Question 1

The death rate due to accidents declines sharply when adults move from early adulthood into middle adulthood.

Accepted Answer

According to statistics, the death rate due to accidents declines significantly as people transition from their early adulthood (ages 18-35) to their middle adulthood (ages 35-65). This is partly due to a decrease in risk-taking behaviors and an increase in responsible decision making during this phase of life.

Question 2

In the 45- to 64-year-old age group, the death rate for Black Americans is nearly twice as high as for White Americans.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the 45- to 64-year-old age group, the age-adjusted death rate for Black Americans is 576.5 per 100,000 population, while for White Americans it is 318.2 per 100,000 population. This means that the death rate for Black Americans is nearly twice as high as for White Americans.

Question 3

For some adults in middle adulthood, an emphasis on sexuality gives way to a greater sense of sensuality.

Accepted Answer

As adults in middle adulthood age, they may shift their focus from purely sexual experiences to a greater appreciation of sensual pleasures, such as touch, smell, taste, and sight. This shift can lead to a deeper level of intimacy and connection with a partner.

Question 4

Prolonged stress appears to take its toll on health primarily by causing heart capacity to decline.

Accepted Answer

Prolonged stress affects most physiological functions, but its primary effect seems to be on the immune system. It also can affect how well people are able to care for themselves, so health habits may suffer in stressful times also.

Question 5

In the U. S. today, the three leading causes of preventable death are smoking-related illnesses, followed by being overweight, followed by alcohol-related illnesses.

Accepted Answer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking-related illnesses, being overweight or obese, and alcohol-related illnesses are indeed the three leading causes of preventable death in the U.S.

Question 6

Brain damage is more likely to affect fluid intelligence than crystallized intelligence.

Accepted Answer

Fluid intelligence is the ability to reason, problem-solve, and adapt to new situations, which is more likely to be affected by brain damage than crystallized intelligence, which is the accumulation of knowledge and skills through experience and education.

Question 7

In the United States today, death rates for men typically equal the death rates for women throughout the adult years.

Accepted Answer

Death rates for men are typically higher than women, especially in the younger age groups. However, as people age, the difference narrows and eventually evens out in the later adult years.

Question 8

Today in the United States, the life expectancy for adults who live to age 45 is about 70 years.

Accepted Answer

Life expectancy for those living to age 45 is about 80 years in the U. S. today.

Question 9

Death in middle adulthood is better characterized as the result of the development of chronic diseases that develop prematurely in high-risk individuals, whereas death in later adulthood is better described as resulting from age-related processes that are common to almost all people.

Accepted Answer

Chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, are more likely to develop in middle adulthood in individuals with certain risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise. On the other hand, age-related processes such as cognitive decline and organ failure become more common in later adulthood and can lead to death.

Question 10

The text reports that in the U. S. today, Black and Hispanic Americans are much less likely to seek health care at hospital emergency rooms because the costs are simply above their ability to pay.

Accepted Answer

The text states that the highest rate of emergency room treatment is by Hispanic Americans, since hospitals cannot turn away sick or injured people, regardless of their ability to pay.

Question 11

Sexual activity reaches a peak for women at about age 40, but men reach this peak about 20 years earlier, at age 20.

Accepted Answer

Sexual activity does not necessarily peak at a specific age for either gender, and varies greatly among individuals. This statement presents a generalized and inaccurate assumption.

Question 12

Between the ages of 45-54 and 55-65, the percent of people dying of cancer and heart disease increases.

Accepted Answer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading causes of death in these age ranges are cancer and heart disease, and the percentage of deaths due to these causes increases as people age.

Question 13

According to the text, the stress of life events is additive, meaning that when stressful events occur at about the same time, their effects are cumulative.

Accepted Answer

The text states that the stress of life events is additive and their effects are cumulative when they occur at about the same time.

Question 14

In the United States, education is related to life expectancy for both men and women, and those with more education are likely to live longer.

Accepted Answer

Numerous studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between education level and life expectancy, with those who have more education tending to live longer. Factors such as access to healthcare, healthier lifestyles, and better paying jobs are often associated with higher levels of education, which can contribute to longer life expectancy.

Question 15

If you were to advise a young adult about the best way to live longer, the four things you should say would be to get regular physical exercise, quit smoking, don't drink too much alcohol, and control your weight.

Accepted Answer

These are some of the most common and evidence-based recommendations for preventing chronic diseases and increasing longevity. Regular physical exercise can help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, prevent obesity, and improve mental health. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and other health problems. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to liver disease, high blood pressure, and other health complications. Lastly, maintaining a healthy weight is important for overall health and can prevent a variety of chronic diseases.

Question 16

Although cross-sectional studies typically show that mental abilities decline with age, when longitudinal studies are used, these age-related declines typically are seen to be nonexistent or much smaller.

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional studies compare people of different ages at one point in time, while longitudinal studies follow the same individuals over time. Longitudinal studies have been found to provide a more accurate picture of age-related changes, and they tend to show less decline in mental abilities than cross-sectional studies.

Question 17

Studies show that many middle-aged adults have sex infrequently and most have conventional ideas about love, sex, and marriage.

Accepted Answer

Studies have indeed shown that many middle-aged adults have sex infrequently and also have conventional ideas about love, sex, and marriage.

Question 18

According to stress scales used to evaluate the degree of stress associated with particular life events, the stress linked to retirement is about the same as that linked to the death of a spouse.

Accepted Answer

Retirement is considered a significant life event that can cause stress, but it is generally not rated as highly stressful as the death of a spouse. The death of a spouse is often ranked as one of the most stressful life events on various stress scales, such as the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale.

Question 19

In the U. S. today, the most common cause of limited activity in middle adulthood is arthritis.

Accepted Answer

Arthritis is indeed the most common cause of limited activity in middle adulthood in the U.S. Other common causes may include back pain, heart disease, and obesity.

Question 20

Young adults can generally outperform adults in middle age on tasks requiring high-order cognitive processing.

Accepted Answer

According to the text, middle adulthood is a time of maximum performance of many higher-order cognitive abilities, especially in areas related to work and daily living.

Quiz 14: Middle Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development