What to expect during

middle adulthood

What is middle adulthood?

Middle

adulthood is the age period in which

you gain and lose, as well as the biological
and sociocultural factors that balance each
other.

Usually

starts around forty to forty-five

years and last until about sixty to sixty-five
years.

Why study middle adulthood?

Developmentalist

study middle age

because of the dramatic increase in the
number of individuals entering this
period of life span.

Changes in middle adulthood include:

Physical
Cognitive
Careers,

Work, and Leisure

Religion,

Spirituality, and Meaning in

Life

Physical development in middle adulthood:

The

changes you face during middle

adulthood are usually gradual.

Changes

include wrinkles, age spots, decrease

in height, increase in weight, strength, joints,
bones, vision, hearing, lungs, and sleep.

Your

physical appearance inside and out can

change.

Physical development in middle adulthood:

You

can face many problems including your

health, disease, stress, and control.

You

are less susceptible to colds and

allergies, and frequency of accidents
decline.

Arthritis

is the leading chronic disorder in

middle age, followed my hypertension.

Physical development in middle adulthood:

Your

immune system functioning declines with aging

Chronic

diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and

cancer are the main causes of death.

For

women, menopause is an important marker

because it is the end of childbearing capability (Male
menopause does not occur)

Once entering middle adulthood, sexual behavior

occurs less frequently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTarGavG4cM

Cognitive development in middle adulthood:

Your intelligence and information process can be effected when

entering middle adulthood.

Developmentalist Horn stated that there are two different types of

intelligence; crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence. Crystallized
intelligence is accumulated information and verbal skills which
continues to increase in middle adulthood whereas fluid intelligence is
ability to reason abstractly which begins to decline.

Your speed of information processing and reaction time continues to

decline in middle adulthood.

Cognitive development in middle adulthood:

Developmentalist Schaie found that verbal memory increases in middle

age, but others found that memory declines in middle age.

Researchers found that not only does your working memory decline,
but also that your memory can decline when individuals do not use
effective strategies.

Expertise can also be a factor. Expertise is having an extensive and

highly organized knowledge and an understanding of a particular
domain. Expertise is known to increase during middle adulthood, but
then declines in late adulthood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs1kzLLXTgA

Careers, Work, and Leisure in Middle Adulthood:

For

many people, midlife is a time of

reflection, assessment, and evaluation
of their current work.

During

midlife, many people ask

themselves what are their plans for the
future.

Careers, Work, and Leisure in Middle Adulthood:

One issue that many individuals have is whether they want to continue
doing the type of work they do currently, or change their job or career.

Problems in working include globalization of work, development in

information technology, downsizing in organizations, retirement,
pensions, and health care.

Though midlife job or career changes are usually by choice, they can
also sometimes be forced on a given individual.

Careers, Work, and Leisure in Middle Adulthood:

During

midlife, you need to learn how to

enjoy leisure.

Many

say midlife could be one of the most

important times for leisure because of all the
physical changes you have to encounter.

Leisure

can be important during midlife as

you prepare for an active retirement.

Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life in Middle

Adulthood:

Though

women show a stronger interest in religion and

spirituality, it is important to many Americans lives.

Some

researchers found that spirituality and religion

can be negatively linked to physical health, while in
mainstream religions, researchers say religion is
positively related to health.

Meaning

ways.

in life can affect an individual in different

Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life in Middle Adulthood:

Facing

the death of older relatives can show the

less time to live for themselves.

Many

midlife-aged individuals examines their life

meaning.

Baumeister

and Vohs argue that a quest for

meaningful life involves fulfilling four main needs.
Those four main needs include purpose, values,
efficacy, and self-worth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUKyJVgGG2Q

Citations:

Feldman, Robert. "Middle Adulthood: Physical & Cognitive

Development." Middle Adulthood: Physical & Cognitive Development.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.

Santrock, John W. A Topical Approach to Life-span Development.

Fifteenth ed. N.p.: McGraw-Hill Education LLC, 2015. Print.

"Chapter 15 Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood."

Chapter 15 Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.

"Physical Development in Adulthood - Boundless Open Textbook."

Boundless. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.