Most dictionaries equate midlife and middle age. Collins Dictionary refers to midlife as “of or relating to middle age.”
There is some minor discrepancy regarding what middle age is. Merriam-Webster defines middle age as the period of life from age 45 to age 64. Collins Dictionary defines middle age as between the ages of 40 and 60.
Midlife is the least researched period of human development, as researchers tend to focus on childhood, adolescence, and old age.
When tested, people in midlife score higher in almost every area of cognitive functioning than they did when they were 25. The exception is perceptual speed – the ability to rapidly distinguish between two things, like numbers.
Psychologist Eliot Jaques coined the term “midlife crisis” in 1965, referring to period of time when someone is struggling with mortality and the idea of getting closer to the end of their life.
Surveys often find men and women report their lowest life satisfaction is in middle age.
Chimpanzees and orangutans are shown to have a midlife dip similar to humans.
The midlife crisis is largely believed to be a myth, with only 10-20% of the population experiencing one.
Midlife often contains many roles and stressors, including caring for children, launching/relaunching adult children, caring for aging parents, peaking of work responsibilities, and the first appearances of chronic pains and illnesses.
Midlife is a time of peak earnings, family leadership, decision-making abilities, community contribution, and self-confidence.
One-third of midlife adults are single.
One-fifth of midlife adults are childless.
Middle age is considered a risk factor for eating disorders just as puberty is – an estimated 13% of women over 50 suffer from an eating disorder.
Some research has suggested a phenomenon called “gender expansion” occurs in middle age. This is described as men becoming more nurturing and women becoming more assertive.
Studies have shown that pathological personality traits, such as neuroticism, tend to decrease in midlife while traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness tend to increase. Overall, personalities in midlife are found to be stable.