Main description:

This handbook integrates and discusses a growing evidence base concerning individual development across middle and late adulthood. The book includes a comprehensive analysis of what growth implies within midlife and older age and considers how different developmental areas are intertwined (i.e., physical, cognitive, social and emotional development as well as personality growth). As the gap between theory and practice still constitutes an issue in developmental research, the handbook also aims to provide illustrative examples of prevention and intervention from a positive psychology perspective. These were selected to represent a variety of topics, relevant for individual development where research informs practice, ranging from happiness, grandparenthood, love and sexuality to loneliness, depression, anxiety, suicide prevention and coping with death.
This handbook is a must-have resource for students and researchers working in developmental psychology, health psychology, gerontology and, public health. It will also be of interest to practitioners such as counsellors, life coaches, psychotherapists, organizational psychologists, health professionals, social workers or public health planners.

Contents:

Table of contents

Forward

Preface

Introduction

Part I. Theories and models of development in midlife and old age

1. A change in paradigm: from disengagement theory to positive ageing

2. Thinking about development: defining criteria and exploring processes

3. Aging policy at the crossroads: from preventing decline to fostering growth

Part II. Dynamics of development in midlife and old age

1. Physical development

2. Cognitive development

3. Social development

4. Emotional development

5. Personality development

Part III. Development in Action: Case studies

1. Ageism prevention and intervention

2. Love: improving relationships in middle and old age

3. Sexuality: towards a fulfilling sexuality

4. Loneliness: prevention and intervention

5. Happiness: fostering happiness in older age

6. Health promotion: principles for older age

7. Fighting the pervasiveness of illness: prevention and intervention in old age

8. Dementia: prevention and intervention

9. Anxiety: prevention and intervention

10. Depression: prevention and intervention

11. Coping with pain in old age

12. Death: preparation and bereavement intervention, suicide prevention