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Rockwell has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for Ph.D. Counseling degree in Psyéhology Date May 11, 1983 MS U is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution 0-12771 MSU LlBRARlES RETURNING MATERIALS: ______T~.~___L.‘__ ace in book drop to remove this THE RELATIONSHIP OF ADAPTATION AND LIFE STRUCTURE CHANGE TO EXPERIENCING OF THE MALE MIDLIEE CRISIS BY David G. Rockwell A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education 1983 ABSTRACT THE RELATIONSHIP OF ADAPTATION AND LIFE STRUCTURE CHANGE TO EXPERIENCING OF THE MALE MIDLIFE CRISIS By David G. Rockwell This study investigated the male midlife crisis and its relationship to a possible personality correlate and reported life structure change. It had three principle objectives. (1) Examination of range of response to midlife crisis and the role adaptation, as a personality construct (Hall, 1977), played in effecting this range. (2) Comparing performance on the three factors comprising the adaptation construct so as to identify any factoral differences existing between persons relative to their overall level of adaptation. (3) Examination of demographic variables associated with change in the subjects' lives relative to measured levels of adaptation and midlife crisis. A random sample of 102 university graduate men, ranging in age from 40 to 45 years, was deveIOped. These men were mailed three paper and pencil instruments: David G. Rockwell (1) The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation, a 69 item instrument designed to measure adaptation as a personality construct. (2) The Mid-Life Crisis Scale, a 21 item instrument developed to assess awareness of Levinson's (1974) seven midlife crisis issues. (3) A 12-item demographic questionnaire. A 90% response rate was obtained. Two scales were developed from the demographic questionnaire to measure changes experienced and initiated in a subject‘s life structure. Use of a one-way analysis of variance tests, planned comparisons and Pearson correlations provided statistical support for hypothesized positive relationships between level of adaptation and level of midlife crisis, as well as level of adaptation and the amount of changes initiated in one's life structure. Partial statistical support was obtained for a positive relationship between level of midlife crisis and the amount of changes experienced in one's life structure. Pearson correlations and multiple regression tests confirmed that a person scoring at one level on a factor of adaptation will score at the same level on the other factors and on the test as a whole. David G. Rockwell The principle conclusions of this study were that there appear to be positive relationships between a personality construct, adaptation; level of midlife crisis and amount of change in one's life structure. Limitations relative to this study's sample, original norm groups and instrumentation are discussed. Recommenda- tions for instrument improvement and future research are made. DEDICATI ON To my Mother and Father whose devotion has never wavered . . . . . ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It is particularly satisfying to recall those who have given so much to my doctoral experience. I am warmed in reflecting upon their contributions as well as in the opportunity to formally, if only briefly, acknowledge them. I trust that each will recognize the sentiments expressed as being shorthand for what has passed between us. I would like to thank Dr. Norman R. Stewart and Dr. John Powell for your support and guidance which were privitol in my decision to undertake doctoral level work. I have also appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity of working with Dr. Stewart on a variety of projects within the department. Dr. Richard Johnson, who has been an instructor, as well as committee chairman throughout my doctoral work, deserves special recognition. I have appreciated your rare blend of pragmatic optimism and unwavering availability during all phases of our time together. Dr. Ralph Kron, thank you for bringing your maturity and wisdom to bear on the design of my research. The richness of your background, interest and support have been very helpful. To Dr. John Schneider, thank you for your continued monitoring and review of my ideas and writings over the past several years. Your feedback and teaching provided significant underpinnings for the development of iii this dissertation, which as you know, subsumed considerable germination. To Dr. Douglas Miller, thank you. Your fluency in research skills is exceeded only by your talents as a teacher, psychologist, and human being. I came to you to learn, but I have gotten so much more, indeed, only what I had once vaguely wished for. Thanks to Mr. Lee Walterdorf for his help in developing research subjects through the use of the M.S.U. Alumni Association computer. To Jim Winkworth, close personal friend, the opportunity you provided for visiting Berlin during the midst of my study will always be treasured. And to Spencer Brady too, thanks for being you. To Debbie Cotter, who has traveled the length of this process with me from before GRE's to final editing of this document, your contributions have been both concrete and spiritual. Harry Truman once said that behind every successful man stood a confident and proud wife, and an amazed mother-in-law. In this case, behind my successful work often stood your confidence and pride, and my amazement. Thank you Debbie. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES O O O I O O O O O O O O O O O 0 LIST OF FIGURES O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . Importance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Definifions of Terms . . . . . . . . . . Overview of the Study . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE . . . . Range of Response . . . . . . . . . . . . Adaptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inner Process Perspectives . . . . . . . Multidimensional Perspectives . . . . . . Hall‘s ModéI‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . summar!‘ O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O Hypot eses O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O CHAPTER III. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY Instrumentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Mid;Life Crisis Scale and Ite Revision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tfie ReVised Survey of Actualization: ‘Adaptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change Scores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Administration of the Instruments . . . . Treatment of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . Hypotheses and Data Analysis . . . . . . Reliability Estimates and Instrument Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS . . . . . . . Demographic Data . . . . . . . . . . . . Instrument Reliabilities and Performance Reliabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . Skewness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kurtgsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norm Gr5§§ Performance . . . . . . . . . Mid-Life Crisis Scale Revisions . . . . . figsting the Hypotheses . . . . . . . . . Page vi ix \lU’lbw-D 35 35 36 38 39 41 45 45 50 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page CHAPTER V. SUMMARY, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION . . . 81 Review of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Discussion and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . 86 The Hypotheses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Tbe SampIe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Instrumentation and Limitations . . . . . . . 92 Summar . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . 94 Suggestions of Future Research . . . . . . . . 