Midlife crisis is complicated in the US
Edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan
In a new study, psychologist Frank J. Infurna of Arizona
State University and co-authors, analyzed survey data from 17 countries seeking
to identify why U.S. trends diverge from other wealthy nations.
"The real midlife crisis in America isn't about
lifestyle choices or sports cars. It's about juggling work, finances, family,
and health amid weakening social supports," Infurna said. "The data
make this clear."
The findings, published in Current Directions in
Psychological Science, point the way to likely solutions for
individuals and U.S. society.
Differences in social policies and supports
Since the early 2000s, public spending on family benefits
has risen in Europe, while it has remained largely static in the U.S. The U.S.
does not have extensive family policy programs, such as cash transfers to
families with children, income support during parental leave, and subsidized
childcare compared with those of European nations.
These differences matter for midlife adults, who often
juggle full-time work while supporting children and caring for aging parents.
In countries with stronger family policies, middle-aged adults reported lower
loneliness and smaller increases in loneliness over time. In the U.S., loneliness rose
steadily across generations.
Health care costs and income inequality
Health care costs also have an impact. Although the U.S.
spends more on health care than any other wealthy nation, access and
affordability are worse. Rising out-of-pocket
costs strain household budgets, discourage preventive care and
contribute to stress, anxiety and medical debt, the authors noted.
Income inequality can contribute to international
differences. Income inequality has risen in the U.S. since the early 2000s,
while it has stabilized or narrowed in most European nations. Infurna's
research found that higher inequality is linked to poorer health and greater
loneliness among middle-aged adults.
Income
inequality exacerbates poverty rates, reduces the possibility of
moving up the SES ladder, and impacts access to education, jobs, and social
services, each of which has downstream effects on health, other studies have
shown.
Cultural and generational influences
Cultural factors could also contribute to cross-national
differences, the researchers reported. Americans, for example, are more likely
to live far from family and move frequently, making long-term social
connections and caregiving support harder to sustain.
Later-born cohorts of U.S. middle-aged adults have
accumulated less
wealth and more financial vulnerabilities, compared to earlier-born
cohorts, due to wage stagnation and the Great Recession. Stronger social safety
nets in European nations appear to have helped buffer middle-aged adults from
negative health effects.
Strikingly, U.S. middle-aged adults showed declines in
episodic memory despite rising educational attainment—a pattern not observed in
most peer nations.
"Education is
becoming less protective against loneliness, memory decline, and depressive
symptoms," Infurna said.
Chronic stress, financial insecurity and higher rates of
cardiovascular risk factors may undermine the cognitive benefits of education,
the researchers found.
Potential solutions and policy implications
The authors emphasize that the U.S. disadvantage is not
inevitable. Psychosocial resources such as social support, a sense of control
and positive views on aging can help buffer stress, but broader policy changes
are needed to reverse the trend.
"At the individual level, social engagement is crucial.
Finding community—through work, hobbies, or caregiving networks—can buffer
stress and improve well-being," Infurna said. "At the policy level,
countries with stronger safety nets—paid leave, childcare support, health
care—tend to have better outcomes."
Publication details
Historical Change in Midlife Development from a
Cross-National Perspective, Current Directions in Psychological Science (2026). DOI:
10.1177/09637214251410195
Journal information: Current
Directions in Psychological Science