Social Aspects of Later Life

1. Social Aspects ofLater Life Psychosocial, Retirement, Relationship and Societal Issues Chapter 15, Kail & Cavanaugh

2. 15.1 Theories of Psychological Aging • What is continuity theory? • What is the competence and environmental press model, and how do docility and proactivity relate to the model?

3. Continuity Theory • Continuity theory - theory based on idea that people tend to cope with daily life in later adulthood by applying familiar strategies based on past experience to maintain and preserve both internal and external structures • 3 degrees of continuity • Too Little - feel life is too unpredictable (or too chaotic) • Too Much - can create boredom or a rut of predictability • Optimal - enough change to be a challenge and provide interest by not taxing one’s resources

4. Competence Environmental Press Theory • Competence—the upper limit of a person’s ability to function in five domains; physical health, sensory-perceptual skills, motor skills, cognitive skills, and ego strength • Environmental press—the physical, interpersonal, or social demands that environments put on people

5. Adaptation level - when press level is average for a particular level of competence • Zone of maximum performance potential - when press level is slightly higher (than the person’s competence level), tending to improve performance • Zone of maximum comfort - when press level is slightly slower, facilitating a high quality of life

7. Dealing with Change • Proactivity - when people choose new behaviors to meet new desires or needs and exert control over their lives • Docility - when people allow their situation to dictate the options they have

8. 14.2 Personality, Social Cognition, and Spirituality • What is integrity in late life? How do people achieve it? • How is well-being defined in adulthood? How do people view themselves differently as they age? • What role does spirituality play in late life?

9. Integrity versus Despair • Integrity versus Despair - (Erikson) - the stage in later life in which people try to make sense of their lives • Requires a life review • Process by which people reflect on the events and experiences of their lifetimes • Connection between engaging in life review and achieving integrity

10. Well-Being and Social Cognition • Subjective well-being - an evaluation of one’s life that is associated with positive feelings • Influenced by: hardiness, chronic illness, marital status, quality of one’s social network, and stress • Women may experience less subjective well-being

11. Study Findings

13. Findings from a Study of Subjective Well-Being • Having more social resources was related to ____________. • Having fewer social resources was related to _______________. • Having more social resources was related to _______________ ____________________. Having fewer social resources was related to less subjective well-being. • Less stress was related to greater subjective well-being. More stress was related to less subjective well-being. • Stress mediates (or influences) the relation between social resources and subjective well-being. • Findings were true regardless of the ___________ of the adult.

14. Older adults report more stress related to health but lower stress regarding finances and housing. • Dependent on SES of sample

15. Spirituality in Later Life • Spirituality is a means by which older individuals can cope with life • Spiritual support - type of coping strategy that includes seeking pastoral care, participation in organized and unorganized religious activities, and expressing faith in a God who cares for people • Faith in God’s help is distinguishing between what can and cannot be changed, doing what one can to change the things they can, and letting go of those things that cannot be changed

16. 15.3 …Living in Retirement • What does being retired mean? • Why do people retire? • How satisfied are retired people? • How do retirees keep busy?

17. What does “retired” mean?

18. What Does Being Retired Mean? • Does not always mean complete absence of a work • “Crisp” • “Blurred” • Often people have a bridge job • Transitional job held between one’s exit from a career job and the final retirement • Associated with retirement and life-satisfaction

19. Why do People Retire? • Often by choice unless there is a serious health reason • Feel they are financially secure • Physical health problems interfere with work • People with jobs that are physically demanding tend to retire earlier • Women enter the workforce later and have more interruptions in their work history • Women with husbands that have poor health or with larger numbers of dependents tend to retire earlier. • Men with wives that have poor health or with larger number of dependents tend to retire later.

