Question 1

The theory advocating that both society and people who are elderly can benefit if elderly people remain actively engaged in work and other social roles as long as they can is:

Accepted Answer

Activity theory argues that elderly people who remain active in work and other social roles benefit both themselves and society at large. This theory emphasizes the importance of maintaining social and productive activities for older individuals in order to facilitate successful aging. Disengagement theory, on the other hand, suggests that it is normal and appropriate for elderly individuals to withdraw from society and social roles as they age. Talcott Parsons's functionalism theory focuses on how various societal structures function together to maintain social order, while conflict theory emphasizes the role of power and inequality in shaping social relationships.

Question 2

The U.S. group that is overrepresented among persons aged 65 and older is:

Accepted Answer

Non-Hispanic whites make up the majority of the U.S. population aged 65 and older, and are therefore overrepresented in this age group. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019, non-Hispanic whites made up approximately 79% of the population aged 65 and older in the United States.

Question 3

As we age, we come to depend on other resources in our lives-family, friends, and social networks. Avoiding social isolation differs between men and women, and for women, one of the more important resources is:

Accepted Answer

Research shows that women tend to prioritize emotionally intimate social relationships as they age, which can serve as a source of support and prevent social isolation. While adult children and remarrying may also be important resources, they are not as consistently prioritized by women as emotional support networks. Remembering to take care of oneself is important, but it is not a resource external to the individual like social relationships.

Question 4

According to the textbook, the unemployed near elderly (those ages 55-64) have a more difficult time finding a job than their younger counterparts. One reason for this is because:

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that the unemployed near elderly are a large cohort, which can make it harder for them to find employment as there may be more competition for available jobs. This is a result of the baby boomer generation, which includes those in the near elderly age group, being a larger cohort than previous generations.

Question 5

Why is it easier for an aged, divorced, or widowed male to find a mate than it is for an aged, divorced, or widowed female?

Accepted Answer

Society values youth and beauty in women, making it more difficult for older women to find a mate. However, older men are often seen as more attractive due to factors like financial stability or societal status. Additionally, men have a larger pool of potential partners because they can date women who are younger than them, while women may only be interested in partners who are close to their own age. This phenomenon is often referred to as the "cougar" or "sugar daddy" dynamic.

Question 6

Alice is suffering from more emotional loneliness than her friends. She thinks it is important for her husband to be her soulmate, while most of her friends think that, over the course of a marriage, practical companionship is more important. One reasonable explanation for why Alice is more emotionally lonely than her friends is due to:

Accepted Answer

Alice's emotional loneliness is most likely due to her different standard of what makes up an optimal relationship network, which emphasizes a strong emotional connection with a romantic partner (i.e., soulmate). In contrast, her friends prioritize practical companionship and may rely on a larger and more diverse network of social relationships to fulfill their emotional needs.

Question 7

The second generation of theories of aging focused on:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The second generation of theories of aging...

Question 8

What was it about the conditions following World War II that had a positive impact on the young old?

Accepted Answer

Strong economic conditions led to better education opportunities and increased homeownership, which were factors that positively impacted the young old. This allowed them to enter retirement with financial stability and security.

Question 9

Among the elderly, the group with the highest poverty rate is:

Accepted Answer

According to research, women living alone have the highest poverty rates among the elderly population.

Question 10

The source of many of the problems of aging, according to social conflict theories, is that:

Accepted Answer

Social conflict theories suggest that many problems of aging are rooted in social institutions that favor those who have the most economic power. As a result, the elderly are often marginalized and not given adequate resources, leading to inequality and conflict.

Question 11

The text suggests that future generations may suffer from social isolation more than aged people today because of smaller family sizes, divorce rates, and childlessness. These factors all increase the risk of:

Accepted Answer

The text specifically mentions social isolation, which is a type of loneliness that affects an individual's social connections and relationships. The factors mentioned in the text, including smaller family sizes, divorce rates, and childlessness, can all contribute to an increased risk of social loneliness. Age discrimination, elder abuse, and generational equality are not directly related to the factors mentioned in the text or the topic of social isolation.

