18
PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
IN LATE ADULTHOOD
Answer: A 1. Which of the following statements about the stability of personality in old age is
Page: 647 true?
Guidepost: 1 A. Individuals from more recent cohorts show more flexibility in old age than
Type: C people from previous generations.
B. In old age, the only trait that shows much change is the level of depression.
C. Most older adults show large increases in personality flexibility between the
ages of 60 and 80.
D. Personality shows a high degree of rigidity after age 65.
Answer: C 2. Research on the gifted children from the Terman study that began in 1921 has found
Page: 648; that high levels of _______________ is associated with a longer life.
Box 1 A. neuroticism
Guidepost: 1 B. openness
Type: F C. conscientiousness
D. optimism
Answer: B 3. Based on the findings from the Terman study of gifted children, which of the
Page: 648; following statements regarding longevity is false?
Box 1 A. Orderly individuals live longer than highly optimistic people.
Guidepost: 1 B. People who suffered the death of a parent in childhood often die young
Type: F themselves.
C. People whose parents divorced die younger than people whose parents stayed
married.
D. People who never marry live longer than people who get divorced and do not
remarry.
Answer: B 4. Although there is a common belief that older adults tend to be depressed research
Page: 649 suggests
Guidepost: 1 A. Only older women are depressed
Type: F B. Older adults grow more content and satisfied
C. Older adults, because of illness, appear depressed
D. Older men are depressed if they retire
Answer: A 5. A longitudinal study of older adults demonstrated that negative emotions such as
Page: 649 boredom, loneliness and unhappiness
Guidepost: 1 A. increased after age 60
Type: F B. increased after age 70
C. decreased after age 60
D. decreased in women after 60
Answer: B 6. Those older adults who reported higher levels of positive emotion and retained their
Page: 649 positivity were those
Guidepost: 1 A. that had introverted personailities
Type: C B. that were considered to be extroverts
C. who were neurotic
D. who were more and more inflexible
299
Answer: C 7. Older adults that are over-anxious and restless and who seem to complain and have
Page: 649 negative affect are likely to have
Guidepost: 1 A. Introverted personalities
Type: C B. Extroverted personalities
C. Neurotic personalities
D. Dementia
Answer: C 8. Flexibility in today’s young adults that is carried into later life may
Page: 649 A. cause problems as older adults who lack stability
Guidepost: 1 B. increase a sense of freedom and create less dependent lifestyles
Type: F C. give older adults the ability to adapt more readily than their predecessors
D. none of the above
Answer: A 9. According to Erikson, persons in late adulthood are in the crisis of
Page: 649 E. Ego integrity versus despair
Guidepost: 2 F. identity versus identity confusion
Type: F G. generativity versus stagnation
H. intimacy versus isolation
Answer: A 10. June is 75 years old and is examining her life in order to accept her approaching
Page: 649 death. She is at which of Erikson’s stages?
Guidepost: 2 A. ego integrity versus despair
Type: C B. identity versus identity confusion
C. generativity versus stagnation
D. intimacy versus isolation
Answer: D 11. The virtue gained during Erikson’s final stage is
Page: 650 A. hope
Guidepost: 2 B. trust
Type: F C. love
D. wisdom
Answer: C 12. According to Erikson, wisdom includes acceptance of all but which of the following?
Page: 650 A. imperfections in one’s parents
Guidepost: 2 B. imperfections in oneself
Type: F C. dependency
D. death
Answer: B 13. When 80-year-old Monty is asked about his life, he states that he knows he has lived
Page: 650 life as well as he could, and that he loves his deceased parents despite all their faults.
