Question

Write a 3-5 page paper describing the physical, social, and cognitive changes that are typically found in middle adulthood for both men and women. Describe how these changes impact the psychosocial stage of generativity versus stagnation. Identify the challenges of individuals in the sandwich generation. What 3-4 recommendations do you have to help someone currently experiencing the sandwich generation? What are examples of historical changes over the past 40 years that have increased the strain on men and women in their middle adult years?

To complete this assignment address each of the following in your paper:

Describe the physical, social, and cognitive changes that occur in middle adulthood for men.

Describe the physical, social, and cognitive changes that occur in middle adulthood for women.

Describe the psychosocial stage: generativity versus stagnation.

Describe how physical, social, and cognitive changes can impact this psychosocial stage.

Identify the challenges of the sandwich generation.

Provide recommendations 3 to 4 recommendations for someone currently in the sandwich generation.

Describe historical changes from the past 40 years that have increased the strain on men and women in their middle adult years.

Answer 1

• Although no longer at the peak level of their young adult years, middle‐aged adults still report good health and physical functioning, However, as a result of the passage of time, middle adults undergo various physical changes.
• Decades of exposure and use take their toll on the body as wrinkles develop, organs no longer function as efficiently as they once did, and lung and heart capacities decrease.
• Other changes include decreases in strength, coordination, reaction time, sensation (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch), and fine motor skills.
• Also common among middle adults are the conditions of presbyopia (farsightedness or difficulty reading) and presbycusis (difficulty hearing high‐pitched sounds).
• The biopsychosocial changes that accompany midlife,specifically, menopause (the cessation of menstruation) in women and the male climacteric (male menopause) in men,appear to be major turning points in terms of the decline that eventually typifies older adulthood
• Menopause gives rise to uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes, headaches, irritability, dizziness, and swelling in parts of the body.
• Men also experience biological changes as they age, although none is as distinct and pronounced as female menopause. Testosterone production lessens, which creates physical symptoms, such as weakness, poor appetite, and inability to focus on specific tasks for extended periods.
• Because of society's emphasis on youthfulness and physical appearances, middle‐aged men and women may sometimes suffer from diminished self‐esteem. Women, for instance, experience the worldwide double standard of aging.
• Men who are graying are perceived as distinguished, mature, and sexy, while women who are graying are viewed as being over the hill or past their prime. This double standard, coupled with actual physical changes and decline, does little to help middle adults avoid a midlife crisis.
• Erikson stated that the primary psychosocial task of middle adulthood,ages 45 to 65,is to develop generativity, or the desire to expand one's influence and commitment to family, society, and future generations.
• In other words, the middle adult is concerned with forming and guiding the next generation. The middle adult who fails to develop generativity experiences stagnation, or self‐absorption, with its associated self‐indulgence and invalidism.
• Middle adulthood is best known for its infamous midlife crisis: a time of reevaluation that leads to questioning long‐held beliefs and values. The midlife crisis may also result in a person divorcing his or her spouse, changing jobs, or moving from the city to the suburbs.
• Typically beginning in the early‐ or mid‐40s, the crisis often occurs in response to a sense of mortality, as middle adults realize that their youth is limited and that they have not accomplished all of their desired goals in life.
• Of course, not everyone experiences stress or upset during middle age; instead they may simply undergo a midlife transition, or change, rather than the emotional upheaval of a midlife crisis.
• During the male midlife crisis, men may try to reassert their masculinity by engaging in more youthful male behaviors, such as dressing in trendy clothes, taking up activities like scuba diving, motorcycling, or skydiving.
• During the female midlife crisis, women may try to reassert their femininity by dressing in youthful styles, having cosmetic surgery, or becoming more socially active. Some middle adult women try to look as young as their young adult children by dying their hair and wearing more youthful clothing.
• Such actions may be a response to feelings of isolation, loneliness, inferiority, uselessness, nonassertion, or unattractiveness.
• Finding time to maintain friendships becomes more difficult for middle adults. During this period, life responsibilities are at an all‐time high, so having extra time for socializing is usually rare.
• For this reason, middle adults may have less friends than their newlywed and retired counterparts. Yet where quantity of friendships may be lacking, quality predominates. Some of the closest ties between friends are formed and nourished during middle adulthood.
• Witnessing their children on the verge of becoming adults can also trigger a midlife crisis for some middle adults.
• The adolescent journey into young adulthood is a reminder to middle‐aged parents of their own aging processes and inescapable settling into middle and later adulthood.
• Finally, for some families, teenagers may ignite so much tension at home that their departure to college or into a career can be a relief to parents. Other parents experience the empty‐nest syndrome, or sense of aloneness, once all their children leave home.
• One issue facing middle adults is that of caring for their aging parents. In some cases, adults, who expected to spend their middle‐age years traveling and enjoying their own children and grandchildren, instead find themselves taking care of their ailing parents.
  
• That is why middle aged adults are referred to as te sandwich generation who are kind of stuck between raising their adolescent child and taking care of their ailing parents,which sometimes doesnt leave anytime for themselves leading to stagnation.
• Due to time limit,any remaining questions can be asked as another question,they will be answered,thankyou for your cooperation