Explore the sociological aspects of young and middle adulthood
Week 4: Sociological Aspects of Young and Middle Adulthood
As individuals transition into young and middle adulthood, they make important lifestyle decisions. These may include decisions about whom to marry or whether to marry at all. They may include decisions about whether to have children or about how to take care of elderly relatives. The decisions adults make in the young and middle adulthood life-span phase affect the new roles they assume, such as parent, spouse, significant other, or caregiver. Life changes may occur that require adults to adapt these roles, for example, to stepparent, widow, or divorcee.
This week, you explore the sociological aspects of young and middle adulthood. You consider the complexity of family systems as well as the macro systems that affect families. You also focus on poverty’s critical impact on family systems.
Discussion: Poverty in Young and Middle Adulthood
Poverty has a strong influence on the lives of adults. When an adult lives in poverty, the effects extend beyond that individual to all those who depend on the adult. The problem of poverty in the life of an adult becomes a family or community problem, and few social problems are more impactful than poverty.
As a social worker, you are likely to address the needs of clients whose adverse circumstances are strongly influenced by poverty. Increasing your understanding of poverty and its influence will equip to you to better understand and assist your clients.
As you read this week’s resources, select the theory of poverty that most resonates with you to address in your Discussion post for this week.
By Day 3
Post a Discussion that includes the following:
An explanation of how poverty impacts the experience of individuals in young and middle adulthood
A statement as to whether you think poverty is the result of cultural or individual. characteristics; provide support for your position
An answer to the following questions about the theory of poverty you selected:
What aspects of this theory would be most suitable for your practice? Why?
What aspects of this theory do you find problematic in terms of your knowledge of social work practice? Explain.
Required Readings
Zastrow, C. H., Kirst-Ashman, K. K. & Hessenauer, S. L. (2019). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Chapter 12, “Sociological Aspects of Young and Middle Adulthood” (pp. 536-603)
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
“The Hernandez Family” (pp. 3–5)
Required Media
Laureate Education (Producer). (2013). Hernandez family: Episode 6 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.
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