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ESSENTIALS OF LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT, 5e
JOHN W. SANTROCK

Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

Chapter Outline

The nature of middle adulthood
Physical development
Cognitive development
Careers, work, and leisure
Religion and meaning in life

The Nature of Middle Adulthood

Changing midlife
As adults become older, their age identity is younger than their chronological age
Increasing percentage of the population made up of middle-aged and older adults
“Rectangularization” of the age distribution

The Nature of Middle Adulthood

Middle adulthood: 40–45 years to about 60–65 years of age
Declining physical skills and increasing responsibility
Awareness of the young-old polarity
Transmitting something meaningful to the next generation
Reach and maintain career satisfaction
Restructuring of time and reassessment of priorities

The Nature of Middle Adulthood

Late midlife (ages 55 to 65) likely to be characterized by:
Death of a parent
Last child leaving the parental home
Becoming a grandparent
Preparation for and actual retirement
First confrontation with health problems
Gains and losses may balance each other in early midlife
Losses begin to outweigh gains in late midlife

Physical Development

Visible signs of aging
Wrinkling and sagging of skin
Appearance of aging spots
Hair becomes thinner and grayer
Nails become thicker and more brittle
Yellowing of teeth

Physical Development

Height and weight
Individuals lose height and gain weight
Being overweight is a critical health problem in middle adulthood
Strength, joints, and bones
Sarcopenia - Age-related loss of muscle mass and strength
Cushions for bone movement become less efficient
Leads to joint stiffness and difficulty in movement
Progressive bone loss

Physical Development

Vision and hearing
Accommodation of the eye - Ability to focus and maintain an image on the retina
Sharp declines between 40–59 years
Difficulty viewing close objects
Reduced blood supply decreases visual field
Hearing can start to decline by the age of 40
High-pitched sounds are typically lost first

Physical Development

Cardiovascular system
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease
Exercise, weight control, and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains help to reduce cardiovascular problems
Cholesterol-lowering and hypertension-lowering drugs
Death due to cardiovascular disease decreasing in the U.S. since the 1970s

Physical Development

Lungs
Lung tissue becomes less elastic at about age 55
Decreases lung capacity
Exercise linked to better lung functioning and lower risk of lung cancer
Sleep
Wakeful periods become more frequent in the 40’s, less deep sleep (stage 4)
Sleep-disordered breathing and restless legs syndrome become more prevalent

Physical Development

Mortality rates
Chronic disorders – slow onset and long duration
Cancer as leading cause of death, followed by heart disease
Men have higher morality rates for all leading causes of death

Physical Development

Sexuality
Climacteric: Midlife transition in which fertility declines
Menopause: Cessation of a woman’s menstrual periods
During the late 40s or early 50s
Hot flashes, nausea, fatigue, and rapid heartbeat
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) augments declining levels of estrogren and progesterone
Many alternatives to HRT
Hormonal changes in middle-aged men
Decline in sexual hormone level and activity
Erectile dysfunction - inability to achieve and maintain an erection

Physical Development

Sexual attitudes and behavior
Sexual activity occurs less frequently than in early adulthood
Middle-aged men are more interested in sex than middle-aged women
Living with a spouse or partner makes all the difference in sexual activity
Health is a key factor in sexual activity

Cognitive Development

Intelligence
Crystallized intelligence: Accumulated information and verbal skills
Continues to increase in middle adulthood
Fluid intelligence: Ability to reason abstractly
May begin to decline in middle adulthood

Figure 13.1 – Fluid and Crystallized Intellectual Development Across the Life Span

Cognitive Development

Seattle Longitudinal Study - Extensive evaluation of intellectual abilities during adulthood
Focus on individual change and stability in intelligence
Mental abilities tested:
Verbal ability
Verbal memory
Numeric ability
Spatial orientation
Inductive reasoning
Perceptual speed

Figure 13.2 – Longitudinal Changes in Six Intellectual Abilities from Age 25 to Age 65

Figure 13.3 – Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Comparisons of Intellectual Change in Middle Adulthood

Cognitive Development

Information processing
Speed of information processing
Reaction-time task
Memory
Verbal memory declines during middle adulthood
Working memory declines - Mental “workbench” where individuals manipulate and assemble information when making decisions, solving problems, and comprehending written and spoken language
Memory decline linked to ineffective memory strategies

Cognitive Development

Expertise
Rely on accumulated experience
Process information automatically and analyze it more efficiently
Have better strategies and shortcuts to solving problems
Are more creative and flexible in solving problems

Careers, Work, and Leisure

Work in midlife
The role of work is central during middle age
May reach peak in position and earnings
Saddled with multiple financial burdens
Age-related declines in some occupations
No differences in most lines of work
Ability to work effectively peaks in middle age due to:
Increased motivation
Work experience
Employer loyalty
Better strategic thinking

Careers, Work, and Leisure

Career challenges
Globalization of work
Rapid developments in information technologies
Downsizing of organizations
Early retirement
Concerns about pensions and health care
Career changes
Self-motivated
Consequence of losing one’s job

Careers, Work, and Leisure

Leisure - pleasant times after work, pursue activities and interests of their choosing
Not spending more leisure time among top list of life regrets
Expanded opportunities for leisure
More money, free time, paid vacations
Preparing psychologically for retirement
Developing constructive, fulfilling leisure activities

Religion and Meaning in Life

Religion and adult lives
Important to consider the role of individual differences
A powerful influence in some adults’ lives
Whereas it plays little or no role in others’ lives
Research suggests:
Significant increase in spirituality between late middle and late adulthood
More females than males participate in organized and personal forms of religion

Religion and Meaning in Life

Religion and health
Some cults/religious sects encourage health-damaging behaviors
Ignore sound medical advice
Positive links found between religion and physical health
Religion may promote health through:
Lifestyle issues
Social networks
Coping with stress

Figure 13.4 – Levels of Spirituality in Four Adults Age Periods

Religion and Meaning in Life

Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning
Most distinct human qualities identified as:
Spirituality
Freedom
Responsibility
Middle adults begin to evaluate meaning of life
Meaning-making coping helpful during times of stress or loss
Religion plays role in increasing exploration of meaning in life
Higher sense of meaning in life linked to psychological well-being and physical health