Guidepost: 2 According to Erikson, Monty seems to have the virtue of
Type: C A. hope
B. wisdom
C. trust
D. integrity
Answer: B 14. According to Erikson’s theory
Page: 650 A. people who successfully resolve the final crisis will not experience despair
Guidepost: 2 B. people who successfully resolve the final crisis can overcome despair
Type: F C. despair is a sign of mental illness
D. despair leads to a loss of ego strength
300
Answer: D 15. The ability to adapt thinking and behavior to reduce or relieve stress that arises from
Page: 650 harmful, threatening and challenging conditions is referred to as
Guidepost: 3 A. wisdom
Type: C B. integrity
C. generativity
D. coping
Answer: D 16. In the Grant Study, an important factor in predicting emotional health at age 65 was
Page: 651 the ability to use mature adaptive defenses which included all but which of the
Guidepost: 3 following
Type: F A. altruism
B. humor
C. sublimation
D. denial
Answer: C 17. The process of adapting to harmful, threatening, or challenging conditions is referred
Page: 651 to as
Guidepost: 3 A. disengagement
Type: F B. decentering
C. coping
D. elaboration
Answer: D 18. Dilbert has had trouble getting into his apartment building because the steps are too
Page: 651 steep. He makes several complaints to the owner of the building until finally the
Guidepost: 3 owner installs a ramp, making entry easier. which style of coping did Dilbert
Type: C employ?
A. congruence
B. emotion-focused
C. palliative
D. problem-focused
Answer: B 19. Delores wished she could see her grandchildren more often, but they live on the
Page: 652 other side of the country. To help herself feel better, Delores volunteers at a day care
Guidepost: 3 center so she can be around small children. Which style of coping is Delores using?
Type: C A. problem-focused
B. emotion-focused
C. regenerative-focused
D. decentering-focused
Answer: A 20. Which of the following is true about the use of emotion-focused coping in
Page: 652 adulthood?
Guidepost: 3 A. Older adults use it more often than younger adults.
Type: F B. Older adults gradually become unable to use this coping strategy.
C. Older and younger adults use this strategy equally often.
D. Younger adults tend to use it in non-emotional situations.
Answer: B 21. According to the text, who would likely have the most flexible coping strategy?
Page: 652 A. an adolescent
Guidepost: 3 B. an elderly adult
Type: F C. a middle-aged adult
D. a young adult
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Answer: C 22. In a recent study of ways in which older people cope with stressful events, the three
Page: 652 most frequently reported coping strategies included all but which of the following?
Guidepost: 3 A. keeping busy
Type: F B. accepting situations that cannot be changed
C. outward expression of anger and frustration
D. religious faith
Answer: D 23. Which of the following is not an example of what Pauline Boss calls an
Page: 653 ambiguous loss?
Guidepost: 3 A. the loss of a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease
Type: C B. the loss of a child to drug addition
C. the loss of a homeland
D. the loss of a child by auto accident
Answer: C 24. While there has been little empirical evidence for assertions that have been made
Page: 649 about the health benefits of religion, there is a positive association between
Guidepost: 2 religiosity or spirituality for all but which of the following?
Type: F A. maritial satisfaction
B. psychological functioning
C. reduced cardiovascular disease
D. well being
Answer: A 25. According to research cited in the text, which of the following Americans is most
Page: 653 likely to show a strong correlation between religious activity and well being?
Guidepost: 3 A. African American woman, age 85
Type: C B. African American man, age 60
C. White woman, age 70
D. White man, age 75
Answer: D 26. Successful or optimal aging has been measured using all but which of the following
Page: 654 criteria?
Guidepost: 3 A. Cardiovascular functioning and cognitive performance
Type: F B. Productivity and longevity
C. Degree of personal control retained in old age
D. Number of family and friendship relationships
Answer: B 27. Hanna’s grandmother became more passive, and developed the more spiritual role
Page: 654 of late adulthood. This transition stage is often mistaken for
Guidepost: 4 A. despair
Type: C B. disengagement
C. stagnation
D. isolation
Answer: C 28. The question of whether people are well because they are active in late adulthood or
Page: 655 active because they are well is a constant focus in studying
Guidepost: 4 A. Disengagement theory
Type: F B. Continuity theory
C. Activity theory
D. Productivity theory
302
Answer: B 29. According to _______________ theory, the normal way to age is to cut down in
Page: 654 activities and commitments to others and to become increasingly preoccupied with
Guidepost: 4 the self.
