Deck 13: Making it in Midlife: The Biopsychosocial Challenges of Middle Adulthood

Question 1

Beginning in one's twenties, the protective cartilage in the joints can show signs of deterioration, such as thinning and becoming cracked and frayed. If these changes become pronounced they can lead to ________.

A) osteoarthritis
B) osteoporosis
C) atherosclerosis
D) myoclonic tachypnea

Answer 1

A

Question 2

________ are caused by changes to the structure of the skin and its connective and supporting tissue. They can also be contributed to by sun exposure and cigarette smoking.

A) Tumors
B) Liver spots
C) Wrinkles
D) Freckles

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Hoppy has two grandparents who suffered from osteoporosis, and lately his father has been given the same diagnosis. He has been advised by his doctor that one of the best ways to prevent this illness is to consume foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D. If Hoppy wants to get right to work at avoiding osteoporosis, what will he have with dinner tonight?

A) A massive mound of mashed potatoes.
B) A heaping helping of honeydew.
C) A big bowl of broiled broccoli.
D) A tremendous tureen of turnips.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

How are menopause and the climacteric related?

A) Menopause typically ends right before the climacteric.
B) The climacteric typically ends right before menopause.
C) Menopause occurs during the climacteric.
D) Menopause and the climacteric are unrelated.

Question 5

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about gray hair?

A) In many cases, the pigments that cause gray hair are actually toxic to the human body, which is why dying gray hair can actually
B) Gray hair is something that all people will inevitably experience, starting at an average of 25 years of age.
C) Hair doesn't "turn" gray, but rather stays gray when the natural pigments in hair follicles stop being produced.
D) Most people view the graying of hair as a very negative event that signals the end of youth, vitality, and productivity.

Question 6

When do women typically experience a rapid loss of bone mass that can contribute to osteoporosis?

A) In the first few years after menopause.
B) In the two or three years that precede menopause.
C) In the first few years after menarche.
D) In the two or three years that precede menarche.

Question 7

Wilbur goes to see his physician complaining of mild inflammation and severe pain in his joints. Wilbur may be suffering from ________.

A) osteoarthritis
B) osteoporosis
C) arteriosclerosis
D) vasculitis

Question 8

As women enter midlife, they experience a major biological change called ________, during which they pass from their reproductive to their non-reproductive years.

A) perimenopause
B) menopause
C) the climacteric
D) menarche

Question 9

Darrelle knows that male pattern baldness runs in his family, and he watches his own hair closely for any signs of thinning. If he is going to start developing this condition, where should he expect to see the earliest signs of hair loss?

A) the sides of his head
B) the front of his head
C) the back of his head
D) the top of his head

Question 10

Which of the following types of medications might be prescribed to help reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

A) amyloids
B) beta-blockers
C) steroids
D) MAOIs

Question 11

As Dr. Benton is looking at an X-ray of bones in your leg, his comment, ___________, would indicate that you may have osteoporosis.

A) "I see less mass than normal"
B) "I see excessive encapsulation"
C) "I see a significant increase in density"
D) "I see a lot of 'senile' plaques"

Question 12

Brenda has gone through menopause in recent months. Which of the following physical changes to her genitalia should not be occurring?

A) a decrease in vaginal lubrication
B) a receding of the clitoris
C) a shrinking and/or thinning of the vaginal walls
D) a shrinking of the external genitalia

Question 13

If you went to your physician and were given a prescription for an NSAID, a corticosteroid, or a DMARD, you would probably have been diagnosed with

A) osteoporosis.
B) osteoarthritis.
C) rheumatoid arthritis.
D) hyperacusis.

Question 14

The individually varying time of transition from regular menstruation to menopause is called

A) perimenopause.
B) the climacteric.
C) menarche.
D) encapsulation

Question 15

Why is it that osteoarthritis would be considered an example of a wear-and-tear disease?

A) Because it is caused by a tear of the connective tissue that fuses the sternum to the floating ribs.
B) Because it is a degenerative disease that can be caused by injury or overuse.
C) Because it is an illness that can be easily treated by "wearing" compression-type clothing, such as calf-length socks or constricting undergarments.
D) Because one needs to "tear" the built up plaques that lead to this illness in order to reduce the symptoms. An example of such tearing would be a deep stretch or cracking one's knuckles.

Question 16

You may have noticed that some older people have a distinct "hunched over" look that is particularly noticeable when they walk. They often suffer from osteoporosis, and the stooped appearance is caused by

A) calcification of the shoulder capsules.
B) pronation of the knees and ankles.
C) supination of the hip bones.
D) the collapse of spinal vertebrae.