Question 12

According to the text, which of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

The text states that women are more likely to outlive their husbands and have more difficulty finding a new mate, which can lead to loneliness. This implies that women are at a disadvantage compared to men in terms of social relationships after the loss of a spouse. The other choices are incorrect: A is not supported by the text, C is only partially correct (men are more likely to be widowed, but this does not necessarily mean they experience more loneliness), and D is not mentioned in the text.

Question 13

Chen is approaching 70 years of age. Rather than taking on a full range of expected roles for an older woman, she takes on just the activities that suit her preferences and those activities she has always enjoyed. If this choice is associated with enhanced mental and physical health for Chen, this would be evidence supportive of the:

Accepted Answer

The continuity theory suggests that individuals are likely to continue patterns of behavior and activity that they have developed over their lifetime into old age. Chen's choice to engage in activities that she has always enjoyed and that suit her preferences aligns with the idea that maintaining consistency in one's activities contributes to well-being in older age.

Question 14

The poverty rate for older adults would jump to almost 19 percent if __________ were taken into account when calculating poverty.

Accepted Answer

According to research, health care costs are not typically factored into the calculation of poverty rates among older adults. However, if these costs were included, the poverty rate would increase significantly to almost 19 percent. This is because older adults often have higher health care expenses and may require more frequent medical care.

Question 15

Past research suggests that well-being in adulthood and into the older years differs on average between those born during the Great Depression and those born during the baby boom. The theory that would be most likely to focus on this is:

Accepted Answer

Life course theory emphasizes the importance of historical and social context in shaping individual lives and trajectories. It suggests that experiences and events throughout the life span can have lasting effects on well-being, and that birth cohort may play a role in shaping these experiences. Therefore, life course theory is the most likely theory to focus on the differences in well-being between those born during the Great Depression and the baby boom.

Question 16

Why do statistics show that the Hispanic population in the United States is graying the least?

Accepted Answer

Many older Latino immigrants return to their home countries in later life, which means that they are not counted in the U.S. Census data on aging. This contributes to the appearance of the Hispanic population graying the least in the United States.

Question 17

Conflict theories of aging grew during the 1980s as the number of jobs as well as federal spending shrunk. The apparent connection between these social shifts and the proliferation of conflict theories can be explained if we consider that conflict theories of aging focus on:

Accepted Answer

Conflict theories of aging focus on different groups competing for scarce resources, which is particularly relevant during times of economic downturns when jobs and government spending are reduced.

Question 18

People who are elderly can be divided into three age groups. Aside from their younger age, what advantages do the "young old" have relative to the "old old"?

Accepted Answer

The "young old" are individuals who grew up after significant historical events like the Great Depression and World War II, which means these events had little direct impact on their lives compared to the "old old," who experienced these events firsthand. This can influence their perspectives, experiences, and possibly their economic and social status.

Question 19

As of 2015, almost 12 percent of the elderly population in the United States was foreign born. Differing education levels as well as a lack of reliable retirement income for this population pose a significant barrier in their lives. One additional and highly significant problem that adds to the difficulty is that many:

Accepted Answer

Many elderly foreign-born individuals in the United States do not speak English, which can make it difficult for them to access social services or communicate with healthcare providers.

Question 20

Third-generation theories on aging suggested that numerous factors shape aging. While recognizing that social structures impose constraints, third-generation theorists also emphasize the idea that the elderly have:

Accepted Answer

Third-generation theories on aging emphasize the idea that the elderly have agency, which refers to the ability to make choices and to act on those choices. While social structures and constraints do play a role in shaping aging, third-generation theorists argue that individuals have the power to shape their own aging experiences to some extent. The other options (A, C, and D) do not accurately reflect this emphasis on individual agency.

Quiz 12: Aging