96 APPENDIX A THE REVISED SURVEY OF ACTUALIZATION: ADAPTATION O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 100 APPENDIX B THREE FACTORS OF THE REVISED SURVEY OF ACTUALIZATION: ADAPTATION RANKED BY FACTOR LOADING VALUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 APPENDIX C LEVINSON'S MIDLIFE CRISIS CHARACTERISTICS . . . 108 APPENDIX D THE MID-LIFE CRISIS SCALE 0 o o o o o o o o o o 109 APPENDIX E DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONNAIRE . . . . . . . . . . . 110 APPENDIX F LETTERS TO RESEARCH SUBJECTS . . . . . . . . . 111 APPENDIX G APPROVAL LETTER FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR RESEARCH ON HUMAN SUBJECTS . . . . . . . . 114 APPENDIX H SUBJECT GROUPS FOR THE ADAPTATION AND CRISIS SCALES C O C O C C C O C O C O O O O O I 115 APPENDIX I MID-LIFE CRISIS SCALE LEVEL FREQUENCIES . . . . 117 REFERENCES 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 1 18 vi Table wwwuwwwww O mmqmmhww—s bkbbb-fi-b O \JO‘U'IAUJN-d b o m 4.17 4.18 LIST OF TABLES Change Regency: Item Weights . . . . . . . . Change Initiative: Item Weights . . . . . . Distribution of Returns by Age Group . . . . Level of Adaptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . Level of Adaptation: Factor 1 . . . . . . . Level of Adaptation: Factor 2 . . . . . . . Level of Adaptation: Factor 3 . . . . . . . Level of Crisis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Factor Intercorrelations . . . . . . . . . . Summary of Demographic Variables . . . . . . Summary of Factors' Alpha Coefficients . . . Skewness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kurtosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sample Group Descriptors . . . . . . . . . . Norm Group Descriptors . . . . . . . . . . . Midlife Crisis Means Organized By Adaptation Group Levels . . . . . . . . . Analysis of Variance Between High, Medium and Low Adaptation Groups on Their Mid-Lifg Crisis Scale Scores . . . . . . Planned Comparisons Between High, Medium and Low Adaptation Groups on Their Mid-Life Crisis Scale Scores . . . . . . Multiple Regression for Factors 2, 3 and 2:3 Interaction as Independent Variables Relative to Factor 1 as Dependent Variable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Multiple Regression for Factors 2 and 3 as Independent Variables Relative to Factor 1 as Dependent Variable . . . . . Pearson Correlations Between Levels of Performance on the Three Adaptation Factors and Their Respective Significance Levels . . . . . . . . . . . Adaptation Factor Level Means . . . . . . . . Change Recency Means Organized by Crisis Group Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Analysis of Variance Between High, Medium and Low Midlife Crisis Groups on Their Respective Change Recency Scores . . . . Planned Comparisons Between High, Medium and Low Crisis Groups on Their Change Recency Scores . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change Initiative Means Organized By Ahaptation Group Levels . . . . . . . . . Analysis of Variance Between High, Medium and Low Adaptation Groups on Their Respective Change Initiative Scores . . . . . . . . . . . . vii Page 40 44 46 46 46 46 46 49 54 56 58 59 60 61 63 64 65 67 69 71 73 75 76 77 78 79 LIST Table OF TABLES (continued) 4.19 Planned Comparisons Between High, 1.1 Medium and Low Adaptation Groups on Their Respective Change Initiative Scores . . . . . . . . . . Raw Scores on The Survey of Actualization: Adaptation, the Mid-Life Crisis Scale and Change Initiative for the Three Subject Groups . . . . . . . . . . . Raw Scores on the Mid-Life Crisis Scale and Change Recency for the Three Subject Groups . . . . . . . . . . . Mid-Life Crisis Scalg Level Frequencies . viii Page 80 116 117 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 4.1 Plot of Adaptation Factor Level Means . . . . 74 ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Carl Gustav Jung (1970) first noted the existence of a midlife transitional phase which commonly occurred for men at around age 40 with attendant "deep-seated and peculiar , changes within the psyche." In an analogy illustrating the significance of this transition to a man's life course, he stated: "At the stroke of noon the descent begins. And the descent means the reversal of all the ideals and values that were cherished in the morning. The sun falls into contradiction with itself" (p. 397) And in describing the attendant problems this presents, he continued: "No, thoroughly unprepared we take the step into the afternoon of 1ife...for what was great in the morning will be little at evening, and what in the morning was true will at evening have become a lie." (p. 399) Since these seminal thoughts, a slowly increasing number of theorists, researchers and popular writers have taken a variety of positions in attempting to further define the nature of the male midlife transition. In this process some controversy has developed as to whether midlife transition is a part of normal adult development. However, in spite of these differences over the normality or commonality of midlife transition, there is nearly complete agreement that some men, albeit in disputed numbers, will experience some type of crisis at midlife. This study utilizes Levinson's (1974) definitions in distinguishing midlife transition, from midlife crisis. Midlife transition is seen as a boundary region between two periods of greater stability embedded in which are seven pertinent existential issues which define and potentially comprise midlife crisis. Therefore, the question seems to become not whether men experience a midlife transition but rather how commonly do their responses or behaviors warrant description as midlife crisis. Evidently, some men display more "crisis"- like behaviors than do others. Consequently, several researchers have come to note that a range of response (Rosenberg and Farrell, 1976: Cytrynbaum, 1980; Levinson, 1974; Osherson, 1980) or variation in degree of involvement seems to exist across individuals in midlife transition. It is the potential significance of these individual differences assessed as personality constructs that recommends their further investigation as one way of identifying contributions of specific variables to this range (Neugarten, 1968: Rosenberg and Farrell, 1976; Borland, 1978; Cytrynbaum, et al., 1980). Adaptation as a personality construct has been commonly used in describing various components of effective behavior during midlife transition. However, previous investigations of adaptation at midlife have defined it in terms of either inner-oriented self theory functions, or as a loosely defined combination of inner functions and outer-environment responsiveness. Recent research recom- mendations (Peck, 1960; Neugarten, 1965; Hall, 1977; Levinson, 1978: Brim, 1976) emphasize the importance of considering both internal as well as external aspects of the individual. This descriptive study will examine adaptation as a personality construct, encompassing specific internal and external aspects of self as one criterion for individual differences relative to range of response in the male midlife transition. Importance No study has considered Levinson's (1974) character- istics of the male midlife crisis in relation to adaptation as a personality construct. This may be noteworthy as adaptation is commonly mentioned in the literature as being significantly related to the experiencing of midlife crisis. More specifically, Levinson (1976) and others have noted that there is a range of response or variation in degree of crisis experienced across individuals at midlife transition. However, the question remains open as to the role of adaptation in determining this range and to the nature or direction of this relationship. This study will investigate adaptation as a personality construct, along with its three subfactors, for effecting range of response to midlife transition. Purpose The purposes of this study are to investigate how level of adaptation is related to level of crisis as measured in midlife males and to assess functioning of the adaptation construct's three subfactors as measured by $22 Revised Survey_g§_§ctualization: ‘Adaptation. Owing to the descriptive nature of this study certain demographic/life structure change variables will also be considered relative to measured levels of adaptation and midlife crisis. Definitions of Terms l. Midlife Transition - According to Levinson (1974), a turning point or boundary region between two periods of greater stability, usually occurring for 5 to 6 years between the ages of 40 and 45. 