Handbook of Midlife Development

THE DEFINITIVE RESOURCE ON MIDLIFE DEVELOPMENT Edited by Margie Lachman, a leader in the field, Handbook ofMidlife Development provides an up-to-date portrayal of humandevelopment during the middle years of the life span. Featuringcontributions from well-established, highly regarded experts, thisexhaustive reference fills the gap for a compilation of research onthis increasingly important topic. Divided into four comprehensive sections, the book addresses thetheoretical, biomedical, psychological, and social aspects ofmidlife development. Each chapter includes coverage of unifyingthemes such as gender differences, ethnic and cultural diversity,historical changes, and socioeconomic differences from a life-spandevelopmental perspective. Readers will discover what can belearned from individuals' subjective conceptions of midlife;explore various "cultural" fictions of middle age; examine theresources individuals have at their disposal to negotiate midlife;consider mechanisms for balancing work and family; and other topicsas presented in the latest research from the social, behavioral,and medical sciences. Handbook of Midlife Development is an indispensable resource forprofessionals and practitioners who work with adults and forresearchers and students who study adult development and relatedtopics. Some of the midlife topics discussed: * Cultural perspectives * Physical changes * Stress, coping, and health * Intellectual functioning * Memory * Personality and the self * Adaptation and resilience * Emotional development * Families and intergenerational relationships * Social relationships * The role of work * Planning for retirement

MARGIE E. LACHMAN, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Life-span Developmental Psychology Laboratory at Brandeis University. She was a member of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Midlife Development, which conducted a large-scale survey of Americans in midlife. Lachman is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division on Adult Development and Aging and the Gerontological Society of America. Lachman is also currently the editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. Her research program examines personality, cognitive changes, and health in midlife and old age.