Stress and Health in Middle to Late Adulthood Assessment Answer

Impact of Stress on Health during Middle to Late Adulthood: Introduction to Dynamics Affecting Adjustment to Life Cycle Changes

A range of changes is experienced by people throughout their life cycles that create a necessity to adapt to novel circumstances. These adaptations or adjustments are considered challenging and have a substantial impact on the physical and mental health of the individual. Middle to late adulthood is one of the most challenging stages of growth because it is the time when people are subjected to a range of demands that are harmful to their health (Donovan & Blazer, 2020). This essay focuses to analyze the dynamics of adjustment or adaptation to the life cycle changes, with a focus on the impact of stress on one’s health during the stages of middle to late adulthood. The significance of well-balanced biological, sociocultural, psychological, and lifecycle influences on health focusing on middle to late adulthood will be discussed in the following paragraphs and sections. In addition, the identification of the stressors that will most likely occur during middle adulthood, along with the suggestion will be made regarding the ways to handle the stressors with the intention decrease their negative impact. Moreover, behavioral interventions for stress reduction and the measures to increase one’s overall well-being in late adulthood will be explored in this essay.

Significance of well-balanced Psychological, Biological, Sociocultural, and Lifecycle Influences

The biological effects are considered to be the most important aspect in terms of influencing the health of people during the middle to late adulthood stages of life. When people age, various physical changes occur, involving flexibility, strength, and sensory capabilities. For maintaining a healthy lifestyle, people should eat a balanced diet, refrain from bad habits such as binge drinking, and smoking, and must engage in regular exercise. Psychoanalytic theory holds that people's unconscious thoughts, feelings, and wants to influence their behavior and experiences (Salmon, 2020). People may endure psychological stress during the middle to late stages of adulthood owing to a variety of circumstances, including retirement, losing loved ones, and deteriorating health. These pressures have the potential to cause mental health issues including despair and anxiety.

It is crucial to deal with the stressors that arise during the middle to late adulthood, and the best possible way for the same is that people must ask for assistance from their family, friends, and professionals in the mental health field. According to Rasse and Gibbs Jr, (2021), J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," represents the psychological stressors, in which the protagonist Holden Caulfield battles to deal with the pressures and changes of maturity. The experiences of Holden demonstrate how psychological stress can be rampant during the development period during middle to late adulthood, and how important it is to get proper assistance to get the resolution if one wants to keep their mental health.

In terms of the sociological aspect, the social environment of the people poses a certain impact on their experiences and behaviors. People can also experience sociocultural stresses during the middle to late adulthood stages of life such as financial instability, prejudice, and a lack of social support (Karimov, 2021). Various health issues such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension can arise from these pressures. For the preservation of their health and well-being, people must have access to financial resources, social support systems, and healthcare services. In terms of the life span development theory, a person’s development is a continuous process, which starts at birth and lasts its entire lifespan. People can also go through large life changes involving listing loved ones, retirement, etc. during their middle to late adulthood. It can be challenging to get adapt to these changes, which can lead to issues of mental health and stress. In order to adapt to the changes and preserve their health, and well-being, people must learn resilience and coping measures.

Identification of Stressors in terms of Middle Adulthood and Suggestions to Handle the Negative Impact

In terms of identification of the stressors that will probably arise during middle adulthood, along with advice on how to deal with the stressors to lessen their bad effects, ages 40 to 65, or middle adulthood, are considered to be the most stressful years of life for most people. Significant life transitions, such as work growth or adjustments, ageing parents, children moving out of the house, and personal health issues, occur during this time. These stressors may have a detrimental effect on a person's physical and mental health, which may result in a number of unfavorable consequences.

A number of stressors are frequently felt during middle age. A relevant stressor that can result from the insecurity of the job, excessive hours, family obligations, and juggling work is considered career-related stress. People can also face financial difficulties when they approach the middle life stage because of retirement planning and taking care of their ageing parents. People also face internal stressors along with external ones during their middle age. Mid-life crisis is a thought behind the sources of internal stress, which can result in doubtful and dreadful feelings regarding one’s accomplishments and objectives in life. Various physiological health problems such as menopause, and age-related issues, can be present throughout the time. According to the study by Stephenson and DeLongis, (2020), there are certain influences of the various career-related stressors on people in their middle adulthood stages of life. This study also described people who suffer job uncertainty, obligations from family, long working days, and trouble while working, are more likely to get impacted by adverse health effects such as cortisol and blood pressure levels.