Type: F A. activity
B. disengagement
C. compensation
D. integrity
Answer: D 30. Dave, age 78, has reduced his social commitments, is slowing down, and is focusing
Page: 654 on his own needs. He is aging successfully, according to _______________ theory.
Guidepost: 4 A. integrity
Type: C B. compensation
C. activity
D. disengagement
Answer: A 31. Which theory holds that people age most successfully by remaining involved in as
Page: 654 many roles as possible and finding substitutes for lost roles?
Guidepost: 4 A. activity
Type: F B. disengagement
C. compensation
D. integrity
Answer: A 32. Cicely, after retiring from teaching school, rechanneled her energy into serving on
Page: 654 the boards of directors of a senior center and a historical foundation. she also
Guidepost: 4 volunteered for “meals on wheels.” Which theory of successful aging does she
Type: F appear to be following?
A. activity
B. disengagement
C. compensation
D. integrity
Answer: B 33. Which theory of successful aging suggests that older adults should continue to do
Page: 654 what they have been doing as long as they find that activity satisfying?
Guidepost: 4 A. activity theory
Type: C B. continuity theory
C. disengagement theory
D. engagement theory
Answer: C 34. According to Atchley’s continuity theory, which pattern of development in later life
Page: 655 is most desirable?
Guidepost: 4 A. Older people need to ignore the past and only look forward in life.
Type: C B. Older people should strive to change their external structures but keep their
internal structures unchanged.
C. Older people should welcome some change, but maintain links with the past.
D. Older people should try to experience as little change as possible in order to
maximize contentment.
Answer: A 35. Selective optimization and compensation
Page: 655 A. Depends on having goals to guide development and resources to make the goals
Guidepost: 4 potentially achievable
Type: C B. Is delayed by the lack of availability of coping skills
C. Is dependent on the maintaining contact with younger people
D. Occurs when the aging brain fails to compensate for losses in certain areas.
303
Answer: B 36. According to Carstensen’s socioemotional selectivity theory, which is the most
Page: 656 important psychological function of social interaction in old age?
Guidepost: 4 A. information seeking
Type: F B. emotional support
C. breaking-up social convoys
D. increasing novelty
Answer: A 37. A study that analyzed styles of aging found all but which of the following?
Page: 656 A. It is possible to identify a single “best” pattern for successful aging.
Guidepost: 4 B. Most older people who have aged successfully remained active.
Type: F C. Less active lifestyles are also associated with successful aging.
D. Different personality types react to aging in a variety of ways.
Answer: C 38. According to the research of Carstensen, what is “the most reliable finding in social
Page: 656 gerontology”?
Guidepost: 4 A. Older people become less accepting of the deaths of friends and family.
Type: F B. Older people prefer to disengage from active work roles.
C. Older people tend to reduce their social contacts.
D. Older people wish they could relive their lives.
Answer: B 39. A noted gerontologist is giving a lecture titled “How to Age Successfully.” Which of
Page: 656 the following suggestions is the audience least likely to hear?
Guidepost: 4 A. Find a job with decent pay.
Type: C B. Don’t get too involved in childcare.
C. Get plenty of physical exercise.
D. Do some volunteer work in your community.
Answer: B 40. Which of the following is the most crucial lifestyle decision people make as they
Page: 656 approach late adulthood?
Guidepost: 5 A. where to live
Type: F B. whether and when to retire
C. when to give up driving
D. what to do with leisure time
Answer: A 41. The concept of retirement became widespread during
Page: 656 A. the early twentieth century
Guidepost: 5 B. the last 20 years
Type: F C. the 1950s
D. the early nineteenth century
Answer: C 42. Primarily because of the social security system, retirement at age _____ eventually
Page: 656 became almost universal.
