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GENDER, HEALTH, AND AGING:Physiological /Biological Effects, Changes in Appearance

<< GENDER, HEALTH, AND AGING:Genetic Protection, Behavioral Factors
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Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)
VU
Lesson 32
GENDER, HEALTH, AND AGING
If you analyze these cases, and compare them, you will realize that some problems are common to the four
people we are talking about. Problems like reduced control over life, and some physical ailments are found in
most people. In terms of psychological well being, the spouses in case 3 are better off than the first two cases.
Companionship and social support are two significant variables in the well being and adjustment of an old
person. The purpose of our discussion on `gender and aging' is twofold i.e.,
a)  To see the similarities, pertaining to aging, between the genders.
b)  To see how genders differ in terms of age-related changes and their reactions to those.
"Aging" refers to the biological changes that take place with the passage of time. These changes are inevitable
and irreversible. The pace at which these changes may take place many vary. Regular exercise and wise eating
i.e., getting the required nutrients and avoiding damaging substances have been seen to slow down the process
of aging.
There are individual differences in the pace of and extent to which people may age and feel aged. The concept
of the age at which people may feel or look aged has changed over the past decades. In the early 1900's, in
most parts of the world, the average life expectancy used to be somewhere 35-45. Today more and more
people can expect to enter their 80s and 90s. On average people do live 70-75 years of age. The average life
span of an American today is 75 years. With a prolonged life expectancy, scientists are also focusing upon
improving the quality of life and preventing and as well as managing the effects of aging.
The Effects of Aging
The major characteristic of aging is a decreased efficiency of the function of the bodily organs. The speed at
which one could walk or jog 15 years, or even 5-10, years ago is not the same at age 70. One can not carry the
weight that one could carry some time back.
At age 85 the average human heart pumps 3.5 liters per minute; whereas it used to pump 6.9 liters per minute.
At age 20, the average amount of blood flowing through the kidneys was 0.6 liters per minute, while it goes
down to only 0.3 liters per minute at age 85. The amount and the type of food that one could eat and digest
also changes with age.
However regular exercise can delay these changes. Considering individual differences, one can see that there are
cases when people aged 70 are better than people aged 50 in terms of the functioning of their heart and other
organs. Aging has two types of effects:
i.
Physiological effects
ii.
Psychological effects
Physiological /Biological Effects
a)  Effects on the sensory process:
_ The efficiency of the sense organs is reduced, resulting into poor visual acuity, hearing
impairment or loss, less effective kinesthetic sense, and less sensitive olfaction and gestation.
Besides problems like cataract may also develop. The problems of vision and hearing are
however correctable.
b)  Manual dexterity and muscular movement is affected.
c)  The immune system gets weaker and the body gets attacked by disease and infection easily; besides, it
takes longer to recover.
d)  The endocrine activity also solves down and the release of many hormones is either inhibited or
stopped, or the hormones are released in insufficient amounts. In females, menopause is a major milestone.
e)  Many diseases like arthritis, Multi-infarct Dementia, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are
possible to develop in old age.
f)  Hypertension and Cardiovascular disease are common in old person.
g)  Some cancers are more prevalent in older persons e.g. cervical, breast or prostate cancer.
h)  Bone fractures are also a common happening in old age, especially old women.
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Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)
VU
Changes in Appearance
Some prominent and some not so prominent changes take place in peoples appearance. The face of the person
is the most affected region; however the whole body may show the age of the person. The hair line recedes,
and the hair turns grey, and then white. Tooth decay and tooth loss happens; it not only affects the shape of
the mouth but also affects the shape of the type of food one can eat. The skin is dry and wrinkled. A person's
height may be shortened due to a decay of cushioning between the vertebrae.
Psychological effects of Aging
Learning:
Most old people can learn new things but not as readily and as fast as a young person.
However there may be limitations in terms of what they can learn. A __________ involving fine dexterity and
eye hand coordination may take longer.
Attention and Concentration
Some research evidence shows that the old people can not concentrate on a task for as long as young person
can do.
Memory
Old people may experience weakened memory especially short-term memory. In case of certain diseases like
Alzheimer's the loss may be sever.
Intelligence
There is some evidence that old people can not perform as good as a young person on I.Q tests, suggesting
that old people are less intelligent. However it is a debatable issue, because there is some other evidence too
that suggests that younger people can perform better on these test because these tests involve skills that they
are, or have been learning at school.
Self-esteem, Personality and self concept
There is a likelihood that as a consequence of inability to perform certain tasks that one could do earlier, and as
a result of other people's negative attitude an old person may begin to feel worthless, feeling "not needed",
and/or become cynical or cranky.
