Life in the Middle: Psychological and Social Development in Middle Age

There is a growing body of scientific knowledge regarding development during the middle years which has so far been relegated to discipline-specific texts and journals (e.g., clinical psychology and endocrinology).

Life in the Middle consolidates main findings across disciplines, with a life-span perspective regarding mid-life. Coverage includes individual development in middle age from the psychological and biological perspectives as well as the sociocultural context in which middle-aged individuals live and work, including physical health in mid-life, psychological well-being, cognitive development, the impact of work on the individual, and the general development of the "self." This age period is increasingly becoming the focus of scholarly attention as the largest cohort in U.S. history are now moving into the middle years (e.g., the "babyboomers"). From 1990 to 2015 the number of middle-aged people will increase 72 percent from 47 to 80 million.

Contributors are outstanding scholars in the field of adult developmentAddresses critical theoretical issues in midlifeIncludes important contributions to our understanding of physical health at midlifePresents a thorough review of women's health at midlifeTakes a holistic approach to biopsychosocial functioning at midlife

Theoretical Perspectives on Midlife P. Moen and E. Wethington, Midlife Development in a Life Course Context S.K. Whitbourne and L.A. Connolly, The Developing Self in Midlife S.D. Rosenberg, H.J. Rosenberg, and M.P. Farrell, The Midlife Crisis Revisited

Biological Functioning and Physical Health at Midlife S.S. Merrill and L.M. Verbrugge, Health and Disease in Midlife N.E. Avis, Women's Health at Midlife I.C. Siegler, B.H. Kaplan, D.D. Von Dras, and D.B. Mark, Cardiovascular Health: A Challenge for Midlife

Psychosocial Functioning at Midlife C.L.M. Keyes and C.D. Ryff, Psychological Well-Being in Midlife M. Clark-Plaskie and M.E. Lachman, The Sense of Control in Midlife M.H. Huyck, Gender Roles and Gender Identity in Midlife S.L. Willis and K.W. Schaie, Intellectual Functioning in Midlife B.J. Avolio and J.J. Sosik, A Life-Span Framework for Assessing the Impact of Work on White-Collar Workers J.D. Reid and S.L. Willis, Middle Age: New Thoughts, New Directions