Guidepost: 5 A. 55
Type: F B. 60
C. 65
D. 70
Answer: C 43. Which country in Asia is the most rapidly aging industrial society?
Page: 657; A. Korea
Box 18-2 B. China
Guidepost: 5 C. Japan
Type: F D. Singapore
304
Answer: D 44. In Asian countries such as Japan, longevity is __________ and fertility is
Page: 657; __________.
Box 18-2 A. decreasing; increasing
Guidepost: 5 B. increasing; increasing
Type: F C. decreasing; decreasing
D. increasing; decreasing
Answer: B 45. Currently, what is the retirement age in Japan?
Page: 658; A. 55
Box 18-2 B. 60
Guidepost: 5 C. 65
Type: F D. 70
Answer: D 46. Which of the following is not one of the choices about working available
Page: 659 to older adults?
Guidepost: 5 A. early retirement
Type: F B. retiring from one career to start another
C. working part time
D. they all are choices
Answer: C 47. Which of the following does not describe the typical older worker?
Page: 659 A. more dependable
Guidepost: 5 B. more careful
Type: F C. more responsible
D. they all describe the typical older worker
Answer: C 48. Which of the following statements about older workers is false?
Page: 659 A. They have more experience than younger workers.
Guidepost: 5 B. They are absent from work less than younger workers.
Type: F C. They work at a faster rate than younger workers.
D. They are more loyal than younger workers.
Answer: A 49. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (1986) protects most workers age
Page: 659 _____ and older from being denied a job, fired, paid less, or forced to retire because
Guidepost: 5 of age.
Type: F A. 40
B. 50
C. 60
D. 70
Answer: C 50. Latisha worries about her mom working every day because her mom just celebrated
Page: 659 her 68th birthday. Older adult workers have been found to
Guidepost: 5 A. lack the coping skills necessary to deal with the public
Type: C B. have serious health problems that interfere with their productivity
C. be better educated than those that retire and say they are in good health
D. unable to learn the new skills needed in the changing workforce
Answer: C 51. The Plitton Company tries hard to hire people that are close to retirement age
Page: 659 because their experience with older workers has taught them that all but which of the
Guidepost: 5 following is true. Older workers
Type: F A. work more slowly but are more accurate
B. are frugal with both time and materials
C. are eager to make friends and join in company social events
D. display more careful, dependable and responsible work habits
305
Answer: C 52. In a study commissioned by the United States Congress findings about older workers
Page: 660 demonstrated that
Guidepost: 5 A. physical fitness and health decrease steadily after 60
Type: F B. there are huge health differences between age groups
C. tests of specific abilities predict job performance better than age
D. risks to workers will increase when the age for social security benefits
increases
Answer: A 53. When people consciously choose coping strategies on the basis of the way they
Page: 651 perceive and analyze a situation they are following the
Guidepost: 5 A. cognitive-appraisal model
Type: F B. problem focused model
C. emotion focused model
D. optimal aging model
Answer: D 54. Since the turn of the century, the participation of older men in the workforce of the
Page: 660 United States has __________ and the participation of older women has
Guidepost: 5 __________.
Type: F A. decreased; decreased
B. increased; increased
C. increased; decreased
D. decreased; increased
Answer: C 55. In the past fifty years the proportion of older Americans living in poverty changed
Page: 660 from
Guidepost: 5 A. 60% to 30%
Type: F B. 30% to 60%
C. 35% to 10%
D. 10% to 35%
Answer: B 56. Which of the following is not a reason that eligibility for full social security benefits
Page: 660 is scheduled to rise from 65 to 67 for those born after 1937?
Guidepost: 5 A. rise in life expectancy
Type: F B. financial problems of the social security system
C. decreases in mortality
D. improvements in health among older adults
Answer: C 57. According to a recent poll, what percent of men and women ages 50 to 75 were
Page: 659 continuing to work in retirement or were planning to do so?
