Deck 18: Late Adulthood: Social and Emotional Development

Question 1

According to Erikson's psychosocial theory of development, what is the challenge of the crisis of ego integrity?

A) to fight death and cling to life
B) to deny that death is imminent
C) to maintain the belief that life has meaning
D) to understand that one's own life is unique within the sweep of history

Answer 1

C

Question 2

According to the National Health Interview Survey, what is most older adults' perception of their health?

A) They feel they are on death's door.
B) They are depressed.
C) They are in "good" or "excellent" health.
D) They report more health problems than they can handle.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Margret is 75 years old and retired at age 72, after having been a teacher for more than 40 years.According to Peck (1968), what perspective will enable Margret to reach ego differentiation?

A) understanding that she will most likely die in the next 20 years
B) understanding that she has grandchildren who will be around after she dies
C) understanding that her body will never look like it did when she was younger
D) thinking about herself in ways outside of her role as a teacher

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following best represents the conclusion of research on disengagement theory?

A) One should stick by one's life's goals throughout late adulthood.
B) Older adults who withdraw from society experience improved well-being.
C) As a standard part of aging, people lose their connections with friends and family.
D) The roles of older adults may change, but do NOT require withdrawal from society.

Question 5

Which of the following illustrates a positive example of Erickson's eighth and final stage of psychosocial development?

A) Frank, who is 68 years old, can NO longer read the sports statistics in the newspaper.
B) Janet, who is 75 years old, is NOT able to actively play on the swing and teeter-totter, but enjoys taking her youngest grandchild to the park and watching her play.
C) Gladys, who is 73 years old, NO longer meets her friends for lunch because her hands tremble so much that she can't hold a tea cup.
D) Jack, who turned 80 last week, refused to go fishing with his 55-year-old son because his arthritis is so advanced that he can NO longer bait a fishing hook.

Question 6

According to Peck (1968), which of the following best defines ego transcendence?

A) people's realization they will decline physically
B) helping future generations and leaving a legacy of oneself
C) the same as self-love
D) regretting lack of life's accomplishments and refocusing to provide acts of retribution

Question 7

According to Ardelt (2008), which of the following best represents ego transcendence?

A) self-love
B) quieting of the ego
C) a negative response to aging
D) acceptance of imminent death

Question 8

Which of the following best characterizes activity theory?

A) It is unsupported by research data.
B) It is less accurate in its portrayal of older adults than disengagement theory.
C) People are better adjusted when they are engaged in life's activities.
D) It pertains only to older female adults who did NOT previously work outside the home.

Question 9

Which of the following best characterizes life reviews?

A) They are generally simple.
B) They generally require complex tasks.
C) They are a sign of mental illness.
D) They vary significantly from person to person.

Question 10

Which of the following best characterizes the change in emotions during late adulthood?

A) Anxiety peaks.
B) Happiness is at an all-time low.
C) Depression and anxiety tend to decline.
D) Adults are more depressed than when they were younger.

Question 11

According to Butler (2002), which of the following statements best describes reminiscence?

A) It is a sign of dementia.
B) It is a negative reaction to aging.
C) It is a way to make life meaningful.
D) It is uniform in its quality among different individuals.

Question 12

Which of the following best defines body transcendence?

A) a negative reaction to getting older
B) the decline in physical abilities that comes with age
C) going beyond one's lifespan into the next generation
D) a positive reaction to the body's changes as a result of age or illness

Question 13

Which of the following statements is NOT accurate about reminiscence?

A) Reminiscence is used to help some people to overcome depression.
B) Reminiscence is a form of grief counselling used when someone is facing a painful death.
C) Reminiscence allows a person to review his or her life and give it meaning.
D) Reminiscence is a normal part of aging.

Question 14

What developmental task identified by Peck (1968) refers to redefining one's identity after retirement?

A) ego differentiation
B) ego preoccupation
C) ego transcendence
D) body transcendence

Question 15

Which of the following best represents the theories of development during late adulthood?

A) They are unable to explain why people age.
B) They describe how people cope with getting older.
C) They focus on gains and growth during this period of life.
D) They explain why most people are depressed when they are old.

Question 16

Which of the following best represents Peck's (1968) amplification of Erikson's theory?

