Social Gerontology Today

by Markson, Elizabeth W.; Jordan, Kathleen S.

• ISBN13: 9781891487897
• ISBN10: 1891487892
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Roxbury Pub Co

Table of Contents

Photo Credits	iii
Acknowledgments	xiv
About the Author	xv
Preface	xvi
How This Book Is Organized	xvii
Text	xvii
Films and Videos	xvii
Internet Resources	xvii
Research Articles	xviii
Supplemental Readings	xviii
Ancillary Materials	xviii
Part I Understanding Aging as a Social Process
The Emergence of Gerontology
Introduction	3	(1)
The Social Construction of Old Age	4	(8)
Definitions Beyond Biology	4	(4)
Social Class, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender as Classification Tools	8	(4)
Gerontology as a Field of Study	12	(6)
The Origins of Gerontology	13	(2)
Early Multidisciplinary Approaches	15	(2)
Gerontology Challenges the Concept of Age as Decay	17	(1)
Research for Whom?	18	(3)
Summary	21	(1)
Key Points	22	(1)
Discussion Questions	23	(1)
Films and Videos	23	(1)
Internet Resources	23	(1)
Research Article	24	(1)
Supplemental Readings	24	(1)
Answers to the Facts on Aging Quiz	25	(2)
Doing Social Gerontology Research
Introduction	27	(1)
The Logic of Scientific Inquiry	27	(2)
Building Blocks of Science	29	(4)
Basic Elements of Inquiry	29	(1)
Research Design and Sampling	30	(3)
Types of Research Studies	33	(10)
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies	33	(1)
Longitudinal Trend Studies	34	(1)
Longitudinal Cohort Studies	34	(2)
Large-Scale Social Surveys and Opinion Polls	36	(1)
Other Research Techniques	37	(6)
Basic Statistics: Crunching the Numbers	43	(3)
Putting It All Together: Steps in Gerontological Research	46	(1)
Summary	47	(1)
Key Points	48	(1)
Discussion Questions	48	(1)
Films and Videos	49	(1)
Internet Resources	49	(1)
Research Articles	49	(1)
Supplemental Readings	49	(2)
Demography, Population, and Housing: The Elderly Today and Tomorrow
Introduction	51	(1)
Understanding Population Changes and Aging	52	(10)
Age Structure of the Population	52	(4)
Birth Rates, Death Rates, and Migration	56	(3)
Life Expectancy and Life Span	59	(3)
The Demographic Transition	62	(4)
Why When We Are Born Makes a Difference	65	(1)
Characteristics of the Older Population	66	(5)
Race, Ethnicity, and Gender	66	(1)
Marital Status	67	(2)
Education	69	(1)
Income and Poverty	70	(1)
Living Arrangements	71	(14)
Where the Now-Old Live	71	(1)
Housing and Living Arrangements	72	(11)
The Old of Tomorrow	83	(2)
Summary	85	(1)
Key Points	86	(1)
Discussion Questions	87	(1)
Films and Videos	88	(1)
Internet Resources	88	(1)
Research Article	89	(1)
Supplemental Readings	89	(2)
Social Perspectives on Aging
Introduction	91	(2)
Was There a 'Golden Age' for the Elderly?	93	(1)
Approaches to the Study of Aging	94	(16)
Old Age as Dependence	94	(1)
Successful Aging Through Individual Adjustment	95	(2)
Old Age as Continuity	97	(1)
Old Age Within a Social System	98	(2)
Exclusion of the Elderly From Social Life	100	(3)
Successful Aging Revisited	103	(2)
Selective Optimization	105	(2)
Age Stratification	107	(3)
Theoretical Shifts	110	(5)
Power and Inequality	110	(4)
Trends in Applied Research	114	(1)
Summary	115	(1)
Key Points	116	(1)
Discussion Questions	117	(1)
Films and Videos	118	(1)
Internet Resources	118	(1)
Research Article	119	(1)
Supplemental Readings	119	(4)
Part II Individuals and Aging
Biological Perspectives
Introduction	123	(1)
Biological Lifespan and Life Expectancy	124	(7)
The Fountain of Youth: Secrets of Long Life?	124	(2)
Biological Theories of Aging	126	(5)
