Chapter 9: Late Adulthood

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. A ______ measures the ratio of dependent age groups to the working-age population.

A. social exchange

B. dependency exchange

C. social ratio

D. dependency ratio

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.2: Summarize major themes of the demographic characteristics of people in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Demographics of the Older Population

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Which of the following statements about the late-adult population is true?

A. Men continue to outnumber women in the age 65 and older population.

B. Older LGBTQ individuals typically exhibit lower rates of health conditions.

C. Men often have stronger and more emotionally robust networks.

D. Both ethnic minorities and older adults residing in small towns face special challenges.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.3: Give examples of diversity in the late-adult population.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Diversity of the Late-Adult Population

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Vaillant’s traits for “growing old with grace” include maintaining hope, maintaining contact and intimacy with older friends, and ______.

A. learning from current generation

B. maintaining a capacity for play

C. engaging in physical activity

D. finding joy in old age

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.4:Describe how age is culturally constructed.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cultural Construction of Late Adulthood

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. The ACL study found that ______ has a greater impact than ______ on the onset of functional limitations or disabilities in older adults.

A. race; gender

B. income; support system

C. education; income

D. exercise; diet

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.4:Describe how age is culturally constructed

REF: Cognitive Doman: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cultural Construction of Late Adulthood

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. ______ sees personality differences as a major influence in adaptation to old age.

A. Disengagement theory

B. Life course perspective

C. Continuity theory

D. Activity theory

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.5: Critique psychosocial theoretical perspectives on social gerontology: disengagement theory, activity theory, continuity theory, social construction theory, feminist theories, social exchange theory, life course perspective, age stratification, productive aging, and environmental gerontology.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Psychosocial Theoretical Perspectives on Social Gerontology

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. ______ are those provided through families, friends, neighbors, churches, and so on.

A. Social networks

B. Caretakers

C. Informal resources

D. Formal resources

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.9: Compare formal and informal resources for meeting the needs of elderly persons.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Resources for Meeting the Needs of Elderly Persons

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Wellness promotion, self-discovery, and heightened morale are all part of the inner affective dimension of the ______ theory.

A. productive aging

B. social exchange

C. age stratification

D. activity

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.5: Critique psychosocial theoretical perspectives on social gerontology: disengagement theory, activity theory, continuity theory, social construction theory, feminist theories, social exchange theory, life course perspective, age stratification, productive aging, and environmental gerontology.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Psychosocial Theoretical Perspectives on Social Gerontology

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Which biological theory suggests that the biological clock acts through hormones to influence the pace of aging?

A. damage theory

B. programmed longevity

C. immunological theory

D. endocrine theory

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Biological Changes in Late Adulthood

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. Biological theories as to why our bodies age are important to understand in reference to late adulthood. Which biological theory suggests that the rate of basal metabolism impacts length of the life span?

A. wear and tear theory

B. rate of living theory

C. free radicals theory

D. somatic DNA damage theory

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Biological Changes in Late Adulthood

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. According to Erikson’s theory, the struggle of late adulthood is ______.

A. ego integrity versus ego despair

B. generativity versus stagnation

C. initiative versus guilt

D. intimacy versus isolation

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Personality Changes

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. Vaillant (2002) proposes that a life task of late adulthood is to pass on the traditions of the past to the next generation. This life task is called ______.

A. social exchange

B. disengagement

C. guardianship

D. gain loss balance

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Personality Changes

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. ______, the capacity for abstract reasoning, ______ with age.

A. Crystallized intelligence; increases

B. Fluid intelligence; declines

C. Intentional memory; stagnates

D. Incidental memory; does not change

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Intellectual Changes, Learning, and Memory

Difficulty Level: Medium

13.______, which is based on accumulated learning, ______ with age.

A. Crystallized intelligence; increases

B. Fluid intelligence; declines

C. Intentional memory; stagnates

D. Incidental memory; does not change

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intellectual Changes, Learning, and Memory

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease are the most common ______.

A. brain injuries

B. mental health issues in older adults

C. personality disorders

D. neurodegenerative diseases

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Aging Brain and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. ______ grandparents are highly involved in the lives of their grandchildren but do not see themselves as authority figures.

A. Detached

B. Influential

C. Supportive

D. Authority-oriented

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.7: Give examples of social role changes and family relationships in late adult.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Grandparenthood

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. Late adulthood is generally considered to be between what chronological ages?

A. 60 and 70

B. 50 and 90

C. 70 and 90

D. 65 and 85

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.2: Summarize major themes of the demographic characteristics of people in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Demographics of the Older Population

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. Vaillant concludes that positive aging means to ______.

A. love, work, learn, and enjoy remaining moments with loved ones

B. become a grandparent

C. retire voluntarily

D. be cared for by adult children

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.4:Describe how age is culturally constructed.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cultural Construction of Late Adulthood

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. The accumulation of human capital, or resources, across the life course to address human needs is called ______.

A. time perspective

B. social capital

C. life course capital

D. economic capital

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.5: Critique psychosocial theoretical perspectives on social gerontology: disengagement theory, activity theory, continuity theory, social construction theory, feminist theories, social exchange theory, life course perspective, age stratification, productive aging, and environmental gerontology.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Psychosocial Theoretical Perspectives on Social Gerontology

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. The incidence of disease is called ______.