A) People need to quit their jobs in order to be happy.
B) Accept the changes one's body experiences with aging.
C) Cling to identities related to former occupations.
D) Take pride in past accomplishments and find ways to reinforce and replicate those achievements.

Question 17

Which of the following does NOT characterize disengagement theory?

A) Normal aging requires withdrawing from society.
B) Society withdraws from older adults as they age.
C) It is atypical behaviour that might occur between older adults and their extended family.
D) It is considered to be an inaccurate representation of aging.

Question 18

According to the last stage of Erikson's psychosocial theory, what is NOT needed to achieve ego integrity?

A) adopting a perspective of the inevitability of death
B) developing wisdom about the meaning of life
C) learning to let go of things one has accumulated
D) accepting the physically declining changes of one's aging body

Question 19

According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, what conflict is your 70-year-old grandparent facing?

A) intimacy vs. isolation
B) ego integrity vs. despair
C) generativity vs. stagnation
D) identity vs. identity confusion

Question 20

Which of the following best characterizes the work-role preoccupation?

A) an important part of experiencing a satisfying retirement
B) a requirement for body transcendence
C) defining oneself in relation to the job held prior to retirement
D) an inability to accept impending retirement which contributes to despair

Question 21

Which of the following factors does NOT influence "body esteem"?

A) culture
B) age
C) appearance
D) gender

Question 22

Which of the following best represents the findings of research on depression in older adults?

A) Depression affects a majority of older adults.
B) Depression may be related to structural changes in the brain.
C) Depression is rarely associated with other physical or mental disorders in later adulthood.
D) Depression is related to older adults' unfinished and regrettable moments from their youth.

Question 23

Which of the following best represents the findings of research on activity theory?

A) Activity theory is unsupported by data.
B) Independent activities in the home have NO value.
C) Only formal work situations contribute to well-being in older adults.
D) Physical activity is associated with lower mortality rates in late adulthood.

Question 24

Which of the following best characterizes depression in older adults?

A) It affects 10% of older adults
B) It affects 50% of older adults.
C) It is unrelated to personality factors.
D) It is biologically determined in older adults.

Question 25

Which of the following best characterizes dependence on others during late adulthood?

A) It is rare.
B) It is a normal part of aging.
C) It rarely causes stress in those who need help.
D) It is particularly sensitive in terms of toileting.

Question 26

Which of the following best represents ego transcendence in the older adult?

A) a lower reported self-esteem because older adults are more realistic about themselves
B) a lower reported self-esteem because older adults feel bad about themselves generally
C) a higher reported self-esteem because older adults want to make sure their remaining years are happy
D) a higher reported self-esteem because older adults are happier with themselves than at any other time in life

Question 27

In late adulthood, self-esteem may be lower than in middle adulthood.Which of the following best accounts for this drop in self-esteem?

A) Older adults have suffered from ego despair.
B) Older adults cannot inflate their self-esteem.
C) Older adults are typically depressed during late adulthood.
D) Older people may experience many losses during late adulthood.

Question 28

Which of the following best reflects the volunteering spirit of Canadians in 2004?

A) Canadians volunteered about 1 million hours in total, mostly by older adults, aged 65 and older.
B) Those in the youngest age group (aged 15-24) volunteered, on average, 43 hours per year.
C) Those 65 years and older volunteered an average of 111 hours per year.
D) Canadians volunteered about 2 million hours in total, mostly by the youngest age group, aged 15-24.

Question 29

Which of the following best describes the majority of older adults whose loved ones have died?

A) They are usually depressed.
B) They rarely find pleasure in life afterwards.
C) They may be saddened, but are often NOT depressed.
D) They cannot bounce back to a normal state.

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT a result of depression?

A) loss of appetite
B) memory lapses
C) difficulty sleeping
D) difficulty concentrating

Question 31

Which of the following statements best characterizes "body esteem" in late adulthood?

A) In the context of a person's entire life, it becomes less important during late adulthood.
B) In the context of a person's entire life, it becomes more important during late adulthood.
C) Older men seldom experience body issues, and their interests in sexual activity rarely changes.
D) Older women with body issues tend to withdraw from sexual activity more so than men.

Question 32

Which of the following best characterizes the treatment of depression in older adults?

