Is it possible that the mid-life crisis is a myth? There are plenty of pop-culture references to the mid-life crisis that may drive a man out of his marriage and into choices such as an affair with a much younger woman, dressing younger, behaving irresponsibly and of course, driving the sports car. However, the MacArthur Foundation completed a ten-year study that indicates the mid-life crisis may be a myth because living longer has given us more longevity in the varying stages of our lives and mid-life is one of the best places in life to be. Their study concluded that:
- More than 70% of the surveyed individuals in mid-life described their health as excellent and expected it to stay that way
- More than 50% of women and men surveyed in the 40 to 60 year old age range reported that their lives were remarkably better than they had been 10 years ago
- Men and women in middle-age find themselves less worried and nervous than their younger counterparts and they enjoy the challenges and rewards of their lives
- 62% of women who had gone through menopause reported that it was no where near as bad as they expected and they were delighted to be done with their periods
- Most mid life individuals and couples reported that they felt confident in their control over financial situations and their life/career choices
This information may change the perceptions of married couples who expect to face a mid-life crisis or challenge. While this does not prevent individuals from experiencing a crisis of faith in themselves and their life choices – the achievement of middle age does not ultimately mean they have to either.
How has mid-life improved your life perceptions?
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