Physiological Changes and Health	131	(9)
Individual Differences and Changes in Organ Systems	131	(1)
Sensory Changes	132	(3)
Cosmetic Changes	135	(1)
Menopause	136	(4)
Illness and Recovery	140	(9)
Acute and Chronic Illness	140	(3)
Gender	143	(2)
Race and Ethnicity	145	(1)
Limitations in Activities	146	(1)
Self-Perceptions of Health	147	(2)
The Importance of Exercise	149	(1)
Summary	149	(1)
Key Points	150	(2)
Discussion Questions	152	(1)
Films and Videos	153	(1)
Internet Resources	154	(1)
Research Article	154	(1)
Supplemental Readings	154	(3)
Personality, Adult Development, and Cognition
Introduction	157	(1)
Adult Socialization	158	(3)
Age Norms, Age Status, and Age Grading	159	(2)
Self-Concept and Self-Esteem	161	(5)
The Looking-Glass Self	161	(1)
The 'I' and the 'Me'	162	(1)
The Multidimensional Self	162	(4)
Foundational Models of Personality and Development	166	(2)
The Discovery of Midlife and Beyond	168	(5)
Introversion in Later Life	169	(1)
Eight Stages of Life and Generativity	170	(2)
Spirituality and Gerotranscendence	172	(1)
Life Review in Late Life	173	(1)
The Seasons of Life Lead to Anxiety and Loss	174	(5)
Androgyny as a Personality Characteristic	175	(4)
Cognition	179	(6)
Intelligence and the Psychometric Model	179	(4)
Information Processing, Learning, and Memory	183	(2)
Cognitive Changes: Inevitable, Myth, or Mediated by Life Chances?	185	(1)
Processes of 'Successful Aging' Revisited	186	(1)
The Search for New Directions	187	(1)
Summary	188	(1)
Key Points	189	(2)
Discussion Questions	191	(1)
Films and Videos	191	(1)
Internet Resources	192	(1)
Research Article	192	(1)
Supplemental Readings	193	(2)
Mental Health and Mental Illness
Introduction	195	(1)
Views of Mental Disorders	196	(4)
Pathological and Statistical Models	196	(3)
Social Models	199	(1)
Mental Disorders in Old Age	200	(11)
Alcoholism and Drug Use	200	(4)
Depression: Prevalence and Incidence	204	(5)
Suicide	209	(2)
Dementia	211	(8)
Alzheimer's Disease	212	(7)
Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Mental Health	219	(1)
Summary	220	(1)
Key Points	221	(1)
Discussion Questions	222	(1)
Films and Videos	222	(1)
Internet Resources	223	(1)
Research Article	223	(1)
Supplemental Readings	223	(4)
Part III Aging in Society
Family Relationships and Social Bonds
Introduction	227	(2)
Family Ties and Patterns	229	(10)
Life Chances and the Family	232	(1)
The Way We Were	233	(1)
Farm, Village, and Urban Family Structures	233	(3)
Family Structure Variations Today	236	(3)
The Families of the Now-Old	239	(4)
Marriage	239	(1)
Marital Satisfaction	240	(1)
Widowhood	241	(1)
Divorce	242	(1)
Social Supports	243	(14)
Relatives and Friends as Sources of Social Support	244	(1)
Religion as a Source of Social Support	245	(2)
Informal Caregiving From Family and Friends	247	(10)
Summary	257	(1)
Key Points	258	(1)
Discussion Questions	259	(1)
Films and Videos	260	(1)
Internet Resources	261	(1)
Research Article	261	(1)
Supplemental Readings	261	(2)
Sexuality and Intimacy
Introduction	263	(1)
Sexual Scripts	264	(1)
Stereotypes About Sexuality	265	(3)
Cultural Beliefs Promoting Stereotypes	265	(1)
'Dirty Old Men (or Women)' Versus the Aged as Asexual	266	(2)
Sexual Activities and Responsiveness	268	(5)
Male Sexual Functioning	268	(4)
Female Sexual Functioning	272	(1)
Sexual Behavior	273	(7)
Heterosexual Activity	274	(4)
Homosexual Activity	278	(1)
Masturbation	279	(1)
Love and Intimacy	280	(2)
The Institutional Setting: Barrier to Sex, Love, and Intimacy?	281	(1)
Summary	282	(1)
Key Points	283	(1)
Discussion Questions	284	(1)
