Deck 13: Making It in Midlife: the Biopsychosocial Challenges of Middle Adulthood

Question 1

While at a checkup, 40-year-old Naledi listens as her doctor, Dr Mhlangu, describes Betty's current health. Which of Dr Mhlangu's statements would suggest that Naledi is experiencing the climacteric?

A)'Do genetic disorders run in your family?'
B)'I hope that you have all the children you want.'
C)'The loss of memory will be slow but significant.'
D)'Some of your blood cells have begun to alter their shape.'

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Serina is looking forward to menopause and ageing. Based on this information, what is Serina's ethnic background likely to be?

A)Asian
B)Middle Eastern
C)European American
D)Mayan

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which statement concerning rheumatoid arthritis is true?

A)Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis need to avoid aspirin.
B)Rheumatoid arthritis is inherited.
C)Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis come and go.
D)Rheumatoid arthritis affects large joints (for example, hips) but not small joints (for example, fingers).

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Who is at the greatest risk of currently experiencing osteoporosis?

A)Miriam, who is a 20-year-old female
B)Bongani, who is a 30-year-old male
C)Gugu, who is a 60-year-old female
D)Vusi, who is a 70-year-old male

Question 5

Princess is being treated with MHT by her gynaecologist. Which of these is she most likely taking?

A)Oxytocin
B)Testosterone
C)Oestrogen
D)Androgen

Question 6

Forty-five-year-old Nomzamo, who is very concerned about osteoporosis, seeks medical advice from her doctor. Which advice would her doctor be least likely to give?

A)'Let's try increasing your alcohol consumption.'
B)'Let's try increasing your oestrogen level.'
C)'Let's try increasing your exercise rate.'
D)'Let's try increasing your calcium consumption.'

Question 7

The primary reason that elderly women show a decline in sexual activity involves:

A)a normal physiological lack of interest.
B)failure to achieve orgasm.
C)the lack of a willing or appropriate partner.
D)pain associated with vaginal changes.

Question 8

Which of these are hormonal-related symptoms of menopause?

A)Poor respiration and hot flashes
B)Hot flashes and vaginal dryness
C)Vaginal dryness and joint stiffness
D)Joint stiffness and poor respiration

Question 9

Mosa often experiences severe swelling and joint pain in her fingers and wrists each morning. This pattern of symptoms is most likely due to

A)rheumatoid arthritis.
B)osteoarthritis.
C)the climacteric.
D)osteoporosis.

Question 10

Bonolo is a 46-year-old woman whose menstrual cycle has changed and is now more irregular and infrequent. Which term best describes Bonolo's condition?

A)Menopause
B)Midlife crisis
C)Perimenopause
D)Encapsulated

Question 11

The defining element of 'the climacteric' involves the loss of

A)the natural ability to produce children.
B)cancer-fighting agents.
C)emotional stability.
D)blood flow through the circulatory system.

Question 12

How are menopause and the climacteric related?

A)Menopause typically ends right before the climacteric.
B)The climacteric typically ends right before menopause.
C)Menopause occurs during the climacteric.
D)Menopause and the climacteric are unrelated.

Question 13

The rate of osteoporosis is directly affected by the metabolism rate of vitamin ____.

A)A.
B)B.
C)C.
D)D.

Question 14

Fifty-year-old Annamarie has been a heavy smoker since her youth. In addition, she lives in a sunny area and always has a deep tan. You would expect that she has ____ than most other people her age.

A)more gray hair
B)a larger middle-aged bulge
C)more wrinkles
D)less hair

Question 15

Dikeledi is a knowledgeable individual, so when her doctor tells her that she will be put on a bisphosphonate, Dikeledi realises that she most likely has

A)menopause.
B)high blood pressure.
C)cancer.
D)osteoporosis.

Question 16

One difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is that

A)osteoarthritis is not painful.
B)osteoarthritis typically occurs in adolescence.
C)there is more swelling of the joints in rheumatoid arthritis.
D)women are more likely to be affected by rheumatoid arthritis.

Question 17

The metabolic slowdown common to individuals in their early 30s and mid-50s will lead to ____ in many males.

A)gray hair
B)a middle-aged bulge T
C)wrinkles
D)hair loss

Question 18

As women reach the climacteric, their menstrual cycles

A)continue regularly for the remainder of their lives.
B)become irregular, and gradually stop altogether.
C)become more and more irregular, but they never completely stop.
D)stop all at once.

Question 19

As Dr Levy is looking at an X-ray of bones in 20-year-old Jabu's leg, his comment, ____, would indicate that Jabu has reached skeletal maturity.