Guidepost: 5 A. 20
Type: F B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
Answer: C 58. The single largest source of income for older people in the United States is
Page: 660 A. pensions
Figure 18-3; B. savings and other assets
Guidepost: 5 C. social security
Type: F D. earnings from work
Answer: D 59. What proportion of older Americans receive social security benefits?
Page: 660 A. 6 out of 10
Guidepost: 5 B. 7 out of 10
Type: F C. 8 out of 10
D. 9 out of 10
306
Answer: B 60. Statistically, which of the following groups of Americans is most likely
Page: 660 to be poor in late adulthood?
Guidepost: 5 A. white men
Type: F B. black women
C. married couples
D. skilled workers
Answer: D 61. Many older people in the United States are poor for the first time in their lives, for all
Page: 660 but which of the following reasons?
Guidepost: 5 A. They are unable to work.
Type: F B. Inflation has eroded their savings and pensions.
C. Those who are infirmed and disabled often have outlived their savings and have
soaring medical bills.
D. Only about 10 percent of older Americans now qualify for social security
benefits.
Answer: D 62. Adjustments that people have to make after retirement may include all of the
Page: 661 following except
Guidepost: 5 A. Loss of a role that is central to their identity
Type: F B. Altering of household income
C. Changes in the division of power in the household
D. Less time for extended family and friends
Answer: C 63. What percent of middle-aged adults, 45 to 59 years old, say they have saved too little
Page: 661 or nothing at all for retirement?
Guidepost: 5 A. 20
Type: F B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
Answer: A 64. Which of the following is not a problem faced by individuals who will be retiring
Page: 661 early in the 21st century?
Guidepost: 5 A. They have too much money saved which will make their taxes too high during
Type: C retirement.
B. There are too few younger workers contributing to social security.
C. There is uncertainty in how well private pension funds will perform.
D. Women often will receive smaller pensions than men.
Answer: C 65. According to a study cited in the text, the most powerful predictor of satisfaction in
Page: 661 retirement was the size of a retiree’s
Guidepost: 5 A. bank account
Type: F B. house
C. social support network
D. active involvement in work
Answer: C 66. Key predictors of positive morale after retirement for both men and women include
Page: 661 all but which of the following
Guidepost: 5 A. whether or not people experience a loss of personal control
Type: C B. people who had a strong sense of competence before retirement were likely to
have more positive feelings after retirement
C. people who were disappointed and unhappy in their job did better after
retirement
D. whether or not people had a strong social support system
307
Answer: C 67. Lena found since moving in with her daughter that volunteer work has kept her busy
Page: 662 and giving her a sense of purpose and replaced what we define as “social capital”
Guidepost: 5 lost in retirement. One study showed that approximately what percent of older adults
Type: F have done volunteer work or community service during the past year?
A. 10%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 75%
Answer: C 68. A pattern of retirement activity that is found in more educated older adults who
Page: 661 seem to allocate their time equally among family, work and leisure is referred to as
Guidepost: 5 A. family-focused lifestyle
Type: F B. serious leisure
C. balanced investment
D. work-focused lifestyle
Answer: B 69. Jack and Joanne are retirees who spend much of their time visiting family and
Page: 661 friends, watching television, and going to inexpensive restaurants with friends.
Guidepost: 5 According to the text, Jack and Joanne exhibit a _______________ retirement
Type: C lifestyle.
A. balanced investment
B. family-focused
C. serious leisure
D. compassionate
Answer: C 70. Ellen, who is recently retired from her job as a nurse, now devotes most of her time
Page: 661 to making furniture, something she has always wanted to do. Ellen is exhibiting a
Guidepost: 5 ________________ retirement lifestyle.
Type: C A. family-focused
B. balanced investment
C. serious leisure
D. delay of gratification
Answer: C 71. Since the late 1960s, the proportion of older adults doing __________________ has
Page: 662 increased greatly.
