Understanding Midlife Transitions and Adult Development

The Midlife Transition

The first stage in the middle adulthood era is the midlife transition, occurring between ages 40 and 44. This period serves as a bridge between early and middle adulthood. The midlife transition, like the age 30 transition, is characterized by self-examination. Individuals once again question their life structures and take stock of their likelihood of achieving the dreams they formed during early adulthood.

Adult Female Development

Levinson suggested that his findings were equally valid for women. Levinson's ideas on the similarity of male and female adult development have been a subject of some debate since he first made the suggestion in the 1970s.

Phase 1: Living the Family

Women's entry into the adult world begins much the same way as that of men. It involves leaving home, making a psychological break from parents, and developing a life plan. For many women, the emphasis is less on a career than on marriage. Even when women plan to combine marriage with a career, marriage is often considered more important. In these instances, the specifics of the life plan are likely to be determined by marriage.

Phase 2: Entering the Adult World

The age at first marriage in the US has been rising since the 1960s. Today, it is an average of 25.1 years for women and 26.8 years for men. Nevertheless, most women still marry and become mothers during their 20s. Although many women find motherhood and a career to be a workable combination, dual roles tend to put an added strain on women. Consequently, only about 59% of new mothers who were in the labor force return to work before their children reach one year of age.

Phase 3: Entering the Adult World Again

Once their children reach school age, many mothers who left the labor force again seek employment. According to Sales, these women—most of whom are in their early 30s—find themselves in a situation similar to that of men in their 20s. Fewer obligations at home make it possible for them to actively pursue their career goals.

Changing Attitudes on Marriage and Gender

American attitudes on marriage and gender roles seem to be changing:

• Americans are delaying marriage.
• More and more Americans are not getting married at all; the marriage rate has dropped by more than 30% since the 1960s.
• Women are delaying parenting; the age of mothers at the birth of their first child has risen steadily since the 1970s.
• The number of women in full-time executive, administrative, and managerial positions—typical career positions—is increasing.