Midlife progression and beyond: a systematic review of middle-aged women's perspectives and experiences

Middle-aged adults typically play multiple roles with centralized responsibility for younger and older persons. Midlife health and well-being impact the state of aging in later years. Limited studies have investigated midlife experiences from the perspective of the middle-aged group themselves. This paper presents a systematic review of middle-aged women's perceptions and experiences of midlife through a qualitative synthesis. Systematic databases searches resulted in 938 articles. Six selected articles were analyzed and three core themes were identified using thematic analysis: heightened awareness of lifespan, expectation of establishment and freedom from expectations, clarity of values, and self-acceptance. The findings showed the interconnected and progressive nature of midlife experiences toward a hoped for sense of congruence, revealing its connectivity to subsequent life stages and importance for healthy development. Credible and relevant information need to be provided as resources for the middle-aged women themselves and pertinent healthcare professionals. Proper information is also needed to address stereotypes, educate the public and equip relevant educators with evidence-based knowledge. Further research on midlife experiences in general from the perspective of middle-aged males, and in diverse settings is recommended.