Question 17

National statistics find that about ____ million Americans suffer from osteoporosis or are at high risk due to low bone density.

A) 20
B) 40
C) 60
D) 80

Question 18

Osteoarthritis is to rheumatoid arthritis as ________ is to ________.

A) early onset; later onset
B) later onset; early onset
C) more destructive; less destructive
D) less destructive; more destructive

Question 19

You are having a very honest and open conversation with a middle-aged female friend who shares that she has recently gone through menopause and that she is having several sexual and physical symptoms. Which of the following would be the best advice you can give her?

A) Maintain an active sex life, as this will help reduce some of the problems you're experiencing.
B) Take a good long hiatus from sex, as such activity only enhances these symptoms.
C) Make sure to keep using contraception, as the risk of becoming pregnant actually increases for several months after menopause.
D) Ask your doctor for medications designed to reduce estrogen in your system, as many of these symptoms are probably caused by an overabundance of this hormone.

Question 20

Based on the information presented in your textbook, why do you think that women might be at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men?

A) Because estrogen depletion is a causal factor in the development of osteoporosis, so when women experience a drop in estrogen it is a greater influence than for men.
B) Because women tend to exercise less than men, and a lack of weight-bearing exercise is related to the development of osteoporosis.
C) Because a deficit of calcium absorption is a major culprit in osteoporosis, and women tend to drink less milk than men, particularly during infancy, when bones are forming.
D) Because osteoporosis is a "primary X-delimited chromosomal" problem, and since women have two X chromosomes they have twice as much risk factor.

Question 21

The definition of aerobic exercise is that which places moderate stress on the heart by maintaining a pulse rate of ____ to ____ percent of its maximum heart rate.

A) 75; 90
B) 40; 70
C) 50; 75
D) 60; 90

Question 22

A Type ___ behavior pattern is to being impatient, hostile, and aggressive as a Type ___ behavior pattern is to being more relaxed and easygoing.

A) B; C
B) C; H
C) A; B
D) H; C

Question 23

The primary reason that women show a decline in sexual activity as they get older involves

A) a normal physiological lack of interest.
B) failure to achieve orgasm.
C) the lack of a willing or appropriate partner.
D) pain associated with vaginal changes.

Question 24

With regard to male reproductive ability, which of the following statements is the most accurate?

A) Men experience a decline in the quality of sperm that they produce as they age.
B) Men experience a decline in the motility of sperm that they produce as they age.
C) Men experience a decline in the quantity of sperm that they produce as they age.
D) By an average age of 60 years, men stop producing sperm.

Question 25

Dr. Zorba is giving 44-year-old Annette an intelligence test. Annette finds that she really likes answering the questions because they seem to be based on her life experiences. Dr. Zorba is most likely attempting to assess Annette's

A) practical intelligence.
B) generativity.
C) ego resilience.
D) fluid intelligence.

Question 26

Leslie is a middle-aged woman who has not exercised very much in the last several years, and she wants to start getting back in shape. She doesn't like "intense" exercise, however, and wants to initiate a moderate exercise regimen. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, how much should she exercise in a week to improve her fitness level?

A) At least 15 minutes 4 days a week
B) At least one hour, twice a week
C) 10 to 20 minutes every day
D) At least 30 minutes 5 days a week

Question 27

Experiencing negative events in life tends to ________ immune functioning in the human body, while experiencing positive events tends to ________ those functions.

A) improve; lower
B) complicate; simplify
C) simplify; complicate
D) lower; improve

Question 28

Based on research, which of the following statements BEST summarizes how middle-aged adults solve problems?

A) Middle-aged adults solve all problems with a problem-focused approach.
B) Middle-aged adults solve all problems with a passive-dependent approach.
C) Middle-aged adults solve problems similarly regardless of the emotional issues involved.
D) Middle-aged adults solve problems differently depending on the type of problem.

Question 29

The dominant framework for studying stress, which emphasizes the transactions between a person and their environment, is the stress and ________ paradigm.

A) coping
B) externalization
C) diathesis
D) surroundings

Question 30

________ refers to any attempt to deal with the impact of stress.

A) Responding
B) Centration
C) Reactance
D) Coping

Question 31

Fluid intelligence is to the _______ of intelligence as crystallized intelligence is to the ________ of intelligence.

A) pragmatics; mechanics
B) cultural aspects; sociological aspects
C) mechanics; pragmatics
D) sociological aspects; cultural aspects

Question 32

________ intelligence refers to the broad range of skills that relate to how individuals shape, select, or adapt to their physical and social environments.