A)'I see that this is the longest your leg bone will ever be'
B)'I see excessive encapsulation'
C)'I see a significant decrease in density'
D)'I see very little plaque'

Question 20

Sixty-year-old Wandile is being examined by his doctor. Wandile's symptoms include joint pain that has gradually increased. When his doctor says, 'Your pain is due to the damage to your cartilage caused by severe use over your lifetime,' you should correctly conclude that Wandile will be diagnosed with

A)the climacteric.
B)rheumatoid arthritis.
C)osteoporosis.
D)osteoarthritis.

Question 21

Compared to the average middle-aged man, the average middle-aged woman tends to rate stressful experiences

A)less negatively and to report more stress in family areas.
B)more negatively and to report more stress in family areas.
C)less negatively and to report more stress in financial areas.
D)more negatively and to report more stress in financial areas.

Question 22

Rethabile has heard that Ben is cheating on her, but does not believe it. However, after being shown pictures of Ben interacting romantically with another woman, Rethabile allows herself to express anger and frustration over Ben's cheating. Rethabile is experiencing

A)emotion-focused coping.
B)post-menopausal mood swings.
C)an unhealthy coping reaction to stress.
D)secondary mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Question 23

Aerobic exercise is defined as a pulse rate between ____ per cent of a person's maximum rate.

A)40-70
B)50-80
C)60-90
D)70-100

Question 24

Yasmin is told that she will be taking selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). What medical condition is most likely being treated?

A)High blood pressure
B)Menopause
C)Breast cancer
D)Rheumatoid arthritis

Question 25

Tumi just had a conversation with her boss in which he told her that there would be some future retrenchments due to budget cuts. Tumi feels an increase in stress due to the conversation with her boss. She would be best described as experiencing

A)primary appraisal.
B)secondary appraisal.
C)reappraisal.
D)post-appraisal.

Question 26

Sipho is extremely anxious about an upcoming physics exam. He cancels his plans with his friends and stays home to study an extra day. Sipho is practising

A)emotion-focused coping.
B)appraisal.
C)mindfulness-based stress reduction.
D)problem-focused coping.

Question 27

Thabo has always wanted to be a father, but has not yet found an acceptable partner. He is now 35 years old, healthy, and beginning to be concerned about how much longer he will remain fertile. When he asks his doctor about this, his doctor tells him that he will probably be capable of fathering a child

A)until he is about 45 years old.
B)until he is about 65 years old.
C)until he is about 85 years old.
D)for the rest of his life.

Question 28

Hloni is experiencing a great deal of stress. She has tried relaxation training, thinking about life events in a different way, and even talking to her friends. All of these strategies are best classified as attempts at

A)repression.
B)coping.
C)stagnation.
D)appraisal.

Question 29

The loss of an available partner in older age

A)is a factor in the decrease in sexual intercourse for both men and women.
B)is a factor in the decrease in sexual intercourse for men, but not for women.
C)is a factor in the decrease in sexual intercourse for women, but not for men.
D)is not a factor in the decrease in sexual intercourse for men or women.

Question 30

As a typical middle-aged male, Rasheed will most likely experience

A)a brief increase in sperm production.
B)a shorter resolution phase.
C)a prostate gland that becomes enlarged.
D)more perceived demand to ejaculate.

Question 31

The stress and coping paradigm focuses on the interactive relationship between

A)a person and an event.
B)mind and body.
C)hormones and neurotransmitters.
D)family and work.

Question 32

Some males experience an age-related decline in ____ production, resulting in menopause-like symptoms.

A)testosterone
B)dopamine
C)oestrogen
D)progestin

Question 33

Analysing how a person thinks about her job and how that job situation ends up affecting the individual both psychologically and physically would be an example of an application of the

A)encapsulation pattern.
B)Type A behaviour pattern.
C)stress and coping paradigm.
D)generativity versus stagnation paradigm.

Question 34

Nishani has lost her handbag with all of her cash, credit cards, and identification in it. She asks herself, 'What can I do about this?' Nishani is in the ____ process.

A)reappraisal
B)secondary appraisal
C)post-appraisal
D)primary appraisal

Question 35

After being robbed at gunpoint at night, Karabo is anxious and is afraid to leave her house after dark. Karabo is experiencing symptoms of

A)depression.
B)post-traumatic stress disorder.
C)stress reduction.
D)cardiovascular disease.

Question 36

Njabulo reads a note on her desk that says, 'Njabulo, come to my office immediately. From, The Boss.' Njabulo immediately interprets this message as a threat to her job and her livelihood and is not sure she can deal with it. Njabulo's interpretation of this note exemplifies

A)coping.
B)an appraisal.
C)stagnation.
D)filial obligation.

Question 37

Exercise

A)is not related to physical health.
B)can significantly slow the ageing process.
C)is beneficial to health but does not affect the ageing process.
D)should be avoided by people over 50 years old.