A) It is NOT possible.
B) It may prevent suicide.
C) It is less effective in men than women.
D) It requires different methods from the treatment for younger people.

Question 33

Self-sufficiency, or being able to care for oneself, is vital to successful aging.Which inability was found to be a particularly sensitive issue?

A) the inability to bathe oneself
B) the inability to feed oneself
C) the inability to toilet oneself
D) the inability to take care of one's financial decisions

Question 34

What does socioemotional selectivity theory address?

A) the development of older adults' social networks
B) whether people should withdraw from society as they age
C) how people seek out and nurture a greater number of intimate relationships
D) how people reflect backward NOT forward on their personal experiences

Question 35

What does socioemotional selectivity theory address?

A) the development of older adults' social networks
B) older adults becoming less emotional as they age
C) older adults and society withdrawing from each other
D) how older adults prepare for death

Question 36

Robins and colleagues (2002) conducted a massive study of self-esteem.Which of the following statements best represents their findings?

A) Females have higher self-esteem than males.
B) Self-esteem is highest in late adulthood.
C) Older adults are very unsatisfied with themselves.
D) Self-esteem declined most significantly between the age of 70 and 85.

Question 37

Which of the following best characterizes the treatment of depression in older adults?

A) The typical depression treatments rarely work for older adults.
B) Treatment is NOT recommended because older adults need to work through their sadness.
C) Untreated depression may lead to suicide, particularly in older men.
D) It is more complex than the treatment for younger people.

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of depression in older adults?

A) It is often linked to Alzheimer's disease and cancer.
B) It is a problem that goes beyond ordinary sadness.
C) It may be genetically transmitted in some adults.
D) It affects a majority of older adults over the age of 65.

Question 39

Which of the following statements best describes the experience of depression in older adults?

A) It has few symptoms.
B) It is considered normal.
C) It is indistinguishable from sadness.
D) It is often undiagnosed and untreated.

Question 40

Which of the following best characterizes older adults' and their relationships as they age?

A) Older adults become more antisocial.
B) The size of older adults' social networks increases.
C) Older adults spend more time on relationships that have less meaning.
D) Older adults do NOT want to waste their time on unimportant social relationships.

Question 41

Which of the following best characterizes the nature of marriage during late adulthood?

A) Intimacy is NO longer an important issue.
B) The partners typically spend more time together.
C) There are more frequent squabbles over finances and parenting.
D) The relationship requires constant negotiation about the division of labour.

Question 42

Joe is in early adulthood and has decided that marriage is an important life choice for him.What is a core issue of marriage for Joe at this point in his human development?

A) the development of a shared life
B) parenting and household chores
C) the division of labour
D) the selection of community to establish roots

Question 43

Which of the following statements is NOT accurate about agoraphobia?

A) It is an anxiety disorder.
B) It is sometimes a result of loss of a support system during late adulthood.
C) It is sometimes misdiagnosed as realistic fears of older adults.
D) It is the result of the same fears experiences by those of the general population.

Question 44

Which of the following does NOT characterize older adults who are more likely to stay in their own homes the longest?

A) They have greater financial resources.
B) They have larger amounts of equity in their homes.
C) They have stronger ties to the community in which they live.
D) They have extended family members who live in their city or community.

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a reason why an older adult would likely move out of her home?

A) skyrocketing taxes
B) chronic illness
C) loss of social system in the neighbourhood
D) having a large amount of equity her home

Question 46

Carol, who is 90, is finding that living in her own home has become difficult.Which of the following is NOT an appropriate response to her desire to remain living at home?

A) Hire round-the-clock care from a respectable organization.
B) Use in-home care to assist with specific difficulties.
C) Arrange for visiting nurses.
D) A safe solution for someone over the age of 85 is unrealistic.

Question 47

Which of the following best represents a core issue of marriage for couples in middle adulthood?

A) physical intimacy
B) division of labour
C) choosing a partner
D) development of a shared life

Question 48

Which of the following best represents the housing needs of older adults?

A) They prefer to stay in their own home as long as they are able.
B) In most cases, they require nursing home care after they turn 65.
C) They typically want to move into retirement communities as soon as they are able.
D) After retirement, they should rethink remaining in their own homes because of the potential of declining physical abilities.

Question 49

Which of the following statements best describes the occurrence of anxiety disorders in older adults?