A) Practical
B) Everyday
C) Crystallized
D) Analytical

Question 33

Why is it that Asian American women report the fewest symptoms associated with menopause of any racial or ethnic group?

A) Because they consume more foods that are rich in phytoestrogens, which help reduce menopause symptoms.
B) Because they have lower levels of estrogen dehydrogenase in their blood, and this enzyme is known to be associated with menopause symptoms.
C) Because they have a genetic proclivity to experience the climacteric later in life, and research finds that a delayed onset of this life transition is associated with fewer troubling symptoms.
D) Because they produce more natural progesterone in their bodies, which is one of the hormones found in MHRT.

Question 34

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) involves prescribing medication to women that provides low doses of estrogen combined with ________ to counter the symptoms associated with menopause.

A) prolactin
B) testosterone
C) progestin
D) adrenaline

Question 35

As men age, their ______ gland tends to enlarger, become stiffer, and has the potential to interfere with the urinary tract.

A) prostate
B) Cowper's
C) adrenal
D) testicular

Question 36

Carrie is a paramedic who responded to an emergency call for a child in distress. Tragically, the child did not survive an allergic reaction to a medication that he was given, and Carrie cared for him on the way to the hospital. Carrie is now experiencing an anxiety disorder that is interrupting her life. The condition Carrie is struggling with is probably

A) somatization disorder.
B) post-traumatic stress disorder.
C) centration and tear disorder
D) major depressive disorder.

Question 37

Timothy is a very "intense" individual. His coworkers describe him as aggressive and somewhat hostile, and they always choose their words with him very carefully so that they don't end up in a conflict with him. He is somewhat impatient and gets very restless when projects are not progressing at the pace he desires. Timothy would be described as having a Type ____ behavior pattern.

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) H

Question 38

As a typical middle-aged male, Rasheed will most likely experience

A) a prostate gland that becomes enlarged.
B) a shorter resolution phase.
C) a brief increase in sperm production.
D) more perceived demand to ejaculate.

Question 39

Dr. Cox is discussing the issue of stress with his students. "Clearly, the best way to understand stress is to examine the interactions that occur between a person and his or her environment!" Dr. Cox is a proponent of the ________ paradigm.

A) internalization and externalization
B) stress and coping
C) emotion and problem
D) biopsychosocial

Question 40

Blanchard-Fields (2007) has conducted research that found that, for middle adults, highly emotional problems are associated most with ________ and ________ approaches to solving those problems.

A) secure-warm; proactive-productive
B) passive-dependent; avoidant-denial
C) aggressive-impulsive; urgent-hostile
D) insecure-ambivalent; centrated-reserved

Question 41

A(n) ________ is someone who is much better at a task than people who have not put much effort into that task.

A) expert
B) mentor
C) veteran
D) senior

Question 42

Being high on the ________ dimension of the Big Five personality trait theory tends to mean a vivid imagination and dream life, appreciation of art, and a strong desire to try anything once.

A) openness to experience
B) agreeableness
C) neuroticism
D) conscientiousness

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of the pragmatic of intelligence?

A) It is based largely on one's experiences with life problems.
B) It is a universal, biological aspect of cognition.
C) It is dependent on one's cultural surroundings.
D) It involves content-rich processing.

Question 44

The classic musical The Music Man features a character named Marion the Librarian. She is a stereotypical portrayal of a librarian - she is reserved, quiet, passive, serious, and emotionally unreactive. According to the Big Five personality trait theory, Marion is probably

A) high in agreeableness.
B) low in extraversion.
C) low in conscientiousness.
D) high in openness to experience.

Question 45

Ashley is a person whose friends describe her as calm, even-tempered, self-content, comfortable, unemotional, and hardy. According to the Big Five personality trait theory, Ashley would be very

A) low in extraversion.
B) high in openness to experience.
C) low in neuroticism.
D) high in conscientiousness.

Question 46

"You're going to like this guy," your buddy says to you about a new friend who is coming to your house. "He never has a bad thing to say about people, he gets along and works well with others, and he's just pleasant to be around." Based on this description, you are about to be introduced to someone who is

A) high in openness to experience.
B) high in agreeableness.
C) low in extraversion.
D) low in conscientiousness.

Question 47

People who are high on the ________ factor of the Big Five personality traits tend to be anxious, hostile, self-conscious, depressed, impulsive, and vulnerable.

A) extraversion
B) openness to experience
C) agreeableness
D) neuroticism

Question 48

Andrea and Mark are discussing a new member of their management team at work. "I've heard good things about Jane," Mark says. "She's hard-working and ambitious, is really ethical, and never gives up on a project." According to the Big Five personality trait theory, Jane is probably high on the factor of

A) extraversion.
B) neuroticism.
C) openness to experience.
D) conscientiousness.

