Carolyn M. Aldwin – författare

FROM THE FOREWORD by James Birren:

"Gaining understanding of aging is one of the most complex issues facing twenty-first century science. This book addresses the complexity of the factors that interact and influence the course of our longer life expectancy….How we humans grow old is a product of our genetic background as members of a species and our families. But the genome expresses itself in physical and social environments that modulate the appearance of heredity traits. In a sense aging is an ecological problem in which the dynamics are often difficult to explain….This book brings information from the sciences together in a way that is rarely done…..It provides an integration of knowledge about the dynamics of aging and can promote wisdom about how we can modify the life course to our advantage."

 

In Health, Illness, and Optimal Aging: Biological and Psychosocial Perspectives, Carolyn M. Aldwin and Diane F. Gilmer undertake the challenging task of assembling an objective and holistic picture of human aging. The authors provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary coverage of the physical aspects of aging, including age-related changes and disease-related processes, the demography of the aging population, theories of aging, and the promotion of optimal aging. In addition, the book covers the psychosocial aspects of aging, including mental health, stress and coping, spirituality, and care giving in later years.

 

Features of this book:

Integrated. Discusses both the biological aspects and psychosocial factors of aging, thus providing integrated coverage of information from the fields of biology, psychology, and the social sciences. Discusses both the biological aspects and psychosocial factors of aging, thus providing integrated coverage of information from the fields of biology, psychology, and the social sciences. Comprehensive. Covers every part of the aging process including the physical effect on the different systems of the human body, quality of life, social support, and health promotion programs. Covers every part of the aging process including the physical effect on the different systems of the human body, quality of life, social support, and health promotion programs. Pedagogical. Examples in each chapter enhance students' understanding of real-life situations, and methodological issues help students become more critical consumers of research and data.Examples in each chapter enhance students' understanding of real-life situations, and methodological issues help students become more critical consumers of research and data. Discusses both the biological aspects and psychosocial factors of aging, thus providing integrated coverage of information from the fields of biology, psychology, and the social sciences. Covers every part of the aging process including the physical effect on the different systems of the human body, quality of life, social support, and health promotion programs. Examples in each chapter enhance students' understanding of real-life situations, and methodological issues help students become more critical consumers of research and data. Discusses both the biological aspects and psychosocial factors of aging, thus providing integrated coverage of information from the fields of biology, psychology, and the social sciences. Covers every part of the aging process including the physical effect on the different systems of the human body, quality of life, social support, and health promotion programs. Examples in each chapter enhance students' understanding of real-life situations, and methodological issues help students become more critical consumers of research and data. Discusses both the biological aspects and psychosocial factors of aging, thus providing integrated coverage of information from the fields of biology, psychology, and the social sciences. Covers every part of the aging process including the physical effect on the different systems of the human body, quality of life, social support, and health promotion programs. Examples in each chapter enhance students' understanding of real-life situations, and methodological issues help students become more critical consumers of research and data.

Health, Illness and Optimal Aging is recommended for researchers seeking an overview of health psychology and aging, as well as undergraduate and graduate students taking classes in the social, behavioral, and health sciences. This text is also valuable for practitioners working with the elderly in fields such as nursing, social work, occupational and physical therapy, day-care and nursing home administration, psychology, and rehabilitation.

Using data compiled from longitudinal studies of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans, contributors to this groundbreaking book examine the effects of military service across the lifespan.The US spends over billion dollars annually on healthcare for more than 3 million active military and veterans. The prevalence of negative trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military veterans is well-known. But other more subtle effects of military service-particularly on health and well-being in later life-are less well-understood, among researchers as well as medical and mental health professionals who care for veterans.Chapters in this book give us crucial insights into the impact of military service, including the surprising finding that service can serve as a protective factor in some contexts, throughout the aging process. Topic areas include the effects of combat and stress on longevity and brain functioning the use of memory, cognition, and ego development at various points in life the relationship between experiences of discrimination and the later development of PTSD marriage longevity employment and the way notions of patriotism and nationalism among service personnel and their families may change over time.

Widely regarded as the definitive reference, this volume comprehensively examines the psychological processes associated with religion and spirituality. Leading scholars from multiple psychological subdisciplines present developmental, cognitive, social psychological, cultural, and clinical perspectives on this core aspect of human experience. The forms and functions of religious practices and rituals, conversion experiences, and spiritual struggles are explored. Other key topics include religion as a meaning system, religious influences on prosocial and antisocial behavior, and connections to health, coping, and psychotherapy.New to This EditionTwo chapters on cross-cultural issues. Chapters on spiritual goals, emotional values, and mindfulness. Reflects significant theoretical and empirical developments in the field. Many new authors and extensively revised chapters. Robust index amplifies the volume's usefulness as a reference tool. A Choice Outstanding Academic Title

How do people cope with stressful experiences? What makes a coping strategy effective for a particular individual? This volume comprehensively examines the nature of psychosocial stress and the implications of different coping strategies for adaptation and health across the lifespan. Carolyn M. Aldwin synthesizes a vast body of knowledge within a conceptual framework that emphasizes the transactions between mind and body and between persons and environments. She analyzes different kinds of stressors and their psychological and physiological effects, both negative and positive. Ways in which coping is influenced by personality, relationships, situational factors, and culture are explored. The book also provides a methodological primer for stress and coping research, critically reviewing available measures and data analysis techniques.

Meeting a growing need, this authoritative reference and text comprehensively examines the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in health and illness in older adults. The volume explores how and why some people adapt more successfully than others to age-related stressors such as chronic illness, disability, and loss, and identifies ways to promote coping and resilience. With contributions from leading researchers in health psychology and gerontology, the Handbook integrates state-of-the-science theories and methods from both fields. Key topics include how aging affects the cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and immune systems; the influences on adult development and health of personality, emotions, social support, and religiousness; and effective interventions in healthcare settings.