Mental Health and Relationships from Early Adulthood through Old Age

This unique text encourages young adults to reflect on their prospective longevity for setting goals and making decisions, become aware of the aspirations and concerns of other generations, and consider personal direction in relation to peer group norms. The sources for learning about mental health and relationships include a blend of academic research, insights from literature, student interviews with older and younger relatives, and personal observations. Stages of adulthood including early adulthood, middle adulthood, retirement age, and old age, are described showing how people can pursue individual growth and nurture the mental health of relatives throughout life. The main themes of younger and middle-aged adults include stress, parenting, peer socialization, family conflict, career readiness, domestic abuse, intergenerational relationships, and mental health. In addition, the educational needs of older adults focus on mental health, family caregiving, grandparenting, physical and social health, problems of younger generations, retirement, loneliness and social isolation, elder abuse, death, grief, and recovery. All chapters conclude with a section about Generational Perspectives Activities, assignments with agenda for class and family discussions, problem-solving scenarios, key concepts, and criteria for self-evaluation. This will be of interest to undergraduate and graduate college students enrolled in lifespan courses offered by family studies, educational psychology, human development, counselling, social work, gerontology, nursing, and business.

Paris S. Strom is a Professor of Educational Psychology at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Paris currently teaches child, adolescent, and adult development courses to undergraduate and graduate students. He is the author of over 100 journal articles and books about the learning process throughout the human lifespan. Robert D. Strom is a Professor Emeritus of College of Education at Arizona State University. His teaching, writing, and research focus on lifespan development and mental health to support families. He is the author of over 200 articles and textbooks. Robert and Paris are a father-and-son team.

Introduction: Thinking About the Future. Part I. Early Adulthood (Ages 20-40). 1. Student Stress and Mental Health. 2. Taking Risks and Higher Education. 3. Parents Teach Preschoolers About the Internet. 4. Parents Teach Critical and Creative Thinking. Part II. Middle Age (Ages 40-60). 5. Goals and Self-Evaluation. 6. Caregivers and Their Aging Parents. 7. The Influence of Adolescent Peers. 8. Family Differences in a Conflict Culture. Part III. Retirement Age (Ages 60-80). 9. Peer Norms and Productive Aging. 10. Family Expectations of Grandparents. 11. Intergenerational Communication. 12. Death, Grief and Recovery. Part IV. Old Age (Ages 80+). 13. Mental, Physical, and Social Health. 14. Abuse Across the Life Span. 15. Social Connections in Later Life. 16. Goals and Concerns of Five Generations.