PSY FPX 7210 Assessment 4 Adult Development Case and Intervention Analysis

Student Name

Capella University

PSY FPX 7210 Lifespan Development

Prof. Name:

Date

Adult Development Case and Intervention Analysis – Maria

Introduction

As individuals transition from adolescence to adulthood, they continue to face various developmental milestones and challenges. Adults may pursue higher education, marry, divorce, and/or have children. They also encounter new responsibilities, such as paying bills, renting or owning a home, and so on. Many adults may need to care for aging parents or other family members. Additionally, illness, injury, and financial difficulties present challenges in adulthood. Lifespan developmental theories provide insight into the development that should occur in adulthood, including the roles of heredity and environment in shaping adult characteristics and behavior (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). These theories are essential in identifying developmental delays or changes in adults.

This paper will discuss 50-year-old Maria, who has experienced various changes in her life. Her physician expressed concern that she might be suffering from depression and referred her to a mental health clinic. Maria’s primary challenges, cultural factors, and the developmental theories and interventions that may be necessary to improve her life will be explored.

Primary Challenges

Various life challenges can impact an individual’s developmental stages. In Maria’s case, her current challenges include the recent passing of her father, living with her daughter and grandmother, her attempted suicide, and being out of work due to a job-related injury. Her social life has also been affected due to her sole responsibility of raising three children while working as a nurse. Maria hasn’t given herself time to socialize or engage in conversations about her daily struggles with friends. She has difficulty discussing her struggles, particularly after her boyfriend left when the children were younger.

The death of her father is her most significant struggle. Due to her busy lifestyle, she hasn’t had time to grieve properly. The loss of a parent is a major transition for adults, often leading to a reevaluation of roles, responsibilities, and identity, which can cause a psychological burden (Leopold & Lechner, 2015). Maria was very close to her father, who was a source of emotional support. Leopold and Lechner (2015) argue that reductions in subjective well-being can result from the death of a parent.

Cultural Factors

Culture plays a crucial role in shaping an individual’s development. Heckhausen, Wrosch, and Schulz (2010) stated that an individual’s developmental potential emerges from mastering challenges related to regulating motivational processes. People also acquire cultural scripts, which articulate cultural norms, values, and practices. These scripts enhance understanding of lifespan trajectories or domains of functioning, such as physical, cognitive, and social-emotional functioning (Riediger et al., 2014). Cultural scripts influence one’s knowledge of the surrounding world.

Additionally, assessing self-competency and the competencies of others begins to develop in childhood and continues into adulthood (Haase, Heckhausen, & Wrosch, 2013). Evidence suggests that adults evaluate their functioning, and optimistic beliefs about one’s development may be less accurate due to self-worth protective biases (Riediger et al., 2014). Maria has shown some self-reflection by expressing a desire to try dating after realizing she has often put others before herself.

Lifespan Development Theories

Schaie, a notable theorist, discussed a series of stages in adult life that require the development of different ways to utilize intellectual resources (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). These changes are related to shifts in familial roles and challenges that arise with age. Maria is currently in the responsible stage of Schaie’s theory, as she adapts to the changing needs of her children and copes with the loss of her father. Her dedication to her family is rooted in her Mexican cultural values. Smith-Morris and colleagues describe this as familismo, where the value of the family takes precedence over individual needs (2013). This concept is evident in Maria’s decision to have her daughter and granddaughter live with her and in her working overtime as a nurse to ensure her family’s financial stability. Maria consistently puts her children’s needs ahead of her own.

Daniel Levinson is another theorist who explored development and changes in adulthood, focusing on the concept of life structure. He believed that adults have a life structure that encompasses their career, social interactions, and relationships (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Changes in one’s life structure can significantly impact a person’s life. Levinson’s theory consists of seven stages where adults commit to new tasks and changes in their life structure (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). For Maria, these tasks and changes include caring for her daughter and grandchild, adjusting to life without her father, and recovering from her injury while being off work for several months. Additionally, although Maria has expressed an interest in dating, recent events have made this desire a lower priority.

Erik Erikson also proposed that individuals undergo psychological developments as they age (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Among Erikson’s stages of development, the generativity versus stagnation stage is relevant to Maria’s case. This stage involves an individual’s interest in guiding the next generation, which is as significant as one’s career (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Maria has devoted much of her life to raising her children. She continues to guide them through their developmental stages by providing emotional support and financial assistance when needed. Maria has also had a successful career as a nurse at a local hospital. However, her injury has kept her out of work for some time, which has affected her identity and mood. The change in her ability to contribute to her family and society may have contributed to her attempted suicide.

Community-Based Multimodal Intervention

Maria’s suicide attempt is a significant concern. The various stressors in her life are affecting her psychological well-being, and her lack of social support may further contribute to her suicidal tendencies. A community-based multimodal intervention could be beneficial in preventing future suicide attempts. This intervention focuses on reinforcing social support and relationships within a community, as well as providing access to health-related resources (Ono et al., 2013). Education and awareness programs are also implemented to improve the recognition of risk factors and suicidal behaviors.

Furthermore, social support networks are established for individuals with suicidal tendencies to create an environment where they can discuss challenges and struggles and explore problem-solving strategies to alleviate these challenges (Ono et al., 2013). Research by Ono and colleagues found that incidences of suicide decreased significantly with this intervention, especially among older adults.

Conclusion

Maria is a hardworking 50-year-old woman who has experienced several recent events that have led to changes in her behavior and ultimately to a suicide attempt. Her Mexican cultural value of familismo influences many of her decisions, as she consistently prioritizes her family’s needs over her own. Implementing social support interventions, such as a community-based multimodal intervention, could provide Maria with the support she needs to mourn the loss of her father and feel less isolated in caring for her family. These interventions would offer her a space to express her concerns and worries and allow her to collaborate with the social support group to find solutions to overcome her challenges.

References

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (4th ed.). Pearson.

Haase, C. M., Heckhausen, J., & Wrosch, C. (2013). Developmental regulation across the life span: Toward a new synthesis. Developmental Psychology, 49(5), 964–972. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029231

Heckhausen, J., Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2010). A motivational theory of life-span development. Psychological Review, 117(1), 32–60. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017668

Leopold, T., & Lechner, C. M. (2015). Parents’ death and adult well-being: Gender, age, and adaptation to filial bereavement. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(3), 747–760. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12186

Ono, Y., Sakai, A., Otsuka, K., Uda, H., Oyama, H., Ishizuka, N., & Yonemoto, N. (2013). Effectiveness of a multimodal community intervention program to prevent suicide and suicide attempts: A quasi-experimental study. PLoS One, 8(10), e74902. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0074902