Midlife in the 2020s: Opportunities and Challenges
Midlife in the 2020s: Opportunities and Challenges
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DOI：
10.1037/amp0000591
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发表时间：
2020-05-01
影响因子：
16.4
通讯作者：
Lachman, Margie E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Infurna, Frank J.;Gerstorf, Denis;Lachman, Margie E.
发展是一个累积的、终生的过程，但人们对中年发展知之甚少。因此，对中年的性质以及中年人所面临的发展里程碑和挑战存在许多误解。我们首先回顾主流观点和实证研究，揭穿了错误的叙述。接下来，我们讨论中年的主要机遇和挑战。这包括不同于早期和晚期生活阶段的独特的角色组合和生活过渡，以及身心健康和家庭组成的变化趋势。我们还强调了中年人与年迈的父母，成年子女和孙辈的代际动态（历史转变）的重要性;经济失败和劳动力市场波动导致的金融脆弱性;不断缩小的社会和医疗安全网;以及抚养子女的成本上升。在这样做时，我们讨论多样性的问题，并注意到不同种族或民族，性取向和社会经济地位的中年经历的相似性和差异。我们认为中年是一个关键时期，其中包括平衡收益和损失，连接早期和晚期的生活阶段，以及连接几代人。最后，我们提出了通过干预和政策变化促进可逆性和复原力的可能性。建议的未来研究议程承诺将中年重新概念化为生命的关键时期，共同努力关注中年经历的多样性，以应对2020年代及以后前所未有的挑战和机遇。
Development is a cumulative, lifelong process, but strikingly little is known about development in midlife. As a consequence, many misconceptions exist about the nature of midlife and the developmental milestones and challenges faced by middle-aged adults. We first review dominant views and empirical research that has debunked false narratives. Next, we discuss major opportunities and challenges of midlife. This includes the unique constellation of roles and life transitions that are distinct from earlier and later life phases as well as shifting trends in mental and physical health and in family composition. We additionally highlight the importance of (historical shifts in) intergenerational dynamics of middle-aged adults with their aging parents, adult children, and grandchildren; financial vulnerabilities that emerge and often accrue from economic failures and labor market volatility; the shrinking social and health care safety net; and the rising costs of raising children. In doing so, we discuss issues of diversity and note similarities and differences in midlife experiences across race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. We consider midlife as a pivotal period that includes a focus on balancing gains and losses, linking earlier and later life periods, and bridging generations. Finally, we propose possibilities for promoting reversibility and resilience with interventions and policy changes. The suggested agenda for future research promises to reconceptualize midlife as a key period of life, with a concerted effort to focus on the diversity of midlife experiences in order to meet the unprecedented challenges and opportunities in the 2020s and beyond.