Deck 16: Middle Adulthood: Social and Emotional Development

Question 1

Women who have a college or university education typically experience increased personal distress as they advance from middle adulthood to late adulthood.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Grandparenting is a source of stress for most middle-aged adults in the North America today.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The term "sandwich generation" refers to older adults who are squeezed into homes with their children and grandchildren.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Studies conducted in Poland, Greece, and China found that grandparenting was a very positive experience socially and psychologically.

Question 5

During middle adulthood, one's work can provide social benefits, a sense of identity, and self-esteem.

Question 6

Most career changes in midlife involve shifts into related fields.

Question 7

In Erikson's psychosocial theory, generativity is the ability to generate or produce.

Question 8

Corporate downsizing causes midlife crises for those in middle adulthood who are laid off.

Question 9

Divorce rates in Canada have declined in past years, especially during middle adulthood.

Question 10

In a study of 2,000 college employees, blue-collar employees reported greater levels of job satisfaction compared to others in the study.

Question 11

The midlife crisis is defined as a time of dramatic self-doubt and anxiety during which people sense the passing of their youth and become preoccupied their own mortality.

Question 12

An accumulation of stressful life events may accelerate age-related declines in memory functioning.

Question 13

Most middle-aged adults in developed nations have at least one living parent.

Question 14

Most theories of adulthood consider middle adulthood as an unimportant part of life.

Question 15

Many studies show that grandparents have less influence on their grandchildren when they share a household with their married children and grandchildren.

Question 16

Research on adults has shown the trait of being open to new experience decreases into late adulthood.

Question 17

The majority of people in middle adulthood have at least one living brother or sister.

Question 18

Grandparents in Eastern Europe have a strong influence in the lives of their grandchildren when they live with them and their single parents.

Question 19

People in middle adulthood are more likely to be settled geographically and occupationally than those in early adulthood.

Question 20

Life events are generally negative.

Question 21

Havighurst's developmental tasks are relevant for gay and lesbian adults.

Question 22

According to the textbook, a survey found that most Canadian workers are somewhat or completely satisfied with their jobs.

Question 23

"Midlife crisis" is the equivalent to the midlife transition, according to Levinson.

Question 24

People who score high on the neuroticism scale of the big five test of personality tend to be talkative and personable.

Question 25

Extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and openness to experience are the five personality characteristics identified by Costa and McCrae in their big five model of personality.

Question 26

In a study of lesbian and bisexual grandmothers, they believed that they were important sources of emotional support and help for their children and important sources of emotional support for their grandchildren.

Question 27

The term grandboomers has been coined to describe grandparenting in the 21st century.

Question 28

Neuroticism declines between early and middle adulthood, meaning that people become more emotionally stable.

Question 29

Women are rarely expected to care for their aging parents more than men are.

Question 30

Most women suffer from the "empty nest syndrome" when their last child leaves home.

Question 31

The conflict during middle adulthood, according to Erikson's psychosocial theory, is generativity vs. isolation.

Question 32

In a study of 2,000 college employees, women reported having no gender barriers and fewer problems with work-life balance compared with men.

Question 33

Having children is necessary for successful generativity, according to Erikson.

Question 34

Cross-cultural research has shown that the big five factors model of personality is relevant only to North Americans.

Question 35

Extroverts tend to be shy, passive, and reserved.

Question 36

During middle adulthood, most men have more friends than women do.

Question 37

According to a study involving extensive interviews with lesbian and bisexual grandmothers, these grandmothers never told their grandchildren about their sexual orientation.

Question 38

Job satisfaction decreases throughout middle adulthood, but general life contentment increases.

Question 39

During middle adulthood, people change careers for many reasons, such as more money, more job security, greater prestige, and more stimulation

Question 40

Approximately 60% of workers in Canada have a postsecondary education.

Question 41

Friendships during middle adulthood tend to be of high quality and are felt more deeply than during early adulthood.