A) They are common.
B) They are rarely paired with depression.
C) They are more common in older women than older men.
D) They are more common in older adults than younger adults.

Question 50

According to the textbook, which of the following best characterizes older adults who live in urban areas?

A) They are more likely than other age groups to be victims of crimes.
B) They may be afraid of being victims of crimes.
C) They cannot be helped to cope with their fears.
D) Their taxes generally skyrocket, forcing them out of their homes.

Question 51

Which of the following best reflects research findings on the effects of religion in later adulthood?

A) Religion is associated with greater life satisfaction.
B) Life satisfaction and mental health are unrelated to religion.
C) Most people are NOT interested in religion when they are older.
D) Those who are most fervently religious are less likely to be depressed than those who are NOT fervently religious.

Question 52

Which of the following best characterizes generalized anxiety disorder?

A) It is a phobic disorder.
B) It is rare in older adults.
C) It is considered the same as depression.
D) It is the perception that one lacks control over one's life.

Question 53

Which of the following best represents the treatment for anxiety disorders in older adults?

A) Treatment is NOT effective in older adults.
B) Treatment is NOT recommended for older adults.
C) Treatment leads to few, if any, noticeable side effects in older adults.
D) Treatment may include the use of tranquilizers and cognitive-behaviour therapy.

Question 54

Which of the following best characterizes nursing homes?

A) They are considered a dangerous place.
B) They are the same as retirement centres.
C) They are perceived as places to go before one needs help.
D) They can help disoriented ill adults if the nursing homes are well-staffed and properly chosen.

Question 55

Which of the following women is most likely to remain in her own home?

A) Betty, who is 85 and rents her home
B) Lisa, who is 72 and has recently lost her husband and sister
C) Fatima, who is 70 and knows few people in her neighbourhood
D) Maria, who is 75 and has had her mortgage paid off for 20 years

Question 56

Which of the following statements best describes anxiety disorders in older adults?

A) They enhance the immune system response.
B) They are experienced by 75% of older adults.
C) They are usually treated with antipsychotic drugs.
D) They may be harmful to older adults' physical well-being.

Question 57

Which of the following does NOT represent the value of religion to older adults?

A) Religion allows for the social involvement of older adults.
B) Religion encompasses moral and philosophical views of life and death.
C) Religion allows people to consider their spiritual side as they age.
D) Religion provides an opportunity to make amends with past regrets and deeds.

Question 58

Which of the following is one of the most common anxiety disorders for older adults?

A) depression
B) generalized anxiety disorder
C) seasonal affective disorder
D) agoraphobia

Question 59

Which of the following best characterizes a move to a residence for the elderly?

A) It has NO benefits for older adults.
B) It is always considered negatively.
C) It is typically required after age 85.
D) It is disruptive to one's social networks.

Question 60

Which of the following has NOT been linked to church attendance by elderly African Americans?

A) greater longevity
B) avoidance of negative coping mechanism
C) greater social support
D) enhanced intimacy with their extended families

Question 61

Which of the following is the effect of losing one's spouse in late adulthood?

A) It is associated with decreased physical and mental health.
B) It has little effect on older adults because they expected their partners to die.
C) It typically increases the social interaction of the surviving spouse.
D) It will vary according to the quality of the marriage.

Question 62

Which of the following best describes friendships during late adulthood?

A) They are unrelated to physical health.
B) They are easily made when people move.
C) They help reduce depression and loneliness.
D) They are more superficial than when people were younger.

Question 63

Which of the following best characterizes grandparents during late adulthood?

A) They have few pleasures in their grandparenthood.
B) They often provide unconditional love and support.
C) They typically have little to do with their grandchildren.
D) They are more critical of their grandchildren than during middle adulthood.

Question 64

Which of the following best characterizes twins in late adulthood?

A) They usually would have lost touch with each other if they had established families and children of their own.
B) They are less close than non-twin siblings at this time.
C) They have more frequent contacts and greater emotional closeness than when they were in middle adulthood.
D) They experience little difference in their emotional bonds compared to other nurtured loving sibling relationships.

Question 65

Which of the following best represents the findings of research on personality characteristics and marriage in later adulthood?

