Question 1

Historically, the majority of older people with mental disorders were labeled as "eccentric," and treatment consisted of

Accepted Answer

Historically, the majority of older people with mental disorders were labeled as "eccentric," and treatment consisted of isolation or institutionalization. This was common practice in mental health care before the development of effective medications and therapy techniques.

Question 2

Often, losses of physical functioning, retirement, or death of loved ones will increase the likelihood that an individual will develop a mental disorder because

Accepted Answer

Experiencing multiple losses can overwhelm an individual's coping mechanisms, increasing the risk of developing a mental disorder.

Question 3

A normal aging process involves

Accepted Answer

Decreased functioning of organ systems is a normal part of the aging process, as the body's cells and tissues gradually decline in efficiency and effectiveness over time. Reminiscing and memory loss may occur in some individuals, but these are not universal experiences of aging. Pathology, diseases, and poor health may also occur with aging, but these are not an inherent part of normal aging. Likewise, while the risk and incidence of some diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, may increase with age, this is not a universal characteristic of normal aging.

Question 4

Large-scale community surveys suggest that

Accepted Answer

According to the information provided, the correct statement is that except for dementia and sleep-wake disorders, mental disorders are less common among older adults. Option A is incorrect because the information does not support the idea that mental disorders are the most common among older adults. Option B is incorrect because the information does not suggest that men are more likely to have diagnosable health problems across the lifespan. Option C is incorrect because the information does not indicate a linear increase with age in lifetime prevalence rates of combined major disorders. Option E is incorrect because the information does not suggest that the highest 12-month prevalence of any mental disorder exists among those over 65.

Question 5

Which of the following findings is consistent with the socio-emotional selectivity theory (SST)?

Accepted Answer

Socio-emotional selectivity theory (SST) suggests that as people age, they prioritize emotionally meaningful goals and experiences, often showing a preference for positive over negative information. This is reflected in older adults processing negative information less deeply than positive information.

Question 6

Why is it generally believed that older people with mental illnesses do not benefit from treatment?

Accepted Answer

Older people are often stereotyped as being "set in their ways," leading to a belief that they are less capable of change, which can contribute to the perception that they do not benefit from treatment.

Question 7

Which of the following provides one reasonable explanation as to why the percentage of older individuals has increased and will likely continue to increase over time?

Accepted Answer

Higher levels of education can lead to careers that are less physically demanding, which can help people live longer.

Question 8

Why is it particularly difficult to properly diagnose mental disorders in older adults?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is it particularly difficult to properly...

Question 9

Three personality characteristics associated with positive health appear to increase across the lifespan. These are:

Accepted Answer

Conscientiousness, emotional stability, and agreeableness are the three personality characteristics that have been consistently associated with positive health outcomes across the lifespan. Conscientious individuals tend to be responsible, organized, and diligent, which may result in better health behaviors such as regular exercise and proper nutrition. Emotional stability is linked to lower levels of stress and fewer negative emotional experiences. Agreeableness is a trait that reflects a tendency to be cooperative and empathic towards others, which may lead to more social support and stronger social connections, both of which have been linked to positive health outcomes.

Question 10

According to the selective optimization with compensation viewpoint, successful aging involves

Accepted Answer

Selective optimization with compensation suggests that successful aging involves adapting to changing circumstances by making the most of one's abilities and finding alternative means to achieve goals despite limitations. This approach involves selecting and prioritizing the most important goals, optimizing one's resources to achieve these goals, and compensating for any losses or limitations by finding alternative strategies or supports. It may also involve letting go of less important goals or activities that are no longer feasible. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 11

Cross-sectional surveys are limited in that they cannot tell us if the results are due to

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional surveys compare different groups of individuals at the same point in time. Therefore, they cannot distinguish between the effects of aging (due to the passage of time) and cohort effects (due to differences in the experiences of different generations). Both normal aging (B) and aging effects (C) may be seen in cross-sectional surveys, but they cannot be differentiated from cohort effects. Client barriers (E) are not relevant to this question. The paradox of aging (A) is not a valid concept and is not relevant to this question.

