Aging Process & Psychological Aspects Flashcards

Which psychological theory suggests that older adults maintain well-being by adjusting their goals to match their declining capacities?

Answer: Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC)

SOC theory proposes that successful aging involves selecting key goals, optimizing resources to achieve them, and compensating when losses occur.

Late-life depression is often underdiagnosed in older adults primarily because:

Answer: Symptoms frequently overlap with medical conditions and normal aging

Fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive changes can mimic depression, causing clinicians and patients to attribute symptoms to aging rather than a treatable condition.

A client's 80-year-old father insists on driving despite two recent minor accidents. Which psychological concept best explains his resistance to giving up driving?

Answer: Loss of personal identity and independence

Driving often symbolizes autonomy and identity for older adults, making its loss psychologically threatening beyond the practical inconvenience.

The 'gerotranscendence' theory proposed by Lars Tornstam describes aging as:

Answer: A shift toward greater cosmic and transpersonal perspective and less materialism

Gerotranscendence posits that older adults naturally evolve toward a broader, more spiritual worldview with decreased interest in superfluous social interaction.

Which of the following best describes 'compressed morbidity' in the context of aging?

Answer: Delaying the onset of disability so it is concentrated near the end of life

The compression of morbidity hypothesis holds that preventive behaviors can push serious illness and disability into the final years of a longer life.

An older adult who maintains a strong sense of purpose and meaning despite physical limitations is demonstrating which construct?

Answer: Resilience and psychological hardiness

Resilience in aging refers to the capacity to adapt positively in the face of adversity, loss, or chronic stress, often supported by meaning-making.

Which stage of Erik Erikson's psychosocial model is most associated with the psychological work of old age?

Answer: Integrity vs. Despair

Ego Integrity vs. Despair is Erikson's final stage, in which older adults reflect on their lives and find either acceptance (integrity) or regret (despair).