Case Study #3-Chapter 13 1

Running head: Case Study #3-Chapter 13

U09a1: Case Study #3-Chapter 13

Anthony Rhodes

Psy7210

Life Span Development

2911 Hamilton Blvd. 444

Sioux City, Iowa 51104

Telephone: 712-301-9258

Email: anthonyrhodes54@yahoo.com

Instructor: David Chapman, PsyD

Case Study #3 : Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P./Chapter 13

Discussion Questions

1. What are the developmental stresses (age-related) and contextual stresses (non-normative) in

Lupe’s life at the present time? Consider her age, family role, and cultural context.

The cultural distinctives of Lupe’s background as a Mexican-American are a significant

backdrop to her story. According to recent findings, Mexican-Americans tend to be culturally

interdependent. They have a collectivist, as opposed to individualistic, sociocultural perspective

and are more group and family oriented (University of Washington, 2009). Members of

collectivist cultures are often characterized by their emphasis on interdependence of mother and

child and highly value the maternal role and family (Lynch & Hanson, 2004 as cited in

Blunk, Russell, Williams, 2008).

Although Lupe is a self-sufficient and acculturated Mexican-American, her collectivist

cultural background is clearly demonstrated by her strong concern and sense of responsibility for

the well being of her family members and her mother’s high expectations of Lupe’s ongoing care

and protection. Moreover, the proximity maintenance and secure attachment quality of Lupe’s

relationship with her mother seems to have contributed to Lupe’s psychosocial development

resulting in a positive and secure self identity.

Adult attachment styles and developmental levels of self identity may vary depending on

early attachments in childhood and infancy. A child's future social behavior including the

strength and stability of the later intergenerational bonds is hypothetically shaped by early

parental attaching behavior (Klaus, 2009). A securely-attached adult will often attempt to
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preserve the security of the intergenerational bond with aged parents. "When

the attachment bond is threatened by the parent's illness or deprivation, the adult child who is

attached will provide care giving to maintain the survival of the elderly parent and preserve the

emotional bond" (Cicirelli, 1983, as cited in Klaus, 2009).

As a 45 year old single woman, Lupe is suddenly confronted with the age related crisis of

middle adulthood. After 16 years of being separated from her boyfriend and the father of her

two children, a new longing for someone to share her life with has surfaced. In the past, her

preoccupation with providing care and protection for her children dominated her life task.

According to Gould (1978), one of the most common misconceptions that is exposed in midlife

for women is “there is no existence except for providing care and protection” (Capella

University, 2009). Valliant (1977) suggests that generativity needs often reorganize for women

in middle adulthood so that direct care giving to children is suddenly less satisfying which

provides additional impetus to seek a broader meaning for one’s life (as cited in Broderick, P. C.,

& Blewitt, P., 2006).

Apparently some of Lupe’s midlife stress was brought on by the realization of the signs

of physical aging and the disturbing future possibility of being alone like her mother. Normal

signs of aging, such as graying hair, menopause, wrinkles, and weight gain can be particularly

difficult for some women to manage, especially if their primary identity and self-esteem have

come from their appearance. Midlife crises and the fear of losing the attention of men can even

cause women to seek a more youthful appearance through unhealthy methods, such as eating

disorders (Harris & Cumella, 2006). Furthermore, her fear of loneliness is confirmed by recent
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research that indicates Hispanics living alone experienced the highest levels of depression

relative to African American and non-Hispanic White respondents (Russell &Taylor, 2009).

In addition to the Lupe’s midlife propensity to reassess her life structure, unexpected

events or non-normative crises had suddenly caused her additional stress. According to

Levinson, an individual’s midlife structure may have many components but most prominent are

commitment to family and occupation in the midst of controlled and uncontrollable midlife

changes (Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P., 2006). Unfortunately, in Lupe’s situation both areas of

family and occupation became the targets of non-normative crises.

Lupe’s daughter Lucia and her 2 year old granddaughter Eva moved in with her after her

daughter terminated a turbulent relationship with her boyfriend Tomas. Lupe’s strong ethnic and

maternal instincts for her daughter and family relationships suddenly became the source of

significant stress. Perhaps Lupe was again reminded of the non-normative crisis of the broken

relationship she was forced to endure 16 years before with the loss of her boyfriend, Lucia’s

father. Just as Lupe in midlife was now faced with the fear and future possibility she may

replicate her mother’s dilemma of loneliness, perhaps one of her greatest maternal fears was her

daughter enduring the same sorrow and hardship that Lupe experienced in the loss of the man

she considered to be her “husband”.

A second non-normative crisis struck when Lupe attempted to help a patient at work and

severely hurt her back. As a result, she was forced to leave work for several months and receive

physical therapy. These non-normative crises or changes can have powerful effects to alter

“developmental trajectories” and an individual’s life task (Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P., 2006).

For Lupe, questions regarding her financial stability, full physical recovery, her midlife quest to
 Case Study #3-Chapter 13 5

find a significant other and the prospect of her limited mobility to help her aging mother and

immediate family most likely proved to be quite stressful as well.

According to Price, Choi and Vinokur (2002), one’s physical and mental health often

decreases in proportion to the lack of personal control that accompanies a loss of financial

resources (as cited in Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P., 2006). The phenomenon of job loss and

financial hardship is one of the major causes of depression in middle adulthood of which Lupe

became a victim.

