Psychosocial, Retirement, Relationships and Societal Issues

Chapter 15

Psychosocial Aging

Continuity Theory: cope w/ daily life... Application of familiar strategies Maintain internal/external psych structures

Internal = inner past, self-concept, experiences• Provides connection to past, feelings of mastery/esteem

External = physical/social environments• Provides connections to people

Psychosocial Aging

Maintaining continuity key for healthToo little = feeling life is unpredictableToo much = boredomOptimal = challenge w/in resources

Psychosocial Aging

Competence & environmental press Competence: upper limits of functioning

Physical health, motor skills, etc.

Environ press: demands placed on personPhysical, social, interpersonal

High competence + moderate press = good adjustment w/ adaptive behaviors/outcomesOther healthy combinations possibleIndiv differences (proactivity = high competence)

Personality & Spirituality

Integrity vs. despair: process of evaluationLife review

Integrity = satisfied w/ choices, experiences, & that life is coming to a closeFeel happy to have lived the life they did, high

esteem

Despair = regret, bitter, guilty, meaningless, fear deathDepressed, unhappy

Well being & social cognition

Subjective well being: positive evaluation of one’s life (life satisfaction, happiness, esteem)

Factors impacting SWB includeChronic illnessSocial networkStressControl beliefs

• Impact goals, behavior

Religiosity & Spirituality

Use of religion common among older adults (cope w/ stress)

Even more than friends, family

Spiritual support common Seeking help from religious activities, church

members, God Linked w/ well-being (more the better)

Religiosity & Spirituality

Turning to God/religion for help Determining what can/cannot be changed Focusing efforts on changeable things Emotionally separating from stable features

God will take care of those things

Retirement

Relatively recent phenomenon (few before 1930s)

Retirements increasing rapidly & fixed career length part of expectations

Retirement: process of w/drawal from full time participation in a occupation Crisp Blurred (> 50% & more men)

Career job v. bridge job before final retirement

Retirement

Why? Choice due to financial security or health Forced due to job loss

Loss of identity, roles, esteem

Women more likely to retire to care for dependents

Adjustment to Retirement

Life transition involving changing roles Positive adjustment linked w/

Financial securitySocial supportHealthVoluntary retirementHigh competenceEmphasis on family roles (only for men)

Friends & Family

Importance of relationships increases Most valued thing in life Social convoy: group w/ us during life providing

supportCritical all throughout adulthood

Friendships Quality key in late life (fewer in number than earlier)

Close friend buffers against stress Women have more

Friends & Family

Sibling relationships Important for most adults (especially sisters)

Diversity in relationshipsIntimate (14%)Congenial (30%)Loyal (34%)Apathetic (11%) - far less common among AAHostile (11%) - far less common among AA

Marriage

Marital satisfaction improves in later life Children leave Unhappy marriages broken up

Less conflict, more pleasureSimilar in health

Marriage helps respond adaptively Disease, disabilities Housework more egalitarian

Caring for Partner

Disease, accident one cares for the other New role (leader, parent) Division of labor changes Intimacy, companionship, marital satisfaction

decreases Frustration, guilt, depression

Less for those high in competence

Widowhood

Most older couples will end due to death Most common for women

> 50% women, 15% men over 65 Social isolation (worse for men)

Men at higher risk for dying, depression• Limited social resources & life skills

Women higher risk of povertyMen 5X more likely to form new romantic

relationships & remarry (but not friendships)

Social Issues

Minority of older adults are frail Disabilities, illness or various impairments Declining competence (needs help w/ daily activities)

Anxiety and depression commonIncreases w/ age

• 5% 65-74• 20% over 85

Nursing Homes

Not desirable for most but often necessary 5% older adults live in nursing homes 50% > 85 will spend some time

Assisted living facilities increasing Supportive (but not full time) care

Nursing Homes

Characteristics of typical resident> 85White femaleRecent hospital stayRetirement housingUnmarried/lives aloneNo children or nearby siblingsCognitively impairedProblems w/ daily living activities

Nursing Homes

What makes a good nursing home? Quality of life issues

Food, physical facilities, grooming & personal careStaff (enough, training)Safety

Person centered policiesPromote well being by enhancing personal control

& treating residents w/ respectReduce patronization, infantilization

Elder Abuse

Many forms Physical Sexual Emotional/psychological Financial Abandonment Neglect Self-neglect

Elder Abuse

Prevalence 1996 (551,000 > 60) Neglect most common (60%)

Elder abuse victims (90% abused by family)

Women more likely to be abused > 80 higher risk of abuse Poverty Level of impairment

Elder Abuse

Causes History of abuse Stress Intrapersonal and interpersonal problems Poor social support