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Occupational and Lifestyle Issues in Young and Middle Adulthood

Occupational and Lifestyle Issues in Young and Middle Adulthood . Chapter 12. Meaning of Work. Prestige, recognition Excitement, enjoyment, fulfillment Money Need to find meaning ubiquitous Type of meaning varies w/ job, socialization. Meaning of Work. 4 common meanings Developing self

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Occupational and Lifestyle Issues in Young and Middle Adulthood

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  1. Occupational and Lifestyle Issues in Young and Middle Adulthood Chapter 12

  2. Meaning of Work • Prestige, recognition • Excitement, enjoyment, fulfillment • Money • Need to find meaning ubiquitous • Type of meaning varies w/ job, socialization

  3. Meaning of Work • 4 common meanings • Developing self • Expressing self • Union w/ others • Serving others • Meaning satisfied = personal fulfillment

  4. Meaning of Work • Critical for many aspects of development • Identity • Lifestyle • Interpersonal relationships • Holland: occupation choice based on traits • W > M: social, artistic, conventional • Within occupation W ~ M • Context & development critical

  5. Occupational Development • Promotion, advancement • Super: self-concept changes -> OD (5 stages) • Implementation (late adolescent) • Multiple temporary positions trying different jobs • Establishment (young adulthood) • Specific occupation selected & being promoted • Maintenance (middle adulthood) • Reduce time spent on occupation - more family

  6. Occupational Development • Deceleration (late-middle adulthood) • Planning for retirement, separate from work • Retirement (late adulthood) • Stop working

  7. Occupational Expectations • We learn what to expect from an occupation • Key task of young adulthood is to form an occupational dream • Expectations revised during adulthood • Due to failure, discrimination, reality, new interests • Causes revision or rejection of the dream

  8. Role of Mentors • Teacher, sponsor, model, counselor • Helps new worker avoid trouble • Improves chance for advancement • Promotes well being

  9. Role of Mentors • Develop through 4 stages • Initiation: begin relationship • Cultivation: work together • Separation: less time spent together • Redefinition: relationship ends/transformed • Benefits to mentors • Fulfill generativity need (help next generation)

  10. Job Satisfaction • Positive feeling from an appraisal of one’s work & increases w/ age • Self-selection/fit • Elements -> satisfaction change over time • Middle aged: intrinsic satisfaction & less job focus • Young adults: extrinsic (pay) satisfaction

  11. Job Burnout • Syndrome characterized by • Emotional exhaustion • Depersonalization • Diminished personal accomplishment • Most common in helping professions • Teachers, nurses, therapists • Increases w/ age & years on job

  12. Job Burnout • Defense involves • Stress-reducing tactics • Lowering self-expectations • Enhance organizational communication

  13. Gender Issues • Men socialized to have occupations • Key aspect of masculinity • Judge a man by his work • Key skills taught via team sports • Women socialized to be: • Accomodating, deferential, quiet, supportive • Judged by appearance • Changing in recent decades as 2/3 work

  14. Occupational Development • Many professional women leave their jobs • Children key deciding factor • Child care, work environment supportive • Work setting • Value masculine traits • Disconnected from workplace • Makes continuous development difficult

  15. Bias & Discrimination • Few women in high status jobs (5%) • Why? • Sex discrimination: deny job due to sex • Still pervasive • ‘Boys Club’ & glass ceiling • Pay discrimination (women paid 3/4 of men) • Companies need to being valuing more feminine competencies

  16. Sexual Harassment • Power difference = potential • Sexual coercion: tit for tat (e.g., sex for job) • Unwanted sexual attention • Gender harassment • Creating hostile or offensive work environment • Reasonable woman/person standard • SH if reasonable person would view it as offensive

  17. Sexual Harassment • ~40% women report some form • Less than 5% report it • Negatively impacts • Emotional state • Mental health • Job outcomes • Job satisfaction (even among men) • Productivity

  18. Occupational Transitions • In US adult changes jobs 5-10 times • Advantages include flexibility, maintain challenge & rewarding work • Factors predicting change • Occupational favor->training/promotions/better job • Technology -> skills obsolete

  19. Retraining Workers • Skill needs change over time • Technology, promotion, etc. • Need to occasionally update skills or else: • Career plateauing - lack of promotional potential • 1/3 US workers are retrained/year • Improve technical skills • Advance/find new employment opportunities

  20. Unemployment • Many negative impacts • Physical health • Self-esteem • Alcohol/drug abuse • Depression, anxiety, suicide • Depends on age and gender • Worse for middle aged men • Easier for men close to retirement

  21. Unemployment • Managing occupational transitions • Approach job loss with health urgency • Consider/plan for next career move • Admit/react to the change (no denial) • be cautions of temporary jobs • Identify realistic goals and make a plan

  22. Work and Family • Key is finding a balance • 2/3 of 2 adult households both work • Employed caregivers (mothers) • > 50% married moms, ~50% of single moms w/ child < 1 work • Even more work w/ children of any age • Motivation to work related to money, aspiration • Identity/role conflict issues (career OR mother)

  23. Dependent Care • Can have negative impacts (elderly parent) • Higher stress, more work conflicts • Poorer quality of life, poor coping • Worse for women • Reduces with good partner, employer support

  24. Multiple Roles • Both adults work who does what? • Work v. home responsibilities • Dividing household chores • Women do vast majority (50% more) • Source of conflict • Since 1970 women decreased, men increased but • Men: weekend work w/ specific tasks (not female role) • Change: Communicate, educate children

  25. Leisure • Discretionary activity (for fun, enjoyment) • Cultural: watch sports event, concerts • Physical: play sports, gardening • Social: visit friends, parties • Solitary: reading, listening to music • Value depends on individual • Chosen based on perceived competence & psychological comfort

  26. Leisure • Developmental Changes • Young adults: greater range, more strenuous, intense activities • Middle adults: home-family activities • Later adults: sedentary activities

  27. Leisure • Consequences • Feelings of freedom • Increases well-being • Improves mental health in women • Buffers against stress • Social: may enhance relationship satisfaction

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