Coming into adulthood has many definitions and variations

Coming into adulthood has many definitions and variations. A young person can assimilate becoming an adult with obtaining their license which in turn leads to freedom or graduating from high school and having to make a tough decision about which major to pursue or which college to attend. From birth to adulthood our bodies develop and go through various changes and forms. Some of these forms can be detrimental to our health whereas some of these health concerns just increase with age.
Health Concerns in Middle Adulthood
In the article The Problems and Concerns of Middle Age, Yaffe mentioned that Erikson described growth as the following ” as a predictable movement through psychosexual stages with corresponding psychosexual challenges. Erikson also focused on adulthood and he mentioned that “adulthood refers to midlife and represents a potential period of productivity and creativity” Yaffe, M. J., & Stewart, M. A. (1984).
There are various health concerns which take place during middle adulthood some of these health concerns are listed as follows: Immune system slows down the ability for you to fight off cold-like symptoms or the flu becomes harder due to age and often progressing into a more serious illness. Second health concern would be added on weight, this occurs when you age and it becomes increasingly difficult to lose weight because the same metabolism you may have had in your adolescent years has changed once you have crept into middle adulthood. You may be prone to high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease because your boy is different and you’re not getting rid of the excess weight like before. An additional factor which might increase these health concerns are genetics’. Often times these health concerns appear in our middle adulthood due to family genetics’.
Another risk factor in middle adulthood which is geared towards seniors are fragile bones. Women 50 and older are twice more likely than their male peers to break a bone because of this “brittle bone disease.” (WEB MD). Cancer is another form of health problem that effects millions of Americans each year. Scientist are not sure of the reason why cancer forms in the body but modifying what you eat with proper diet and exercise can decrease the chances of you getting cancer sooner then you should. Lastly, Depression is another form of health concern. Many people are not aware of the implications and or aware they are living with depression. According to Web MED about 1 in 20 Americans 60 and older has depression. There are various therapies, medications, and focus groups that will help tackle depression. As a person who suffers from depression ensuring you have the proper medication management (if you decide to take that route), support system and attend groups or individual counseling sessions you will be able to get a handle on depression.
Analysis
According to the article Ethnicity, and Health in Later Life we learn about Socioeconomic status. The disparity among health within the racial/ethnic sector is wide, in this we notice that in most poor countries you have individuals who are “less educated” and those who will suffer from diseases due to miss information, information unavailable to them and less access to medical assistance. Understanding the ramifications of living in a society with limited access of limited information and resources due to your socioeconomic status or class is horrifying.
According to Roxburgh, S. (2009), it was founded in a 2003 National Health Survey that ” black and white men are significantly less depressed than black and white women”. Understanding the Socioeconomic status of our society will enable a better understanding of different behavioral patterns, employment stagnation, and combatting poverty. Women have more mental issues on their plates than to the average man I say this due to the women’s body constantly changing from birth to labor and delivery, which leads to post-partum depression for many women, marriage, home, and employment.
Another factor I covered in my previous paragraphs was cancer which is another cause of health concerns in middle adulthood. The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) conducted a poll of the prevalence of cancer risk in different races It was suggested that “, residents of poorer counties (those with greater than or equal to 20% of the population below the poverty line) have 13% higher death rates from cancer in men and 3% higher rates in women compared with more affluent counties (less than 10% below the poverty line)” . This is alarming because in my previous experience I lost an aunt this year to cancer in her middle adulthood which was late 50’s. It was a devastating time for everyone. Cancer is one of those many ill maladies people dread to have. Ensuring you eat clean, exercise regularly, and visit the doctor will allow for early detection.
Lastly, in race/ethnicity we discussed high blood pressure and it was observed that “People who are African-American, American Indian/native Alaskan, Asian, or native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders have a significantly greater chance of developing hypertension than people who are white or Hispanic who are in the same weight category or live in neighborhoods with similar education levels” Permanente, K. (2018). Hypertension is prevalent and higher in the African American community with 46.0 percent and the lowest is Hispanics having a percentage of 34.3 percent. Permanente, K. (2018).
Assessment Process
Conducting a through medical history is important, it Is the component of learning engaging that will help you learn more about the families or if singular the client you are working with. Assessments are important because it allows for a more comprehensive look into ones health and help identify needs and wants. During the assessment process it allows for goals to be addressed, whether it be educational, health goals, or financial.
As the social worker on this case I would focus on their genetic makeup, personal behaviors or physical barriers that could potentially lead to these health concerns as described. Housing placements and conditions, quality of food, also we are not limited to discussing cultural factors, care, and is there access to proper medical treatment if an incident were to occur. It is my duty as a social worker to provide linkage to referrals within the community that will assist them in receiving health care and benefits, educating them on the risk and factors if they are not careful with what and how they eat.
As we look into the various barriers to approaching middle adult hood there is promise to believe at this point life has fully begun in terms of a steady career, a home being purchased, and traveling. During middle adulthood various goals are set, become wiser in decision making.
Understanding the socioeconomic factors that impact the different race/ethnicity groups when interacting with adults in middle adulthood will enable a better comprehensive look into their lives, while providing support and direction in areas of lack of support.