middle adulthood: ages 40 through 65

Chapter

11Middle Adulthood: Ages 40 through 65

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Objectives• Analyze physical changes that occur in

middle-aged adults.• Analyze cognitive changes that occur in

middle-aged adults.• Analyze socio-emotional changes that occur

in middle-aged adults.

continued


Objectives• Summarize how middle-aged adults express

generativity rather than stagnation.• Identify how supportive relationships impact

physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional well-being.

• Give an example of how becoming an adult during a specific period of time in history impacts a person’s life.


Physical Qualities and Changes• Middle adulthood typically refers to the time

period from ages 40 through 65 years• During the middle adult years, reproductive

capacity declines or is lost for both men and women, which is called climacteric

• For men, a decrease occurs as the male hormone testosterone declines

continued


Physical Qualities and Changes• Women experience a decrease in estrogen

and progesterone• This first stage of reduced fertility is called

perimenopause• Eventually, women reach menopause and

can no longer reproduce

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Physical Qualities and Changes• One of the first observed sensory changes in

middle adulthood is diminished hearing• The loss of visual acuity, or vision

sharpness, is more noticeable• The condition of presbyopia is also common

due to loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye

continued


Physical Qualities and Changes• During middle adulthood, sarcopenia, the

loss of muscle mass and strength, occurs• At the same time, fat tissue increases• Many adults may feel stiffness in their bones• Calcium deficiency causes bones to become

brittle and less dense, which may result in a condition called osteoporosis

continued


Physical Qualities and Changes• As muscle mass and bone density decrease,

so does muscle strength• Physical activity can slow or reverse many of

these changes• As physical abilities decline, good nutrition

and regular physical activity are important

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Physical Qualities and Changes• The average person will gain 10 to 20 pounds

throughout middle age without some change in diet and activity

• Middle-aged adults continue to need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night

• Symptoms from inadequate sleep may include the reduced ability to concentrate, solve problems, and be productive

continued


Physical Qualities and Changes• During middle adulthood, scheduling regular

health checkups remains important• Wellness and eye exams are recommended

exams during middle adulthood• Dentists recommend scheduling visits once a

year and cleanings every six months

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Physical Qualities and Changes• In middle adulthood, chronic diseases

overtake accidents as the leading cause of death

• Chronic diseases usually start slowly and last for years, if not a lifetime

• Diabetes and arthritis are common examples of chronic diseases

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Physical Qualities and Changes• Cancer, which is the abnormal growth and

division of cells in the body, is the leading cause of death in middle adulthood

• A benign tumor is noncancerous• Malignant is the term used to describe

tumors that are cancerous

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Physical Qualities and Changes• Cancers are treated in various ways including

– chemotherapy (the use of cancer-killing chemicals or drugs)

– radiation– surgical removal

• Most cancers are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors

continued


Physical Qualities and Changes• Cardiovascular disease, abnormal function

of the heart or blood vessels, is the second leading cause of death

• Cardiovascular disease is caused by the process of atherosclerosis, or the clogging of arteries with plaque (a fatty substance)

continued


Physical Qualities and Changes• Cardiovascular disease is hereditary or a

result of unhealthful lifestyle choices such as a poor diet or smoking

• Good health habits such as proper nutrition, stress management, physical activity, and preventive health care may reduce risks

Checkpoint


1. What key bodily changes can be expected in middle adulthood? (Answers will vary, but should reflect an

understanding of text pages 268–269.)2. What are the symptoms of menopause?

hot flashes, sleeplessness, mood changes, and forgetfulness

3. What is osteoporosis? condition caused by a calcium deficiency in

which bones become brittle and less dense

continued

Checkpoint


4. How can adults decrease the risk of gradual weight gain? by reducing calorie intake, taking daily walks,

following MyPlate guidelines and the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

5. List at least three exams or screenings doctors recommend for middle-aged adults. (List three:) wellness exams, eye exams,

dental exams, mammograms for women, and prostate exams for men.


Signs of Cognitive Change• In middle adulthood, cognitive changes occur• Some cognitive functions improve while

others decline• Crystallized intelligence, which includes

judgment and accumulated knowledge, often increases in middle adulthood

continued


Signs of Cognitive Change• The ability to reason peaks during middle

adulthood• Adults use inductive reasoning and

deductive reasoning skills• Middle-aged adults often demonstrate expert

knowledge or skills

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Signs of Cognitive Change• People in young adulthood tend to be better

at remembering episodic memories than those in middle adulthood

• Middle-aged adults tend to remember semantic memories as experience gives them time and practice

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Signs of Cognitive Change• Adults can continue to improve their

language, memory, and reasoning skills• According to Kohlberg’s theory, middle age

adults are in the final stage of moral development

• This stage is called postconventional morality

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Signs of Cognitive Change• Adults continue to care about their

community, environment, and society• Spiritual beliefs and religion may become

more important • Middle-aged adults become more interested

in establishing and living by their personal values

Checkpoint


1. How do middle-aged adult cognitive skills differ from younger adults? Fluid intelligence peaks in early adulthood, but

may start to decline in middle adulthood. Crystallized intelligence and reasoning skills increase in middle adulthood. Episodic memory is stronger in early adulthood, while semantic memory is stronger in middle adulthood.