A. prevalence

B. immortality

C. mortality

D. morbidity

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Health and Longevity

Difficulty Level: Easy

20. For people age 65 and older, the two most prevalent and debilitating chronic conditions are ______.

A. heart disease and asthma

B. arthritis and hypertension

C. hypertension and cancer

D. cancer and arthritis

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological changes, psychological changes, personality changes, and intellectual changes in late adulthod.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Health and Longevity

Difficulty Level: Easy

21. What percentage of the population of women over 80 experience osteoporosis?

A. half

B. one third

C. three fourths

D. one fifth

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Age-Related Changes in Physiology

Difficulty Level: Easy

22. The most common type of dementia is ______.

A. substance impaired cognitive loss

B. mild Cognitive Impairment

C. Parkinson’s disease

D. Alzheimer’s disease

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Dementia

Difficulty Level: Easy

23. A variable that predicts healthy aging is ______.

A. childhood temperament

B. stress

C. stable marriage

D. cholesterol

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.10: Give examples of risk factors and protective factors of late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Risk Factors and Protective Factors in Late Adulthood

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. According to the Census Bureau, which group will be the fastest growing older adult population by 2050?

A. Native American

B. African American

C. Hispanic

D. non-Hispanic White

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.3: Give examples of diversity in the late adult population.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Diversity of the Late-Adult Population

Difficulty Level: Easy

25. Reminiscing can serve which of the following functions?

A. enhancing a person’s self-image

B. contributing to the life course perspective

C. identifying risk factors

D. engage in generativity

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.9: Describe the search for personal meaning in late adulthood

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Search for Personal Meaning

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. Life expectancy increases with socioeconomic advantage.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.2: Summarize major themes of the demographic characteristics of people in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Demographics of the Older Population

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Women 65 years of age and older are considered a minority in terms of status and challenges in aging.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.3: Give examples of diversity in the late-adult population.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Diversity of the Late-Adult Population

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. The increase in age for receiving full social security benefits has contributed to older adults staying longer in the labor force.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.7: Give examples of social role changes and family relationships in late adulthood

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Work and Retirement

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. Reminiscing may be an enjoyable activity that can lift the spirits of the listener and of the person telling the story.

Learning Objective: 9-8: Describe the search for personal meaning in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Search for Personal Meaning

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Social exchange theory’s major premise is to understand and explain the influence of social definitions, social interactions, and social structures on the individual elderly person.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.5: Critique psychosocial theoretical perspectives on social gerontology: disengagement theory, activity theory, continuity theory, social construction theory, feminist theories, social exchange theory, life course perspective, age stratification, productive aging, and environmental gerontology.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Psychosocial Theoretical Perspectives on Social Gerontology

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. In feminist theory, gender is considered the key factor in understanding a person’s aging experience.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.5: Critique psychosocial theoretical perspectives on social gerontology: disengagement theory, activity theory, continuity theory, social construction theory, feminist theories, social exchange theory, life course perspective, age stratification, productive aging, and environmental gerontology.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Psychosocial Theoretical Perspectives on Social Gerontology

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. All systems of the body are affected during the aging process.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Age-Related Changes in Physiology

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Memory is a distinguishing factor in old age and research suggests that intentional memory declines and incidental memory does not in old age.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intellectual Changes, Learning, and Memory

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. In recent years, both mortality and morbidity have decreased.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Health and Longevity

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Someone in the world develops dementia every 3 s.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Dementia

Difficulty Level: Medium

Essays

1. Compare and contrast disengagement theory, activity theory, and continuity theory which help social workers to gain insight and perspectives on the process of growing old. Cite some examples from the Ms. Ruby Johnson case study in reference to how these theories help you to understand her situation. How would these theories impact your work with older adults?

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.5: Critique psychosocial theoretical perspectives on social gerontology: disengagement theory, activity theory, continuity theory, social construction theory, feminist theories, social exchange theory, life course perspective, age stratification, productive aging, and environmental gerontology.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Psychosocial Theoretical Perspectives on Social Gerontology

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. Identify several age-related biological changes and intellectual, learning, and memory changes in late age. Cite several examples of age-related and intellectual changes using any of the cases as a reference.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.6: Summarize the major biological, psychological, personality, and intellectual changes in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Biological Changes in Late Adulthood | Psychological Changes in Late Adulthood

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. Compare and contrast social construction theory, feminist theory, and social exchange theory which help social workers to gain insight and perspectives on the process of growing old. Cite some examples from the Menzels case study in reference to how these theories help you to understand their situation. How would these theories impact your work with older adults?

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.5: Critique psychosocial theoretical perspectives on social gerontology: disengagement theory, activity theory, continuity theory, social construction theory, feminist theories, social exchange theory, life course perspective, age stratification, productive aging, and environmental gerontology.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Psychosocial Theoretical Perspectives on Social Gerontology

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. Identify and discuss the formal and informal resources for meeting older adult needs. Using the case studies of the Smiths, Ms. Ruby Johnson, or the Menzels, cite illustrations of the formal and informal resources you could use to meet their needs.

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.9: Compare formal and informal resources for meeting the needs of elderly persons.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Resources for Meeting the Needs of Elderly Persons

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. Discuss two social role transitions (family, grandparenthood, work and retirement, caring giving and care receiving, widowhood, and institutionalization) in late adulthood. How would understanding age-related social role changes help in your work with older adults?

KEY: Learning Objective: 9.7: Give examples of social role changes and family relationships in late adulthood.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Social Role Transitions and Life Events of Late Adulthood

Difficulty Level: Hard