Introduction to Adulthood and Aging

Abstract

Introduction to Adulthood and Aging (2026) is a research-based, 358-page Open Educational Resource (OER) adapted with original material added for use in Virginia Tech’s Human Development course, HD 2004: Adulthood and Aging. This text aims to spark reader ideas to address the significant global challenges and opportunities related to aging worldwide, exploring development, loss, resilience, and change and challenging common assumptions about aging. More than just a textbook, this resource is intended to spark reflection, empathy, and connection. The text is a foundation of knowledge and compassion that can be applied in both academic and personal settings, assisting readers to engage with the topic in practical and meaningful ways. Developed in response to the increasing cost of textbooks, with the goal of reducing the financial burden on students and families, Introduction to Adulthood and Aging adapts and expands the openly-licensed works of other authors. It was adapted with original content added from existing openly-licensed texts, developed as a course reader in Canvas, and has been converted into MSWord and PDF. It is shared broadly in an effort to increase access to the content. While it is freely available under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike (CC BY NC-SA) 4.0 license, the value of the content remains high, grounded in research, empathy, and a commitment to accessible education. Instructors reviewing or adopting this book for a course, please help us understand your use by filling out this form: https://bit.ly/interest_introductiontoadulthoodandaging A Print on Demand version of this book is also available. ISBN: 979-8-234-03443-4 Table of Contents Unit 1: Introductions to Lifespan Development, Gerontology Theories, and Research Methods 1: Introduction to Lifespan Development and Adulthood 2: Lifespan Development Theories 3: Research in Lifespan Development Unit 2: Early Adulthood 4: Emerging Adulthood and Early Adulthood 5: Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood 6: Psychosocial Development in Emerging and Early Adulthood 7: Relationships and Intimacy in Early Adulthood Unit 3: Middle Adulthood 8: Middle Adulthood 9: Cognition, Social & Emotional Development Among Middle Adulthood 10: Relationships in Middle Adulthood Unit 4: Older Adulthood 11: Older Adulthood 12: Physical and Sensory Changes in Older Adulthood 13: Brain Functioning and Sleep in Older Adulthood 14: End-of-Life Decision Making and Care 15: Death, Mourning, and Bereavement About the Editor Maham Khan, Ph.D. is a researcher and educator whose work focuses on cognitive aging, resilience, and the diverse factors that shape well-being in later life. She completed her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science (Adulthood & Aging) at Virginia Tech in 2025. Her research examined cognitive superaging and lifestyle behaviors that contribute to healthier cognitive trajectories among older adults. She has also worked on chronic conditions and cognition, and functional limitations among older adults and unmet needs for caregiving. Her work draws on large-scale longitudinal datasets and advanced latent-variable modeling to better understand the behavioral, biological, and social determinants of optimal aging. During her doctoral training, Maham taught Adulthood and Aging at Virginia Tech as Instructor of Record and contributed to cognitive wellness initiatives for older adults through her work at the Engagement Center for Creative Aging. She has also served as a Visiting Lecturer in Pakistan, teaching healthcare management and primary healthcare, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary education and global perspectives on aging. Her publications span cognitive health, unmet needs, mobility limitations, and biomarker-informed aging research. She is now pursuing postdoctoral research training at Northwestern University, where she is expanding her work on cognitive resilience, aging trajectories, and translational approaches to cognitive health. Project support This project was made possible in part through financial support from the University Libraries’ Open Education Initiative and Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Development and Family Science. Suggested citation Khan, Maham. (2026) Introduction to Adulthood and Aging. Virginia Tech Libraries. https://hdl.handle.net/10919/142129 CC BY NC-SA 4.0 Accessibility Virginia Tech is committed to making its publications accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The text, images, and links in the PDF and MSWord versions of this text are tagged structurally and include alternative text, which allows for machine readability.