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of the mechanics of intelligence?

A) It is based largely on one's experiences with life problems.
B) It involves content-poor processing.
C) It is a universal, biological aspect of cognition.
D) It is a factor to which one is genetically predisposed.

Question 50

When Brad shows up for his college classes, he is rarely prepared. He does not study or do his assignment, frequently forgets to bring a notebook or something to write with, and often falls asleep during the class. He is often late to class and skips class just as frequently. When his professor asks him what he wants to do with his life, he just shrugs and says, "Whatever comes along." Brad would probably be ________ factor of the Big Five personality trait theory.

A) low on the openness to experience
B) high on the neuroticism
C) high on the extraversion
D) low on the conscientiousness

Question 51

Seth is creating an online profile for a dating website. He describes himself as a person who is very outgoing, who loves social interactions, likes to keep busy, and prefers stimulating and challenging environments. In the Big Five personality trait theory, Seth would probably score high on the ________ dimension.

A) openness to experience
B) agreeableness
C) extraversion
D) conscientiousness

Question 52

Which of the following is one of the ways in that adults learn differently from their younger counterparts?

A) Adults enter a learning situation with more and different experiences on which they can build.
B) Adults have less interested in knowing why they need to know something before doing it.
C) Adults are more motivated to learn by external factors than internal factors.
D) Adults are more interested in learning abstract, hypothetical information than they are in learning things needed to deal with real-world problems.

Question 53

Research evidence has found that expert performance on tasks tends to peak by ________, and drop off slightly after that.

A) late adolescence
B) early adulthood
C) middle adulthood
D) late adulthood

Question 54

A low score on the ____ personality dimension has been associated with having a Type A personality.

A) agreeableness
B) openness to experience
C) neuroticism
D) extroversion

Question 55

To keep up with the many changes in various industries such as technology and information services, many organizations and professions are emphasizing learning

A) modern skill changes.
B) how to learn.
C) better skills for utilizing a mentor/protégé relationship.
D) the dynamics of organization and administration.

Question 56

Due largely to the efforts of Paul Costa, Jr. and Robert McCrae, we are now able to describe adults' personality traits using ___ different factors.

A) three
B) five
C) six
D) eight

Question 57

Due largely to the efforts of ________ and ________, we are now able to describe adults' personality traits using five different factors.

A) Raymond Cattell and John Horn
B) Charles Spearman
C) Paul Costa, Jr. and Robert McCrae
D) Robert Sternberg

Question 58

Which statement between adult learners and their younger counterparts is true?

A) Adults are more willing to learn about abstract problems.
B) Adults tend to be more motivated by internal factors.
C) Younger learners tend to have a larger variety of experiences on which they can build.
D) Younger learners have a higher need to know why they should learn something.

Question 59

Bobby is an expert at chess. Peter is a novice at chess. Which of the following differences in their chess-playing would you expect to see?

A) Bobby will take less time to select a move than Peter.
B) Bobby will bypass steps that Peter needs when selecting his individual moves.
C) Bobby will play to the goal of being stable and "autonomous," while Peter will not.
D) Bobby will rely more on intuition and less on experience than Peter.

Question 60

In the movie Forget Paris, a character named Mickey is picked on because he always orders the same thing when they go to a restaurant. His love of veal parmesan annoys his wife to no end, because she can never get him to order a different entrée. Mickey is probably ________ factor of the Big Five personality trait theory.

A) high on the extraversion
B) low on the openness to experience
C) high on the neuroticism
D) low on the agreeableness

Question 61

In contrast to the claims made by McCrae and Costa, an internet research study conducted by Srivastava and colleagues (2003) found that

A) only three of the Big Five personality factors, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism, were stable after the age of 30.
B) only two of the Big Five personality factors, conscientiousness and agreeableness, were stable after the age of 30.
C) none of the Big Five personality factors were stable after the age of 30.
D) only one of the Big Five personality factors, conscientiousness, was stable after the age of 30.

Question 62

Cross-cultural research examining the validity of the five-factor model of personality has found that these five factors show up in at least ____ different cultures, including some that have rarely been studied.

A) 15
B) 35
C) 50
D) 65

Question 63

McAdams proposed a model related to Erikson's concept of generativity suggesting that people must construct a(n) ________, which helps them create a personal identity.

A) intimate relationship
B) ego defense
C) self-concept
D) narrative

Question 64

In the research study examining the stability or variability in the Big Five personality traits during adulthood conducted by Srivastava and colleagues (2003), respondents had an option of getting feedback about their "twin" from a popular movie. What movie was it?