Question 42

The growing job satisfaction throughout middle age can be linked to factors such as increased expertise and income.

Question 43

According to Richard A. Friedman, the term midlife crisis refers to being bored with one's routine.

Question 44

For college- or university-educated women, personal distress decreased with age according a cross-sectional study of women in their 20s, 40s, and 60s.

Question 45

Death of a parent and divorce are two life events that often face middle-aged adults.

Question 46

Most people experience a midlife crisis during middle adulthood.

Question 47

Research suggests that among siblings in middle adulthood, sisters tend to establish more intimate relationships than brothers.

Question 48

Which of the following is a characteristic of most adults during midlife?

A) They experience a decline in earnings
B) They are settled geographically and vocationally.
C) They have weakening social connections.
D) They fear the empty nest.

Question 49

Which statement best reflects the experiences of middle-aged women in the workplace?

A) Their job satisfaction is at its lowest point.
B) They find work to be more manageable, along with life demands, than at earlier ages.
C) They may still find it difficult to advance to senior positions because of the "glass ceiling".
D) They are more satisfied with their jobs than white collar men.

Question 50

Which statement best characterizes Levinson's view of the midlife crisis?

A) It is a problem everyone experiences during middle adulthood.
B) It can be triggered by menopause or the death of a friend or parent.
C) It is a problem only for men.
D) It is a developmental milestone essential for further growth.

Question 51

After adult children are "launched" from the family home, their middle-aged parents typically provide them with little or no financial support.

Question 52

In a study examining unemployment, older women were found to be more likely to be distressed about their job losses than younger women.

Question 53

Grandparents who live with their married children and grandchildren fill a hole in family life.

Question 54

Helping children establish themselves in the outside world and developing a range of enjoyable leisure activities are two developmental tasks identified by Havighurst for middle adulthood.

Question 55

Sibling relationships that were good when people were young are rarely as good when the siblings are older.

Question 56

Middle-aged adults tend to have more friends than young adults.

Question 57

Approximately what percentage of Canadians aged 45-64 are still working to pay off their mortgage?

A) 25
B) 35
C) 45
D) 55

Question 58

Unlike adolescents who have large numbers of friends, those in middle adulthood find the number of their friends dwindles, and many middle-aged adults don't want to spend their time with "just anybody."

Question 59

Erikson argued that people who engage in generative behaviour risk stagnating and falling into routines that can strip their lives of meaning and purpose.

Question 60

An "empty nest" is no longer viewed by many women as negative life event; it can just as often be viewed as a positive life stage.

Question 61

Which statement best characterizes grandparenting?

A) It produces anxiety for older adults.
B) It involves a careful balance between being helpful and interfering.
C) It requires more child-care responsibilities than for parents.
D) It is more meaningful than parenting.

Question 62

Paul is nervous and often moody. He would score high in which of Costa and McCrae's (2006) personality factors?

A) neuroticism
B) extroversion
C) agreeableness
D) openness to experience

Question 63

John has graduated from university but is NOT making enough money to support himself on his own. His parents are helping him out by having him live with them rent free. How common is this situation among baby boomers and their boomerang kids?

A) One in 5 baby boomers is prepared to risk financial security to support their adult children.
B) Half of all baby boomers support their adult children.
C) It is extremely rare for adult children to live with their parents.
D) One in 10 baby boomers support their adult children.

Question 64

According to Erikson's psychosocial theory of development, what is a quality demonstrated by someone who is experiencing stagnation?

A) resilience
B) high self-esteem
C) ambivalence
D) responsibility

Question 65

According to the textbook, which question represents one of the major financial decisions facing middle-aged adults?

A) Should they help their aging parents, who may require expensive long-term care, or should they focus on their own financial stability and security, knowing they will in time receive an inheritance?
B) Should they help their adult children, or should they focus on their own financial stability and security?
C) Should they sell what has been considered the family home and downsize to provide the extra cash that would support their aging parents?
D) Should they sell what has been considered the family home and downsize to provide the extra cash needed to support their children's postsecondary education?