2. Midlife Crisis - Seven pertinent existential issues including: generativity, goal-motivation, soul-searching, integration, sense of bodily decline, sense of aging, and masculine-feminine personality components, were derived from a four-year longitudinal study by Levinson (1974). These seven issues are presented in Appendix C. By use of a self-report inventory, the Mid—Life Crisis Scale, each subject is able to demonstrate his relative awareness of each of these issues. 3. Range of Response - Variation in the degree of crisis that is recognized and experienced, across individuals, to midlife transition (Rosenberg and Farrell, 1976). 4. Adaptation - Hall (1977) indicates that, in the mental health literature, adaptation is commonly defined in terms of inner and outer-directedness. Adaptation is affected by the reaction of the person to the environment, as well as by the action of the environment on the individual. Heath (1965) states, "To adapt is to so regulate behavior as to optimize simultaneously both the stability of the self structure and its accommodation to environmental requirements" (p. 37). 5. General Adaptive Capagity - White (1975) and Hall (1977) have identified General Adaptive Capacity as having both internal and external dimensions. They have subdivided the internal dimension into two components: (1) Internal organization: Ability to approach and control anxiety and unpleasant affects in order to maintain and enhance internal organization which may be manifested through the creative use of worrying. (2) Autonomy: Capacity for growth and satisfaction of internal needs, including awareness of one's own emotions and a flexible response repertoire to them. The single external dimension identified was: (1) Information: Capacity for reacting to the environment by securing information and constructing a cognitive field which serves as a guide to action. Also, the ability to influence and control environmental demands exposed to, and an overall sense of, striving. 6. Levels of Adaptatign - The rating of a person's adaptation capacity. Thus, a "high" level of adaptation represents competence in responding to or processing information on the dimensions of General Adaptive Capacity. A "low" level of functioning represents confusion or difficulty in responding on the same dimensions. 7. Construct - "A property ascribed to at least two objects as a result of scientific observation and comparison; a concept, formally proposed with definition and limits explicitly related to empirical data" (p. 116). A construct is a planfully designed model. According to Rychlak (1968) a construct is used for theoretical speculation. 8. Change_Initiativg - Change(s) made in one's life structure involving a significant component of personal initiative or choice. 9. Change Recency - Chronological proximity to the present of Change(s) occurring in one's life structure. Overvigg of the Study In this descriptive study, a random sample of midlife male college graduates, from 40 to 45 years of age, re- sponded to three simultaneously administered paper and pencil instruments designed to assess adaptation, midlife crisis and aspects of change in life structure. Range of response in terms of variation in levels of midlife crisis [as defined by Levinson (1974)] and change experienced across individuals were compared to adaptation as a personality construct within the same individuals. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE While interest in midlife development has been increasing recently, it remains a largely unexplored and controversial area. A variety of research findings and theoretical explanations have been offered regarding variations in individual reponses to midlife transition. The first portion of this literature review will consider variations in response, or the range of response to midlife transition. Next, the meaning and role of the personality construct adaptation, to midlife transition, will be considered. This portion will be divided into two subdivisions: 1) those who generally view adaptation as concerned with needs and feelings about self as an "inner”-oriented process, and 2) the multidimensional perspectives where some conscious awareness of the importance of both internal, and environmentally involved, or "external" aspects of self are considered. Because this research will utilize the personality construct adaptation, the last part of this chapter will provide an operational definition for it. Hall‘s (1977) model, which is similar to that of Robert White, will be discussed for these purposes. The chapter concludes with a statement of this study‘s four principle hypotheses. Range of Response Rosenberg and Farrell (1976), in an eclectic review of the literature bearing on the issue of midlife crisis in men, suggested: "Rather than simply asking whether or not middle age is a time of crisis, we might more profitably ask: What is the range of response to reaching this developmental plateau?" (p. 157). In response to this question Rosenberg and Farrell offered a two-dimensional model involving open confrontation with crisis and denial of crisis on one dimension and self-reported satisfaction or dissatisfaction on the other. They suggested that relatively few men openly recognize and confront the anxiety-laden issues associated with midlife crisis, whether or not they report satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their lives. Thus, misinterpretation may be made about the actual underlying level of crisis operating in an individual due to this denial, or lack of confrontation with it. One could then inappropriately conclude that little of significance is occurring relative to midlife crisis for many men when, in fact, they are actually responding to anxieties in a definite, classifiable, albeit, defensive way. It is because of this they pointed 10 out that a range of response to midlife crisis probably exists and that future research should focus on various possible response modes to it. They also suggested that denial of midlife crisis stress ultimately makes it more extreme and personally damaging while its confrontation enhances opportunities for resolution and growth. Of particular importance to this study, both with regard to defining midlife crisis and noting a range of response, Daniel Levinson, et a1. (1974, 1976, 1978) have studied forty men on the basis of their biosocial and biOpsychological make-ups. One outcome has been the discovery of relatively universal, genotypic, age-linked, adult developmental periods spanning from late adolescence to later middle age. The midlife transition is seen as part of this sequence; and Levinson is quite clear about the presence of a range of response to it in his subjects. He stated (1974), "He is going to have a transition...it is only the form that varies" (p. 254). The focus of the transition is the experiencing of a disparity between what a man has gained, in an inner sense, from living within a life structure he has built and what he is now beginning to sense he really wants. In describing response to tasks in this process, he stated (1978): "developmental tasks are crucial to the evolution periods...Implicit in the concept of tasks is the idea that it may be carried out well or 11 poorly" (p. 