ABSTRACT
The concept of the midlife crisis exaggerates individuals' re-evaluation of their life, which is generally experienced positively. Average descriptions of people's functioning conceal individual differences which exist on all layers of personality. Unique individuals have, however, common features in self-regulation with its components of emotion and behavior regulation which are reflected in their social and psychological functioning. A role enhancement theory on the work–family interface received greater confirmation in middle age than a conflict model. Middle-aged people were active in their leisure time and had a variety of different interests, although there were differences in the amount of leisure activities between the participants. The conception of a midlife crisis has a background in popular writings, based largely on clinical samples as noted by Lachman et al. Researchers have argued for years that a generalized conception of a midlife crisis is erroneous and harmful to the respect and reputation of middle-aged people, for instance, in the labor market.