20. Adjusting to Retirement • Develops over time as an interplay between physical health, financial status, voluntary retirement status, and feelings of personal control • Men who place high priority on family report more retirement satisfaction • Women’s satisfaction with retirement is not associated with any specific roles • Research does not support belief that health begins to decline after retirement • A sedentary lifestyle at any age or life stage will predict health problems

21. Keeping Busy in Retirement • Organizations for retirees such as the AARP have increased the availability of activities and interests among the retired • Retirees volunteer and find ways to provide service to others • Volunteering promotes a personal sense of purpose

22. 15.4 Friends and Familyin Late Life • What role do friends and family play in late life? • What are older adults’ marriages life? • What is it like to provide basic care for one’s partner? • How do people cope with widowhood? How do men and women differ? • What special issues are involved in being a great-grandparent?

23. Friends and Siblings • Social convoy - a group of people that journeys with us throughout our lives, providing support in good times and bad • Socioemotional selectivity - process by which social contact is motivated by many goals, including information seeking, self-concept, and emotional regulation

24. Friends and Siblings • Patterns of friendships in late life are similar to those in young adulthood • Older adults have fewer relationships than younger adults

25. Sibling relationships (5): • Intimate sibling relationships- 14% • Hi closeness, involvement, and contact. • Low envy and resentment. • Congenial sibling relationships- 30% • Hi closeness, involvement. Avg. contact. • Low envy and resentment. • Loyal sibling relationships- 34% • Avg. closeness, involvement, and contact. • Low envy and resentment. • Apathetic sibling relationships- 11% • Low closeness, involvement, contact, envy and resentment. • Hostile sibling relationships- 11% • Hi involvement and resentment. • Low levels of closeness and contact.

26. Marriage and Same-Sex Partners • Older couples are more likely to be similar in mental and physical health and show fewer gender differences in sources of pleasure • Older couples usually have developed effective ways to avoid conflict • No known differences between older gay and lesbian relationships and those of heterosexuals, in terms of quality

27. Caring for a Partner • Caring for a chronically ill partner is more stressful and challenging than caring for a chronically ill parent • Division of labor has to be readjusted • Spouses of Alzheimer’s patients report more depression and decreased marital satisfaction • Older adults who have higher feelings of competence report few hassles in caring for partners

28. Widowhood • The death of a spouse is among the most traumatic experiences a person will experience • More than half of all women over 65 are widows • 15% of men the same age are widowers • Friends and family may not visit or socialize as much with elders after the death of a spouse

29. Widowhood • Men are at a higher risk of dying, themselves, soon after the death of a spouse • Some researchers believe that a man’s wife is often his only close friend and confidant • There is evidence that older men are less likely to be able to carry out routine activities such as shopping and financial responsibilities • Women are usually less financially secure when widowed and are more likely to enter poverty status • Widowers (male) are 5 times more likely to remarry than widows (female)

30. Great-Grandparenthood • Great-grandparenting is an enjoyable and important role • Three important aspects of great-grandparenthood: • Gives a sense of personal and family renewal • Great-grandchildren provide new diversions and a positive new role • A major milestone of longevity, which is usually viewed positively

31. Community Living Arrangements • Assisted living facilities - a supportive living arrangement for people who need assistance with ADLs or IADLs but who are not so impaired physically or cognitively that they need 24-hour care • Intermediate care - facility that consists of 24-hour care necessitating nursing supervision, but usually not at an intense level • Skilled nursing care - facility that consists of 24-hour care requiring fairly constant monitoring and provision of medical and other health services, usually by nurses

32. Who Lives in Nursing Homes? • Often widowed or divorced, financially disadvantaged, without living family, very old, and European American • Residents are commonly: • Over age 85, Female • Recently admitted to a hospital • Lives in retirement housing • Unmarried or living alone • Has no children nearby • Has cognitive impairment, has problem with IADLs

33. Researchers suggest a “person-centered planning” approach to nursing home policies • This approach promotes residents’ well-being by increasing their feelings of personal control • Nursing home staff should avoid: • Patronizing speech (speech marked by slower speed, exaggerated intonation, higher pitch, increase volume, repetitions, close-ended questions, simplified vocabulary and grammar) • Infantilization (i.e., using first names when inappropriate, terms of endearment, etc.)