Objectives

1. Section 20.3 Adulthood and Marriage Objectives Summarize the changes that people undergo during adulthood. List three keys to a successful marriage. Analyze how decisions made in youth can affect the aging process.

2. Health Stats What trend does this graph show? How might this trend affect communities and the need for health services?

3. Young Adulthood From a legal standpoint, Americans are considered to be adults at the age of 18 for some activities and at the age of 21 for others. You will change physically and emotionally during the transition from adolescence into young adulthood. In fact, changes continue throughout your life as an adult.

4. Physical Maturity Most people reach physical maturity, the state of being full-grown in the physical sense, by their late teens or early twenties. By this time • all of your body systems are fully developed • you are as tall as you will ever be • your physical abilities will reach their peak during young adulthood

6. Emotional Maturity Unlike physical maturity, adults reach emotional maturity, or full development in the emotional sense, over their lifetime. There are three major factors that contribute to emotional maturity • developing close relationships with others • giving back to society • learning to accept yourself for who you are

7. Your Career During adolescence, you need to think, plan, and prepare for your life’s work. During young adulthood, you make decisions and take action towards your career goals. You need to know what skills, education, and training are necessary to achieve your goal.

8. Marriage Ninety-five percent of all Americans marry at some time during their lives. If you do choose to marry, it will probably be one of the most important decisions you will make.

9. Why People Marry Some people marry because they desire another person’s love and companionship. Others marry for financial, social, or cultural reasons. Some couples marry in order to start a family of their own. You need to know yourself fairly well before you select a marriage partner. People usually select marriage partners who have similar interests, values, level of education, and social background to themselves.

10. Successful Marriages Love, compatibility, and commitment are key factors in a successful marriage. People who are truly in love appreciate the things they like about each other and accept the things they dislike. Couples who share many qualities tend to be more compatible. Commitment is the strong determination by the couple to make their marriage a fulfilling lifelong relationship, despite the challenges.

12. Stresses in Marriage Throughout marriage, a couple must be willing to make adjustments to meet each other’s needs. By compromising and accepting tasks that fit their abilities and schedules, a couple usually can develop a comfortable give-and-take relationship. Effective communication can be an important tool in helping a couple get through a crisis.

13. Parenthood Parents need to be able to commit a lifetime of love, guidance, and attention to their children. A couple should review their budget to find out whether or not they can afford to provide food, clothing, and medical care for a child. They need to • discuss who will care for the child if both spouses continue to work • find out if their employers grant maternity or paternity leave • investigate the costs and availability of child care

14. Teens and Marriage When teenagers marry, they often face additional challenges compared with those who marry later. Many married teenagers drop out of school. They may have difficulty earning enough money for rent and food. Unmarried friends may not have the same interests and goals as a married couple.

16. Healthy Aging After about the age of 30, adults begin to experience changes associated with the aging process. People tend to reduce or delay the physical signs of aging when they establish healthy behaviors during their youth.

17. Physical Changes Adults may notice that • their hair starts to turn gray • facial wrinkles begin to appear • their vision and hearing become less sharp

18. Diseases of Older Adulthood The most common diseases that strike older adults include heart disease, cancer, and lung disease. Arthritis This disease attacks the body’s joints. Osteoporosis The bones of older people tend to break easily and heal slowly. Parkinson’s disease This disease of the nervous and muscular systems causes the muscles to become stiff. DementiaDementia (dih MEN shuh) is a disorder characterized by loss of mental abilities, abnormal behaviors, and personality changes. Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease(AHLTS hy murz) causes brain cells to die, resulting in the gradual loss of mental and physical function.

20. For: More on perceptions of aging Click above to go online.

21. Emotional and Social Changes For many people, adulthood is a time of contribution to their family and community. Many adults do undergo a period of self-evaluation. A midlife crisis can lead to positive change. Older adults can best maintain their emotional health if they continue to stay psychologically connected to others.

22. Vocabulary physical maturity The state of being full-grown in the physical sense. emotional maturity The state of being fully developed in the emotional sense. A disorder characterized by loss of mental abilities, abnormal behaviors, and personality changes. dementia Alzheimer’s disease A disease that causes brain cells to die, resulting in the gradual loss of mental and physical function.

23. QuickTake Quiz Click to start quiz.

24. End of Section 20.3 Click on this slide to end this presentation.