1. Exploring Lifespan Development
Chapter 18
Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood
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2. Erikson’s Theory: Ego Integrity versus Despair
feel whole, complete, satisfied with achievements
serenity and contentment
associated with psychosocial maturity
Despair
feel many decisions were wrong, but now time is too short
bitter and unaccepting of coming death
expressed as anger, contempt for others
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3. Peck: Three Tasks of Ego Integrity
Ego differentiation versus work-role preoccupation
Body transcendence versus body preoccupation
Ego transcendence versus ego preoccupation
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Gerotranscendence
Beyond ego integrity
Cosmic, transcendent perspective
Directed beyond self
forward and outward
Heightened inner calm
Quiet reflection
Senior Lifestyles
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Emotional Expertise
Cognitive-affective complexity
declines for many
Affect optimization improves
maximize positive emotions, dampen negative ones
More vivid emotional perceptions
make sure of own emotions
use emotion-centered coping
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6. Reminiscence and Life Review
telling stories about people, events, thoughts, and feelings from past
self-focused: can deepen despair
other-focused: solidifies relationships
knowledge-based: helps solve problems
Life Review
considers the meaning of past experiences
a form of reminiscence
for greater self-understanding
can help adjustment
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7. Personality in Late Adulthood
Secure, multifaceted self-concept
Allows self-confidence
Continue to pursue possible selves
Shifts in some characteristics
More agreeable
Less sociable
Greater acceptance of change
Resilience promotes adaptive functioning.
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The New Old Age
Third Age
ages 65 to 79 and beyond
marked by personal fulfillment, self-realization
high life satisfaction
need more opportunities
U.S. Serve America Act
Fourth Age
physical decline
need for care
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Senior Lifestyles

9. Spirituality and Religion in Late Adulthood
About three-fourths of U.S. elders say religion is “very important.”
Over half attend services weekly.
Many become more religious/spiritual with age.
not all: about one-fourth get less religious
cultural, SES, gender differences
Physical, psychological benefits
social engagement
spiritual beliefs themselves
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10. Factors in Psychological Well-Being
Control versus dependency
Health
poor health, depression linked
suicide risk
Negative life changes
Social support, interaction
Senior Lifestyles
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11. Stability & Change in Personality Traits
Hostile people are unlikely to mellow much with age unless they get help
Optimistic people also likely to remain the same

12. Personality traits that contribute to health and longevity
Personality is strong predictor of emotionality and subjective well-being
Negative emotions decrease with age
Positive emotions remained stable; possibly because as they age tend to seek activities and people that give them emotional gratification, also ability to regulate emotions- more happy

13. Coping strategies: Problem-focused versus emotional focused
Problem-focused coping: involves use of instrumental (action orientated) strategies to eliminate, manage, or improve a stressful condition; usually when sees a realistic chance of changing the situation.

14. Coping strategies: Problem-focused versus emotional focused
Emotion-focused coping: (palliative coping), directed toward feeling better; managing the emotional response to a stressful situation to relieve its physical or psychological impact; usually use when feels that little or nothing can be done about the situation itself. One strategy is to divert energy away from the problem; another is to give in; another is to deny the problem.  

15. Coping strategies: Problem-focused versus emotional focused
Emotion-focused coping Con’t:
Older adults tend to use emotion-focused coping more than the young. They are more flexible and able to use both problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies, but are better able to effectively manage their emotions.

16. Two types of emotion-focused coping:
Proactive- confronting or expressing one’s emotions or seeking social support)
Passive- avoidance, denial, suppression.
The young and older tend to use more passive coping.
See Table 18-1 (page 677)

17. Religion
Positive link between religion or spirituality and health, marital satisfaction, psychological well-being, physical health
Negative association (when religion lacking) with suicide, delinquency, criminality, substance use/abuse
Meditation also effective.

