Middle Adulthood
Physical development
During middle adulthood, people generally experience good health and physical functioning. However, during middle adulthood the signs that an individual is getting older gradually appear. Wrinkles will begin to develop and organs will no longer function as efficiently as they did during early adulthood. Generally, all five senses begin to decline during middle adulthood. These include eyesight, hearing, coordination and reaction times – these are generally not as quick as they once were.
Women who are middle-aged will eventually experience menopause. It usually occurs at around 45-55 years of age. Menopause is a natural process that occurs as a woman’s ovaries stop producing ova and the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone. During this transition time, called ‘perimenopause’, menstrual periods become more irregular and begin to taper off. After menstrual periods have stopped for 12 months, a woman is considered to have reached menopause.
As a part of the natural ageing process, men who are in middle adulthood will experience Andropause. Andropause is the process which occurs in men where there is a decrease in levels of testosterone in men. As men get older, the level of testosterone in the body and production of sperm gradually becomes lower, and they experience physical and psychological symptoms as a result of these low levels. It is unlike menopause in that the decrease in testosterone and the development of symptoms is more gradual than what occurs in women. Approximately 30% of men in their 50s will experience symptoms of andropause caused by low testosterone levels. A person experiencing andropause may have a number of symptoms related to the condition and could be at risk of other serious health conditions such as osteoporosis without proper treatment.
Intellectual development
Adults in middle adulthood think differently from younger adults and from adolescents. Middle-aged adults tend to use a way of thinking which uses practical common sense as a way of dealing with unclear problems.
Learning, another aspect of intellectual development, does not stop in early adulthood. Adults continue to learn from experience and through education and training. Many adults update their qualifications to follow a different career. Adults who return to study as mature-age students often find the intellectual stimulation more enjoyable than studying when they were younger. Many older adults enrol in university and TAFE course, or join local programs in the community. These provide intellectual stimulation and can also be socially and emotionally fulfilling.
Emotional development
Physical illness or disability is another common cause of emotional stress. Adults who experience chronic pain can become very emotionally distraught. Such pain will cause physical discomfort and can mean they become unable to work, earn a living and provide for their family.
Social development
For adults in the workforce, social development may include participating in work-related social activities. Adults with young or school-age children may participate in organised social events for parents, such as mothers’ groups, or develop friendships with people they meet through their children’s schools. Other examples of adult social interaction include friendships with housemates and neighbours.