10: Families across the Life Course
- Page ID
- 308842
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 10.1: Gerontology
- This page covers gerontology, the interdisciplinary study of aging, focusing on varying definitions of elderly age, set at 65 by the government and 50 by the AARP. It explores social and family gerontology, noting that the elderly population in the U.S. was 12.7% in 2008, expected to reach 20% by 2050, along with more centenarians. It highlights cultural perceptions of the elderly, emphasizing familial support in Asian and Western societies.
- 10.2: Understanding the Generations of Life
- This page outlines the life course of human development, highlighting the progression from dependence in children to independence in young adults, and a decline in independence with aging. It discusses senescence as the aging process, often negatively perceived in society due to ageism. Despite this bias, many older adults maintain high self-esteem and life satisfaction.
- 10.3: Theories about Aging
- This page examines social theories related to the elderly, including Disengagement Theory, which lacks support; Activity Theory, emphasizing the benefits of engagement; and Continuity Theory, which suggests maintaining youth patterns. It also discusses historical shifts in the perception of the elderly, indicating a decline in multigenerational households and increased isolation due to modernization, reducing the elderly's societal influence.
- 10.4: What do the generations look like?
- This page examines the demographics of recent U.S. generations, detailing Crude Birth Rate (CBR) and General Fertility Rate (GFR) trends, particularly as Baby Boomers reach retirement. It notes the aging population's financial implications and contrasts life expectancy, showing women living longer than men.
- 10.5: Health
- This page discusses the aging process in adults, highlighting that while many age without major diseases, sensory declines in hearing and vision are common. It emphasizes the importance of social connections for maintaining quality of life in older adults, noting that isolation can negatively impact mental and physical health, cognitive abilities, mobility, and increase the risk of early death.
- 10.6: Dying
- This page discusses the longevity disparity between elderly women and men, leading to widowhood, and introduces thanatology, which supports the bereaved. It emphasizes cultural influences on death perception and grief, defined as bereavement after loss. Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—are highlighted, noting that while many experience them, individual journeys through these stages differ significantly.
- 10.7: Roles
- This page explores the complexities of family roles and relationships among the elderly in the U.S., emphasizing demographic trends. It notes that many elderly individuals, especially women, live alone, affecting their relationship dynamics. Rising divorce rates among older adults, particularly Baby Boomers, indicate a growing prevalence of divorced seniors.
- 10.8: Siblings
- This page outlines four types of sibling relationships: Intimate (deep empathy and friendship), Congenial (good friends with emotional support), Loyal (obligation and loyalty over friendship), and Apathetic/hostile (minimal contact and negative emotions). Each type illustrates varying degrees of closeness and psychological connection among siblings.
- 10.9: Parenting
- This page discusses how aging parents reevaluate their relationships with adult children, often becoming more dependent on them. This transition, contrasting with U.S. cultural norms emphasizing lifelong independence, can lead to stress for parents as they face the challenges of dependency in their later years.
- 10.10: Grandparenting
- This page discusses the diverse roles of grandparents in the U.S., categorizing them into four types: Disneyland Grandparents (entertainment-focused), Assistant Parent Grandparents (supportive), Parental Substitute Grandparents (primary caregivers), and Distant Relative Grandparents (less engaged). It highlights that their involvement can positively or negatively affect grandchildren, with many grandparents aiming to enhance their relationships based on their own parenting experiences.
- 10.11: Elder Abuse
- This page discusses elder abuse, which includes physical, psychological, financial mistreatment, neglect, and self-neglect, often committed by family members. It highlights that 1.5 to 4% of older adults experience abuse annually, predominantly affecting women. The page also addresses alarming suicide rates among the elderly, influenced by chronic illness, social isolation, and depression, especially among older white males.