Unit 9 Discussion 1: Wellbeing in late adulthood

Wellbeing in the late adulthood phase is essential to the successful development of the individual in this stage of life. The understanding of how to promote and support the sustainable wellbeing of the adults within the late adulthood phase is essential to informing professionals within the field of psychology on how to cater to the needs of these groups.  The wellbeing of the adults in late adulthood phase is viewed as hedonic well-being which is the stable, cognitive as well as emotional well-being that is defined by an overall psychological and mental perspective that life is good and that life is fulfilling (Steptoe, Deaton, & Stone, 2015). Additionally, hedonic well-being is transitionally and emotional resulting in happiness and positive affect (Steptoe et al., 2015). Additionally, Broderick and Blewitt (2014) argued that emotional wellbeing of the individual in the late adulthood phase are defined by their ability to regulate their emotions in a manner that promotes successful aging as identified by Bates theory of successful aging. Emotional well-being is, therefore, the focus of professionals dealing with elderly adults as the objective is therefore to develop the ability to effectively later negative emotions to positive situations as well as cope with these negative situations (Broderick & Blewitt, 2014). The disengagement theory identifies that the withdrawal of those in the late adulthood stage can have a significant influence on the wellbeing of the individual in that feeling of isolation may negatively affect the psychological and emotional wellbeing of the individual. Therefore the understanding of this theory would be critical to guiding the attachment between the elderly adults and the society thus helping to promote social integration that works to enhance emotional and psychological well-being.

Individual and cultural differences have a significant influence on the wellbeing of the individual. Cultural differences such as the level of support provided to those in the late adulthood phase can be critical to the wellbeing of the individuals in this stage (Steptoe et al., 2015). For instance, Eastern Asian Cultures trend to promote more respect and concern for the old with the family forming a strong pillar of support for the elderly which helps to strengthen the emotional and psychological well-being of the individual. Broderick and Blewitt (2014) argued that the level of social and emotional support provide to the elderly is essential to their emotional well-being. Individual differences that may be influenced by the achievement of Erickson’s eight stage of psychosocial development that is integrity versus despair (Steptoe et al., 2015). This theory identifies that those in the late adulthood phase tend to reflect on their life’s with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction which therefore promotes psychological and emotional well-being while those who reflect on their life’s and feel unaccomplished and unsatisfied experience negative emotions and disruption of their physiological status this identifying how wellbeing is influenced by individual factors. Ego integrity is defined as the acceptance of one’s, successes, failures as well as the missed opportunities (Steptoe et al., 2015). While despair is view as the developing of bitter feelings, anger, and depression over one’s life (Steptoe et al., 2015). The role of the professionals, in this case, is to help the elderly adult in developing integrity through viewing their past experiences as a positive rather than a negative situation by helping them to understand their positive experiences and how these experiences overshadow the negative ones.

References

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2014). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (4^th ed.). Person Education.

Steptoe, A., Deaton, A., & Stone, A. A. (2015). Subjective wellbeing, health, and ageing. The Lancet, 385(9968), 640-648