Authors writing on the subject of the male midlife crisis offer reference signs of increased personal disorganization which are attributed to a crisis. Three of the more commonly referenced problem areas are alcoholism, divorce, and suicide. Analysis of the known data indicates there is no quantitative basis for these contentions. The incidence of heavy drinking, divorce, and suicide go down at midlife rather than increase.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BrimO. G.Theories of the male mid-life crisis. The Counseling Psychologist, 1976, 6, 2–9.
2.
CarterH.GlickP.Marriage and divorce: A social and economic study. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univer. Press, 1970.
3.
CierniaJ. R.An examination of the businessman's mid-life crisis. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Clayton Univer., 1983.
4.
CollinA.Mid-life crisis and its implications in counselling. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 1979, 7, 144–151.
5.
FillmokeK.Relationships between specific drinking problems in early adulthood and middle age. Journal of Studies of Alcohol, 1975, 36, 882–907.
6.
GolembiewskiR.Mid-life transition and mid-career crisis. Public Administration Review, 1978, 38, 215–222.
7.
GutmannD.Individual adaptation in the middle years: Developmental issues in the masculine mid-life crises. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 1976, 9, 41–59.
8.
HoldenC.Genes, personality and alcoholism. Psychology Today, 1985, 19(1), 38–44.
9.
HuntsJ. R.Male perceptions of the male mid-life crisis. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Walden Univer., 1977.
10.
LevinsonD. J.Seasons of a man's life. New York: Knopf, 1978.
11.
LowenthalM. F.ChiribogaD.Transition to the empty nest: Crisis, challenge or belief?Archives of General Psychiatry, 1972, 26, 14–24.
12.
McGillM. E.The 40 to 60 year old male. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1980.
13.
NeugartenB. L.Adaptation and the life cycle. The Counseling Psychologist, 1976, 6, 16–20.
14.
RosenbergS.FarrellM.Identity and crisis in middle-aged men. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 1976, 7, 153–169.
15.
US Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Census. Statistical abstracts of the United States. (103rd ed.) Washington, DC: Author, 1982–83.
16.
US Dept. of Health and Human Services. First statistical compendum on alcohol and health. Washington, DC: Author, 1981.
17.
US Dept. of Health and Human Services. Vital statistics of the United States. Vol. III. Washington, DC: Author, 1977, 1978, 1979.
18.
VaillantG.Adaptation to life. New York: Little, Brown, 1977.
19.
VaillantG.The natural history of alcoholism. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univer. Press, 1983.
