Midlife Transitions: Psychosocial and Cognitive Changes

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................................2
Critical analysis.........................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................9
Reference................................................................................................................................................11
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Introduction
As a human grows and evolves with age there are a lot of changes that happen. There are
factors that affect the development of an individual. These are internal and external factors, the
internal factors are a genetic composition of that individual their constitutional sensitivity and
skills that they inherit; whereas, the external factors are the environment, people and experience
they have in their life (Berk, L., 2017). In every situation, the decision, behavior, and action of
each individual depend on the internal and external factors that the individual has experience in
life. For understanding these phases of life theories have divided it into 5 phases; these are,
Childhood, teenage, adulthood, midlife, and late life. In this assignment, there will be discussion
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and critical analysis of the physical, psychosocial, and cognitive changes that occur during
midlife and how that affects the life course of an individual. According to the definition of health
given by WHO health is defined as the state of wellbeing of an individual at the mind and the
body and not merely absence of the disease (Newman and Newman., 2017).
Midlife is an age that is associated with a lot of physical and emotional changes as the person
has responsibilities and this is the time when the health starts to deteriorate gradually and a
good lifestyle and diet are extremely necessary to keep up with the hustle of life. According to
the Rowe and Kahn model of successful aging, an individual needs to have 3 components to
have successful aging. These three components are good health and low risk of acquiring any
disease, wellbeing at the level of mind and body, and lastly a positive approach towards life
(Ferrucci et al.,2016). This model is specially derived to help people in midlife adapt to changes
and have a positive attitude towards life. A positive attitude does not always bring positive
results in life, as each individual is differently affected by the internal and external factors around
them. It is the ultimate decision of each individual how they wish to lead their lives. They can
make the process of aging successful as suggested by Rowe and Kahn or might live a
dependent late life but not taking care of themselves as the aging begins in the midlife.
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Critical analysis
Midlife is the stage of life where various changes occur but also, a person is more stable at this
stage. Stable with the career, family situation and self-identity. They have their preference set,
partly because they had no choice, or the life they are living is chosen by them. In any case, the
environment and the internal factor have also affected their choices and behavior. When a
change occurs to any individual it may or may not be accepted well. An individual from different
backgrounds has a different approach towards a particular life situation. Many experts have
different theories to adapt the change in the midlife. The theory given by Maslow and Rogers’s
midlife is considered as a time when positive changes occur in life. Whereas expert like Carl
defines the period of midlife as a stage when individuals can express their emotions freely.
There are others who have reviewed this phase of life and its adaptation in various ways
(Hogan, D.B., 2018).
The factors that affect the psychosocial life of an individual can be either at the personal level or
the relationships of an individual. Usually by the time an individual reaches midlife either they
become reflective of their past life and what future holds for them. They might assess life and
hence feel vulnerable or strong depending on the situation. They might become very critical in
analysis their success and failure and hence feel depressive. Relationships are also very
important for people in midlife. Their children might leave them due to the culture of living alone
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and developing their life. These changes usually affect women more than men hence the
studies show the number of women in midlife suffering from depression than in men. As women
are more emotionally vulnerable during their reproductive age. The susceptibility of men and
women are same before puberty and after menopause (Scott et al.,2015).
The marital relationship holds a very important place in midlife because a positive relationship
can help in balancing in the emotions and other life situations that hit around the midlife.
Marriage means a good companionship and hence there is always someone by the side to
share the good and the bad days (Salthouse., 2016). These may not be true in all cases and
hence everyone does not look at this relationship positively. It is observed that individuals with
marriage issues tend to have increased cortisol level than those who have a happy marriage
life. Similarly, the relationship with the children affects the life of every individual. Through
midlife, the children are usually about to start their own lives living independently and taking
decision for themselves. As a parent in the midlife phase they feel immense responsibility and
anxiety for their child’s future. Couples who are prepared to allow their children decide for
themselves can accept this change and those who are extremely dependent on children or
make them as the center of their life find it very difficult to allow their children pursue their
dreams and let go of the parental control and hence suffer emotionally and anxiety issues
(Lachman et al.,2015).
The physical health of an individual around midlife starts to gradually decline, a person has the
best health and resources when they are young, they have good health, more muscular
strength, reactivity to things around them and also due to better cardiac activity, as age decline
the health of an individual starts to decline, hence it is usually advised that a good diet and
exercise if started at an early age can help to maintain health at late life. These things are very
important for positive life changes. As the health, energy and reactivity declines at midlife; it is
difficult to adapt exercise and major routine changes as this age (Lara et al.,2015). Mostly an
individual thinks that it is beyond their capability or they feel they must accept the depleting
health situation due to age and bear with the consequences. Very few would actually be
motivated to ahead and change their life. And those who adapt to positive health changes are
either due to medical advice or had these habits since adulthood.
The most common physical changes experienced by people in midlife due to aging are; graying
of hair, loss of hearing, need reading glasses to read and also gain some weight. These
changes make them older than they looked just a decade before. Before the age of 40 an
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individual has all of the abilities at peak but between the age of 40-65 years which is typically
called as midlife there is a gradual decline of the abilities and the person is forced to limit their
activities due to inability to move. These changes are common and can be found in any person
in midlife. These can also act as a predisposition to many hormonal and functional diseases.
