ABSTRACT
As the population grows older, the middle years of adulthood become increasingly discrete and increasingly important for family functioning. However, scholars have only begun to examine how middle-aged adults communicate with family members. Middle-aged adults bring perspectives to their relationships based on their prior experiences and their current roles and demands. Middle-aged adults also respond to interactions with multiple family members in their communications by juggling multiple demands and needs. This chapter discusses characteristics of middle adulthood that contribute to family communication. First, this chapter describes social and developmental contexts of middle-aged adults, including the family roles they occupy as well as their nonfamilial demands. Second, this chapter addresses the content of family communication for middle-aged individuals and factors that determine how middle-aged individuals communicate with family members. Finally, this chapter devotes attention to topics in this area ripe for future research.