Guidepost: 5 A. physical labor
Type: F B. no work
C. volunteer work
D. work for money
Answer: A 72. Most older Americans live
Page: 662 A. with a spouse, children, or other relatives
Guidepost: 6 B. with nonrelatives
Type: F C. alone
D. in institutions
Answer: D 73. What proportion of older people own their homes, and prefer to live there, even after
Page: 664 they are widowed?
Guidepost: 6 A. 5 out of 10
Type: F B. 6 out of 10
C. 7 out of 10
D. 8 out of 10
308
Answer: D 74. Which living arrangement is most desired by the majority of elderly Americans?
Page: 664 A. congregate housing
Guidepost: 6 B. retirement community
Type: F C. assisted-living facility
D. aging in place
Answer: C 75. What is the single most important factor that enables an older adult to live in their
Page: 664 own home instead of an institution?
Guidepost: 6 A. having adequate income
Type: F B. being in good health
C. being married
D. make-up of the neighborhood
Answer: B 76. Among those 75 and over _________ percent of women live alone?
Page: 664 A. 30
Guidepost: 6 B. 50
Type: F C. 70
D. 90
Answer: B 77. Which of the following reasons has not been cited to explain the growth of elderly
Page: 664 single-person households?
Guidepost: 6 A. Increased old age benefits
Type: C B. Decreased old age benefits make assisted living unaffordable
C. Reverse mortgage programs enable people to live at home longer
D. Long-term care policies that discourage institutional living.
Answer: A 78. Because women live longer than men, and are more likely to be widowed, older
Page: 664 women are at least __________ times as likely as older men to live alone.
Guidepost: 6 A. two
Type: F B. three
C. four
D. five
Answer: D 79. Families seem to make the assumption that when older adults live alone they are
Page: 664 lonely. Other factors that play a significant role in whether or not a loved one will be
Guidepost: 6 vulnerable to loneliness include all but which of the following
Type: C A. personality traits of the older adult
B. the physical health of the person that is living alone
C. the depletion of a persons social network
D. the financial status of the older adult
Answer: A 80. One of the reasons that older adults do not want to be absorbed into their children’s
Page: 665 households is
Guidepost: 6 A. they will be older than everyone else in the household
Type: F B. they will be isolated from their friends
C. they will feel very helpful and family won’t like the intrusion
D. they are tired of being independent and welcome others assistance
Answer: C 81. Those who are at the highest possibility of institutionalization are those that
Page: 665 A. enjoy taking part in social activities with others their own age
Guidepost: 6 B. have good health and want to spend time in varied activities
Type: F C. have overburdened their busy families with poor health and disabilities
D. those who want independence from their families
309
Answer: D 82. Approximately what proportion of Americans over 85 years old live in nursing
Page: 665 homes?
Guidepost: 6 A. 1 in 30
Type: F B. 1 in 20
C. 1 in 10
D. 1 in 5
Answer: B 83. All of the following features would be desirable in a nursing home except
Page: 665 A. privacy for social activity
Guidepost: 6 B. hospital-like atmosphere
Type: F C. opportunities for socialization
D. full range of social and therapeutic services
Answer: B 84. Which of the following elements would probably be considered most important in a
Page: 666 good nursing home?
Guidepost: 6 A. separation of men and women for privacy
Type: F B. opportunity for residents to make decisions
C. large number of nursing aides
D. social activities
Answer: D 85. In intermediate-care nursing homes, those who had high self-esteem, less depression
Page: 666 and a greater sense of satisfaction with their lives
Guidepost: 6 A. only stayed in the homes for a short period of time
Type: C B. became very depressed by the living conditions within the first six months
C. understood there were no other choices and attempted to deal with their situation
D. adjusted well and were less likely to die within four years
Answer: D 86. What is the fastest growing form of housing for the elderly in the United States?
