PHYSICAL

CHANGES

IN M

IDDLE

ADULTHOOD

MADYSON K . KATELYN D.

BRANDON H.

PER IOD: 3

PHYSICAL CHANGES

• Physical changes may cause psychological response depending on how one views growing older.

• In eastern cultures, aging is a sign of wisdom, respect, and power.

• In western cultures, everyone wishes to look youthful and aging may cause self-esteem issues.

• In result many people spend billions of dollars in hopes to reverse the aging process.

WOMAN & AGING• menopause: the time of

natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines.

• menopause usually occurs around age 50 and includes physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, as well as the reduction of the hormone estrogen.

• Menopause usually does not cause psychological problems for women.

• In one MacArthur Foundation study of 3000 midlife adults, most postmenopausal women recalled "only relief" when their periods stopped; just 2 percent felt " only regret" (Goode, 1999).

MEN & AGING

• Men do not experience an equivalent to menopause – no cessation of fertility or drop in sex hormones.

• However, their testosterone level can plummet which may cause depression, irritability, insomnia and weakness but can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy (Sternbach, 1998).

• Some men may also experience psychological distress due to their perception of decreased virility and physical capabilities.