A) In later adulthood, marriages have more conflict than earlier.
B) It is preferable for both partners to have different personality characteristics.
C) Similarities between conscientiousness and extraversion predict marital satisfaction.
D) Differences between conscientiousness and extraversion predict marital satisfaction.

Question 66

Which of the following best characterizes older adults who cohabit?

A) They have less stable relationships than younger adults who cohabit.
B) They are more likely to want to remarry than younger adults who cohabit.
C) They typically see their relationships as trial marriages, rather than alternative lifestyles.
D) They often do NOT marry because of financial reasons or to avoid disapproval from their children.

Question 67

Which of the following best characterizes the role of siblings during late adulthood?

A) They play little role of importance in the lives of each other.
B) They expand their relationships following the death of a spouse.
C) They are less involved with each other after the death of a spouse.
D) They rarely take the place of a spouse in the widowed person's life.

Question 68

Which of the following best characterizes most relationships of older couples?

A) They rarely report spending too much time together.
B) They disagree with each other more than previously.
C) They conflict less when they have similar personality characteristics.
D) They show more aggressive behaviour toward each other when they conflict than when they were younger.

Question 69

Which of the following best represents the data reported in a survey of older gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults?

A) Overall, they struggled with society acceptance and their level of happiness decreased.
B) Their mental health is negatively affected, leading to an increase in suicidal thoughts.
C) Those in long-term relationships had similar experiences to those in heterosexual unions.
D) Older gay individuals tend to become more isolated from mainstream society as they age.

Question 70

Which of the following best characterizes the marital status of older adults?

A) They often undertake divorce lightly.
B) They are more likely to divorce than younger adults.
C) They are less likely to cohabit today than in previous times.
D) They are less likely than younger adults to want to remarry.

Question 71

Which of the following best describes single, never-married, non-cohabiting older adults?

A) They are usually lonely and depressed.
B) They comprise 30% of the population of older adults.
C) They are less socially involved than their peers who had children.
D) They tend to maintain close relationships with friends and siblings.

Question 72

How do older adults who never had children compare with their peers who had children?

A) They are far less happy.
B) They are less involved in community work.
C) They are less likely to enter nursing homes.
D) They are often more dependent on their spouses.

Question 73

Which of the following best characterizes older adult gay men and lesbians?

A) They rarely have long-term relationships.
B) They have higher rates of depression than their heterosexual counterparts.
C) They have higher rates of alcohol and drug abuse than their heterosexual counterparts.
D) They have higher self-esteem if they are in long-term relationships compared with those who are NOT in long-term relationships.

Question 74

Which of the following does NOT characterize widows and widowers?

A) Social isolation increases compared with that of their divorced peers.
B) They often experience mental deterioration and death.
C) An increased risk for depression and suicide can occur.
D) Women are more emotionally affected than men.

Question 75

Which of the following statements best describes the social relationships of those in late adulthood?

A) They typically keep to themselves.
B) They often form networks to keep active.
C) They have more conflict with friends than earlier.
D) They have wider social networks than when they were younger.

Question 76

Which of the following best describes older adults who are dependent on others?

A) They consider their dependence to be a normal part of aging.
B) Their dependence on others becomes more common with age.
C) They tend to have higher self-esteem than those who are NOT dependent on others.
D) They are glad to depend on someone else because they took care of others when they were parents.

Question 77

Which of the following best characterizes retirement?

A) It is usually welcomed by today's older adults.
B) It is required at age 65.
C) It may be changing as people live longer.
D) It is more positive if a part-time job is part of the planning.

Question 78

Which of the following best characterizes successful retirement?

A) It requires mandatory retirement ages.
B) It involves financial security.
C) In today's society it rarely occurs.
D) In heterosexual marriages, women take the lead in planning.

Question 79

Which of the following best characterizes men who are widowed compared with women who are widowed?

A) Widowed men are more likely to remarry.
B) Widowed men are less likely to be depressed.
C) Widowed men are more likely to make use of social networks.
D) Widowed men are more adept at aspects of self and household care.

Question 80

Which of the following statements best reflects marital satisfaction in late adulthood?

A) It is unrelated to the personality characteristics of the marriage partners.
B) It is rare because most partners are bored with each other by this time.
C) It is higher when the couple has an equal division of labour and power.
D) It is higher if couples have established separate identities so they can spend both time apart and time together.