Page: 666 A. retirement hotel
Guidepost: 6 B. congregate housing
Type: F C. retirement community
D. assisted-living facility
Answer: D 87. According to the text, elder abuse is a type of
Page: 669 A. neglect
Guidepost: 6 B. physical abuse
Type: F C. emotional abuse
D. domestic violence
Answer: B 88. “Granny dumping” is one form of _________________: maltreatment or neglect of
Page: 667 dependent older persons or violation of their personal rights
Guidepost: 6 A. physical violence
Type: F B. elder abuse
C. emotional abuse
D. exploitation
Answer: C 89. Neglect or physical or psychological abuse of dependent older persons is
Page: 668 A. much more common in poor families
Guidepost: 6 B. reported much more frequently
Type: F C. most likely to be committed by a caregiver-spouse
D. all of the above
310
Answer: B 90. Which of the following older persons would be most likely to be abused
Page: 669 to the point of injury?
Guidepost: 6 A. quarrelsome 70-year-old man in good health
Type: C B. very old, infirm woman living with her husband
C. 68-year-old woman, living alone, who complains often
D. 72-year-old married man who has suffered a heart attack
Answer: D 91. Close friends and family members upon whom older people can rely for social
Page: 669 support and well-being are called
Guidepost: 7 A. integrated associates
Type: F B. inner-circles
C. primary supports
D. social convoys
Answer: B 92. According to Carstensen, who would most likely want to get to know new and
Page: 669 interesting people?
Guidepost: 7 A. an older person who is near the end of his life
Type: C B. a young adult in good health
C. a young adult with a terminal illness
D. an infant
Answer: C 93. According to the Grant Study, social support during the previous 20 years was a
Page: 670 powerful predictor of physical health at
Guidepost: 7 A. 50
Type: F B. 60
C. 70
D. 80
Answer: B 94. Now that multigenerational families are beginning to span five generations, many of
Page: 670 the “over 60” family members
Guidepost: 7 A. find themselves lonely and lack social contacts
Type: C B. are now caregivers to parents for a longer time than they cared for their children
C. find roles within the family unit that make them feel valuable
D. now have the ultimate retirement situation with independence and a close family
to enjoy.
Answer: C 95. Which of the following cultures demonstrates a lineal, or intergenerational
Page: 670 obligation, with power and authority lodged in the older generations
Guidepost: 7 A. Americans
Type: C B. African Americans
C. Hispanic Americans
D. Native Americans
Answer: C 96. African Americans and Irish Americans, whose cultures have been marked by
Page: 670 poverty, have household structures that are highly flexible household structures.
Guidepost: 7 These structures are referred to as
Type: F A. lineal
B. intergenerational
C. collateral
D. low-income
311
Answer: B 97. The greatest positive effect on older people’s well-being is their relationship with
Page: 670 A. spouse
Guidepost: 7 B. friends
Type: F C. family
D. siblings
Answer: D 98. About what percent of marriages last for at least 50 years?
Page: 671 A. 10 percent
Guidepost: 8 B. 5 percent
Type: F C. 35 percent
D. 20 percent
Answer: B 99. According to research cited in the text, couples who are still together in late
Page: 671 adulthood
Guidepost: 8 A. are more likely than young couples to find their marriages satisfying
Type: F B. are more likely than middle-aged couples to find their marriage satisfying
C. both a and b
D. neither a nor b
Answer: C 100. Which of the following is not a likely reason why marital satisfaction of couples who
Page: 671 are still together in late adulthood is greater than in middle age?
Guidepost: 8 A. Since divorce is relatively easy today, people who are still together have usually
Type: F chosen to be together
B. They have had more time to work out their difficulties
C. They are less happy with other aspects of life and thus look to marriage to
satisfy their needs
D. They may need to justify having remained married so long
Answer: B 101. What percent of U.S. men and women 65 years of age and older have never married?