In the middle to adulthood stages of age, stress can have a major negative influence on the health of people. Diabetes, heart disease, and chronic health disorders are the negative health influences that can result from long-term stress. Due to the negative influences, various other health conditions such as depression and anxiety can be worsened, which can lead to a reduction in any person’s overall quality of life.

A variety of tactics can be employed by people for combatting the damaging impact of the stressors related to middle age. Meditation, exercise, and time spent in nature are the various activities for relieving stress, which are beneficial and can be applied as a method. Getting social support from friends and family might be beneficial for stress management. In addition, getting expert assistance, such as counseling or therapy, can help people to manage stress and advance their mental health. Focusing on self-care is another method for handling stress in middle adulthood. Prioritizing healthy practices like getting adequate sleep, eating a balanced diet, and scheduling downtime for unwinding and introspection can help with this. Stress management techniques such as mindfulness and other self-care routines can also assist people in better managing their stress. According to Lachman and Agrigoroaei, (2010), stress can have a substantial negative effect on one's health during this time, having both physical and mental health consequences. However, there are methods that people can employ to control their stress levels and advance their general health and well-being. People can effectively manage stress and encourage positive adjustment to life cycle changes during middle adulthood by engaging in stress-reducing activities, looking for social support, and placing a high priority on self-care.

Behavioral Interventions for Stress Reduction

Understanding the dynamics underlying adjustment to these changes is crucial for implementing behavioral interventions that will lessen stress and its negative effects on health. The socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) is one of the theories that explain the dynamics of response to life cycle changes (Fung et al., 2019). According to this theory, people generally give priority to their emotional objectives rather than their informational objectives, especially, when they become older because they become more responsive to their death (Fung et al., 2019). There is a certain complexity involved for people to achieve emotional objectives under stress, which leads to behavioral changes having an impact on how the person adapts to the changes in the life cycle. Various interventions can be used to reduce the stress that is concentrated on altering the individual’s perspective on the stressors and improvement of adapting skills.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and physical activity can all be used as behavioral therapies for stress reduction from middle to late adulthood. According to Etzelmueller et al., (2020), a type of psychotherapy, that cures people by altering and considering the harmful thought actions and patterns that increase stress is known as CBT. It was found to be a successful stress reduction method in terms of lowering anxiety, stress, and depression in a study of 71 middle-aged people (Etzelmueller et al., 2020). MBSR is a mindfulness-based intervention that uses yoga, meditation, and other practices to improve present-moment awareness and lessen stress. MBSR was discovered to be successful in lowering perceived stress and enhancing well-being in a study of 42 older persons (Wharton & Kanas, 2019). Another strategy that can be beneficial in lowering stress for people in middle to late adulthood is physical activity. Exercise has been demonstrated to provide a number of advantages, such as lowering cortisol levels, enhancing mood, and boosting stress resistance.

Hence, understanding the elements that lead to stress at this time is made possible by the socioemotional selectivity theory and the transactional model of stress and coping. Exercise and other behavioral therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, can help people feel better and reduce stress. These therapies can aid people in navigating the changes in the life cycle that take place in the middle to late adulthood while still preserving their health and well-being.

Measures to Increase one’s Overall Well-being in Late Adulthood

During late adulthood, stress can have a certain influence on health. Chronic stress can results in various negative health outcomes as already discussed. There are various sources of stress that decrease one’ overall well-being in late adulthood (Donovan & Blazer, 2020).

In terms of measures to increase overall well-being in late adulthood, engaging in regular physical activity is one of the effective measures to reduce the impact of stress on health. Regular exercise can help in reducing stress, improve mood, and promote overall physical health. Various activities such as swimming, walking, and yoga can be beneficial for older adults. Exercise is also recognized to be beneficial in maintaining cognitive capabilities and reducing the risk of exposure to chronic diseases such as diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Another measure is maintaining social connections. This is concerned with staying involved with family and friends, which can be fruitful in terms of reduction of feelings of loneliness, and isolation. This can also contribute to poor and stressful health outcomes. Joining community groups or volunteering can give opportunities to people for meaningful and social connections activities.

