The divorce experiences of seven mid-life women were investigated using Bohannan's (1970) and Hagemeyer's (1986) divorce theories as a framework to guide the research. In-depth interviews and visual interpretation were used: (a) to determine the greatest challenges and losses experienced by mid-life women after divorce; (b) to identify factors which contribute to resilience and determine coping mechanisms used by mid-life women following divorce; and (c) to assess long-term effects of divorce on midlife women several years after the event. The results of this study included the following findings: The women in the study had been divorced from 7 to 18 years and all agreed that losing the dream of the "happily ever after marriage" and the loss of the family unit were the most difficult losses they experienced. Other losses included the loss of identity as a married person, loss of home and assets, loss of income, and loss of relationship with children. Factors affecting resilience and coping mechanisms included working at a job or profession, support of family and friends, faith and spirituality and social activities and dating. These were unanimous choices among the participants. Long-term effects were both positive and negative. Negative effects included continued feelings of loss concerning the family unit, lingering anger, and lack of forgiveness toward the former spouse. Positive aspects included increased resilience, autonomy, personal achievement, and spiritual growth.

Background: Previous research has demonstrated that chronic stress negatively impacts cognition and overall health. Perseverative cognitions such as worry can hold the physiological response of a stressor in the body (Brosschot, Gerin, & Thayer, 2006). The current study consists of two components: 1) a conceptual replication examining whether worry mediates the effect of stress on somatic health and stress and 2) extension of the model with cognition as the outcome. Methods: This study used data from the second wave of the Midlife in the United States data collection: Project 1 (cross-sectional), Project 2 (daily diary), and Project 3 (cognition). Doing so approximated the time-series requirement of a mediation model and enabled access to the variables of interest. Mediation models were run via PROCESS software with covariates adjusted for at each path. Results: Controlling for age, gender, education, household income, and chronic health conditions, the mediation models revealed mediation of the effect of stress severity on somatic health by worry frequency, duration, and self-identification. Conclusions: Worry may be the process through which the physiological response to stress is prolonged thereby increasing the prevalence of effects on somatic health and cognition. By understanding the nuances of how stress impacts somatic health and cognition, prevention and intervention strategies can be implemented to reduce potential long-term outcomes. / Graduate

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This research project investigates images from the contemporary Australian mid-life psyche, exploring the contribution to individual transformation made through the creation of, and reflective engagement with, personal imagery. Asking the question: 'What do contemporary Australian mid-life males consider to be a rich and sustaining inner life?' This project documents the visual images, descriptions, and reflections of a group of five participants, discussing the individuals' experiences of aesthetic self-inquiry with reference to divergent theories of psychology, art therapy and philosophy of aesthetics.

Student Number : 7916069 - MA research report - School of Human and Community Development - Faculty of Humanities / This qualitative study set out to explore the idea of a good death through in-depth interviews with six terminally ill patients with cancer aged between thirty-seven and fifty-two, in other words in mid-life. Thematic content analysis was used to examine overt and covert themes revealed in semi-structured interviews that had been transcribed verbatim. Significant fear of dying was revealed and although respondents did not seem to have a conscious idea of a good death, they had a clear concept of good dying. Two key components of good dying were not being in pain or distress from physical symptoms, and wanting to drift off into a final “sleep” rather than being fully alert until the end. It was noticeable that, whether or not patients had religious convictions, relatively little attention appeared to be paid directly to what might or might not follow the moment of death itself, for example an afterlife. Preparation for good dying included completing a will, sorting out financial affairs and, for some patients, planning a funeral. At times this preparation also included trying to mend conflicted relationships and make plans for the ongoing care of family members. It is postulated that these preparations helped re-constitute a sense of order that had been shattered by the chaos of being declared terminally ill at a time of life when this was non-normative. Moreover, taking care of practical needs re-established a sense of agency, helped achieve some sense of closure and symbolised a measure of acceptance of their dying status. Respondents did not seem to experience external pressure from others to die in a certain way, although two people were particularly aware of their influence on how others in the family felt and thus tended to pretend to feel better than they did.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Edgard Pitta de Almeida.pdf: 1825310 bytes, checksum: bdcd4516150a9a13a927c1b1616ea617 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-17 / This research addresses issues related to the aging of the Brazilian workforce and intends to investigate the challenges and career opportunities at maturity. For this, we carried out a bibliometric analysis on this topic in the Anglo-Saxon organizational literature and a quantitative-descriptive research based on data collected through an online questionnaire answered by 268 Brazilian professionals with over 35 years of age. Although the sample used does not allow to generalize the results to the population under study, the data demonstrated the aging impacts on the occupation, notably employment; career satisfaction and plans of older workers; and age stereotypes and professional discrimination related to age (ageism). The study aims to contribute to the advancement of the discussions on the Brazilian population aging and its implications for professionals and organizations / Esta pesquisa aborda questões relacionadas ao envelhecimento da força de trabalho brasileira e pretende investigar os desafios e oportunidades de carreira na maturidade. Para isso, foram realizadas uma análise bibliométrica sobre esse tema na literatura organizacional anglo-saxã e uma pesquisa quantitativo-descritiva com base em dados levantados por meio de questionário online, respondido por 268 profissionais brasileiros com mais de 35 anos de idade. Embora a amostragem utilizada não permita a generalização dos resultados para a população em estudo, os dados demostraram os impactos do envelhecimento sobre a ocupação, notadamente o emprego; a satisfação e os planos de carreira dos profissionais mais velhos; e os estereótipos etários e discriminação profissional relacionada à idade (etarismo). O estudo pretende contribuir para o avanço das discussões sobre o envelhecimento populacional brasileiro e suas implicações para os profissionais e organizações