26-27). He continued: "Some men do little questioning or searching during midlife transition" (p. 27). But he warned that this is only at the risk of losses in vitality for continued growth and other complications later in life. In spite of Rosenberg and Farrell's apparent labeling of the range of response dynamic, a host of other theorists and researchers have acknowledged its existence and importance from a variety of methodologies and perspectives. Writing from a depth psychology perspective about males' responses to midlife, Jung (1970) noted, "Everyone of us gladly turns away from his problems: if possible, they must not be mentioned, or better still, their existence denied" (p. 389). However, with regard to continued growth, he stated, "The artful denial of a problem will not produce conviction; on the contrary, a wider and higher consciousness is required to give us the certainty and clarity we need." Jung recognized that some individuals would be more capable than others of developing "consciousness" of their problems, and continued: "The very frequent neurotic disturbances of adult years all have one thing in common: they want to carry the psychology of the youthful phase over the threshold of the so-called years of discretion" (p. 396). In her review of Jungian thinking about response to midlife, Mayer (1978) pointed 12 out that symptoms such as anxiety, fear or pain generally mean that a man is being challenged to grow or change; and that if he resists and is unable to tolerate distress long enough he will throw away an opportunity to enlarge his life. Osherson (1980) intensively interviewed twenty midlife men ranging in age from 35 to 50, who had recently left professional careers, often at considerable cost to themselves and their families, to successfully pursue a career in the creative arts or crafts. He determined that the central crisis for these men was one of loss of self as expressed and defined by career and marital choices of adolescence and young adulthood. Resolution of this loss experience resulted in what Osherson labeled a "Sculpted Resolution." In contrast, Osherson labeled another set of resolutions as "Foreclosed," which were built upon responses involving distortion of discrepant experiences to avoid a sense of loss. With regard to the response modes of his subjects, Osherson stated, "We do find that people indicate in interviews strong tendencies one way or the other toward less or greater distortion/integration of discrepant experiences, differentiation of key figures, and informed decision making" (p. 108). Writing from an analytic and developmental perspective, and utilizing non-clinical and non-American 13 populations, Gutmann (1975) reported that men who respond to midlife crisis with extreme defenses are coerced by the unconscious conviction to believe that other parts of self are incompatible with true manhood. Some men tend to externalize, project and generally deny their feelings, often developing psychosomatic symptoms, etc., while others respond in a more adaptive way: "A true crisis resolution is achieved when new possiblities are recognized as such, become part of the framework of the self and/or its psycho-ecology" (p. 43). Gutmann hypothesized that various aesthetic parts of self which were allowed to naturally evolve in his research subjects are stifled in our culture, thus inhibiting them precisely when they require encouragement and understanding. In research involving 524 white middle-class males and females, ranging in age from 16 to 60, Gould (1975, 1977) determined that a number of identifiable, distinctive phases existed, one of which spanned ages 37 through 43. This group was particularly volatile with regard to feelings of discomfort with self and others. Gould believed that growth requires responses involving confrontation with still active childhood feelings and beliefs which now conflict with one‘s potential. He indicated that, without such responses and their attendant discomforts, growth will become increasing difficult. 14 Apparently, some midlife men are more facile or less fearful with regard to this confrontation process than are others. In a review of the thirty year, longitudinal Grant study involving 94 college men whose present age averaged 47, Vaillant (1978) identified four styles of adaptation or defense which differentiated men classified as "best outcomes" from those classified as "worst outcomes." These analytically-based defensive styles were described as fair— ly stable modes of adaptation for the individual, ranging in nature of response from those which were mature and reality-oriented to those which were immature and reality-distorting. While Vaillant found no evidence for the existence of a midlife crisis, he did note a substan- tial range between individuals in their characteristic modes of adaptation and "success" in living. Erik Erikson's substantial contributions to the understanding of psychosocial development in adulthood have highlighted the importance of critical steps or tasks and the range of response to them. He stated (1962): "A new life task presents a crisis whose outcome can be a success- ful graduation, or alternatively, an impairment.of the life cycle which will aggravate future crises" (p. 254). Later he wrote (1963): "psychosocial development proceeds by critical steps -- 'critical' being characteristic of 15 turning points, of moments of decision between progress and regression, integration and retardation"...and that, "Each comes to its ascendance, meets its crisis, and finds its lasting solution during the stage indicated" (p. 270—271). According to Erikson, the crisis of midlife begins around age forty, centers on generativity vs. stagnation and results in the ability to care for younger adults, ideas and works of art, if resolved favorably. Men who fail to face or resolve this crisis become increasingly self- indulgent, culminating in alienation from self and others. Cytrynbaum, et a1. (1980) reviewed research and theory of midlife transition and integrated them from a person- ality and social systems perspective. Specifically, they noted that differences in personality effect capacity to cope with the adaptive requirements of midlife and contrib- ute to variation in response to it. With respect to the ”tasks" listed as part of the requirements of midlife, they stated: ”commitment to address these tasks signals one's entry into and participation in midlife" (p. 467). They continued: ”It should be emphasized that the quality of work carried on during midlife in mastering these developmental tasks can set the stage for considerable growth and adaptation. As is argued below, failure to do so may predispose postmidlife people to distress" (p. 467). 