There are also many conditions at the level of mind that also affect the body and act as a
predisposition to diseases. These conditions occur because midlife people are very vulnerable
to the physical and emotional factors and conditions around them. But all these conditions are
avoidable for it a person has to take care of themselves and adopt healthy living habits (Bherer
et al.,2013).
There are also massive changes that occur at the cognitive level. During childhood and youth,
the memory power of an individual is at peak. They are at the best of their ability to use their
mind and learn new methods and techniques. At the age of 40 and above studies have shown
that the power of mind gradually starts to reduce, as there is retarding function of the human
body. In late life, the elderly are said to be like a child again because their emotional needs
increase and reason or practical approach to situation decreases. This is not a universal truth
but though many such cases are seen in day to day life. Those who are educated and have
been actively participating to avoid late life damage or be productive in late life do not undergo
these complicated emotions of a child (Lindwall et al.,2014). The changes that occur are
qualitative that depends on the life situations that are present during midlife. In each phase of
life, there are changes that occur as the human age advances. The changes that occur in a
young individual are different from the changes that occur in an adult. Because at both the
stages of life the factors that contribute to the changes in an individual are different.
There is no measurement tool that can compare the difference in cognitive functions or
impairment. The only measurement tool is a comparison, between the previous and the current
condition. At a young age, there are usually many motivating factors that help to improve brain
functions. There is competition, motivation, tutors to help and achieve their goals and moreover,
they have time to test and apply their abilities. Whereas in midlife they do not have motivation
rather they have to prepare themselves for late life that may bring various health and other
issues and hence psychosocial factors play an important role in cognitive functions (Hötting and
Röder., 2013). Usually, people who are professionals can handle this change better than those
who have been sheltered by the family and never really saw the real world. The abilities that a
person might lose complete may be due to a pathology existing in the body. But most common
changes that may occur in the midlife are; the vocabulary of a person is diminished as the brain
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is aging. Other factors that are affected are the memory, practical reasoning and also
processing speed. As it is clearly seen that most of the affected areas are in the mind and
related to emotions, therefore, the psychosocial factors are closely related to cognitive
impairment (Ferrucci et al.,2016).
These changes in a human body may vary from person to person, each individual may have
different experience and reason that might cause the change but these changes could be
derived in a positive way and that kind of aging process would be called as successful aging.
There are many concepts given for the ways in which these changes can be managed and
handled but the most debatable concept is the one given by Rowe and Kahn. They have given
the concept of successful aging in which there are 3 components that can make this process.
The three components given by Rowe and Kahn are good health that is least susceptible to
acquire the major disease, well-balanced mind and emotions and a positive approach and
reaction to life. Many more theories and concept are being added to this existing concept of
given by Rowe and Kahn. According to the discussion and critical analysis the changes that
occur in different zones that are, psychosocial, physical and cognitive in the midlife (Lachman et
al.,2015). These changes dependent on various internal and external factors. But the strongest
factor that is to be considered is the approach of the person going through midlife and their
response to various circumstances.
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(Source: www.slideplayer.com)
The main focus of Rowe and Kahn model of successful aging is based on positive reaction and
approach towards life and being solution oriented and not problem oriented. Aging is going to hit
each ad very individual and no one can escape this phase. But the difference would be how
each individual adapts and adjust with time. The approach towards any situation must be to
improve the life of themselves and people around them, even if they have to work really hard on
it (Berk, L., 2017). Each individual must be independent and prepare themselves to be able to
live on their own rather on depending other sources even if that includes medication. The
concepts given by Rowe and Kahn are those that eventually make the person independent with
good health and healthy habits that would not make them prone to any disease and hence
improve the quality of life at the midlife.
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Conclusion
Every human passes through various stages of life and many situations in those stages of life.
Every situation gives them various experiences and helps in the development of their physical,
psychosocial and emotional quotient. These small events and their experience add to the bigger
picture of life and the personality of the patient that is developed to the course of life. Other than
this. This impression may not be long-lasting in every individual as they may have another
strong internal or external factor to influence their choices and personality. The basic things that
matter to each and every individual and contribute to their personality are the social
background, relationships, achievements, and good and bad life experiences. Midlife is the peak
where the best qualities are achieved and according to the law of nature some amount of
decline will occur gradually and it depends on each individual how well do they adapt to this
change (Salthouse, T.A., 2016). Many theories have been put forward to explain this event and
the reason behind it but the theory that has the main focus on positive training and successful
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aging is the Rowe and Kahn model. It has three components explained above in the critical
analysis and discussion.
The issues of the midlife the relationships all cannot be justified as many social responsibilities
and events modify the behavior of each individual. The education level and the expectation from
various relationships also modifies the behavior and approach towards life, these inclines a
person to respond emotionally or intellectually to the situation in the midlife. It is a phase where
an individual has to let go of many things and also adapt too many changes. Always the
judgment of an individual's behavior must be while keeping in mind the past and the present
events. And the phenomenon of midlife has the potential to modify the rest of life and hence it
must be managed carefully by taking right steps towards health and making the right choices. A
positive environment in the house and the workplace would not only boost the productivity of
each individual in the setting but also help them make the right and beneficial decision for
themselves and the people around them. This stage of stagnation of midlife has the potential to
take a good turn to the path of life. It is not a disease or disability or pathology, rather it is a
gradual course that when managed well can help to have successful aging.
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Reference
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