AbstractThe present study aims to examine mean-level, rank-order, and individual-level change in personality in two population-based samples of women. Participants were followed over 37 years from mid-life to old age, including two cohorts aged 38 to 75 years and 46 to 83 years. Participants completed the Cesarec-Marke Personality Schedule – a self-report measure of Murray’s psychogenic needs – in 1968 and 2005. Mean levels of need for affiliation, order, nurturance, and succorance increased whereas need for dominance, aggression, and defense of status decreased, but effect sizes were generally small and test-retest correlations were generally strong, suggesting personality stability. By contrast, significant changes were observed at the individual level, with participants both increasing and decreasing in most psychogenic needs. Eighty five percent (85%) of the participants changed significantly in at least one psychogenic need. / SammanfattningDenna studie undersöker medelvärdes-, rangordnings- och individuell förädring av personlighet i två urval av kvinnor. Deltagarna följdes över 37 år; den ena kohorten från 38 år till 75 år och den andra från 46 år till 83 år. Deltagarna besvarade Cesarec-Marke personlighetsformulär – ett självskattningsmått av personlighet utifrån Murrays psykogena behov – 1968 och 2005. Medelvärdet ökade för behov av tillhörighet, att ha ordning, att bli omhändertagen samt att ta hand om andra. Medelvärdet minskade för behov av att leda/dominera, att hämnas/retas samt känslighet för andras åsikter/att undvika misstag. Effektstyrkan var generellt liten, och korrelationskoefficienterna mellan baslinje och uppföljning var generellt höga vilket tyder på personlighetsstabilitet. Å andra sidan sågs signifikanta förändringar på individnivå, med deltagare som både ökade och minskade signifikant på de flesta psykogena behov. Åttiofem procent (85%) av deltagarna förändrades signifikant på minst ett psykogent behov.

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela Wink Ruiz.pdf: 1354876 bytes, checksum: 9559e2d0385131db599569bae3f33960 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-27 / This research seeks to understand work crisis and mid-life transition in 10 participants aged 35-50 years old. The title New Awakening refers to a possible renovation of the human psyche when it comes to facing crisis. If it is understood and taken into awareness the individuation process can be facilitated, which makes the existence more meaningful. Theory is based on notions on mid-life transition regarded as extremely important for the individuation process aiming at providing individuals with wholeness from the Jungian psychological perspective. The field of work is regarded as a stage on which crisis may evolve due to significant changes that stem from globalization and technology advances. The analysis of the interviews uses narrative as an instrument for hermeneutic reading and content analysis. The results point out three trends that depict a moment of possible crisis resolution closely connected to mid-life transition. In general, the accounts pinpointing an introspective reflection show more ability for the person to overcome crisis as well as certain quality in mid-life transition moment with an expansion of existential possibilities. Conversely, other accounts indicate incipient reflection by focusing on external orientation and the persona (roles). At last but not least, there are those who - for having incipient and sparse reflection prioritize a frustration and victimization attitude by blaming others for their own difficulties. To sum up, the ability to reflect and question our human existence are part of a satisfactory crisis breakthrough that contributes to quality in mid-life transition understood as individuation process / A presente pesquisa procura compreender a crise no trabalho e a transição do meio da vida em 10 participantes, entre 35 e 50 anos. O título Novo Despertar refere-se a uma possível renovação da psique, face à vivência de uma crise que, se compreendida e conscientizada, pode facilitar o processo de individuação, dando mais significado à existência. O embasamento teórico pauta-se nas noções de transição do meio da vida como período de crucial importância para o processo de individuação, visando ao indivíduo centrado e íntegro, sob a perspectiva da psicologia junguiana. Considera-se o campo do trabalho como um dos palcos no qual a crise pode se desenrolar, em decorrência de expressivas mudanças advindas da globalização e dos avanços da tecnologia. A análise de entrevistas emprega a narrativa como instrumento para uma leitura hermenêutica junto a uma análise de conteúdo. Os resultados apontam três tendências que retratam um momento de resolução possível da crise vinculada à transição do meio da vida. Os relatos que apontam para uma reflexão introspectiva demonstram, em sua maioria, a superação da crise e uma qualidade na transição do meio da vida com uma ampliação de possibilidades existenciais. Outros indicam uma reflexão incipiente, com ênfase em uma orientação externa, indicando uma prioridade à persona (papéis). E, por último, aqueles que, embora demonstrando reflexões incipientes ou esparsas, priorizam uma postura de vitimização e frustração, culpando os outros pelas dificuldades vividas. Pode-se concluir que a capacidade de reflexão e questionamento existencial são elementos de uma superação satisfatória da crise, contribuindo para a qualidade na transição do meio da vida compreendida no processo de individuação