16 Dragani (1976) investigated the relationships between the experience of midlife crisis and two personality characteristics, autonomy and inner-directedness. He hypothesized that, by demonstrating these relationships, midlife crisis could be viewed as a quantifiable phenomenon found in varying degrees in different individuals. While he was able to statistically determine that his developed Midlife Crisis Scale was capable of delineating three separate experimental groups, he did not demonstrate significant relationships between it and the personality characteristics. Blum (1979) suggested a parallel between the experience of life-threatening illness and the midlife transition, in that people react to both in a primarily conscious, open, active, adaptive and masterful manner, or in a primarily unconscious, passive, defensive and less masterful manner, with some vacillation between the polarities. In an intensively studied sample of midlife males and females, Lowenthal and Chiriboga (1972) reported a conscious reluctance among the males to report negative circumstances of affect or to repress them altogether. They suggested that such attempts at conscious tranquility and/or living up to a strong male image may also predispose 17 these men to alcoholism, admissions to mental hospitals, suicide or serious physical illness. Gail Sheehy (1976) has suggested that changes in four critical areas of perception are at the heart of what she calls predictable and desirable crises of midlife. She described midlife "passages" or ”crises" as times of disruption and change leading to growth in which overall purposes and manner of spending personal resources are reevaluated. Of particular importance is the way in which one responds to this crisis. She noted: "those of us who make the most of the opportunity will have a full-out authenticity crisis" (p. 43). Such responsiveness at midlife will provide renewal of purpose around which continued building of an authentic life structure may proceed, including a probable upturn in personal happiness. In contrast, low levels of responsiveness have other consequences. "If one has refused to budge through the midlife transition, the sense of staleness will calcify into resignation.” And she predicted: "The crisis will probably emerge again around age fifty" (p. 45). Mayer (1978), in reviewing various midlife writings, concluded that how well a man succeeds in dislodging impacted feelings and dealing with his evolving emotional self is undoubtedly the single most important issue facing every midlife crisis male. She maintained that men respond in 18 different ways to midlife crisis: "some will let their feelings erupt dramatically; others will keep them simmering beneath the surface; and those who are rigidly controlled will force their feelings even further underground" (p. 82). In a graphical analysis of range of response in males to midlife crisis, Rockwell (1980) suggested that the degree to which a gap between personal perceptions and one's actual realities is faced and integrated, is positively correlated with one's range of response to midlife crisis. Basing a series of two-dimensional graphs on a review of midlife literature, personality and social factors are integrated to illustrate range of response modes. It is suggested that conscious responsiveness to significant disparities (gaps) in one's life, caused by outdated perceptions, will result in gap closure and congruence of self with one's psychosocial potentials. Failure to respond to this gap will result in increasing alienation from self and others. Neugarten (1964, 1968, 1976), having utilized an eclectic perspective (Brim, 1976) in her research of middle age, stated (1976): ”a psychology of the life cycle is not a psychology of crisis behavior so much as it is a psychology of timing" (p. 20). She suggested that adults carry around in their heads internalized expectations of 19 the normal expectable life cycle or life events, including not only what those events should be but when they should occur. She spoke of "On Time" and "Off Time" significant occurrences, or marker events, by which an individual gauges himself. Midlife crisis is viewed as an infrequent aberration growing out of a coincidental disruption, or "Off Time" occurrence, of some unexpected event. However, Neugarten pointed out that even "On Time" midlife events call forth changes in self-concept and identity which are losses and involve grief work, albeit largely anticipatory in nature. In this vein, she noted differences across individuals' responses by saying: "This ability...to create for oneself a sense of predictable life cycle, presumably differentiates the healthy personality from the unhealthy" (p. 18). Adaptation Review of the dynamics commonly associated with male midlife transition suggests that adaptation, more than any other construct, is associated with healthy or growth-producing behaviors. That is, adaptation is often used to describe the qualities or process utilized by males in resolving midlife transitions. It is also commonly suggested or inferred that males with greater adaptive capacity will possess greater capacity for involvement in 20 and resolution of crisis issues than will those possessing less capacity. It, therefore, is a key construct which may differentiate the types of responses an individual will make to midlife crisis issues from those of their midlife peers. Inner Process Perspectives Jung (1970) described the developmental process involved at midlife when he observed: "The meaning and purpose of a problem seem to be not in its solution but in our working at it incessantly." (p. 394). Apparently, through such "work" one may enjoy continued growth. He continued, "The artful denial of a problem will not produce conviction; on the contrary, a wider and higher consciousness is required to give us the certainty and clarity we need." Hinton (1979) suggested that the essence of Jungian therapy with midlife patients is to cultivate an awareness and willingness to "play" with new ways of relating to one's ideas, images and interpersonal relations. For Jung, the key to adaptiveness lies in an enhanced level of receptivity and sensitivity to burgeoning internal adult processes that leads to a conscious awareness of them and grieving for childlike . unconsciousness. Utilization of anxiety, fear, pain, and depression also seem to be an integral part of this 21 process (Mayer, 1978). McCraine (1978) suggested that anxiety and depression play an adaptive role at midlife as they help one become aware of "core neuroses," fears, and their manifested symptomotologies. Jacques (1965) also saw midlife crisis as a time of conscious confrontation but with depressive affects associated with one's own death and destructive impulses. In this process, death is raised to a conscious level, from being a general conception covered over by youthful manic defenses to an all-consuming depressive reaction considering unresolved conflicts about the continuance of one‘s very existence. Outcomes of this process involve a deepening of awareness, understanding and self-realization. Vaillant (1974-1977) equated largely unconscious defenses with principal modes of adaptation to midlife. These adaptation modes are the product of early life experience, biological characteristics, internalized others and sustained relationships with loving others. "Mature” defenses or adaptation modes were prominent among "best outcome" individuals and involved sharper reality-focusing in contrast to reality-distorting defenses in ”worst outcome” individuals. Capacity to talk frankly about one's life tended to differentiate individuals with reality- enhancing modes of adaptation from those without 22 them. Effective adaptation was manifested in an enhanced sense of personal and environmental awareness. Gould (1975-1977) saw midlife as a time when continued growth hinges on one's capacity for "thoughtful confronta- tion" with childhood beliefs embedded in feelings which remain only partially conscious but are significant in determining attitudes and behaviors. Possessing the capacity for thinking honestly about what one really feels differentiates individuals who develop their own conception of adulthood from those who remain compulsively committed to satisfy magical expectations of childhood. Gould suggested that while children mark the passing of years by changes in their bodies, adults do so by changing their minds. Tamir (1980), in a descriptive review of 960 men in their 40's, concluded that they were indeed involved in a transition; and that they were increasingly using them- selves as a beacon for an internally derived resolution to it. Increased sensitivity to internal conflict is seen as a necessity for psychological growth to occur. Highly valued was a sense of self respect, manifesting in personal consideration of lifes' priorities, personal needs and fulfillment of personal satisfactions. While Osherson (1980) acknowledged the role of "interplay” between self and world in a positive adaptation 23 of midlife crisis, he nonetheless focused