Create and analyze a fictitious case study of an adult with developmental challenges and prepare an evidence-based intervention plan.

Introduction

Note: The assessments in this course follow the successive stages of lifespan development, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them in sequence.

Theorists and researchers focus on these phases to understand the developmental trajectories of adults:

• Early adulthood, often referred to as young adulthood or emerging adulthood, is a period from 18 to 25 years, where the focus on relationships and career choice and success can become primary. Young adulthood is often understood by applying lifespan development theories that help in understanding social-emotional and career development issues that emerge in young adulthood. Examples are adult attachment theory, Holland’s personality type theory linked to career development, Super’s vocational self-concept stages, as well as Erikson’s stage of identity development.
• Middle adulthood or midlife is a period where, according to developmental theory, there is evidence of growth, maintenance, and regulation of loss in various contexts such as family and work. Middle adulthood is often understood by applying lifespan development theories that help in understanding the cognitive and social development issues that emerge in midlife. Concepts of maintenance and loss as well and coping strategies linked to stress such as Hobfoll’s theory of conservation of resources (COR) are often useful. Cognitive changes are often understood in terms of fluid and crystallized intelligence. Social development is often understood in terms of Erikson’s concept of generativity.
• Adulthood or late adulthood is a period when people move into their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, with various challenges and losses that can define developmental trajectories. Late adulthood is often understood by applying lifespan development theories that help in understanding the gains and losses that are hallmarks of this stage of adulthood, such as the lifespan theory developed by Baltes and colleagues.

Note: The assessments in this course follow the human developmental sequence, so you are encouraged to complete them in order.

Part 1: Create the Case

Note: The assessments in this course follow the human developmental sequence, so you are encouraged to complete them in order.

Create a simulated case study, relevant to your area of specialization, of a person in early, middle, or late adulthood who presents developmental challenges that could be predicted by developmental theory and/or research.

Your case should be 1–2 pages in length and it should describe:

• The person and their strengths and challenges.
• The person’s medical, family, and social context.
• The developmental challenges evident in the person’s behavior.
• Individual and cultural factors that theory and/or research indicate could impact the person’s development.
• Any other factors you deem appropriate based on your understanding of the theory and related research.

To develop this case, you should:

• Explore through theory and research stages of adulthood development.
• Develop your case by creating a challenge for the adult who is navigating through one of the three phases of adulthood. Describe what the selected adult struggles with in this phase of their lifespan.
• Develop your case study further by creating an environmental context for the adult. Include any specific issues that you want to explore through research, such as influences of a specific culture or ethnicity, specific socioeconomic status, family structure, attachment issues, and neighborhood context.
• Maintain a resource list of the materials you consulted to build your case.

Follow APA style and format for style and formatting, as well as for citing your resources. Include a reference list of the scholarly resources you use. Refer to Evidence and APA for guidance.

Part 2: Adult Case Intervention Analysis

RESEARCH

Complete the following:

• Research evidence-based interventions that have been effective in meeting the challenges of the adult you described in your case study, from the perspective of your own professional specialization (as far as possible).
  • Explain how the deficits in developmental domains or environmental contexts impact functioning.
  • State the recommended interventions that align with your specialization.
  • Include evidence for those outcomes from the professional literature.
• Explore briefly the literature on earlier theories or research in the domain in which the adult has challenges, considering that early influences can impact development across the lifespan.
  • Explain, from the perspective of your specialization, how the earlier issues that are manifested in adulthood could be relevant.
  • Explain how the developmental history might help in understanding and determining an approach to working with an adult with the identified challenges.

Structure of the Report

Use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] and the following format to structure your report:

• Title page.
  • A descriptive title of 5–15 words that concisely communicates the purpose of your report and includes the name of the fictional subject. Be sure to follow Capella’s suggested format for title pages on course papers.
• Introduction.
  • An overview of the paper contents, including a brief summary (approximately half a page) of the background information regarding the case study. (The complete 1–2 page case you developed will be included as an appendix.)
• Body of the report.
  • The presenting challenges and primary issues.
  • A description of your case study adult with attention to age-expected developmental outcomes, as well as specific challenges the adult has in not meeting those milestones.
  • A description of the factors in the adult’s environment that have an impact on your selected adult’s overall development.
  • An analysis of how lifespan development theory and research may account for the presenting challenges.
  • An assessment of the potential impact of individual and cultural differences on development for the age and context described in the case study.
  • Suggestions of evidence-based intervention strategies that have proven effective in similar cases, supported by citations of research and any applicable theories.
  • Projections, based on research and/or theory, of possible long-term impacts that the current challenges may produce across the individual’s lifespan.
• Conclusion.
  • A summary of what was introduced in the body of the paper with respect to the case study context, challenges, and interventions.
• Reference page:
  • A minimum of five scholarly sources from current peer-reviewed journals, formatted in APA style.
• Appendix.
  • The simulated case study you created in Part 1.

Additional Requirements

Your paper should meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Write coherently to support central ideas, in appropriate APA format, and with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
• Length of paper: 5–7 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page, reference page, or case study appendix.
• References: At least five different scholarly resources (peer-reviewed journals).
• APA format: Follow APA guidelines for style and formatting, as well as for citing your resources in the body of your paper and in alphabetical order on the reference page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 points.

Note: In graduate-level writing, you should minimize the use of direct quotes. Lengthy quotes do not count toward assessment minimums. It is your interpretation of the material and its application to practice that is assessed.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Analyze how lifespan development theories and related research explain aspects of human growth and behavior at different ages.
  • Analyze how lifespan development theory and research may account for developmental challenges in adulthood.
• Competency 2: Assess the potential impact of individual and cultural differences on development across the lifespan.
  • Assess the potential impact of individual and cultural differences on adult development.
• Competency 3: Identify evidence-based interventions to address specific developmental issues.
  • Suggest appropriate intervention processes based on lifespan development theory and evidence from the literature.
• Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the psychological professions.
  • Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
  • Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

Requirements: 2-3

Requirements: 4 days