The timing of psychosocial transitions and changes in women's lives: An examination of women aged 45 to 60.

Abstract

Sixty-four middle-class women from four cohorts aged 45, 50, 55, and 60 participated in a retrospective interview concerning psychosocial changes in their adult lives. Their responses provided self-report data relating to specific psychosocial changes, and judges who read the interview protocols provided independent ratings of major psychosocial transitions. The results indicated that major psychosocial transitions were more likely to be associated with phases of the family cycle than with chronological age; within the family cycle, transitions were more likely to occur during the preschool (28% of the women), launching (42% of the women), and postparental (33% of the women) phases than during the no children, school-age, or adolescent phases; transitions associated with the preschool and launching phases were characterized by dissatisfaction, personal disruption, marital unhappiness, and decreased personal development, whereas transitions associated with the postparental phase were characterized by personal mellowing and improved marital relations; and finally, numerous self-reported psychosocial changes were associated with family cycle phase, and a small number of changes was associated with chronological age.

The Fatigue Experience for Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

“…For the purpose of this study, a woman's health is conceptualized as a complex interaction between the resources and demands of her sociocultural, home, and physiologic environments. Women with HIV may experience fatigue differently from healthy women because of their immune deficiency, because of their life-style, or because of their lack of employment opportunities or income (Ballinger, 1985;Harris, Ellicott, & Holmes, 1986;O'Brien & Pheifer, 1993;Uphold & Susman, 1981).…”

Revisitando o conceito de síndrome do ninho vazio

“…Quando o casal se torna uma família, esta passa por diversos ciclos e, quando chega às vésperas de ver seus filhos se lançarem ao mundo, pode se deparar com sentimentos de infelicidade e vivenciar essa fase como insatisfatória 29 . Vários estudos têm demonstrado que, após a saída dos filhos de casa, a maioria dos casais se reencontra e vive bem física, social e psicologicamente 29,33 , aumentando, assim, a qualidade de vida 28,36,52 , enquanto outros estudos consideram que não há alteração significativa na vida dos casais depois que seus ninhos são esvaziados 3,6,27,34,41,47 . Alguns poucos autores descreveram a diminuição da qualidade de vida dos pais e levaram em consideração o fato de eles serem dependentes dos filhos financeira ou emocionalmente ou não terem qualidade de vida adequada 20,21,26,56 .…”

“…Harris et al 29 , em 1986, estudaram dados de 64 mulheres em diferentes faixas etárias, as quais foram contatadas por telefone. Essas pessoas responderam a questionários que continham informações demográfi-cas, histórias de vida, experiências subjetivas e mudanças na vida.…”

Midlife Women's Political Consciousness: Case Studies of Psychosocial Development and Political Commitment

“…There is some evidence that midlife change for women often results in greater extrafamilial involvement. Thus, for example, midlife women engage in political activity in their communities more than younger women (Jennings, 1979), just as they participate with new energy and commitment in their careers (Harris, Ellicott, & Holmes, 1986;Moss & Susman, 1980;Reinke, 1982;Reinke, Holmes, & Harris, 1985). In contrast, midlife men may more often experience a shift away from preoccupation with work achievement and toward "interiority" and personal or domestic concerns (e.g., see Gutmann, 1975;Lowenthal, Thurnher, Chiriboga, & Associates, 1975;Neugarten, 1968b).…”