Nichowilliam

Textbook citation: Capuzzi, M.D.S. D. (2016). Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan: Applications for Counselors. [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781118984758/

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

How many sociocultural clichés exist about aging in middle adulthood? Perhaps you yourself have attended an over-the-hill party, joked about someone’s spare tire, or counted your own gray hairs! How about the classic stereotype of the middle-aged man who compensates for aging by running marathons, trading in his minivan for a sports car, and getting a younger girlfriend? (Perhaps Carl Jung would say that this gentleman is not integrating his fractured ego effectively.)

Although these stereotypes might represent some middle adults, they certainly do not represent all of them. The human body does begin to decline in middle adulthood, but most adults are healthy. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study shows that most adults report good to excellent health, with only 17% reporting fair or poor health. According to the most recent CDC statistics, the most significant health issues in middle adulthood are obesity and inactivity. Only 28.6% of Americans aged 44–65 years reported a healthy body weight, whereas 36.8% were overweight and 33.7% were obese. Less than half of middle adults (46.9%) reported being sufficiently active, with over half moderately active or completely inactive (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014).

Other prominent health issues for middle adulthood were regular alcohol use and physical pain. Over half of middle adults reported regularly using alcohol. Although not a health condition per se, significant alcohol use can be a factor in health problems such as liver disease, diabetes, and increased risk of accidents. Physical pain included arthritis, joint symptoms, and localized body pain. Table 15.1 presents population percentages for common health conditions in adults aged 44–65 years.

Table 15.1 Population Percentages for Health Conditions

Health Condition	U.S. adults Aged 44-65 Years
Alcohol, regular use	51.8
Chronic joint symptoms	35.3
Pain in lower back	32.3
Arthritis	29.6
Smoker	19.5
Hearing trouble	19.2
Pain in neck	18.4
Migraines or severe headaches	13.6
Diabetes	12.7
Heart disease	121
Vision trouble	11.3
Cancer(any type)	9.3
Absence of all natural teeth	7.7
Pain in face or jaw	5.2
Liver disease	2.0

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2014).

Body Changes in Middle Adulthood

Beginning in their mid- to late 30s, adults begin to notice significant changes in their physical development. The most noticeable changes are a decrease in muscle and bone mass, decreased energy levels and longer recovery periods after an accident or strenuous activity, and changes in vision (presbyopia or farsightedness) and hearing (hearing loss and tinnitus). Internally, the human body is slowing in systemic functioning; the heart rate slows and aortic walls become thicker, and the immune system declines (Kirasic, 2004). For men in middle adulthood, the reduction of muscle mass can be correlated with higher risks for weight gain, obesity, and high blood pressure (Murray & Lewis, 2014; Vimalananda et al., 2013). Men also have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer (Discacciati et al., 2011). Women also have an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure (Ma & Xiao, 2010; Vimalananda et al., 2013). This is an inevitable part of the aging process, but adults might begin to notice many of these changes all at once or at a deeper intensity than during earlier developmental periods. Furthermore, adults can become aware of the cumulative effects of lifelong physical wear and tear that have resulted from earlier developmental periods and other risk factors (Gustafsson, Janlert, Theorell, Westerlund, & Hammarström, 2012). Recognition of these age-related changes can create more psychological distress for adults, although many anticipate these changes and negotiate them successfully.

Changes in physical development can be accommodated through minor adjustments, such as getting reading glasses or taking more recovery time after physical activity or illness. Although the majority of adults do not have significant health problems, this is the period of life where more serious health problems can begin. While hormonal and body changes attributed to aging factors do have an impact, many serious health issues can be altered through healthy lifestyle choices: healthy diet, regular exercise, limiting alcohol, and not smoking. For example, men who continue to engage in physical activity during middle adulthood can improve their heart and circulatory functioning (Kwas ́niewska et al., 2014), which improves their overall health. Stress reduction strategies and improving sleep quality also can greatly improve health.

Certain factors can predict better overall health in middle adulthood for both men and women. Wellness practices during earlier developmental periods have a significant effect on adult health-related behaviors (Hampson, Edmonds, Goldberg, Dubanoski, & Hillier, 2013), which leads to improved health in middle adulthood. Providing a realistic self-assessment of exercise activities (Godino et al., 2014) and showing a willingness to participate in a variety of physical activities (Borodulin et al., 2012) also can play a significant role in maintaining good health in middle adulthood. Finally, engagement in religion, spirituality, or mindfulness can create a positive effect on both physical and emotional health of adults (Allen et al., 2013).

Physical Attractiveness

Changes in outward appearance become noticeable in middle adulthood. Skin begins to lose elasticity, which can cause sagging all over the body as well as on the face and neck. The outward appearance of the skin becomes thinner and more translucent, and skin sometimes develops dark patches from sun damage. Due to bone loss and loss of muscle mass, adults can lose height as they approach older age. Bone loss also can create dental problems, such as loss of teeth and a possible need for increased dental care.

Physical attractiveness is important to humans throughout the lifespan, but it is just as often determined individually than by sociocultural norms (Jæger, 2011). Body image also could play a factor in an overall sense of attractiveness; however, body image tends to be an issue throughout the lifespan. For example, Peplau and colleagues (2009) found that heterosexual men had the highest body image and that gay men tended to have lower body image than heterosexual males in a sample of middle-aged adults. However, Peplau et al. (2009) also found no difference in body image between heterosexual women and lesbian women. However, heterosexual men may begin to find more dissatisfaction with their bodies in middle adulthood due to body changes and weight gain (Murray & Lewis, 2014). Bybee and Wells (2006) found that, although attractiveness is important in middle adulthood, adults begin to think about other factors related to their bodies such as overall physical health, strength, and living a longer, disease-free life. Therefore, care for one’s physical appearance in middle adulthood may be motivated more by maintaining good health rather than meeting a sociocultural stereotype of attractiveness.