continued

Checkpoint


2. What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning? Inductive reasoning involves making

conclusions by moving from detailed facts to general theory. Deductive reasoning uses general observation or theory to reach a detailed conclusion.

continued

Checkpoint


3. How do language skills change in middle adulthood? vocabulary increases, knowledge of synonyms

increases4. Middle-aged adults are in which stage of

Kohlberg’s moral development theory? postconventional morality, in which they

establish and live by their own personal values


Signs of Socio-emotional Change• By the time people reach middle age, most

have lived through many life changes• Maturity is the ability to adapt to the

inevitable changes that happen in life

continued©Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock.com


Signs of Socio-emotional Change• Middle adulthood is a time for figuring out

how to leave legacies of one’s self to the next generation

• Erikson called this stage of socio-emotional development the generativity versus stagnation phase

continued


Signs of Socio-emotional Change• Generativity takes many forms

– Biological generativity involves raising children– Parental generativity is giving back to future

generations by participating in children’s lives– Work generativity involves passing on work

knowledge, skills, and cultural values to future generations

– Cultural generativity includes communicating cultural values and traditions in the larger society

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Signs of Socio-emotional Change• In middle age, adults may need to balance

providing care to aging parents and care for their children

• This creates a group called the sandwich generation

• As adult children leave home, the household shrinks creating an empty nest

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Signs of Socio-emotional Change• Parents often become grandparents during

their middle adult years• Sometimes, grandparents may find

themselves in the role of parenting their children’s children– Causes the grandparenting role to become more

similar to a parenting role

continued


Signs of Socio-emotional Change• Once children leave the house, parents

experience a shift in living arrangements and emotions

• During this time, couples may need to reestablish their relationships

• Some marriages may falter and dissolve

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Signs of Socio-emotional Change• Having supportive relationships is important

in any stage of life• Positive relationships contribute to physical,

cognitive, social, and emotional well-being• Supportive relationships are healthy

relationships that include give-and-take between those involved

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Signs of Socio-emotional Change• As adults face midlife, they often question

whether their chosen career is the one they wish to continue

• Some adults decide that midlife is the perfect time to make changes

• After working hard for many years, people in middle adulthood often have to learn how to relax and enjoy leisure time

continued


Signs of Socio-emotional Change• Taking time for personal pursuits can be

essential in relieving stress• Leisure activities help to define self-identity

outside of career or family identity• Retirement is often on the minds of middle-

aged adults

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Signs of Socio-emotional Change• Becoming an adult during a specific period of

time in history impacts your life• The significant social, political, and economic

events during this “coming of age” period of life influence a generation

• Those who are born in a similar time in history are called generational cohorts

continued


Signs of Socio-emotional Change• People born between the years of 1946 and

1964 are the Baby Boomer Generation• Baby Boomers have influenced American

trends from a very early age• Many people believe they will redefine the

meaning and purpose of older adulthood

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1979 are known as Generation X• This generation of Americans experienced

huge social changes• Sometimes, members of Generation X are

called the Digital Generation as they were children and teens when the first personal computer was introduced

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1995 are the Millennial Generation• Although not as large as the Baby Boomer

Generation, the Millennial Generation is already making a huge impact on society

• Currently, the Millennial Generation is either entering or entrenched in young adulthood

Checkpoint


1. According to Erikson, which stage of socio-emotional development are middle-aged adults experiencing? What is the struggle in this stage? generativity versus stagnation, in which adults

must determine what legacies they will leave of themselves to future generations

continued

Checkpoint


2. What is the sandwich generation? List some of the challenges this generation faces. The sandwich generation describes the

situation when adults must provide care for needs of both their aging parents and children at the same time. They face emotional challenges in dealing with the declining health of their parents and they may encounter stress and schedule overload trying to care for parents and children.

continued

Checkpoint


3. Describe a supportive relationship. a healthy relationship that involves give-and-

take and provides help and support to adults facing new life challenges

4. Why is taking advantage of leisure opportunities especially important in middle adulthood? Leisure time is essential in relieving stress and

can help define the self outside of career and family identity.

continued

Checkpoint


5. How does the generation people are born in impact an individual’s life? Living through certain political, social, and

economic events can have a huge impact on people. These experiences can influence interest differences between people of different generations.


Special Needs• During middle adulthood, special needs can

develop as a result of aging• Sometimes, changes to the structure of a

home need to be made to accommodate special needs

• Universal design is housing design that meets the physical needs of people of all ages and abilities

Checkpoint


1. What is universal design? housing design that meets the physical needs

of people of all ages and abilities2. List two examples of universal design features.

(List two:) adjusted countertop height,

wheelchair accessible ramps, widened hallways, safety handrails, wooden floors, and waterproof shower seats

3. What are the main purposes of universal design? safety, convenience, and accessibility

middle adulthood: ages 40 through 65

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