Descriptive and empirical literature on group work for adult midlife career change is reviewed. Discussion and recommendations for career programs and for groups are provided. (Author/TE)

Surveyed 656 widows over age 50 about changes in working caused by widowhood. Almost one-third were employed when their husbands died; another one in six took jobs. Widows reported problems in locating employment, and findings suggested work is not a universally appropriate adaptive strategy. (JAC)

Data gathered from 290 Canadian women in the survey phase of a multimethod, multistage project allowed the development of a descriptive profile of factors associated with midlife women's choice-making process. Data support an active, autonomous, collaborative, and skillful choice-making profile. (Author)

Comparison of the career paths of Harvard University's classes of 1970 and 1945 suggests that change of the magnitude of the past two decades can only be endured; the forces that make income insecure also create one-time chances for wealth; and when the obvious markets for one's skills evaporate, go where no one else has imagined going. (JOW)

Discusses misinformation that women have about the experience of menopause, the midlife acquisition of opposite sex characteristics, and the midlife shift from a focus on significant others to a focus on more personal needs. Suggests potential educational programs for women on midlife topics. (SK)

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)

Investigated life history of American career women (N=24) at midlife. The transitions experienced by these women during their lifetimes were categorized into "masculine" or "feminine" types. It was found that they were distributed about equally between the two types of transitions, thus excluding a simple biological approach.…

Empty nest status, employment level, age, socioeconomic status, educational level, menopausal symptoms, and husband's attitude toward wife working were used to predict women's (N=232) well-being and adjustment to the empty nest. Results indicated that impact of predictor variables was almost nonexistent, but that coping creatively with situations…

Presents a critique of research on midlife adult career development, outlining a multidimensional theory based on the work of Levinson, Super, Erickson, Hall, and others. Elaborates some limitations of life stage research and discusses implications for education-work policy and practice. (SK)

Examined motivations and outcomes of mid-life career change among men who left professional careers between ages 34 and 54. Changers differed in amount of education completed, additional schooling undertaken, time taken to make changes, radicalness of change, and importance of personal values. Respondents were highly satisfied with their career…

Increasing numbers of midcareer personnel in the work force necessitate innovative management methods to deal with motivation, obsolescence, and plateauing. Organizational approaches include restructuring, reward system, career management techniques, and education and training. (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)

Proposes that counselors who use an integrative approach to menopause can not only provide accurate biomedical information but also conceptualize menopause as a normative midlife transition. Provides a foundation in biomedical issues and considers how these in interaction with cultural and psychosocial factors influence the experience of…

For the healthy midlife adult, the second half of life provides a balance for the first half: men become more nurturant while women become more aggressive. The definition of the midlife woman is tied to the family cycle, when her children leave home. Marital satisfaction often increases after the children are gone and relinquishing her role as…

The literature on mid-career faculty is reviewed to attempt to better understand the forces that influence mid-life faculty careers and explore the implications of this research for institutional responses to the faculty. Literature is categorized by the perspectives of the institution and that of the faculty member. (Author/MLW)