on the internal issues of loss of sense of self and its associated ambivalencies. He described adaptation to midlife crisis as being a process of "holding on" and "letting go" where confronting experiences discrepant with one's self definition and questioning one's felt ambivalencies about changing and remaining the same occurs. In this process the man experiences a period of "disorganization" in which held assumptions, illusions and contradictions are confronted, reorganized and reconstituted. Osherson maintained that the ability to tolerate ambivalence and willingness to develop awareness of these factors is the "lynch pin" of ego functioning for a crisis resolution involving healthy adaptation. Multidimensional Perspegtives White (1974), in describing strategies of adaptation for humans, suggested that exclusive emphasis upon intrapsychic defenses, cognitive mastery skills or means of coping with trauma, fall short of adequately explaining the complex process of adaptation. He delineated three variables necessary for successful adaptation: (1) securing adequate information about the environment; (2) maintaining satisfactory internal conditions, including awareness of body functions, affects, needs, memories, plans and identity; and (3) maintaining autonomy or freedom of use of 24 one's behavioral repertoire in a flexible fashion. He also suggested that the interface of these variables involves a complex process which requires time for adequate adaptation. This means the quickest adaptation may not necessarily be the best. Brim (1976), in a review of theories pertaining to male midlife crisis, strongly opposed reliance on unidimensional, or ”extreme positions," for providing understanding of midlife risis. He advocated a broad conceptual view in which both ”inside and outside determinants" are involved in interaction. Among the earliest researchers to incorporate an inner and outer framework for examining adult development was Buhler (1935). In reviewing 300 biographies for evidence of regularities in development across individuals, she examined internal events, inner experiences and dates of accomplishments in life. She concluded that, while there is a regular sequence of occurrences in life, chronological variations exist in the development of biological, psychological, social and spiritual potentials. Levinson et a1. (1974, 1977, 1976) viewed adaptation as the process through which one's "life structure" is modified so as to become viable in society and suitable to self. Life structure is the ”interpretation" of one's multiple social roles with personally-unique psychological components that defines one's stance in life. It is the 25 confluence of self-in-world and world—in-self. Levinson described his views as being similar to those of Erickson (Brim, 1976); and suggested that midlife transition is evolution of the life structure which has both internal and external aspects, as well as determinants which are internal and external. In describing the process of transition he discussed the need for the ability to make terminations, accept losses, decide what to keep and reject, and to consider wishes and possibilities for the future. He stated (1976): "He is having a crisis to the extent that he questions his life structure and feels the strivings of powerful forces within himself that lead him to modify or drastically change the structure" (p. 24). In an effort to better understand the adaptation process, Lowenthal and Chiriboga (1975) evaluated 216 persons at four stages in life: High school seniors, young newlyweds, middle-aged parents and persons about to retire. They derived a dual model of adaptation which focused on psychological resources and deficits. The subjects were observed to demonstrate varying levels of capacity for awareness of their personal and social strengths and problems, in combination with a subjective sense of well-being. Among the middle-aged subjects who were more aware of both personal resources and deficits was a greater measured subjective sense of well-being. Lowenthal and 26 Chiriboga suggested that optimal adaptation may involve the complex ability to penetrate into one's own positive and negative attributes. However, they also pointed out (1972) that many men may tend to be reluctant to report negative circumstances or affects, or to repress them altogether. Rothenberg (1971) suggested that the ability to conceive and use opposing ideas simultaneously is central to the creative process. Johoda (1958) saw mental health as an averaging of an individual's resources and deficits. Another interactional approach has been offered by Cytrynbaum et a1. (1980), in which midlife transition is seen as the product of interactions between personality factors (ego, strength, narcissism, defenses, etc.) and social systems (couples, family, work, etc.). These factors serve as precipitators, or triggers, for the transition, in addition to differentiating individuals in their responses to it. Crytrynbaum recommended further research into the effects of individual differences on the experience of midlife transition. Rosenberg and Farrell (1976) conceptualized adaptation to midlife crisis as a two dimensional process in which expressed satisfaction or dissatisfaction with one's life is contrasted with levels of openness or denial to experiencing stress of crisis. They explained that those men who recognize and confront disturbing issues associated 27 with midlife crisis may, at least initially, experience dissatisfaction with themselves and their social systems, but with an increased likelihood of ultimately sensing the crisis as liberating to wisdom and insight. In contrast are those who repress or deny stress associated with this same crisis, thereby avoiding the conscious confrontation which may predispose them to symptom formation and a need for reaffirmation of what are now painful and outdated modes of knowing self and others. They contended that future research should focus on the processes by which an individual assesses and adapts to changes within his psychological and social spheres. In a cross-sectional study of 188 adults in three age groups, forty to forty-five, fifty to fifty-five, and sixty to sixty-five, stratified by social class and sex, Peck and Berkowitz (1960) assessed personality charactersitics, or adaptive capacities associated with subjects' inner adjustment and degree of effectiveness in dealing with the world. They determined that the best adjusted subjects demonstrated three adaptive capacities: (1) "cathectic flexibility," or the ability to invest strong, meaningful emotions in new relationships and experiences; (2) "mental flexibility," or open-mindedness to the use of new problem solving and conceptual strategies; and (3) "ego differentiation," or the capacity to pursue and value a 28 variety of personal roles and attributes. Peck (1968) suggested that these functions cross-cut adult adaptation behaviors and involve new learning. Greenleigh (1974) viewed the goal of midlife as the ability to obtain an accurate assessment of one's life in order to make selective changes of growth. He suggested utilization of a "midlife inventory" which facilitates personal review, awareness and evaluation leading to constructive compromises, grieving, and changes in perception of reality. Capacity for modification of dreams and perceptions as they relate to self, social roles, children, marriage, time, mortality, body, sex, etc. are involved. Butler (1963) postulated that the conscious reappraisal of goals, or a "life review," is a significant part of the adaptive process as a prerequisite to psychic equilibrium in old age. Similarly, Erickson (1969) discussed "man's basic need to confess the past in order to purge it" (p. 438). In a cognitive approach to adult adaptation, Lowenthal (1971) provided a paradigm in which congruence between conscious purposefulness, or goals, and