More women remain in the work force in midlife and later due to changing socioeconomic structures and attitudes, inadequate finances, and increased longevity. Many need ongoing career development to remain technologically current and employable. (SK)

When interviews with 74 people over 60 were analyzed using a grounded theory approach, developmental change was found to occur in five age-independent periods: (1) continuity with middle age; (2) early transition; (3) revised lifestyle; (4) later transition; and (5) final period. (SK)

Having experienced traditional Japanese employment system, older Japanese adults are affected by workplace and socioeconomic changes. Two recent surveys of workers nearing retirement showed high work salience and considerable anxiety about retirement. (SK)

Relates responses of 69 librarians ranging in age from 39 to 84 to a two-page questionnaire concerning retirement planning. Personal experiences, financial concerns, continuing professional connections, alternative options, and the trauma and joys of retirement are noted. A 33-item bibliography is included. (EJS)

Interviewed middle aged and older persons (N=70) who left their former occupations and took up second careers as artists or craftspersons selling through arts and crafts fairs. Most reported personal satisfaction and pleasure in the camaraderie. Nearly all reported that successful participation depended upon collaboration with spouses. (Author/JAC)

Stressing the value of mature learning and its distinction from learning in early adulthood, the author explores elements of "third quarter" education and expresses the need for institutions that focus on the issues and potentials of those past midlife. (SK)

Offers a brief overview of preretirement education in the United Kingdom and its meaning in an economy where forced redundancy can bring "retirement" at an early age. Highlights the Coping with Change Model, which focuses on insight into the feelings, issues, choices, and skills relevant to life changes. (DMM)

Analyzed the effects of marital status, race, and gender on the timing of suicide across three adult life stages. Logistic modeling showed distinct structural effects on the occurrence of suicide in midlife compared to the life stages immediately preceding and following it. Greater attention to the crises of women in midlife appears warranted.…

The author describes Japan's phased retirement system, consisting of the "step down" from a management or supervisory position (commonly in the mid-50s) and the mandatory transfer to a subsidiary company later. The system allows companies to promote younger workers. However, in a depressed industry, the system generally results in…

Results from a survey are presented that provide initial indications of the importance of linguistic and communicative processes to an understanding of midlife. The Communication Accommodation Theory is invoked in the development of a model of one particular process within the area of communication and middle-age--the socialization of the…

Although the rate of divorce among older Americans has increased steadily, little attention has been paid to late life divorce. To describe the role of age and other factors which might influence adjustment to divorce in later life, data from a larger pilot study were used: 81 divorced persons over the age of 60 completed in-depth, structured…

There is increasing popular interest in the phenomenon of the successful professional or businessman who switches careers in middle age. There is little hard data available about the phenomenon although there is a great amount of psychological conjecture. This paper briefly reviews the various theories that attempt to explain midlife career…

This research deals with the phenomenon of the successful middle-aged careerist who drops out of his occupation into an alternate life style. These people are considered a subset of the growing numbers who change occupations in midlife, despite continuing success in their chosen career. There is some exploration of the philosophical and practical…

Much research has focused on retirees and disengagement from prior work roles. One neglected variation is entry into second careers. Seventy persons, aged 50 to 87, who had retired from or left one occupation and taken up a second career selling their work at art and craft fairs, were interviewed. Respondents had held a variety of responsible…

Self-disclosure and marital satisfaction were studied among 125 males and females who were in their first remarriage. Essentially equal numbers had remarried in midlife (ages 30-45) and late life (ages 60-75). Employed the multidimensional Wheeless self-disclosure scales and Locke-Wallace measure of marital satisfaction. Discusses findings. (KW)