Social and Emotional Development in Late Adulthood
Erikson’s theory of Ego Identity vs. Despair best describes the emotional and social development of late adulthood. This theory involves coming to terms with one’s life. Those who achieve a sense of integrity view their life in a larger context, they are at peace with themselves and accept their life course.
Individuals in late adulthood have accumulated a lifetime of self-knowledge, which allows them to be more secure of themselves and their identity than at younger ages.
Adjustment to retirement is a major step in late adulthood. Adjusting to retirement can be easy and have no adverse effect on life satisfaction. Conversely, retirement can also be stressful, depending on income, activity level, and social network.
Friends play a significant role in life satisfaction by providing companionship, as well as sharing activities. Staying connected to other people promotes successful aging and people do better if they continue to engage with life and maintain close relationships.
An important tool for helping older adults in accepting change is spirituality. A National survey revealed that nearly 76% of Americans age 65 and older say that religion is a very important part of their lives.
Family relationships often grow stronger in late adulthood because, as people age, they put more emphasis on family ties and relationships.
Many stereotypes associate old age with
social isolation and loneliness, but it is encouraging to note that, according
to a study by Pinquart and Soerensen, only 5% to 15% of older adults report
frequent loneliness (2001).