assignment 7

Write 3–4 pages in which you examine the changes that happen during middle adulthood, positive behaviors that can add to well-being during this stage, and ways a psychology professional can help those who may be struggling through this stage.

Although not every person goes through a midlife crisis, during one's 40s and 50s comes a realization that more than half of one's life is gone. That can be enough to make some people feel that time is running out and they need to make drastic changes in their lives. Others come to this stage and feel quite content with the course their lives are on. People in middle adulthood are more likely to experience significant life events such as the death of a parent, children leaving home, becoming a grandparent, and health issues associated with aging. Middle adulthood is a time of change and transition, and each person responds to those changes in different ways.

Suggested Resources

The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.

Capella Multimedia

Click the link provided below to view the following multimedia piece:

• Adult Development | Transcript.

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Library Resources

The following articles from the Capella University Library are linked directly in this course:

• Borzumato-Gainey, C., Kennedy, A., McCabe, B., & Degges-White, S. (2009). Life satisfaction, self-esteem, and subjective age in women across the life span. Adultspan Journal, 8(1), 29–42.
• Frazier, L. D., Barreto, M. L., & Newman, F. L. (2012). Self-regulation and eudaimonic well-being across adulthood. Experimental Aging Research, 38(4), 394–410.
• Hearn, S., Saulnier, G., Strayer, J., Glenham, M., Koopman, R., & Marcia, J. (2012). Between integrity and despair: Toward construct validation of Erikson's eighth stage. Journal of Adult Development, 19(1), 1–20.
• Newton, N., & Stewart, A. J. (2010). The middle ages: Change in women's personalities and social roles. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(1), 75–84.
• Pennequin, V., Sorel, O., & Mainguy, M. (2010). Metacognition, executive functions and aging: The effect of training in the use of metacognitive skills to solve mathematical word problems. Journal of Adult Development, 17(3), 168–176.
• Wight, R. G., LeBlanc, A. J., de Vries, B., & Detels, R. (2012). Stress and mental health among midlife and older gay-identified men. American Journal of Public Health, 102(3), 503–510.

Course Library Guide

A Capella University library guide has been created specifically for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in the PSYC-FP3210 – Human Lifespan Development Library Guide to help direct your research.

Internet Resources

Access the following resource by clicking the link provided. Please note that URLs change frequently. Permission for the following link has been either granted or deemed appropriate for educational use at the time of course publication.

• State of Oregon. (2012). Myths and stereotypes of aging. Retrieved from http://www.oregon.gov/dhs/apd-dd-training/EQC%20Training%20Documents/Myths%20and%20Stereotypes%20of%20Aging.pdf

Assessment Instructions

Preparation

Look for scholarly and professional research articles on the changes that occur during midlife, and what psychology professionals can do to encourage and support health and well-being during this stage of human development.

Requirements

For this assessment, examine the changes that happen during middle adulthood, positive behaviors that can add to well-being during this stage, and ways a psychology professional can help those who may be struggling through this stage.

Be sure that your submitted assessment contains the following:

• Describe the physical changes that typically happen for both men and women in middle adulthood.
• Describe the changes that take place in the brain during midlife.
• Explain how the changes that happen in the brain affect cognitive functions.
• Identify behaviors that can promote and support health and well-being in middle adulthood.
• Recommend activities to promote cognitive strength.
• Examine how social activities and connections can lessen the impact of midlife changes.

Additional Requirements

• Written communication: Your writing should be free of errors that detract from the overall message and is consistent with expectations for members of the psychological professions.
• APA formatting: Format resources and citations according to APA style.
• Resources: Minimum of three scholarly or professional resources. Note: Popular resources such as Wikipedia or About.com are not considered to be appropriate.
• Length: 3–4 typed, double-spaced pages not including title page and reference page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12-point font.

 Scoring Guide

CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED Describe the physical changes that occur in middle adulthood.Does not list the physical changes that occur in middle adulthood. Lists the physical changes that occur in middle adulthood. Describes the physical changes that occur in middle adulthood. Describes the physical changes that occur in middle adulthood and describes factors that can influence the severity of the changes. Describe the changes that occur in the brain in middle adulthood.Does not list the changes that occur in the brain in middle adulthood. Lists the changes that occur in the brain in middle adulthood. Describes the changes that occur in the brain in middle adulthood. Describes the changes that occur in the brain in middle adulthood and describes factors that can influence the severity of the changes. Explain how changes in the brain affect cognitive functions.Does not explain how changes in the brain affect cognitive functions. Explains how changes in the brain affect cognitive functions, but the explanation is incomplete or lacks key elements. Explains how changes in the brain affect cognitive functions. Explains how changes in the brain affect cognitive functions and provides additional information or examples that add clarity to the explanation. Identify behaviors that promote health and well-being in middle adulthood.Does not identify behaviors that promote health and well-being in middle adulthood. Identifies behaviors but it is unclear how the behaviors promote health and well-being in middle adulthood. Identifies behaviors that promote health and well-being in middle adulthood. Identifies behaviors that promote health and well-being in middle adulthood and explains how the behaviors are beneficial. Recommend activities that promote cognitive strength.Does not identify activities that promote cognitive strength. Identifies activities that promote cognitive strength. Recommends activities that promote cognitive strength. Evaluates activities that promote cognitive strength and recommends those that are most appropriate for adults in midlife. Examine the positive influence of social connections in middle adulthood.Does not describe the positive influence of social connections in middle adulthood. Describes the positive influence of social connections in middle adulthood. Examines the positive influence of social connections in middle adulthood. Examines the positive influence of social connections in middle adulthood and suggests strategies that can encourage stronger social connections. Use valid, scholarly research resources relevant to the field of human lifespan development.Does not use valid, scholarly research resources relevant to the field of human lifespan development. Uses research resources that are not valid, scholarly, or relevant to the field of human lifespan development such as Wikipedia or About.com. Uses valid, scholarly research resources relevant to the field of human lifespan development. Uses valid, scholarly research resources relevant to the field of human lifespan development and establishes the credibility of the research. Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional.Writing does not support a central idea. Does not use correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional. Writing supports an idea but is inconsistent and contains major errors of grammar, usage, and mechanics. Writing coherently supports a central idea with few errors of grammar, usage, and mechanics. Writing is coherent, using evidence to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional. Use APA format and style.Does not use APA format and style. Uses APA format and style but inconsistently and with errors. Uses APA format and style consistently and with few errors. Uses correct APA format and style consistently and with no errors.