aging is a process and not an outcome, and the goals (compensation) are specific to the individual. our energy diminishes as we age, and we select (selection) personal goals to get the most (optimize) for the effort we put into activities, in this way making up for (compensation) the loss of a wider range of goals and activities.
life expectancy
the average number of years a person born today may expect to live. nowadays, expectancy is higher
functionalism on aging
the elderly are one of society's vital parts. those with better resources who stay active in other roles adjust better to old age -disengagement theory -activity theory -continuity theory
continuity theory
the elderly make specific choices to maintain consistency in internal (personality structure, beliefs) and external structures (relationships), remaining active and involved throughout their elder years
morbidity
the incidence of disease
life course
the period from birth to death, including a sequence of predictable life events
social epidemiology
the study of the causes and distribution of diseases. can reveal how social problems are connected to the health of different populations.
thanatology
the systematic study of death and dying
physician assisted suicide
the voluntary or physician-assisted use of lethal medication provided by a medical doctor to end one's life
retirement
the withdrawal from paid work at a certain age -some seek new hobbies, interests, and forms of recreation. many find new groups and explore new activities, but others may find it more difficult to adapt to new routines and loss of social roles, losing their sense of self in the process
stigmatization of disabilities
their identity is spoiled; they are labeled as different, discriminated against, and sometimes even shunned. They are labeled (as an interactionist might point out) and ascribed a master status (as a functionalist might note), becoming "the blind girl" or "the boy in the wheelchair" instead of someone afforded a full identity by society.
contested illnesses
those that are questioned or questionable by some medical professionals. Disorders like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome may be either true illnesses or only in the patients' heads, depending on the opinion of the medical professional.
gerontocracy
type of social structure wherein the power is held by a society's oldest members
bipolar disorder
used to be called manic depression because of the way people would swing between manic and depressive episodes.
racial inequalities in healthcare
Black people, Native Americans, and Alaska Native people received worse care than Whites for about 40 percent of quality measures. Hispanic people, Native Hawaiian people, and Pacific Islanders received worse care than White people for more than 30 percent of quality measures. Asian people received worse care than White people for nearly 30 percent of quality measures but better care for nearly 30 percent of quality measures
subculture of aging theory
focuses on the shared community created by the elderly when they are excluded (due to age), voluntarily or involuntarily, from participating in other groups. This theory suggests that elders will disengage from society and develop new patterns of interaction with peers who share common backgrounds and interests.
US median age
forty
depression
fourth stage of the kubler ross model - allows for resignation as the situation begins to seem hopeless. finally person adjusts to the idea of death and reaches acceptance
Symbolic Interactionism on health
health and illness are both socially constructed. focus on the specific meanings and causes people attribute to illness. -medicalization of deviance -demedicalization -pharmaceutical companies make billions treating illnesses such as fatigue, insomnia, and hyperactivity that may not be illnesses in need of treatment
acceptance
last stage of the kubler ross model - the person can face death honestly, regarding it as a natural and inevitable part of life, can make most of their remaining time
health in race and ethnicity
minorities tend to have higher infant mortality rates. minorities also have higher incidence of several diseases and causes of mortality, from cancer to heart disease to diabetes.
anxiety disorders
most common mental disorder in the US feelings of worry and fearfulness that last for months at a time. include obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and both social and specific phobias.
elder abuse
occurs when a caretaker intentionally deprives an older person of care or harms the person in his or her charge
age discrimination in employment
provided protection against a broad range of age discrimination and specifically addressed termination of employment due to age, age specific layoffs, advertised positions specifying age limits or preferences, and denial of healthcare benefits to those over sixty-five years old
medicaid
provides services to people with very low incomes who meet other eligibility
social gerontology
refers to a specialized field of gerontology that examines the social (and sociological) aspects of aging
medicalization
refers to the process by which previously normal aspects of life are redefined as deviant and needing medical attention to remedy. many aspects of women's lives have been medicalized, including menstruation, premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause.
mood disorders
second most common mental disorder in the US most common causes of illness-related hospitalization in the U.S. -depression and dysthymic disorder long-term, debilitating illness that usually needs treatment to cure. Bipolar disorder is characterized by dramatic shifts in energy and mood, often affecting the individual's ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
age stratification theory
suggest that members of society might be stratified by age, just as they are stratified by race, class, and gender. Because age serves as a basis of social control, different age groups will have varying access to social resources such as political and economic power. Within societies, behavioral age norms, including norms about roles and appropriate behavior, dictate what members of age cohorts may reasonably do. -criticized for its broadness and inattention to other sources of stratification and how these might intersect with age
modernization theory
suggests that the primary cause of the elderly losing power and influence in society are the parallel forces of industrialization and modernization. as societies modernize, status of elders decrease, cause social exclusion central reasoning: as long as extended family is the standard family, as in preindustrial economies, elders will have a place in society and a clearly defined role. as societies modernize, the elderly, unable to work outside of the home, have less to offer economically and are seen as a burden
disengagement theory
suggests that withdrawing from society and social relationships is a natural part of growing old. First, because everyone expects to die one day, and because we experience physical and mental decline as we approach death, it is natural to withdraw from individuals and society. Second, as the elderly withdraw, they receive less reinforcement to conform to social norms. Therefore, this withdrawal allows a greater freedom from the pressure to conform. Finally, social withdrawal is gendered, meaning it is experienced differently by men and women.
universal healthcare
system that guarantees healthcare coverage for everyone. Germany, Singapore, and Canada -canada seen as model for the system
Gerotransendence
the idea that as people age, they transcend the limited views of life they held in earlier times. Tornstam believes that throughout the aging process, the elderly become less self-centered and feel more peaceful and connected to the natural world. Wisdom comes to the elderly and as the elderly tolerate ambiguities and seeming contradictions, they let go of conflict and develop softer views of right and wrong no everyone achieves wisdom in aging, some grow bitter and isolated
dependency ratio
the number of citizens not in the labor force (young, disabled, or elderly) to citizens in the labor force