The process of aging implies facing a range of new challenges and developing an effective coping mechanism for handling the emergent issues. In his exploration of the changes that aging people undergo, Peck expanded Erikson’s model of the stages of aging, introducing five additional phases of psychosocial progress (Erber, 2019). Although studies have shown that aging people are more prone to reconciliation both with internal conflicts and the disagreements with society, the presence of environmental, social, and psychological factors affecting aging people adversely may lead to a failure to approach the changes healthily and may incite suicidal ideation.
Aging within a community implies being affected by a range of contextual factors. Based on the tenets of Peck’s theory as the extension of Erikson’s developmental stages, the changes in question depend significantly on environmental factors, primarily, the question of whether an individual resides in an urban or a rural context (Erber, 2019). Namely, the closely-knit community of a rural setting suggests experiencing the Control versus Dependency stage differently, namely, by experiencing a better person=environment fit due to better collaboration, communication, and unity within the rural setting (Erber, 2019).
The social context also affects the psychosocial development of aging people, particularly, the propensity toward anxiety, distress, and depression in the target population. Specifically, passing the Ego Transcendence versus Ego Preoccupation stage successfully is contingent upon the absence of racial and ethnic stereotypes within the target community (Erber, 2019). Specifically, with a higher rate of prejudices and discrimination against ethnic, racial, or cultural minorities within a community affects the ability for an aging person to reconcile between their ego transcendence and ego preoccupation (Erber, 2019). Namely, experiencing racial stereotyping and discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities is likely to inhibit the process of reconciling with oneself and recognizing one’s personal worth due to impaired self-esteem as a result of discrimination and the related malicious practices within a community (Erber, 2019). Therefore, the psychological well-being of an aging person in the specified setting is likely to be affected significantly, leading to a major psychological trauma and causing anxiety and even depression (Erber, 2019). Thus, social factors, particularly, the level of inclusion, affect the extent of psychological wellness in aging adults.
Finally, psychological factors must be linked to the successful acceptance of aging and the transfer to another developmental stage. Defined by Peck as Body transcendence versus Body Preoccupation, the specified stage implies overcoming a substantial level of emotional discomfort due to the fear of physical health issues (Erber, 2019). In turn, the psychological context, namely, the presence of the factors that may be perceived as uncomfortable and upsetting by an aging individual, affects the development of body and ego preoccupation, forcing one to question one’s sense of self.
Affected by the deleterious urban conditions, the presence of racial prejudices, and complicated relationships with neighbors, aging people are significantly more prone to developing psychological distress in accordance with the psychosocial development stages as established by Peck. The effort to balance out the levels of control and dependency, as well as recognize and accept body and ego transcendence, suggests that aging people are prone to a significant amount of psychological distress, which places them under a significant threat of developing a mental health issue. Therefore, understanding the effect that contextual influences, particularly, environmental, social, and psychological ones, produce on aging people, is vital for supporting the specified vulnerable population.
Reference
Erber, J. T. (2012). Aging and older adulthood (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.