Question 38

Coping is defined as any

A)attempt to deal with stress.
B)attempt to deal with stress that is repeated on at least two occasions.
C)rational attempt to deal with stress.
D)successful attempt to deal with stress.

Question 39

Yoga and meditation are examples of

A)aerobic exercise.
B)primary appraisal.
C)mindfulness-based stress reduction.
D)secondary appraisal.

Question 40

What is the name for the process one experiences when evaluating one's own ability to cope with a challenge?

A)Post-appraisal
B)Secondary appraisal
C)Primary appraisal
D)Reappraisal

Question 41

Which best exemplifies a sociocultural impact on intelligence?

A)Learning how to drive by practising driving
B)Former SADF soldiers who dislike SWAPO members because they fought against them in the Border Wars under apartheid
C)An increase in synaptic connections that results in a higher test score
D)Learning to cook by reading a cookbook

Question 42

Who is most likely to deal with an instrumental problem using a problem-focused strategy?

A)10-year-old Siya
B)20-year-old Bongi
C)30-year-old Kgosi
D)40-year-old Philani

Question 43

According to research by Blanchard-Fields (2007), a middle-aged adult would most likely deal with ____ via avoidance-denial.

A)death of a spouse
B)buying groceries
C)mowing the lawn
D)writing a thank-you note

Question 44

Based on research, which statement best summarises how middle-aged adults solve problems?

A)Middle-aged adults solve all problems with a problem-focused approach.
B)Middle-aged adults solve all problems with a passive-dependent approach.
C)Middle-aged adults solve problems similarly regardless of the emotional issues involved.
D)Middle-aged adults solve problems differently depending on the type of problem.

Question 45

The mechanics of intelligence best fits with which description?

A)Experienced-based
B)Neurophysiological
C)Content-rich
D)Culturally dependent

Question 46

Which statement describes the normal pattern of pragmatics and mechanics intelligence development between ages 25 and 70?

A)Both pragmatics and mechanics increase with age.
B)Both pragmatics and mechanics decrease with age.
C)Pragmatics remains constant while mechanics decreases.
D)Mechanics remains constant while pragmatics decreases.

Question 47

Melusi, a middle-aged history teacher, is trapped in his classroom room with seemingly no way out. While contemplating his escape, he is likely to blend ____ with ____.

A)action; avoidance
B)emotion; cognition
C)concern; behaviour
D)mechanics; pragmatics

Question 48

Mandla engages in regular aerobic exercise. Relative to those who do not exercise, Mandla is likely to

A)be more depressed.
B)function better cognitively.
C)show inhibited oxygen consumption.
D)have higher blood pressure.

Question 49

Which statement is true about real-life problems?

A)People are not motivated to solve them.
B)Personal experience is irrelevant.
C)They have more than one correct answer.
D)They are very similar to traditional tests of intelligence.

Question 50

The ____ of intelligence is most likely to be affected by the culture in which one was raised.

A)process of thinking
B)mechanics
C)information processing
D)pragmatics

Question 51

What would best be classified as an instrumental issue?

A)Taking an IQ test
B)Teaching at a university
C)Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
D)Driving to work

Question 52

____ intelligence is defined as involving the skills and knowledge necessary for adapting to one's physical and social environment.

A)Fluid
B)Traditional
C)Practical
D)Unexercised

Question 53

Though Lesedi does not score particularly high on traditional intelligence tests, she is very good at understanding income tax forms, can deal well with all different kinds of people, and is a good troubleshooter around the home and office. Lesedi exhibits

A)concrete thinking.
B)fluid intelligence.
C)high unexercised ability.
D)practical intelligence.

Question 54

Dr Sithole is giving 44-year-old Annette an intelligence test. Annette finds that she really likes answering the questions because they seem to be based on her life experiences. Dr Sithole is most likely attempting to assess Annette's

A)practical intelligence.
B)generativity.
C)ego resilience.
D)fluid intelligence.

Question 55

When confronted with a problem in his relationship with his wife, Fikile dismisses, saying 'Ahhh, that's not really an issue... it will work itself out.' This is probably best classified as

A)cognitive analysis.
B)avoidant thinking.
C)passive-dependent behaviour.
D)problem-focused action.

Question 56

Which is the best example of a measure of practical intelligence?

A)The MMPI
B)The Stanford-Binet
C)Knowing how to balance a budget
D)Knowing the square root of every number less than 100

Question 57

Mechanics of intelligence is to pragmatics of intelligence as ____ is/are to ____.

A)thoughts; hormones
B)battery; automobile
C)fluid; crystallised
D)real life; theoretical

Question 58

Ayanda is upset with the lack of manners her husband Dumi displays while eating, so she looks away or leaves the table each time her husband behaves this way. Ayanda's response is best classified as

A)a cognitive analysis.
B)passive-dependent.
C)avoidant thinking.
D)problem-focused action.

