Development in Midlife
Abstract
The midlife period in the lifespan is characterized by a complex interplay of multiple roles. The goal of this chapter is to summarize research findings on the central themes and salient issues of midlife such as balancing work and family responsibilities in the midst of the physical and psychological changes associated with aging. The field of midlife development is emerging in the context of large demographic shifts in the population. A section on the phenomenology of midlife development presents images and expectations including the seemingly disparate views of midlife as a time of peak functioning and a period of crisis. Conceptual frameworks useful for studying the multiple patterns of change in midlife are presented. Findings demonstrating patterns of gains and losses are reviewed for multiple domains: cognitive functioning, personality and the self, emotions, social relationships, work, and physical health. The need for future research to illuminate and integrate the diverse aspects of midlife is highlighted.
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Past research has demonstrated that each life stage exhibits its own unique trajectories, goals, and influences, and activities can therefore differ from being of no impact, to being adaptive or maladaptive depending on which developmental period one examines.
“Past research has demonstrated that each life stage exhibits its own unique trajectories, goals, and influences19,45–47, and activities can therefore differ from being of no impact, to being adaptive or maladaptive depending on which developmental period one examines46,48.”
From Windows of developmental sensitivity to social media (2022) · cites this paper as [47]
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- Authors
- Lachman, M. E.
- Affiliations
- Brandeis University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lachman, Margie E.
- ORCID
- Lachman, Margie E.
- Venue
- Annual Review of Psychology
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2004-02-01
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 305-331
- ISSN
- 0066-4308 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-2085
- OpenAlex
- W2166410529
- Cited by
- 664
- References
- 101
- Citations by year
- 2026: 61 · 2025: 66 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 52 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 26
- FWCI
- 2.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annual Review of Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (R01AG017920, R01 AG17920-03, P01 AG20166-01, P01AG020166)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Ego Development and Educational Practices
- Social Sciences › Demography › Retirement, Disability, and Employment
- Keywords
- midlife development, work-family balance, aging, midlife crisis, cognitive function, personality change, self, emotions, interpersonal relationships, work, physical health, demographic change, lifespan development
- MeSH terms
- Affect, Aging, Cognition, Ego, Employment, Health Status, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Middle Aged, Personality
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