A) The Rocky Horror Picture Show
B) Star Wars
C) Twilight
D) Harry Potter

Question 65

Dottie is the "information source" of the family. Whenever something important is happening with one family member, Dottie can be counted on to call or email everyone and let them know about it. Family members often call her for updates and the latest information. Dottie is acting as a(n) ________.

A) family hub
B) surrogate
C) kinkeeper
D) family "cohesionist"

Question 66

Middle-aged adults who are simultaneously responsible for caring for their elder parents and their younger children are sometimes referred to as the ________ generation.

A) helicopter
B) squeeze
C) sandwich
D) in-between

Question 67

Research by Srivastava and colleagues (2003) found that ________ was the factor in the Big Five theory that showed the greatest amount of change across the early adulthood years.

A) openness to experience
B) neuroticism
C) agreeableness
D) conscientiousness

Question 68

According to Erikson, _______ is a state in which people are unable to deal with the needs of their children or to provide mentoring to younger adults.

A) despair
B) stagnation
C) isolation
D) encapsulation

Question 69

Ina and Larry make sure to arrange for a family reunion once each year. They contact all of the family members-siblings, children, cousins, nieces and nephews-and let them know where and when the gathering will take place. Because they are responsible for gathering the family together, Ina and Larry could be described as ________.

A) generators
B) stagnaters
C) kinkeepers
D) family encouragers

Question 70

Recently Noam has been experiencing some mid-life changes. Some of them involve his work, some involve his relationship with his wife, and others involve changes in his appearance and physical functioning. Noam has been handling these changes well, does not let them get him down, and is persevering in the face of challenges. Noam can be described as having a high level of ego ________.

A) resilience
B) strength
C) defensiveness
D) integrity

Question 71

Regarding the stability of personality traits, which of the following has not been suggested by the existing research literature?

A) Certain personality traits, such as self-confidence, cognitive commitment, and others, show some change over a 30- to 40-year period.
B) Some studies suggest that neuroticism may increase as we grow older.
C) Some studies suggest that extraversion may increase as we grow older.
D) A study with a very large sample of respondents found that all five of the "Big Five" factors change over the adult years.

Question 72

"I just don't seem to matter," Rufus thinks to himself on his way home from work. The divorced, 47-year-old father of two feels like his job doesn't accomplish anything that he isn't doing a good job of parenting his sons, and that he doesn't have any real impact on the world around him. In Erik Erikson's theory, Rufus is experiencing a sense of

A) stagnation.
B) egocentrism.
C) despair.
D) isolation.

Question 73

According to McAdams' model of generativity, there are three levels of components that combine to help people form personal meaning. Which of the following is NOT one of those levels?

A) motivational sources
B) stressors
C) thoughts and plans
D) behaviors

Question 74

What are the "pieces of bread" on either side of the "sandwich generation?"

A) Job and family
B) Generativity and stagnation
C) Parents and children
D) Stress and coping

Question 75

Minerva is a 52-year-old mother of three. She has not worked in some years, and now has started volunteering at her church to assist with Sunday school classes. The children love her, she enjoys helping them find their spiritual path, and tells her husband that she wants to apply for a job at the church. Erikson would say that Minerva is working on achieving a sense of ________.

A) conscientiousness
B) integrity
C) egocentrism
D) generativity

Question 76

An individual characterizing what Erikson called "stagnation" is unable to

A) make meaningful appraisals concerning hassles.
B) form a superego.
C) contribute to a society's continuation.
D) think in an encapsulated manner.

Question 77

According to McCrae and Costa (1994), personality traits stop changing and are "set in plaster" by the time we hit ____ years of age.

A) 15
B) 18
C) 21
D) 30

Question 78

Ego ________ is a powerful personality resources that enables people to handle midlife changes.

A) resilience
B) identity
C) strength
D) integrity

Question 79

Why is it that adults in the sandwich generation may feel more stress than adults at other age periods?

A) Because the sandwich generation involves making the difficult decision to stay in one's house, where space is no longer needed, or moving to a smaller home or apartment.
B) Because the sandwich generation involves a "squeezing" of one's priorities, where they must choose to give up certain pursuits due to declining physical abilities.
C) Because those in the sandwich generation are right in between their period of generativity and their period of stagnation.
D) Because those in the sandwich generation have to care for two generations of people-their parents and their children.

Question 80

In Erikson's theory, middle adulthood is occupied by the search for ________. It involves being productive by helping others in order to ensure the continuation of society by guiding the next generation.

A) generativity
B) ego integrity
C) intimacy
D) identity