2. What are Lupe’s sources of strength? What aspects of her cognitive functioning and her

personality might support her resilience in the face of difficulties?

Early in middle adulthood, Lupe encountered a family non-normative crisis in the loss of

her boyfriend and the father of their two children. Although they were never married, Lupe

thought of him as her husband, indicating the level of strength and security she derived from the

emotional and intimate bond of their relationship. Burdened down with the lack of generative

capacity to provide financially for his family and an eroding sense of life satisfaction caused her

“husband” to leave.

However, Lupe was able to regroup and set new priorities for her life despite the severe

pain of a broken relationship. Her cognitive ability to raise her two children as a single parent

and later care for her aging mother indicates Lupe possessed strong personality traits

characteristic of a positive self-esteem, self-concept and self-regulation. Her resiliency to endure

a significant non-normative crisis in her past may also prove to be a positive source of reflection

and encouragement that will empower her to conquer her present life challenges.
 Case Study #3-Chapter 13 6

In addition, her inherent sense of responsibility, fortitude and self sufficiency could also

motivate her to once again adapt to her present life changes with coping and problem solving

skills. Furthermore, her closeness to the members of her parish community could provide the

necessary support system needed in a time of midlife changes and non-normative crisis. Self

concept is challenged and strengthened when one is able to discover adaptable solutions to

midlife changes and crisis within the context of meaningful social connections (Capella

University, 2009).

3. What is the potential impact of Lucia’s return on her mother? On Eva? On Tomas?

Lucia’s return to live with her mother could prove to be a frequent source of stress and

comfort for both Lucia and her mother, Lupe. As a young adult, Lucia may have grown to

appreciate her freedom of personal expression and independence away from her mother but her

broken relationship with Tomas will need the comfort, resiliency and problem solving skills of

her mother’s past experiences to help Lucia cope with her present and future circumstances.

Developmental constructs indicate that girls and women progress in moral development

with more of an emphasis on care, responsibility and relationships vs. rights and rules in boys

and men (Gilligan, 1993). Lupe’s strong maternal and family aspirations to see her daughter

avoid the troubled relational past of her own life may lend itself to comfort and a willingness to

assist her daughter as much as possible.

The stressful aspect of the new living arrangement may enter in through the parenting of

Eva. Two aspects of parenting style should be considered by caregivers at this stage to provide

proper discipline and care. A combination of parental responsiveness and parental

demandingness should be demonstrated by caregivers in a delicate balance to maintain and

reinforce a child’s sense of positive self-esteem (Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P., 2006). This

could result in either a positive or negative experience depending on Lucia’s receptivity to her

mother’s counsel and Lupe’s willingness to allow her daughter to grow and develop her own

parenting style. Given that secure attachments are mostly formed with the mother, Eva may not

encounter any immediate problems even with absence of her father, Tomas.

It is unclear from the case study as to what repercussions this new living arrangement

may have upon Tomas. However, as a young adult seeking intimacy in relationships with the

opposite sex, perhaps the absence of his girlfriend and daughter will help him understand that the

interpersonal sharing of lives must be characterized by openness, affection and trust.

4. What advice might you give to Lupe? To Lucia and Tomas?

The principle focus from a psychological perspective would be to help Lupe recognize

that middle adulthood is a period often marked by life changes and adaptability (Capella

University, 2009). As a counselor, this author would encourage her to draw from her strengths

that have made her a survivor through past changes and crises. It may be required that proper

testing assessments, diagnosis and treatment be administered for depression and any other

comorbid conditions. Finally, providing Lupe with an objective understanding of the shifting

changes characteristic of middle adulthood may assist and empower her to view her

circumstances from a more positive and solution based perspective.

As a counselor, this author would encourage Lucia and Tomas to communicate their

intentions as to whether they have a long term commitment to each other or not. If so, they
 Case Study #3-Chapter 13 8

should seek appropriate counseling to assess, resolve their differences and discuss their future

plans as a couple and as parents.

Next they should devise a plan for providing the secure attachment that Eva needs at

home. Parental warmth, responsiveness and demandingness characteristic of authoritative

parenting styles should be explained and emphasized. This author would counsel Lucia and

Tomas to formulate a plan to produce positive parental results in Eva by providing her with a

sense of security and protectiveness during the development of her cognitive and social self

concept (Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P., 2006).

References

University of Washington; Finding a stereotype that is true: Mexicans more sociable than

Americans. (2009, May). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, 26

Blunk, Elizabeth M, Russell, Elizabeth Morgan, Williams, Sue W. (2008). Pilot Study of

Hispanic Mothers and Maternal Separation Anxiety. Social Behavior and

Personality, 36(6), 727-736.

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2006) The Life span: Human development for helping

professionals (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Capella University (2009), Psychology 7210 Online Discussion, Minneapolis, Mn. Retrieved

June 6, 2009, from http://courseroom2.capella.edu/webct

Daniela Klaus. (2009). Why Do Adult Children Support Their Parents? Journal of Comparative

Family Studies, 40(2), 227-XV.

Harris, Marta, Cumella, Edward J. (2006). Eating Disorders Across the Life Span. Journal of

Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 44(4), 20-6

Russell, David, Taylor, John. (2009). Living Alone and Depressive Symptoms: The Influence of

Gender, Physical Disability, and Social Support Among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic

Older Adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B Psychological sciences and social

sciences, 64B(1), 95-104

Gilligan, C. (1993). In A Different Voice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-

674-44544-9