Question 12

The reason that theoretical frameworks of mental disorder have not typically been extended to older adults could be due to the early thinking of __________.

Accepted Answer

The field of psychology and psychiatry has traditionally focused on the study of mental disorders in young and middle-aged adults, which was primarily shaped by the early thinking of Sigmund Freud. Freud's theories were mostly based on his observations of young patients with neurotic symptoms, and his concepts were not designed to explain mental health and illness in older adults. Therefore, the lack of extension of theoretical frameworks of mental disorder to older adults could be due to the limitations of the early theories that have dominated the field.

Question 13

Strength and vulnerability integration theory posits that aging is associated with __________ ability to regulate emotions due to several factors, including __________.

Accepted Answer

Aging is associated with an increased ability to regulate emotions due to a time-limited perspective that emphasizes emotionally meaningful goals, increased present-moment awareness, and strength-based appraisal of information.

Question 14

Veronica has recently learned that her spouse is suffering from cancer. At this time, Veronica would be more __________ to mental difficulties, and may not be able to cope with more problems.

Accepted Answer

The word "vulnerable" means susceptible to being wounded or hurt. In this particular situation, Veronica is dealing with a difficult and emotional circumstance with her spouse's cancer diagnosis. Therefore, she is more likely to be emotionally vulnerable and may have trouble coping with additional problems.

Question 15

The finding that there is a decreasing prevalence of most mental disorders with age should be interpreted cautiously for which of the following reasons?

Accepted Answer

The survivor effect is the phenomenon that people who have lived longer have survived past experiences or events that have killed others. Therefore, older adults who participate in surveys may be a biased sample of the entire older population, as they are likely to be healthier and more resilient than those who did not survive to participate in the survey. Thus the decreasing prevalence of most mental disorders with age should be interpreted cautiously.

Question 16

You are an accomplished painter in your 70s and find that arthritis prevents you from enjoying the lengthy painting sessions that you love. Selective Optimization with Compensation theory suggests that you

Accepted Answer

Selective Optimization with Compensation theory suggests that individuals should focus on maximizing their abilities in areas where they excel while compensating for areas where they experience decline. In this case, shortening the length of painting sessions and exploring opportunities to work or volunteer as an instructor would allow the painter to continue to engage in the activity they love while compensating for the impact of their arthritis. Obtaining occupational therapy may also be beneficial in minimizing the impact of arthritis on their ability to paint. Seeking counseling to mourn the loss of painting may be appropriate for some individuals, but it is not the best option for everyone. Meeting with peers and encouraging younger people to paint may also be beneficial for some, but it does not directly address the issue of arthritis limiting the painter's ability to engage in their preferred activity.

Question 17

Older adults are disproportionately underrepresented as users of mental health services for all of the following reasons, except

Accepted Answer

While all of the other choices are reasons for the underrepresentation of older adults in mental health services, choice A is not a reason why they are disproportionately underrepresented. Many older adults may not seek psychological help due to stigma, lack of awareness of available services, or logistical barriers, but this is not the only reason for underrepresentation.

Question 18

What is the "paradox of aging"?

Accepted Answer

The "paradox of aging" refers to the observation that despite the vulnerabilities associated with aging, older adults often report better mental health, well-being, or happiness compared to younger individuals. This is counterintuitive to the expectation that the challenges of aging would lead to decreased mental health.

Question 19

Cross sectional research shows that older adults are mentally healthier than are younger adults. What is one way to interpret this finding?

Accepted Answer

The between-group difference may represent a cohort effect, which means that the differences observed between younger and older adults may be due to the time period in which they were born and grew up. For example, older adults may have experienced more stability and social support during their formative years, which could have contributed to their better mental health compared to younger adults who may have experienced more economic, political, and social changes and stressors. Other explanations (e.g., access to care, education, culture) do not fully explain the consistent finding that older adults are mentally healthier than younger adults.

Question 20

Why is it important that mental disorders in older adults be viewed as a cause for concern?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is it important that mental disorders...

Quiz 16: Aging and Mental Health