early and middle adulthood

• Adulthood


  The longest stage of life, spanning from 20 years of age until the end of life
• Phases of adulthood


  • Early adulthood (20-40 years old)
  • Middle adulthood (40-65 years old)
  • Late adulthood (65+ years old)
• Compared to other stages of life, adulthood is a time of minimal physical growth
• Aging process in adulthood

  1. Begins during early adulthood

  2. Changes in vision (lens stiffening and thickening)

  3. Hearing decrease (presbycusis)

  4. Hair thinning and graying

  5. Skin becoming drier and less elastic

  6. Wrinkles appearing

  7. Reproductive capacity declining

  8. Basal metabolic rate decreasing

  9. Fat accumulation, particularly on abdomen and lower body
• Cognitive development in early and middle adulthood

  • Individuals continue in the formal operational stage
  • Look at ideas from multiple angles
  • Understand problems can have more than one right or wrong answer
  • Develop ability to think rationally and solve concrete and abstract problems
  • More pragmatic when solving problems and making life-changing decisions
  • Less reckless than in teenage years
• Psychosocial development in early adulthood

  1. Forming long-term partnerships and friendships

  2. Making decisions concerning marriage and parenthood
• Psychosocial development in middle adulthood

  1. Engaging with the next generation through tasks like parenting, mentoring, teaching, and fulfilling social obligations

  2. Avoiding preoccupation with oneself which can lead to stagnation
• Moral development in young and middle adulthood

  • Developed own moral compass
  • Moral reasoning based on universal ethical principles and commitment to justice
  • Identifying with a political affiliation
  • Committing to family's religious tradition or taking on new religious practices
• Client and family teaching should emphasize health promotion and prevention of chronic disease
• Client and family teaching

  1. Provide guidance about physical changes they may experience

  2. Discuss lifestyle modifications to promote health and prevent future illness

  3. Encourage regular physical activity

  4. Discuss healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber, and foods low in sodium, saturated fats, and added sugar

  5. Recommend at least 7 hours of sleep each night

  6. Teach about benefits of decreasing stress and review relaxation techniques

  7. Discuss strategies to deal with stressful situations

  8. Review importance of limiting alcohol, caffeine, and avoiding nicotine/tobacco products

  9. Provide counseling and refer to resources for support to quit smoking