Films and Videos	285	(1)
Internet Resources	285	(1)
Research Article	286	(1)
Supplemental Readings	286	(1)
Work, Retirement, and Leisure
Introduction	287	(1)
Labor Force Participation	288	(5)
Income Relative to Worker Participation	290	(1)
Health	290	(1)
Gradual Exit From the Labor Force for the Aging: Phased Retirement, Bridge Jobs, and Displaced and Discouraged Workers	290	(1)
Phased Retirement	291	(1)
Bridge Jobs	291	(1)
Displaced Workers	292	(1)
Discouraged Workers	293	(1)
Retirement	293	(7)
Retirement as a Labor Management Strategy	294	(1)
Management Practices That Affect Retirement Benefits	295	(2)
Factors Influencing Workers to Retire	297	(3)
Sources of Retirement Pensions: Social Security and Private Pensions	300	(10)
The Social Security Act	303	(4)
Private Pensions	307	(3)
Leisure and Retirement Activities	310	(5)
Voluntary Organizations and Volunteering	312	(1)
Education	313	(2)
Labor Force Participation and Retirement in the Future	315	(2)
Summary	317	(2)
Key Points	319	(1)
Discussion Questions	320	(1)
Films and Videos	321	(1)
Internet Resources	321	(1)
Research Article	322	(1)
Supplemental Readings	322	(1)
Economic Security, Public Policy, and Politics
Introduction	323	(1)
Income and Expenditures in Later Life	324	(6)
Distribution of Income and Assets	324	(3)
Social Security and Income	327	(3)
Expenditures: Older People as Consumers	330	(2)
Poverty and the Distribution of Income in Later Life	332	(3)
The Politics of Aging	335	(6)
Social Security: Dissolving the Welfare State?	335	(2)
Should Social Security Go Private?	337	(4)
Major Legislation Affecting Elders' Health and Economic Well-Being	341	(8)
Medicare	343	(3)
Older Americans Act	346	(1)
Age Discrimination in Employment Act	347	(2)
Family and Medical Leave Act	349	(1)
A Tradition of Political Elders	349	(6)
Elders as Politicians	349	(1)
Elders as a Political Force	349	(6)
Summary	355	(2)
Key Points	357	(1)
Discussion Questions	358	(1)
Films and Videos	359	(1)
Internet Resources	359	(1)
Research Article	360	(1)
Supplemental Readings	360	(1)
Elders in the Health Care System
Introduction	361	(1)
Who Pays for Health Care?	362	(6)
Rising Health Care Costs	362	(6)
Patterns of Health Care Utilization	368	(7)
Out-Patient Care	368	(2)
The Rise of Managed Care	370	(2)
Methods of Payment, DRGs, and Hospital Use	372	(3)
Long-Term Care	375	(7)
Nursing Homes	375	(2)
Alternatives to Nursing Homes: Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living	377	(1)
Home and Community Long-Term Care	378	(4)
Health Care Providers and the Elderly	382	(1)
Health Promotion, Self-Help, and Self-Care	383	(7)
Summary	390	(1)
Key Points	390	(1)
Discussion Questions	391	(1)
Films and Videos	392	(1)
Internet Resources	392	(1)
Research Article	393	(1)
Supplemental Readings	393	(2)
Death, Dying, and Bereavement
Introduction	395	(1)
Twentieth-Century Mortality Trends	396	(6)
The Changing Demography of Death	397	(5)
Death in American Society	402	(9)
Fear of Death and Attitudes Toward Dying	403	(1)
Dying as a Social Process	403	(4)
The Bureaucratization of Death	407	(4)
Is There a `Right to Die'?	411	(4)
Advance Directives	412	(2)
Hospice	414	(1)
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide	415	(5)
Bereavement and Grief	420	(4)
Widowhood	424	(1)
Summary	425	(2)
Key Points	427	(1)
Discussion Questions	428	(1)
Films and Videos	429	(1)
Internet Resources	430	(1)
Research Article	431	(1)
Suggested Readings	431	(2)
Afterword: The Elderly of Tomorrow	433	(8)
Stephen J. Cutler
References	441	(44)
Subject Index	485	(16)
Author Index	501