1. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Chapter 19

2. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Eriksons final stage. (Review Figure 19.1, page 570)
Integrity Versus Despair
This Stage involves reflecting on the past and either piecing together a positive review ....
Or concluding that one's life has not been well spent.
A retrospective glance about the total worth of life

3. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Activity Theory
The theory that the more active and involved older adults are, the more likely they are to be satisfied with their lives
Continuing middle-adulthood roles into late adulthood...
If these roles are stripped from them
... It is important for them to find substitute roles that keep them active and involved.

4. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Socioemotional Selectivity Theory
The story that older adults become more selective about their social networks.
Because they place a high value on emotional satisfaction,
......older adults often spend more time with familiar individuals with whom they have had rewarding relationships.
Systematically refining their social networks so that available social partners satisfy their emotional needs

5. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Personality and Self-Esteem
Affect and outlook on life are linked to mortality in older adults
Optimistically live longer

6. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Males and females at this age have same level of self esteem
Declined self-esteem may be due to....
Deteriorating physical health
Negative societal attitudes toward older adults

7. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Possible Selves
What individuals might become,
What they would like to become, and
What they are afraid of becoming
Acceptance of ideal and future selves decreases and acceptance of past selves increases in older adults

8. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Self-Control
Most are able to maintain a sense of self-control
Plays an important role in older adults' engagement in healthy activities
Linked to better outcomes for well-being

9. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Ageism-Prejudice against others because of their age, especially prejudice against older adults
Often perceived as:
Incapable of thinking clearly,
learning new things,
enjoying sex
contributing to the community, or
holding responsible jobs

10. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Discrimination
Many face painful discrimination and might be too polite or timid to attack
May not be hired for new jobs or might be eased out of old ones

11. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Health Care
Escalating health care costs are currently the focus of considerable concern
Health care needs are reflected in Medicare and Medicaid
Affordable Care Act- US was the only developed country that did not have a national health care system
Older adults still pay about 1/3 of their health care costs

12. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Eldercare
Physical and emotional care taking for older members of family....
Whether by giving day-to day physical assistance...
Or by being responsible for overseeing such care

13. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Generational Inequity
The view that our aging society is being unfair to its younger members
...because older adults pile up advantages by receiving inequitably large allocations of resources

14. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Income
Poverty in late adulthood is linked to an increase in physical and mental health problems
Many live in poverty
Two to three times higher for ethnic minorities

15. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Living Arrangements
95% live in the community
Almost 2/3rds live with family
1/2 of older women 75 years and older live alone

16. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Technology
Internet use by older adults reduced their likelihood of being depressed by one-third
.... But less likely to have a computer in homes and use Internet

17. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Married Older Adults
58% of US adults over 65 years of age were married
Older men (72%) were far more likely to be married than older women (45%)
More than four times as many widows as widowers
Those who are married or in a partnership in late adulthood are usually happier, are less distressed and live longer
Those married...Also more likely to find themselves having to care for a sick partner.....
Which can be stressful and place demands on intimacy

18. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Divorce
increasing in numbers
But can weaken kinship ties, especially for men
And financial resources for women

19. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Friendship
People choose close friends over new friends as they grow older
Study: Women were more depressed than men if they did not have a best friend
Women who did have a friend reported lower levels of depression

20. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Altruism is linked to having a longer life.
Volunteering is associated with:
higher life satisfaction,
less depression and anxiety,
better physical health,
and more positive emotions.

21. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Aging minorities cope with the double burden of ageism and racism
Men become more feminine (nurturant,, sensitive)
Older women face a double jeopardy of ageism and sexism

22. Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
Successful Aging Factors
Active lifestyle
Positive coping skills
Good social relationships and support
Absence of disease