18. Models of Successful Aging
MacArthur Foundation: three main components of successful aging:
Avoidance of disease or disease-related disability
Maintenance of high physical and cognitive functioning
Sustained, active engagement in social and productive activities

19. Depression and Suicide
Physical illness, disability strong risk factors
perceived negative physical health
higher SES has stronger impairment–depression relationship
Mental and physical health challenges related
mental health often more debilitating
Suicide rate highest over age 75
caregivers must provide autonomy when possible
need for increase in mental health-care options
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20. Life Changes and Social Support
Elders: high risk for negative life changes
multiple life changes test coping skills
women more at risk
Positive social support increases physical and mental well-being.
religion
informal (family, friends)
formal (paid workers, agencies)
elders must select domains of control
best type affirms self-worth, belonging
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21. Social Theories of Aging
Disengagement theory
mutual withdrawal of elders and society
Activity theory
social barriers cause declining interaction
Continuity theory
strive to maintain consistency between past and future
Socioemotional selectivity theory
social networks become more selective with age; extends lifelong process
emphasize emotion-regulating functions of social contact
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22. Housing Arrangements in Late Adulthood
Ordinary homes
own home – preferred and most control
with family
number living alone increasing
Residential communities
congregate housing
life-care communities
Nursing homes
restricts autonomy, social integration
Green House model better
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23. Marriage in Late Adulthood
Satisfaction peaks in late adulthood.
fewer stressful responsibilities
fairness in household tasks
joint leisure
emotional understanding, regulation
If dissatisfied, harder for women
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24. Long-Term Gay and Lesbian Partnerships
Most happy, highly fulfilling
healthier, happier than singles
Coping with oppression may strengthen skill at coping with physical aging
Face legal, health-care issues
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25. Divorce, Remarriage, Cohabitation
few divorces in late adulthood, but increasing
hard to recover, especially women
Remarriage
rates low; decline with age
higher for divorced than widowed
late remarriage stable
Cohabitation
growing trend
financial and family reasons
relationships stable
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Widowhood
Most stressful event of life for many
one-third of elderly
significantly more women than men
Few remarry; most live alone
must cope with loneliness
Reorganizing life harder for men
more likely to remarry
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27. Possible Sources of Support for the Widowed
Family
Friends
Senior centers
Support groups
Religious activities
Volunteer activities
Senior Lifestyles
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28. Never-Married, Childless Older Adults
About 5% of Americans
Develop alternative meaningful relationships
youths
friends
relatives
Men more likely to be lonely
Senior Lifestyles
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29. Friendships in Late Adulthood
Friends provide:
intimacy
companionship
acceptance
link to community
help with loss
Feel closest to a few nearby friends
Choose friends similar to self
Sex differences continue
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30. Relationships with Adult Children
Quality of relationship affects elders’ physical, mental health
Assist each other
Direction changes toward children helping as parents age.
Closeness affects willingness to help.
Emotional support most often
Parents try to avoid dependency.
Sex differences
Mother–daughter ties often closest
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Elder Maltreatment
Physical abuse
Physical neglect
Emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Financial abuse
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32. Risk Factors for Elder Maltreatment
Dependent victim
Dependent perpetrator
emotionally or financially
Psychological disturbance, stress of perpetrator
History of family violence
Low-quality nursing homes
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Decision to Retire
Keep Working
limited or no benefits
few leisure interests
high work commitment
good health
spouse working
flexible work schedule
pleasant, stimulating work
Retire
adequate retirement benefits
compelling leisure interests
low work commitment
declining health
spouse retiring
routine, boring job
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34. Adjusting to Retirement
Most people adapt well.
Up to 30% report some adjustment difficulties.
Factors in adjustment
financial worries
workplace factors
spouse influence
sense of personal control
social support
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Leisure Activities
Interests continue from earlier in life.
choose personally gratifying pursuits
frequency and variety drop with age
Involvement in rewarding leisure linked to better health, reduced mortality
self-expression
new achievements
helping others
social interactions
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Senior Lifestyles

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Optimal Aging
Minimize losses,
maximize gains
Focus less on outcomes, more on processes and reaching personal goals
Some factors controllable, others not
Social policies can help.
Senior Lifestyles
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