Mapping midlife: An examination of social factors shaping conceptions of the timing of middle age

Toothman, Erica L.; Barrett, Anne E.

doi:10.1016/j.alcr.2011.08.003

Cited by 30 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Research has shown that as individuals grow older, the discrepancy between their subjective and objective age tends to increase, as they increasingly define their subjective age as younger than their chronological age (Kleinspehn-Ammerlahn et al 2008). The few studies that have examined chronological age in relation to age categorization have yielded similar findings (Hori 1994;Toothman and Barrett 2011). Therefore, older chronological age is expected to be associated with higher thresholds for the ending of youth and beginning of old age.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 52%

“…In contrast to the gender of the person being categorized, the gender of the observer who is engaged in age categorization may yield different predictions. Studies have shown that women report later deadlines for various life course transitions (Toothman and Barrett 2011). They also are more likely to report a younger age identity when compared to men (Barrett 2005), possibly, as a means to enhance their social status in the face of amplified ageist views.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The period of middle age is less defined relative to youth or old age, as individuals may admit to not being young anymore; but still differentiate themselves from the elderly, by considering themselves as not old just yet (Markides and Boldt 1983;Packer and Chasteen 2006). This period has received substantially less research attention compared to transitions to early adulthood or old age (Toothman and Barrett 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, those of higher socioeconomic status tend to go through various life course stages later in life and, thus, postpone the ending of youth or entrance to adulthood (Smith 2004). They also tend to enjoy better health and a longer life expectancy, which are all associated with a younger age identity (Barrett 2003;Markides and Boldt 1983;Taylor 2010) and potentially later thresholds for various life stages (Toothman and Barrett 2011). Therefore, we expect respondents of higher levels of education to assign higher thresholds to the ending of youth and the beginning of old age.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both objective and subjective health indicators are potential determinants of one's personal timetables (Toothman and Barrett 2011). Researchers have attempted to define biological age, using physical or biological indicators, such as maximum breathing capacity, visual acuity, reaction time, or the division of cells (Demongeot 2009;Mitnitski et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Macro- and micro-level predictors of age categorization: results from the European Social Survey

et al. 2013

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This study evaluated macro-and micro-level variables associated with individuals' perception of the ending of youth, the beginning of old age, and the length of the middle age period. The European Social Survey is a biennial multi-country, cross-sectional survey. Our analysis is based on the fourth wave, which included a rotating module on ageism. The source sample consisted of 28 countries and a total of 54,988 respondents. Whereas macro-level variability accounted for 14 % of the variance associated with the perception of the ending of youth, only 5.7 % of the variance associated with the perception of the beginning of old age was accounted for by macro-level variability. Almost 10 % of the variance associated with the perception of the middle age period was associated with macro-level variability. Different patterns of macro-and micro-level correlates emerged for the ending of youth, beginning of old age, and the period of middle age. Overall, results demonstrate that individual differences in the perception of the ending of youth, the beginning of old age, and the length of the middle age period are more pronounced than contextual differences. Results also suggest that individuals' mental maps regarding the timing of these events are not necessarily concordant.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Macro- and micro-level predictors of age categorization: results from the European Social Survey

et al. 2013

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Personal Aging Is Political: A Feminist Perspective on Subjective Aging

Barrett

Noblitt

Michael

2022

International Perspectives on Aging

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Pathways into living alone in mid-life: Diversity and policy implications

Demey

Berrington

Evandrou

et al. 2013

Advances in Life Course Research

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This paper adopts a life course approach to investigate the pathways into living alone in mid-life in Britain and how these vary by gender and socio-economic status. The rise in the proportion of people living alone over the past three decades has been well documented. However, much of the focus of the existing literature has been on either people living solo in young adulthood or in later life. Mid-life has received surprising little scholarly attention, despite the fact that living arrangements in mid-life are changing rapidly, and that household composition and socio-economic circumstances in the period immediately prior to retirement are strongly associated with living arrangements and associated sources of support in later life. This paper therefore aims to fill this gap. We begin with a review of previous research on living alone and present a conceptual framework of the pathways into living alone in mid-life. Data from the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Survey (UKHLS) are used to analyse the partnership and parenthood histories and socio-economic characteristics of those currently living alone in mid-life. The findings indicate that the dissolution of a marriage with children is the dominant pathway into mid-life solo-living, but that there is also a substantial group of never partnered men living alone. These never partnered men are split between those with low and high socio-economic status. Distinguishing between different groups of individuals living alone in mid-life is important for policy as these groups of men and women will have different social and financial resources as they enter later life. Mid-life men living alone who have not had children, have no educational qualifications, are not economically active and who live in rented housing are likely to be most at risk of needing a social and economic 'safety net' in old age.

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Mapping midlife: An examination of social factors shaping conceptions of the timing of middle age

Cited by 30 publications

References 55 publications

Macro- and micro-level predictors of age categorization: results from the European Social Survey

Macro- and micro-level predictors of age categorization: results from the European Social Survey

Personal Aging Is Political: A Feminist Perspective on Subjective Aging

Pathways into living alone in mid-life: Diversity and policy implications

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