But there is research evidence available suggesting quite the opposite. In one study (Field, and Millsap, 1991) it
was seen that older adults over a period of 14 years, had become more cheerful, open-minded, and frank. There
was no change in the self esteem or satisfaction with life of more than 50 % of these as they entered late
adulthood. Significant increases were found in nearly one third of the subjects. Some other studies have shown
that older and younger people have equally high self-esteem; some studies even suggest that older people have
higher self esteem than younger people (Bengston, Reedy and Gordon, 1985).
These findings appear to be in quite a contradiction with what people generally believe about older people.
Research suggests that this attitude has to do with the person's perception of own age, and many old people
perceive their age to be less than what it actually is. Also if they have lived fulfilling, satisfying, and successful
lives, and are independent too, there is no reason why they should have a low self esteem.
Empty-nest Syndrome
Old people may experience the empty-nest syndrome. Empty nest feeling is what one feels when the children
have left home forever, for their careers, marriage, or freedom. The old parents may feel lonely, bored,
depressed, and emotionally robbed. But all parents do not feel the same. A number of variables determine their
reaction to the empty nest; e.g. their own career and occupation, their financial position, social support, health
and fitness, presence of the spouse, and proximity of children.
Losing the spouse
Loss of a spouse in old age is a trauma. Besides feeling lonely, it involves a variety of other practical problems
too.
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Table of Contents:
  1. INTRODUCTION:Common misconception, Some questions to ponder
  2. FEMINIST MOVEMENT:Forms or Varieties of Feminism, First wave feminists
  3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:Functionalism, Psychoanalytic Psychology:
  4. Gender- related Research:Andocentricity, Overgeneralizing, Gender Blindness
  5. RESEARCH METHODS FOR GENDER ISSUES:The Procedure of Content Analysis
  6. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH:Limitations Of Quantitative Research
  7. BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GENDERSHormones and Chromosomes
  8. BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GENDERS: HORMONES AND NERVOUS SYSTEM
  9. THEORIES OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT:The Biological Approach,
  10. THEORIES OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT (2):The Behavioral Approach
  11. THEORIES OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT (3):The Cognitive Approach
  12. THEORIES OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT (3):Psychoanalytic Feminism
  13. OTHER APPROACHES:The Humanistic Approach, Cultural Influences
  14. GENDER TYPING AND STEREOTYPING:Development of sex-typing
  15. GENDER STEREOTYPES:Some commonly held Gender Stereotypes
  16. Developmental Stages of Gender Stereotypes:Psychoanalytic Approach, Hostile sexism
  17. CULTURAL INFLUENCE & GENDER ROLES:Arapesh, Mundugumor
  18. DEVELOPMENT OF GENDER ROLE IDENTIFICATION:Gender Role Preference
  19. GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY:GENDER DIFFERENCES IN BULLYING
  20. GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY:GENDER, AFFILIATION AND FRIENDSHIP
  21. COGNITIVE DIFFERENCES:Gender Differences in I.Q, Gender and Verbal Ability
  22. GENDER AND MEDIA:Print Media and Portrayal of Genders
  23. GENDER AND EMOTION:The components of Emotions
  24. GENDER, EMOTION, & MOTIVATION:Affiliation, Love, Jealousy
  25. GENDER AND EDUCATION:Impact of Educational Deprivation
  26. GENDER, WORK AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT:Informal Work
  27. GENDER, WORK AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT (2):Glass-Ceiling Effect
  28. GENDER, WORK & RELATED ISSUES:Sexual Harassment at Workplace
  29. GENDER AND VIOLENCE:Domestic Violence, Patriarchal terrorism
  30. GENDER AND HEALTH:The Significance of Women’s Health
  31. GENDER, HEALTH, AND AGING:Genetic Protection, Behavioral Factors
  32. GENDER, HEALTH, AND AGING:Physiological /Biological Effects, Changes in Appearance
  33. GENDER DIFFERENCES IN AGING:Marriage and Loneliness, Empty Nest Syndrome
  34. GENDER AND HEALTH PROMOTING BEHAVIORS:Fitness and Exercise
  35. GENDER AND HEALTH PROMOTING BEHAVIOR:The Classic Alameda County Study
  36. GENDER AND HEART DISEASE:Angina Pectoris, The Risk factors in CHD
  37. GENDER AND CANCER:The Trend of Mortality Rates from Cancer
  38. GENDER AND HIV/AIDS:Symptoms of AIDS, Mode of Transmission
  39. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH FEMALES’ REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
  40. OBESITY AND WEIGHT CONTROL:Consequences of Obesity, Eating Disorders
  41. GENDER AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY:Gender, Stress and Coping
  42. GENDER AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY:The Diagnostic Criteria
  43. GENDER AND PSYCHOTHERAPY:Traditional Versus Feminist Theory
  44. FEMINIST THERAPY:Changes targeted at societal level
  45. COURSE REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF NEW AVENUES FOR RESEARCH IN GENDER ISSUES