Impact of Significant Life Events on Individuals and Their Social Networks

This presentation explores the profound impact of significant life events, both normative and non-normative, on individuals at various stages of life. It delves into the specific case of Down syndrome, examining its effects on individuals and their social networks across childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and older age. The presentation also discusses the responses of groups and societies to such events, highlighting the potential for both positive and negative impacts on the affected individual's well-being. Finally, it emphasizes the crucial role of health and social care professionals in providing support and understanding to individuals experiencing significant life events, particularly those with Down syndrome.

Effect of
significa
nt life
events
on
individua
l and
their
social
network

Introduction
 Significant life events are major or minor changes affecting a person
lifelong (Dean and Lin, 2013)
 These can be normative or non normative life events
 Normative life events are expected events which are bound to
happen with advancing age
 Non normative life events are unexpected as well as unpredictable
changes which cause significant changes (Papalia et al., 2013)
 This presentation holds information regarding impact of such events
on individual at different stages of life
 It also gives information regarding group response and impact for
others in health and social care

LO 1 understanding of how significant life event
impact an individual and their social network
 Impact of down syndrome on individual and their social
network at various stages of life
 Around half of all children and adults with this syndrome come
across major health issues
 Common mental health concerns include: general anxiety,
obsessive compulsion behavior, sleep difficulties, loss of
cognitive skills, depression, autistic conditions, neuro
psychological problems
 This varies depending on age of the affected individual:
childhood, adolescent, adult hood or older age

Concerns in young and early school age children
 Vulnerability in these individuals increases
 This is due to limitations in language and communication skills,
 cognitive issues
 non verbal problem solving criteria
 They show disruptive, hyperactive, impulsive, inattentive, oppositional
behavior
 They also show anxious, stuck and inflexible behavior
 Chronic sleep difficulties
 day time sleepiness
 fatigue
 mood swings

Concerns in older school age
children, adolescent and young
adults Depression,
 social withdrawals
 diminished interests and coping skills
 General anxiety
 Obsessive compulsive behavior
 Decreased cognitive and social skills leading to regression
 Sleeping difficulties such as sleep apnea
 Daytime sleepiness
 Increased fatigue
 Mood swings

Concerns in older adults
 Generalized anxiety
 Depression
 Social withdrawal
 Loss of interest
 Diminished self care
 Decreased cognitive and social skills
 dementia

Symptoms of down syndrome

Group response to significant life
event
 Response of group or society can be positive or negative
 People really concerned regarding health of affected person have positive
impact (Gomez et al.,2009)
 Such positive concern makes affected person happier
 Some individuals may show negative response which are the reason for
fading relationships
 It also affects relationship with spouse as all the responsibilities are now
taken care by one of them
 Even with friends, there is end of excitement as some of them don't share
plans with affected individual
 Lack of knowledge regarding disease leads to isolation in society which
may cause depression

Recreation
al
activities

Impact for others in health and social care when
an individual experience significant life event
 Person experiencing significant life event definitely needs extra care
and support
 One should learn specific needs of such patient with patience and
work accordingly
 Health care professionals and care taker at home ( family, friends)
should maintain positive environment for faster recovery of patient
 Psychologically such patients are compromised so all care should be
taken while speaking to them (Neyer et al., 2013)
 These patients are very sensitive to changes; so ample time should
be given to patients to adapt various changes (Lucas et al., 2012)
 People with Down syndrome are capable of performing task but with
low pace, so care should be taken regarding same
 One should be cautious regarding behavioral changes and mood
swings of these patients and should handle situation with great care

conclusion
 Person experiencing significant life events possess different impact
according to their age
 It is difficult to handle younger kids and older patients because of
decreasing intellectual and cognitive skills
 Depression should be taken care in almost all affected person
irrespective of age
 Modified behavior of group members may lead to social withdrawal
 Such patients should be handle with great care, love and patience
 Sufficient time should be given for their noticeable recovery

References
 Lin, N., Dean, A. and Ensel, W.M. eds., 2013. Social support, life events, and
depression. Academic Press.
 Gomez, V., Krings, F., Bangerter, A. and Grob, A., 2009. The influence of
personality and life events on subjective well-being from a life span
perspective. Journal of Research in Personality, 43(3), pp.345-354.
 Wrzus, C., Hänel, M., Wagner, J. and Neyer, F.J., 2013. Social network
changes and life events across the life span: a meta-analysis. Psychological
bulletin, 139(1), p.53.
 Luhmann, M., Hofmann, W., Eid, M. and Lucas, R.E., 2012. Subjective well-
being and adaptation to life events: a meta-analysis. Journal of personality
and social psychology, 102(3), p.592.
 Papalia, D.E., Olds, S.W. and Feldman, R.D., 2013. A child's world: Infancy
through adolescence. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.