10 Nov Identify your target issues? identify what was your process for selecting your topic how does it relate to human behavior and the social Environment and middle adulthood/late adulthood? 4

Running Head: IMPACT MIDLIFE CRISIS ON MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS 1

IMPACT OF MIDLIFE CRISIS ON MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS 2

Impacts Midlife Crisis on Middle-Aged Adults.

Chasity Johnson

Social Work Program, South Carolina State University

SW- Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Ms. Mack

November 9th, 2022

Abstract.

Midlife crisis is an event that mostly the middle age group experience. The midlife crisis brings a shift that impacts middle-aged group adults aged between 40 and 60 years. Midlife crisis is one of the significant challenges faced by many people within the age bracket mentioned above (Wilson & Dumornay, 2022). African Americans are the most to be affected since they get overwhelmed by issues from racial segregation, substance and drug abuse, and as well as lack of employment. Symptoms for midlife identity and behavioral shift include short self-neglect to personal hygiene and weight loss or weight gain, and mood swings by unusual behaviors such as dramatic sadness, increased anger, or anxiety (GoodTherapy, 2019). These risk factors can lead to death if it not well addressed, it can also often lead to other health issues. People experience many challenges in midlife crisis, which exposes them to unusual behaviors that change their course of life. As mentioned, a midlife crisis is associated with either difficult changes or it can be known to be progressive shifts in life for individuals. Therefore, my report will be focused on research evidence based on the major causes of a midlife crisis, symptoms associated with a midlife crisis, and impacts of midlife crisis. To add on, how it affects African Americans.

HelpGuide.org. (2022, November 3). Midlife crisis.  https://www.helpguide.org/articles/aging-issues/midlife-crisis.htm

The article states that African Americans are mostly affected by the midlife crisis. Some of the challenges faced by the middle age group who are vulnerable to mid-life crisis include; feeling pessimism or helplessness. This impacts most adults within the middle age group, where they may develop a feeling of pessimism or hopelessness (HelpGuide.org, 2022). As mentioned, a major cause of hopelessness for example is when adult children move out of their families to become independent or starting their own families. This causes the parents of the adult children to feel lonely and hopeless. In some cases, some parents get the opportunity to continue with their hobbies while adult children leave them for college, work, or starting their own families.

The article also states another impact of a midlife crisis is that it makes this age group restless with a feeling of worthless as well as guilt. This is because people in this age group people often feel that there are some decisions they failed to make in their early youth. For example, choosing the wrong career or working in the wrong profession that does not supply steady income for them and their families. (HelpGuide.org, 2022). HelpGuide.org, (2022) Studies have also shown that African Americans, especially women, are the main victims of the middle age crisis. The menopause stage is one of the biological issues that women face in their early midlife crisis. Black American women are shown to develop health conditions such as fibroid and hypertension immediately after they get into their midlife crisis.

Jacobson, S. (2022, May 16). Midlife crisis, depression, or anxiety? How to tell the difference. Harley Therapy™ Blog.  https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/midlife-crisis-depression.htm

As stated by the article, a midlife crisis can result in a loss of interest by the middle-aged group in activities people once enjoyed. The Study conducted by Jacobson (2022) has also stated that when middle-aged people are caught in the midlife crisis, they tend to change their way of doing things. Women and men seem to have racing thoughts that are ever busy with no focus on their life. This then causes neglect and causes some to forget to keep up with their personal grooming and hygiene. It may also influence people's perceptions about sex and hobbies. Some hobbies for individuals are considered worthless since they may think that participating in hobbies or activities is just a waste of time. The article states that during a midlife crisis, white women have been found to be affected in a negative way. For example, increased weight gain, which changes their perception of themselves (Jacobson, 2022). This causes relationship changes since increased weight gain leads to self-doubt, a feeling of feeling attractive.

Simon, S. (2022, August 11). Midlife crisis: Signs and treatments. Forbes Health.  https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/midlife-crisis/

As stated from the article, even if a midlife crisis does not appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), this plays a role in influencing human behavior. The author state that aging is one of the processes in human life that can be a challenge. It could make people feel uncomfortable while they go through the middle-age crisis which can causes mental issues. Parents face many challenges at the midlife stage, which make it hard for them to be on the right path. The most affected people in the midlife crisis are black African American men. Given that many of them are jobless, and for the few who are employed, suffer financially compared to whites, which then lead the men to have challenges with other life-related issues, increase the chances of developing anxiety and depression (Simon, 2022).

Smith, B. P., Cardoso-Mendoza, E., Flaws, J. A., Madak-Erdogan, Z., & Smith, R. L. (2020). Racial differences in lifestyle, demographic, and health factors associated with quality of life (QoL) in midlife women.  https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-45631/v3

The author states that racial difference within the middle-aged group has increased health risk factors for women at their early menopausal age. The study states that white women in middle age are most likely to developing health challenges such as depression. As for African Americans, the study found that the menopausal stage, which is within the midlife crisis stage, increases their risks of developing hypertension and fibroid an aspect that in one of the other affects their quality of life (Smith et al., 2020).

Song, J., Mailick, M. R., & Greenberg, J. S. (2017). The impact of the Great Recession on midlife and older parents of individuals with a mental health problem or a developmental disability. The Gerontologist, 58(3), 448-455.  https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw269

Based on the article, a midlife crisis led to loss of jobs, and a high rate in the unemployment within African Americans. Many African American's life changed for the worse (Song et al., 2017). The loss of jobs left African American with no stable income to assist to their basic needs. Racism was one of the major factors to the laying of many African Americans. This then led to many individuals with an increased rate of mental disorders such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

My opinion.

Midlife crisis is not a psychological aspect where as it is caused by the changes people go through. Also, people should be aware of possible challenges that they can face due to the shift of life from one stage to another. This could help them identify early signs of midlife crisis to seek interventions such as therapies and treatment plans that could help reduce people of developing mental disorders.

References

GoodTherapy. (2019, September 13). Therapy for midlife crisis, therapist for midlife crisis. GoodTherapy – Find the Right Therapist.  https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/midlife-crisis

HelpGuide.org. (2022, November 3). Midlife crisis.  https://www.helpguide.org/articles/aging-issues/midlife-crisis.htm

Infurna, F. J., Gerstorf, D., & Lachman, M. E. (2020). Midlife in the 2020s: Opportunities and challenges. American Psychologist, 75(4), 470-485.  https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000591

Jacobson, S. (2022, May 16). Midlife crisis, depression, or anxiety? How to tell the difference. Harley Therapy™ Blog.  https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/midlife-crisis-depression.htm

Simon, S. (2022, August 11). Midlife crisis: Signs and treatments. Forbes Health.  https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/midlife-crisis/

Smith, B. P., Cardoso-Mendoza, E., Flaws, J. A., Madak-Erdogan, Z., & Smith, R. L. (2020). Racial differences in lifestyle, demographic, and health factors associated with quality of life (QoL) in midlife women.  https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-45631/v3

Song, J., Mailick, M. R., & Greenberg, J. S. (2017). The impact of the Great Recession on midlife and older parents of individuals with a mental health problem or a developmental disability. The Gerontologist, 58(3), 448-455.  https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw269

Upshaw, W. N. (2020, March 24). Signs you are experiencing depression vs. a midlife crisis. Neurospora. https://neurospatms.com/signs-you-are-experiencing-depression-vs-a-midlife-crisis/