Diversity In Later Life - Humanities - Essay Example

Diversity in Later DIVERSITY IN LATER LIFE - HUMANITIES Middle adulthood occurs between the ages of 40 and 65, the common retirement age. The challenges and roles of middle adulthood are changing as each different cohort passes through this stage. For many men, middle adulthood was a period when they had more time for self as the demands of career and young children lessened. A major role of women in midlife is that of a kin-keeper, a cross-cultural expectation that women will organize family events and maintain contact with family members. As women take on broader roles in the workplace and the community, their traditional role as kin-keeper may be affected. This paper highlights the general needs and satisfaction of middle age adults at this point of their lives, as compared to other age groups. Below is a tabular presentation of information regarding the various needs, satisfaction and general concerns of individuals (in different age groups); the sample interview guide employed in data collection is appended (Please see Appendix A). Table 1. Needs Satisfaction and General Concerns of Selected Individuals. Participant A Participant B Participant C Participant D Participant E Participant F 1. Age 28 40 45 52 55 17 2. Gender Female Male Female Male Female Male 3. Description of life's present condition I consider my life as tough one, it's very complicated, stress-ful, hard & quite exhausting. But despite all of that, I can still manage to be happy. Life is bit difficult lately. I strongly felt the need to satisfactorily accomplish my responsibilities as the head of the family. I 'm cramming. Quite rushing through a lot of things . I really wanted to complete/finish my masters. Huh! Life is challenging. I'm focused more into sustaining a good family life at the same time helping my friends & the community. I'm worried about my children and the future of my grandchildren. My attention is more about them. Its fun. I get to enjoy company with friends. 4. Most important personal needs And I do believe that I can do every challenges with a smile on my face, like my career is doing well so far. Expand my business hopefully. Fulfilling and stable job, to have a home to call my very own as well as to acquire enough resources to sustain my family's needs and wants. My family, and Peace in all societies. Better life for my children Studies. Diversity in Later 2 Participant A Participant B Participant C Participant D Participant E Participant F 5. Felt Needs 1 - A stable job, 2 - A better married life; 3 - Own car & house. 1 - A progressive business. 2 - Safety of my family. 3- Peaceful environment. 1 - A fulfilling & stable job, 2 - A home to call my very own, and; 3 - A sufficient resources to sustain family's needs and wants. 1-Stable work. 2-Healthy family. 3-Success of my children. 1-More achievements in work. 2-Better health for my family. 3-Harmonious relationships. 1 - First is to graduate in College soon. 2 - Second is to pass the board exam and; 3 - have a job that can give me bigger salary . 6. Satisfaction 1-Financial Gains 2-Career 3-Health 4-Community Projects 1-Career 2-Health 3-Community Projects 4-Financial Gains 1-Health 2-Career 3-Community Projects 4-Financial Gains 1-Career 2-Financial Gains 3-Health 4-Community Projects 1-Health 2-Community Projects 3-Financial Gains 4-Career 1-Financial Gains 2-Health 3-Career 4-Community Projects 7. General Concern Global Crisis. I'm worried about the economic aspects of every family. Health. It is important. H1N1/Health. It's a serious threat to my family and to the society. Health. It is sad knowing one is ill or suffer. Environmental Degradation. Future generation is greatly affected. Global Crisis. If this continues, I and the future generation will have problems of being unemployment. That data of each participants represent the diverse needs, satisfaction and general concerns in the various aspects in life. Middle adulthood seems to be the "prime time" in terms of creating achievements and vast contribution in an individual's life. Most of them are already in the "family life stage". In the above presented table, middle age individuals (highlighted portions) generally depicted a life that goes beyond the need of oneself or which is simply not "self-centered". Middle age individuals (Participants B,C,D & E) verbalized about their responsibilities and obligations which are more focused on their children, families and the society. It can also be noted that as compared with other age groups, their needs are more into the career, family and a little of what they can do for others or the community. Obviously, middle age respondents' diverse needs, satisfaction and general concerns are somehow impacted their Diversity in Later 3 socio-economic conditions. There are those that indirectly expressed "crisis"; while others gladly accepts challenges (Participant C: I 'm cramming. Quite rushing through a lot of things . I really wanted to complete/finish my masters... Participant D: Huh! Life is challenging. I'm focused more into sustaining a good family life at the same time helping my friends & the community). Daniel Levinson in his publication Seasons of a Man's Life, argued that some individuals experience a "midlife crisis" when they reach their 40's, but not all of them. These statements may be manifestations of "burnout" due to work, specially if they are hard-working professionals and particularly if they experience frustration, dissatisfaction and weariness from their jobs and family problems. Probably, they might also feel "used" by their children and spouse as they trudge along in dissatisfying job, earning money for others to spend. Other age groups may have crisis in their life as well but these crisis are more limited to their own selves. Skarzynski (2007) stated that job satisfaction is considered the most important when a person is considering a career and the satisfaction basically comes from more than merely having the knowledge as well as skills to help others. Sometimes (Iigo, 2000) behavior is motivated by a certain need such as physiologic needs which are the fundamental needs of the human body that needs to be satisfied in order to sustain life, these include: food, sleep, water, exercise, clothing shelter and so forth. Added to that, individuals have minimum satisfaction of survival and security needs, belongingness needs also become important to him. The need for acceptance, love, and approval by his family, friends and others. In general, middle age adults are also concern about health. For them, this matter is very important; it is sad knowing someone has suffered or is ill; and this aspect is a serious threat to everyone. One research supported this fact and elaborated further that middle-aged adults Diversity in Later 4 progressively start to manifest higher incidences of diseases as well as medication use, together with decreased levels of physiological changes, physical activity which begin to alter postural stability (Talbot, Musiol, Witham and Metter, 2005). REFERENCES Skarzynski, Kathy, (2005). Career opportunities in nursing. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrived on July 13, 2007 from http://pur.access.gpo.gov/GPOLPS11936 Talbot, L.A., Musiol, R.J., Witham, E.K. and Metter, E.J. (2005) Falls in young, middle-aged and older community dwelling adults: perceived cause, environmental factors and injury. BMC Public Health Journal, 5;86. Diversity in Later 5 INTERVIEW GUIDE Answer the questions below as honest as possible. Be assured further that the responses will be kept confidential. Age: ____________ Gender: _______ 1. How can you describe your life at this point in time Is there anything else that you would like to achieve _______________________________________________ 2. Every person has specific need/s, what are the three (3) important needs that you look forward to be met ______________________________________________ 3. If you will rank the following needs below, which will you rank 1, 2, 3 & 4 ___a. career ___b. financial gains ___c. community projects ___d. health 4. Which aspects of your life do you think you are most satisfied about (please rank 1, 2, 3, & 4). ___a. economic ___b. physical health ___c. psychosocial ___d. spiritual 5. At present, which of the following are you most concerned about (choose only one) & state the reason why a. Global recession c. H1N1 Epidemic b. Crime rates d. Environmental degradation Read More