Page: 672 A. 2
Guidepost: 9 B. 4
Type: F C. 6
D. 8
Answer: B 102. Generalizing from the text, it could be concluded that in comparison with older
Page: 672 people who have been married, “never marrieds” are more likely to be
Guidepost: 9 A. lonely
Type: F B. independent
C. negatively affected by aging
D. dissatisfied with life
Answer: C 103. Glenda, who is 74 years old, never married nor had children. Which kind of
Page: 673 relationship is probably least important to her?
Guidepost: 9 A. her relationship with aunts
Type: C B. her relationship with siblings
C. her relationship with similarly-aged men
D. her relationship with people young enough to be her children
Answer: B 104. Earlier in the century because of the secretive nature of being identified as a
Page: 673 homosexual one’s self-concept was shaped by the prevailing _________, later born
Guidepost: 9 tend to view their homosexuality as a _________
Type: F A. status; stigma
B. stigma;status
C. disease theory; stigma
D. disease theory; status
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Answer: B 105. Which of the following is a common problem for aging homosexuals?
Page: 673 A. They have more difficulty maintaining relationships as their physical
Guidepost: 9 attractiveness fades.
Type: C B. They may have poor relations with their family of origin.
C. They feel the stigma of age more intensely than heterosexuals.
D. They have trouble dealing with reductions in sexual activity.
Answer: A 106. According to research, which of the following statements about friendships in old
Page: 673 age is true?
Guidepost: 10 A. Friends are important because they are chosen by the person.
Type: F B. Friends are less important to women than to men.
C. Time spent with friends results in higher overall life satisfaction than time spent
with a spouse.
D. Friends provide immediate enjoyment but rarely provide long-term emotional
support.
Answer: A 107. An important benefit of having friends in late adulthood is that
Page: 674 A. choosing friends gives one a sense of control
Guidepost: 10 B. they often help one another with financial problems
Type: C C. spending time with friends dramatically increases one’s satisfaction with life
D. people feel more calm and relaxed around friends than they do around family
members
Answer: D 108. A survey cited in the text found that elderly parents disagree with their adult
Page: 676 children’s sense of obligation to
Guidepost: 11 A. talk over important matters
Type: F B. help the parents understand their resources
C. provide emotional support
D. provide financial help
Answer: A 109. Research on some elderly childless people suggests that
Page: 676 A. childless widows sometimes regret not having children
Guidepost: 11 B. nonparents are far more likely than parents to be institutionalized in old age
Type: F C. nonparents tend to go to friends or neighbors when they need help
D. all of the above
Answer: A 110. Which of the following statements about sisters and brothers in late adulthood is
Page: 677 true?
Guidepost: 11 A. Sisters tend to be more nurturant than brothers
Type: F B. Brothers play a primary role in maintaining family relationships
C. Older people who are close to their brothers worry less about aging than those
who are not
D. A widow with a married sister is likely to resent the fact that her sister still has a
husband.
Essay Questions
111. How one ages depends on a myriad of factors that all play significant parts in the development of what we
would consider “optimal” aging
Define the two earlier models of “successful aging,” disengagement theory and activity theory, and explain
why they no longer have much support in the aging literature.
Describe the recent improvements that have been made to activity theory taking into account continuity
theory and the distinction between productive and leisure activity.
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112. The limits of social security have forced many people to continue to work in their later years for financial
reasons. Other people continue to work because of the joy, the sense of identity and the accomplishment
they feel in the workplace.
List both the positive and the negative effects of employing older adults in the workplace.
Describe how older adults see retirement as an ongoing process and how working full-time part-time or as a
volunteer effects them personally, economically and socially.
113. Helen’s sisters have died as have most of her closest friends. At 78 she has left her house, her
neighborhood, and her church activities and moved to another state in order to live close to her oldest son
and his family.
Suggest some of the effects this move might have on Maura’s personal relationships.
In developing new relationships what are the qualities that Maura will probably look for in others?
List some of the risks that will be involved if Maura does not have the ability or the opportunity to make
new friends.
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