What are the main life stages and what changes happen in each?
The main life stages from infancy to later adulthood and the developmental changes typical of each stage across the lifespan.
An SQA National 5 Care answer on the main life stages from infancy to later adulthood, describing the typical developmental changes in each stage and how care needs change across the lifespan.
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What this dot point is asking
The SQA wants you to name the main life stages across the lifespan and describe the typical developmental changes in each. Remember the principles from the previous dot point: these stages are a general guide, they overlap, and people move through them at their own rate.
The main life stages
The lifespan is commonly divided into these stages. The exact ages are only a guide, because development is continuous and varies between people.
Typical changes in each stage
You should be able to describe changes across the four aspects of development (physical, intellectual, emotional and social) in each stage.
- Infancy
- Very rapid physical growth and the development of basic movement (lifting the head, sitting, crawling). Intellectually, the baby starts to recognise faces and objects. Emotionally and socially, the infant forms its first attachment to a main carer, which is the foundation for later relationships.
- Early childhood and childhood
- Physical skills become more controlled (walking, running, holding a pencil). Intellectual development is fast: language develops quickly, and the child learns through play and then school. Emotionally and socially, the child begins to manage feelings, makes friends and learns to share and follow rules.
- Adolescence
- The big physical change is puberty: the body becomes sexually mature, with growth spurts and bodily changes. Intellectually, thinking becomes more abstract and the young person can reason about ideas and the future. Emotionally and socially, the adolescent develops their own identity, becomes more independent from parents, and the peer group becomes very important.
- Early and middle adulthood
- Physically, the person is at full maturity and then very gradually begins to age. The main developments are social and emotional: forming long-term relationships, possibly having and raising children, working and taking on responsibilities, and building a settled identity.
- Later adulthood
- Physically, there is gradual decline: reduced mobility, weaker senses and a greater chance of long-term health conditions. Intellectually, processing may slow, though experience and knowledge remain. Emotionally and socially, there are major changes of role, such as retirement, becoming a grandparent, and coping with bereavement and the loss of friends or a partner.
How care needs change across the stages
Each stage brings different care needs. An infant needs constant physical care, safety and a secure attachment. A child needs supervision, stimulation and chances to learn. An adolescent needs guidance and support while gaining independence. Adults may need support around work, family or health. In later adulthood, people may need more help with physical tasks, support after bereavement, and aids that keep them independent and dignified. Recognising the stage helps a care worker anticipate and meet the right needs.
Try this
Q1. Name the main physical change that takes place during adolescence. [1 mark]
- Cue. Puberty (the body becoming sexually mature, with growth spurts).
Q2. State one social change that is typical of later adulthood. [1 mark]
- Cue. Retirement (or becoming a grandparent, or coping with bereavement).
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA N5 style4 marksDescribe two developmental changes that are typical of adolescence.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark describe question wants two changes, each described in enough detail to earn two marks, so develop each one.
Change 1 (physical). Adolescents go through puberty: the body becomes sexually mature, there are growth spurts, and changes such as body hair, voice changes and the development of reproductive ability take place. This is a major physical change of the stage.
Change 2 (emotional and social). Adolescents develop a stronger sense of their own identity and become more independent from their parents. Friendships and the peer group become very important, and mood can be more changeable as the young person works out who they are.
Markers reward each change that is clearly described and correctly placed in adolescence. Naming a change with no description, or putting a change in the wrong stage, would not gain full marks.
SQA N5 style3 marksDescribe how the care needs of a person can change as they move into later adulthood.Show worked answer →
This is a describe question worth 3 marks, so make three clear, correct points about changing needs.
Point 1. Physical needs may increase: reduced mobility, weaker senses (sight and hearing) or long-term health conditions can mean a person needs more help with daily tasks such as washing, dressing or moving about safely.
Point 2. Social and emotional needs change: retirement, bereavement or living alone can lead to loneliness, so the person may need company, social contact and emotional support.
Point 3. Some people may need support to stay independent, such as aids and adaptations at home or care services, so they keep choice and dignity for as long as possible.
Markers reward points that correctly link the later-adulthood stage to changing needs. Listing only one type of need, or describing a different stage, would limit the marks.
Related dot points
- The principles of human development - that age groups are only general indicators of developmental change, that change does not always happen in discrete stages, and that development results from an interaction between the individual and the environment.
An SQA National 5 Care answer on the principles of human development, covering age as a general indicator, why change does not always happen in neat stages, and how development results from the interaction of the individual and the environment.
- The physical, intellectual, emotional and social (PIES) aspects of human development, what each covers, and how the aspects are linked.
An SQA National 5 Care answer on the four aspects of human development - physical, intellectual, emotional and social (PIES) - explaining what each one covers and how the aspects are connected.
- The factors that affect human development - inherited (genetic), environmental, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors - and how each can support or limit development.
An SQA National 5 Care answer on the factors that affect human development - inherited, environmental, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors - and how each can support or hold back a person's development.
- How social influences such as family, poverty, unemployment, housing and discrimination can create or affect care needs and the wellbeing of individuals and groups.
An SQA National 5 Care answer on how social influences such as family, poverty, unemployment, housing and discrimination can create or affect care needs and the wellbeing of individuals and groups.
Sources & how we know this
- National 5 Care Course Specification — SQA (2017)