Midlife Brings Challenges with Stress, Sleep, and Happiness

Midlife isn’t a crisis, but it can include new difficulties and patterns that affect how we age

During midlife we have more roles and responsibilities than at any other time of life. That can bring growth as well as difficulty. LightField Studios/Shutterstock

Fewer than one-fifth of Americans say they actually experienced a midlife crisis. And yet there are still some common misunderstandings people have about midlife.

I study midlife, and especially how people in this stage of life experience sleep and stress. In my research, I have also found that midlife brings both opportunities and challenges.

Are We There Yet?

Exactly when midlife begins is hard to pin down. Compared with other developmental periods—such as childhood, adolescence, and older adulthood—midlife lasts longer and includes more diverse social roles. There are fewer published studies on midlife than studies on childhood and older adulthood. So researchers still know little about the timing and unique experiences of this stage of life.