The study examined personal growth among new grandfathers (n = 101, age 45-67), 2 to 24 months after the birth of their first grandchild. Specifically, it investigated the contribution of internal resources (self-esteem), perceived characteristics of the situation (grandparenthood distress and cognitive appraisals of threat, challenge, and…

While research on parent-adult child relationships has expanded over the last two decades, most research has ignored the experiences of older fathers and their relationships with adult children. The present study sought to explore how midlife and older men assess the costs and rewards associated with their fatherhood experiences and how fathers'…

Generativity is a concept first introduced by Erik Erikson as a part of his psychosocial theory which outlines eight stages of development in the human life. Generativity versus stagnation is the main developmental concern of middle adulthood; however, generativity is also recognized as an important theme in the lives of older adults. Building on…

This article examines experiences of chronological age. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey, we analyze both qualitatively and quantitatively verbatim responses from 8177 respondents aged 16 and over concerning the (dis)advantages of their age. Two main questions are tested: (1) Is the cultural narrative of age decline supported by…

This article discusses the proposition that learning is an unexplored feature of the guided autobiography method and its developmental exchange. Learning, conceptualized and explored as the embedded and embodied processes, is essential in narrative activities of the guided autobiography method leading to psychosocial development and growth in…

This qualitative study of nine women examined the changes in their everyday lives as they cared for their terminally-ill husbands and after their husbands died. It also studied how the women coped with these changes, and how their coping contributed to their identity change from wife to widow. Symbolic interaction was utilized to study the changes…

Wisdom is considered one ideal endpoint of human development across cultures. Studies have provided evidence for certain facilitating conditions such as challenging and stressful life events because they increase differentiation through accommodative changes, resulting in greater tolerance for uncertainty, and less projection tendencies and…

Considers Greek myth of Oedipus and proposes an Oedipus cycle, in contrast to Freud's Oedipus complex, which represents not the unconscious passions of a small boy, but rather the awareness of the life cycle in the larger context of the succession of the generations and their mutual interdependence. (Author/NB)

This article presents a bibliography on education for older adults. (JEL)

Examined how narcissistic intrusion during early childhood may develop into narcissistic difficulties which manifest themselves later in life in feelings of loneliness in elderly women (N=207). Results indicated loneliness in old age was greater among an intruded group in comparison to those whose parental influence was not intrusive. (Author/ABL)

Presents triple-helix model of adult development which incorporates three major roles: family, work, and self, each powered by drive for self-esteem. Asserts that this approach accommodates wide range of possible patterns and varied timing of life events relative to career options, family and relationship choices, and emphasis on self-development.…

Applies Erikson's life cycle conception of ego integrity versus despair in old age to three octogenarian women: Augusta Turnley (fiction), Florida Scott-Maxwell, and Arie Carpenter. Both dialectical struggle in Erikson's model of old age and specific components of ego integrity, despair, and wisdom are made concrete in theoretical exploration of…

Submits that useful quantitative measure of aging is provided by measures of athletic performance. Describes development of model for top athletic performance and for performance of any person at any age. Explains that model shows that athletic performance undergoes significant changes at certain ages and that these change points break the aging…

Investigated contention that differences in styles of reminiscence of older persons could be explained by their levels of ego development in women (n=75) residing in long-term care facilities. Found women with affirming styles of reminiscence had higher levels of ego development than women with negating and despairing styles. (Author/ABL)

Applied two-step cognitive model to relationship between age and creative productivity. Selected ideation and elaboration rates as information-processing parameters that define mathematical function which describes age curves and specifies their variance across disciplines. Applied non-linear estimation program to further validate model. Despite…