Question

12) Describe sampling problems that emerge in conducting life-span developmental research. How might

data from a longitudinal study of a psychological problem such as substance abuse, suicide, or eating

disorders be affected by sampling problems?

Answer 1

The study of aging demands an integrative life-span developmental approach, involving interdisciplinary collaborations & multiple methodological approaches for understanding how & why individuals change,- in both normative & idiosyncratic ways. We highlight & summarize some of the issues encountered when conducting integrative research for understanding aging-related change, including, the integration of results across different levels of analysis; The integration theory, design, &nalysis; the synthesis of results across studies of aging. We emphasize the necessity of longitudinal designs for understanding development & aging . Discuss methodological issues that should be considered for achieving reproducible research on within-person processes. It will be important that current and future studies permit opportunities for quantitative comparison across populations given the extent to which historical shifts and cultural differences influence life-span processes and aging-related outcomes.

With respect to these integrative orientations, gerontological science shares a great deal with developmental science, as it emphasizes the dynamic interplay of processes across time frames, levels of analysis, & contexts. Time & timing are central to this perspective. The time frames employed are relative to the lifetime of the phenomena to be understood. Units of focus may be as short as milliseconds, seconds, & minutes, or as long as years, decades, and millennia. In this perspective, the phenomena of individual functioning are viewed at multiple levels—from the subsystems of genetics, neurobiology, and hormones to those of families, social networks, communities, and cultures.”

Integrative theoretical approaches & interdisciplinary research requires integrative data analysis. The methodological issues related to integrative approaches for understanding aging-related change. These analytical challenges include (a) integration of results across different levels of analysis, (b) integration of theory, design, & analysis, (c) synthesis of results across longitudinal studies of aging. The necessity of longitudinal designs for understanding development & aging, with emphasis on methodological issues that must be considered for achieving replicable research on within-person processes. It will be important that current &future studies permit analytical opportunities for quantitative comparison across populations Historical shifts and cultural differences that influence life-span processes and late-life outcomes. These many challenges that must be taken into account for a cumulative science of life-span development and aging may best be resolved through international collaborative research.

Point B) The study assessed the need over time for treatment of personal adjustment & substance abuse problems among chronic drug using & other recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Participants were administered the personal adjustment problems &substance abuse problems scales contained in the Multidimensional Addictions & Personality Profile (MAPP) & take interviews for more than two years.

Participants who were not chronic users had total scale scores that would indicate no recommendedreferral to outpatient treatment. Approximately one-third of chronic users had scores that would indicate referral to inpatient treatment. Many chronic users had comorbid conditions but reports receiving no psychological o substance abuse treatment.

Many TANF recipients may be experiencing coexisting personal and substance abuse related problems that are going untreated.

    SUCIDE POINT : To examine whether anxiety disorders are risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a large population-based longitudinal study. ... Moreover, the data clearly demonstrate that comorbid anxiety disorders amplify the risk of suicide attempts in persons with mood disorders.

Anxiety disorders were strongly associated with suicidal ideation/attempts. Any single anxiety disorder increased the odds of suicidal ideation. Control for co-occurring mental disorders, non-observed fixed confounding factors & life stress reduced these associations

.Anxiety disorders may be a risk factor for suicidality, even after controlling for confounding, with risks increasing with multiple anxiety disorders. Management of anxiety disorders may be an important component in strategies to reduce population rates of suicide.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM OF EATING DISORDERS :The development of eating disorders includs anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, & eating disorders that affect many young women& men in the productive period of their lives is complex & varied. Numbers of risk factors contributing to the development of eating disorders are increasing, previous evidence for biological, psychological, developmental, & sociocultural effects on the development of eating disorders. The risk factors associated with the eating disorders, they have failed not only to uncover the exact etiology of eating disorders, but also to understand the interaction between different causes of eating disorders. This failure may be due complexities of eating disorders, limitations of the studies or combination of two factors.