one's behavioral patterns is seen as an indicator of adaptation. Neugarten (1976) has discussed the importance of societal age norms and expectations upon adult development as one gauges whether he is "early," "late," or "on time” relative to major life events. These norms serve as social 29 controls, or as "prods" or "brakes" upon behavior. However, she also suggested that intrapsychic changes of "develOpmental" origins often precede biological or social changes. Drawing upon a "transactional" view of person- ality she views the adaptation process as one where "inner" and "outer" focuses are melded so there is a continuously evolving adaptation within the individual for perceiving and responding to himself and the world around. Direction of change at midlife is from "outer" to "inner" preoccupa- tions. This "inner" orientation (1968) involves increases in introspection, contemplation, reflections and self- evaluation. She stressed the importance of "executive" processes of the personality (1968), including: self—awareness, selectivity, manipulation and control of environment, mastery, structuring and restructuring of experiences, and the processing of new information based on what one already knows. The need for greater emphasis in midlife theory upon these "executive" functions, where account of growth, cognitive competence and conscious use of past experience, was recommended. Hall's Model As suggested by the literature, contrasts exist be- tween the inner directed and multidimensional view of mid- life crisis. However, it was an assumption of this study 30 that, while Hall's (1977) model of adaptation does not exactly replicate most of the inner and multidimensional perspectives, its factors are sufficiently modal in nature to reflect much of what has been discussed in the literature relative to the adaptation construct as it applies to midlife crisis. This study utilized Hall's (1977) multidimensional model for conceptualizing and Operationalizing the construct of adaptation. In develOping The Revised Survgy of Actualization: Adapation, an instrument for measuring capacity for adaptation, Hall identified three factors which accounted for maximal amounts of variance. These factors were found to correspond closely to White's multidimensional ones, with external and internal aspects of self being recognized. These factors were: (a) an external factor similar to White's "information" where environmental mastery, goal-directiveness, and sense of being able to learn from the environment are incorporated; (b) an internal factor, much like White's "autonomy" where awareness of personal feelings, owning of feelings and expression of their feelings is centered; and finally, (c) another internally-oriented factor similar to White's "internal organization" where responses to anxiety and capacity for creative use of worrying, including the 31 ability to focus on the solution to problems rather than only their cause, is considered. may The review of literature chapter addressed three primary topics: (1) range of response to midlife transition, (2) adaptation as a personality construct affecting range of response, and (3) Hall's model of adaptation. Rosenberg and Farrell defined range of response as the degree of crisis recognized and experienced, across individuals, to midlife transition. This review focused on how other researchers recognized variations in response, across individuals, to midlife transition of developmental tasks. There seems to be general agreement that midlife presents a set of developmental challenges and that implicit in the process of resolving them is the notion they can be responded to in open, ultimately conscious ways or in constricted, repressive ways. The personality construct of adaptation has been fre- quently discussed relative to variations in these respons- es. In other words, it has been used to broadly describe the qualities of experience or processes which facilitate recognition and resolution of crisis issues. While these usages of adaptation as a personality construct have often 32 been without clear and Operational definitions, this review attempted to focus on their most pertinent aspects. In addition, where researchers did not directly emphasize the adaptation construct, the most relevant factors were then examined. The review was separated into two general subdivisions: (1) those who viewed adaptations as concerned with needs and feelings about self as an inner- oriented process, and (2) the multidimensional perspectives where some conscious awareness of the importance of both internal, and environmentally involved, or external aspects of self are considered. Assignment to the two subdivisions was arbitrarily based upon the general orientation of the particular research. It was not intended to imply the existence of mutually exclusive categories as some overlap usually existed. Finally, Hall's three-factor model of adaptation and its associated instrument, The Revised Survey of Actualiza- tion: Adaptation, was reviewed. The three factors identified were similar to White's external—oriented Information, and inner-oriented Autonomy and Internal Organization. This model and instrument were selected for defining and measuring the adaptation construct in this research due to their multidimensional perspective. It is an assumption of this study that, while Hall's model does not exactly replicate most of the inner or multidimensional 33 perspectives, its factors are sufficiently modal in nature as to reflect much of what has been discussed in the literature relative to the adaptation construct. Hypotheses The following hypotheses were used to investigate range of response to midlife crisis and adaptation as a multidimensional personality construct. Due to the descriptive nature of this study, specific life structure changes were also examined relative to the range of response and adaptation constructs. H11: There will be a positive relationship between level of adaptation and level of midlife crisis. H22: Subjects scoring at one level on a factor (high, medium, or low), on the average, will score at the same level on the other two factors. H33: There will be a positive relationship between level of midlife crisis and level of Change Recency experienced. H44: There will be a positive relationship between level of adaptation and level of Change Initiative demonstrated. Evaluation of the above research hypotheses was done by statistical testing of the following null hypotheses. 34 H01: No positive relationship will be found between level of adaptation and level of midlife crisis. H02: No positive relationship will be found between scoring at one level on a factor (high, medium, or low), on the average, and scoring at the same level on the other two factors. H03: No positive relationship will be found between level of midlife crisis and level of Change Recency experienced. H04: No positive relationship will be found between level of adaptation and level of Change Initiative demonstrated. CHAPTER III RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY The research design and methodologies used for investigat- ing range of response to midlife crisis and adaptation are discussed in this chapter. Three principle objectives served to focus these investigations: (1) Examination of range of response to midlife crisis and the role adaptation, as a personality construct, played in effecting this range. (2) Comparing performance on the three factors comprising the adaptation construct so as to identify factoral differences existing between persons relative to their overall level of adaptation. That is to inquire, was level of overall adaptational functioning associated with certain levels of functioning on the three factors? (3) Examination of demographic variables associated with change in the subjects' life structures relative to measured levels of adaptation and midlife crisis. Instrumentation