Question 66

Sandra got divorced, lost her job, and moved to an apartment in a run-down area. She believes these setbacks are temporary. Which of the following will most likely happen to Sandra?

A) She will remarry, start a new job, and move to a better area.
B) She will become severely ill.
C) She will become severely depressed and feel unable to cope.
D) She will manage her stress better than someone who believes this situation will not change.

Question 67

Cynthia scores low on the neuroticism scale of the big five model of personality. Which of the following phrases best describes Cynthia?

A) distrustful and hostile
B) sociable and outgoing
C) inquisitive and imaginative
D) able to cope with negative events

Question 68

Which of the following was cited as a challenge that may develop after one's children have partners?

A) new relationships with in-laws
B) finding time to spend together as a family
C) deciding who will host holidays
D) adapting to new cultural expectations

Question 69

Which statement best characterizes the relationships between middle-aged children and their parents?

A) They often have relationships filled with tension and disagreement.
B) They are often closer than they were in earlier years.
C) They usually live together.
D) They rarely have contact with each other outside of holidays.

Question 70

Ann is neat, organized, and thorough with her homework. She would score high on which aspect of the big five personality model?

A) neuroticism
B) extroversion
C) agreeableness
D) conscientiousness

Question 71

Which statement best characterizes the "sandwich generation"?

A) It usually affects the sons more than the daughters.
B) It is so named because the trend began in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
C) It refers to middle-aged children who care for both their children and their aging parents.
D) It refers to those struggling to identify their new roles as parents and grandparents.

Question 72

Which statement best characterizes lesbians and bisexual women as grandparents?

A) They rarely have grandchildren.
B) They are not allowed by law to become grandparents.
C) They are the same type of grandparents in every way as heterosexual grandparents.
D) Their younger grandchildren will be more accepting of their relationship than older children.

Question 73

What is the next experience for most parents after a child is "launched" from the home of origin?

A) Parents need to find a substitute to avoid stagnation.
B) Parents need to find a balance between staying in touch and interfering.
C) Parents rarely see or talk with their child.
D) Parents try to retain control as long as possible.

Question 74

Which of the following has been shown by longitudinal and cross-sectional research on personality development?

A) Extroverted adults tend to become introverted as they get older.
B) Agreeableness and conscientiousness tend to increase during adulthood.
C) People become more neurotic as they get older.
D) People with extroverted personalities become more solidified if they marry other extroverts.

Question 75

Karen has many life stressors: her job loss, her mother's illness, and her daughter's difficulties in school. Which of the following will determine how Karen will be affected by these stressors?

A) whether or not she takes yearly vacations
B) the number of children she has
C) whether she feels she has control over her life
D) her marital status

Question 76

Which statement best describes the relationship that parents in middle-adulthood often have with their children?

A) Many parents at this stage are encouraging their children to "launch".
B) Parents are often happier to have their children at home than they were in earlier years.
C) Most parents at this stage are happily "empty-nesting".
D) Parents at this stage often consider having more children to increase their family size.

Question 77

Stanley and his wife never had children. Now that Stanley is 50, he feels something is missing from his life. According to Erikson's psychosocial theory of development, what has happened to Stanley?

A) He is stagnant.
B) He is regressing to an earlier stage.
C) He is unable to overcome his loss.
D) He is becoming generative.

Question 78

According to Friedman (2008), why might someone experience a midlife crisis?

A) turning 50
B) marital unhappiness
C) income frustration
D) the fear of mortality

Question 79

Which statement best characterizes the positive elements of being grandparents who are the sole caregivers of a grandchild?

A) It is easy to do.
B) It is more work than it's worth.
C) It is avoided at all costs by most people.
D) It is often a more relaxed relationship than parenting.

Question 80

Kelly is pleasant, kind, and trustworthy. In the big five personality model, what does Kelly score high in?

A) neuroticism
B) extroversion
C) agreeableness
D) conscientiousness