Question 59

A person's maximum heart rate is calculated by subtracting their age from

A)100.
B)160.
C)220.
D)280.

Question 60

Which term does not belong with the rest?

A)Pragmatics of intelligence
B)Mechanics of intelligence
C)Psychological force impact on intelligence
D)Sociocultural force impact on intelligence

Question 61

On which personality dimension would someone who is stingy, critical, and suspicious most likely score the lowest?

A)Neuroticism
B)Extroversion
C)Agreeableness
D)Conscientiousness

Question 62

Because she has what Costa and McCrae would classify as an 'agreeable' personality, one would expect that Noeleen would be described by others as a

A)'wallflower'.
B)'party animal'.
C)'meanie'.
D)'joy to be around'.

Question 63

Costa and McCrae's model of personality, which includes dimensions like conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience, is commonly referred to as the ____ model.

A)humanistic
B)centrality
C)five-factor
D)psychodynamic

Question 64

Tshepo is asked to describe what it is like to work with Khetiwe. In response, he says, 'She is mean, anxious, and really self-conscious.' This description best matches a person scoring high on Costa and McCrae's ____ personality dimension.

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

Question 65

Which trait fits someone who scores low on an openness to experience assessment?

A)Risk-taking
B)Antagonistic
C)Ambitious
D)Uncurious

Question 66

Ahmed is in charge of hiring new employees for his company. He wants to hire people who are very organised, responsible, and will work hard for the company. In which trait is Ahmed most interested?

A)Agreeableness
B)Extroversion
C)Conscientiousness
D)Openness to experience

Question 67

An individual low on the ____ characteristic would likely be described as even-tempered and comfortable.

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

Question 68

Darejeh and Singh (2014) concluded that self-learning is improved by taking ____ differences into account.

A)instructor
B)learner
C)generativity
D)external motivators

Question 69

At which age is the debate of personality stability versus change most heated?

A)The teen years
B)Young adulthood
C)Middle age
D)Old age

Question 70

Luthando is determined to become CEO of her company. She works more than 10 hours per day, is meticulous in her work, and sticks with the most difficult projects until they are completed. Luthando would most likely score highly on a scale that measured

A)conscientiousness.
B)agreeableness.
C)extroversion.
D)openness to experience.

Question 71

How is expert problem-solving different from problem-solving by a novice?

A)Novices are more curious.
B)Experts come to solutions faster.
C)Novices follow fewer rules.
D)Experts demonstrate less flexibility in thought.

Question 72

Naledi is known for being very opinionated, extremely sociable, and loving a challenge. According to the five-factor model, Naledi is best thought of as being

A)neurotic.
B)introverted.
C)extroverted.
D)agreeable.

Question 73

What is an example of an internal motivator for adults to learn something new?

A)Job promotion
B)Family time
C)Personal satisfaction
D)Pay raise

Question 74

Since she has what Costa and McCrae would classify as a 'highly extroverted' personality, one would expect that Ayesha would be described by others as

A)'a psychopath'.
B)'nice as you could imagine'.
C)'lazy and disorganised'.
D)'loving the spotlight'.

Question 75

Sadie is an expert on the history of gospel music, while Sipho is a novice. This means that Sadie ____ than Sipho.

A)is less curious about gospel music
B)is more intelligent
C)uses more steps in the thinking process when coming up with answers about gospel music
D)is more effective at determining correct solutions concerning gospel music

Question 76

Which of these is true about expertise?

A)It is inefficient.
B)It is inflexible.
C)It is selective.
D)It cannot be learned.

Question 77

Which statement about adult learners and their younger counterparts is true?

A)Adults are more willing to learn about abstract problems.
B)Adults tend to be more motivated by internal factors.
C)Younger learners tend to have a larger variety of experiences on which they can build.
D)Younger learners have a higher need to know why they should learn something.

Question 78

Which statement best describes the findings from most longitudinal studies of personality stability?

A)Personality traits are fairly stable across adulthood.
B)Individuals become more psychopathic with age.
C)Personality traits at age 20 predict virtually nothing at age 60.
D)Individuals become more extroverted and open to experience with age.

Question 79

Musa is described by friends as having a great imagination and being willing to try anything once. Given this description, Musa would most likely score very high on a scale of

A)agreeableness.
B)openness to experience.
C)neuroticism.
D)conscientiousness.

Question 80

Expert performance tends to peak in ____ and drop off ____.

A)young adulthood; significantly thereafter
B)young adulthood; slightly thereafter
C)middle adulthood; significantly thereafter
D)middle adulthood; slightly thereafter