In addition, one of the other measures for increasing the overall well-being of people in late adulthood is practicing stress reduction tactics (Donovan & Blazer, 2020). The techniques such as deep breathing exercises, muscle relaxation activities, and mindfulness meditation, can help people in reduction of stress and can promote relaxation. These tactics can also be beneficial for older adults, who are experiencing chronic pain and other severe health conditions that can lead to stress. Eating a healthy diet is also a measure, which can contribute to the overall well-being of older adults. A healthy diet contains a variety of vegetables and fruits, lean protein, and whole grains, which can promote overall health can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Moreover, a healthy diet can help in maintaining cognitive function and improving the overall mood. One of the main measures is seeking professional assistance in case of need and severe health conditions. If stress and mental health issues are deteriorating one’s well-being, then it is crucial to seek professional assistance in case of the older adults. These professionals can give effective support and guidance regarding coping tactics and can recommend medication and therapy in case of the requirement.

According to the study of Leyland et al., (2019), another measure is found, i.e., cycling, which can cognitive function and overall well-being of older adults. Healthy ageing has been referred to as the process of forming and maintaining the functional ability, to perform tasks for daily living, and enabling the overall well-being of older adults. In addition, successful aging is concerned with the conception that aging is not accompanied by a decline in the reduction of brain function and any cognitive function. The cognitive function and the integrity of the brain can be maintained throughout older adulthood and can be improved by increasing the duration and frequency of moderate to vigorous exercise for a short period of time. This study found that Aerobic exercise on a bicycle has the capability to improve cognitive function through vascular brain changes, which can further lead to overall well-being (Leyland et al., 2019).

Additionally, exercise on a bicycle can impose a direct impact on cognitive function, along with protecting cognitive performance against the harmful effects of lower well-being. The study suggests that exercise increases psychological well-being in older adults (Leyland et al., 2019). Exercise improves self-efficacy and well-being. The large influence of physical activity on the view of global and self-well-being is described by the change in self-efficacy and the belief in the ability to gain the possible actions for the satisfaction of circumstantial demands. This is considered the most salient feature influencing the psychological health of older adults.

Conclusion

The stage of development known as middle to late adulthood is a crucial time in a person's life. People must maintain a balanced lifestyle that includes coping mechanisms, social support, healthy behaviors, and access to healthcare services. Stress can have a substantial negative effect on one's health during this time, having both physical and mental health consequences. However, there are methods that people can employ to control their stress levels and advance their general health and well-being. People can effectively manage stress and encourage positive adjustment to life cycle changes during middle adulthood by engaging in stress-reducing activities, looking for social support, and placing a high priority on self-care. According to the literature, middle age, which is characterized by significant life transitions and challenges, can be a very stressful time in a person's life. However, people can manage stress and encourage positive adjustment to life cycle changes at this time by engaging in stress-reducing activities, looking for social support, prioritizing self-care, and developing resilience.

References

Donovan, N. J., & Blazer, D. (2020). Social isolation and loneliness in older adults: review and commentary of a national academies report. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28 (12), 1233-1244. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1064748120304425

Etzelmueller, A., Vis, C., Karyotaki, E., Baumeister, H., Titov, N., Berking, M., & Ebert, D. D. (2020). Effects of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy in routine care for adults in treatment for depression and anxiety: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of medical Internet research, 22 (8), e18100. https://www.jmir.org/2020/8/e18100/

Fung, H.H., Lu, M. and Isaacowitz, D.M., 2019. Aging and attention: Meaningfulness may be more important than valence. Psychology and Aging, 34 (1), p.85. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-02059-001

Karimov, U. U. (2021). Scientific and Theoretical Foundations of the Formation of the Social Environment in the Family. Oriental Journal of Social Sciences, 37-40. http://www.supportscience.uz/index.php/ojss/article/view/7

Lachman, M. E., & Agrigoroaei, S. (2010). Promoting functional health in midlife and old age: Long-term protective effects of control beliefs, social support, and physical exercise. PloS one, 5 (10), e13297. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0013297

Leyland, L. A., Spencer, B., Beale, N., Jones, T., & Van Reekum, C. M. (2019). The effect of cycling on cognitive function and well-being in older adults. PloS one, 14 (2), e0211779. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0211779

Rasse, C., & Gibbs Jr, R. W. (2021). Metaphorical thinking in our literary experiences of JD Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”. Journal of Literary Semantics, 50 (1), 3-23. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jls-2021-2027/html

Salmon, W. C. (2020). Psychoanalytic theory and evidence. In Psychoanalysis scientific method and philosophy, 252-267. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429338403-18/psychoanalytic-theory-evidence-wesley-salmon

Wharton, E., & Kanas, N. (2019). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of anxiety disorders. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 69( 3), 362-372. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00207284.2019.1599289

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