Two instruments constituted the principle measures for this study assessing the constructs of adaptation and midlife crisis. These instruments were the Mid-Life Crisis 35 36 Scale (1976) and the Revised Survey of Actualizationi Adaptation (1977). Demographic information was also used to generate two scores for each subject, reflecting levels of Change Recency and Change Initiative. The Mid-Life Crisis Scale and Item Revision The Mid:pife Cgisis Scale was developed by Robert Dragani (1976). This was a 21-item scale in which all seven of Levinson's midlife crisis characteristics were represented three times each. Agreement was obtained among four qualified judges and the author as to the conceptualization/classification of each item. Test-retest reliability of .95 was obtained from sixteen subjects who ranged in age from 40 through 45. An analysis of variance was computed to determine the extent of differentiation between high scorers, medium scorers and low scorers on the Mid-Life Crisis Scale. The measured differences were found to be significant at the .01 level. Scheffe single-group comparisons were also signficant at the .01 level. Recommendations were made for revising three test items (#‘s 4, 13, 21) due to: 1) syntactical unclarity: 2) insufficient "agree" ratings (responses 1 or 2); and 3) at least 20 percent of the subjects' scoring "neither agree 37 nor disagree" to them. Apparently, these questions were not stated clearly enough for the subjects to understand what was being asked to respond to them in a definitive way. Three new test items were created to replace the defective ones using the following procedure: 1) Using the appropriate theoretical constructs, two new items were written for each defective one. A total of six new items were generated. 2) Two judges, of past clinical intern status and Ph.D. candidates in counseling psychology were familiarized with the three mid-life crisis concepts corresponding to the three defective questions. 3) They were then presented three sets of three questions, with each set including the defective question as well as the two new questions. They were requested to select the one question from each set that most clearly reflected the relevant construct. Working independently, complete agreement was obtained with none of the defective questions being chosen. These selected questions were then used to replace the defective questions during this administration of the Mid-Life Crisis Scale. In scoring the Mid—Life Crisis Scale, each item was actually scored 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 points. Scoring on this continum ranged from a 5 for ”strong agree" to a 1 for ”strongly disagree.” 38 The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation Developed by Hall (1977), originally was composed of 205 items. Item analysis through application of the Davis discrimination index resulted in a reduction of items to 85. A final survey of 69 items was obtained by setting the minimum item factor loading criterion at i .40 level. The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation is composed of 69 items. Varimax factor rotations indicated that a three factor solution accounted for the greatest cumulative proportion of variance at .48 when the minimum level of variance accounted for by an acceptable factor was set at 10 percent. Two factors were found to be associated with inner-directed processes while one was associated with externally-related processes. Cronbach's reliability estimate (coefficient alpha) was calculated for each interpretable factor using weighted score values. Because only one of the three factors' alpha values exceeded the set minimum reliability level of .80 (.83, .75, .65) and because the homogeneity of the total inventory was .91, it was concluded that the Survey of Actualization: Adaptation was one large scale with three highly interrelated subsets. Differences across the interpretable factors among the groups selected for study were identified using a multivariate analysis, univariate analysis, and Scheffe 39 multiple comparisons. Specifically, examination of scores indicated a significant difference (p (.006) between a heterogeneous, random sample group and two groups selected for their homogeneous, higher-level functioning. Change Scores Change Recency: Six of the study's twelve demographic questions related to chronological proximity to the present, of changes examined in one's life structure (see Appendix E for questions 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11). In other words, it was assumed that some men would have experienced more changes, both self and other initiated, in their life structure in the recent past than others would have. To the extent that these changes were variously associated with Levinson's (1974) midlife crisis issues, it was speculated that some relationship might exist between them. That is to suggest that a high level of change in the recent past might predispose one to heightened level of awareness with respect to midlife crisis issues. For the purpose of developing a scale to reflect the amount of change recently experienced, weights were assign- ed to responses in direct proportion to their recency of occurrence. Most recent changes were assigned 3 points, with medium and longer intervals assigned 2 and 1 point, respectively (see Table 3.1). Thus, a man experiencing several changes within the past year would have a larger Table 3.1 Change Recency: Item Weights Change Response(s) Question Recency of High Medium Low 3 Point 2 Points 1 Point 3 Divorce (2 4 3) (4 4 S) (1) 6 Birth of Child (1 4 2) (3 4 4) (5) 8 Parental Death (2 4 3) (4 4 5) (1) 9 Occupation Change (1 4 3) (4) (2 4 5) 10 Job Change (1 4 2) (3 4 4) (5) 11 Physical Ailment (2 4 3) (4 4 5) (1) Table 3.2 Change Initiative: Item Weights Change Response(s) Question Change High Medium Low Initiated 3 Points 2 Points 1 Point 2 Marital Status (4 4 5) (3) (l 4 2) 4 No. of Marriages(3 4 4 4 5) (2) (l) 5 No. of Children (4 4 5) (2 4 3) (l) 9 Occupation Change (1 4 3) (4) (2 4 5) 10 Job Change (1 4 2) (3 4 4) (5) 41 score than a man who had experienced similar changes, but “some years earlier. Change Initiative: A second change scale was developed to measure the extent of changes made during adulthood which reflected some initiative or choice in their formulation (see Appendix E for questions 2, 4, 5, 9, 10). While this score did not focus entirely on a man's midlife initiative or choices, it might be suggestive of something about his personaltie's functioning in adulthood that will be reflected in his midlife adaptation. Therefore, to the extent the personality construct of adaptation manifests itself through initiatives or choices, some relationship may be found between them. For purposes of developing a scale to measure Change Initiative those responses reflecting high levels of initiated change were assigned 3 points while moderate and low change responses were assigned 2 and 1 point, respec- tively (see Table 3.2). Thus, a man making several changes in his life would have a higher score than one who had not made such changes. Th e Samp l‘e_ Because Levinson has suggested that the male midlife crisis occurs between the ages of 39 and 45 and the Mid-Life Crisis Scale was developed with subjects between 42 the ages of 40 and 45, the present study also sampled men spanning 40 to 45 years of age. Borland (1978) has argued for chronological specification in doing midlife research to accurately define middle age and to begin integrating its complex of subgroups and research findings. An initial pool of potential subjects was generated by the Michigan State University Alumni Association computer from its list of Michigan State University graduates irrespective of their alumni association status. The following criteria were required for a person to be selected to this pool: 1) Male sex, 2) Born on or between the years 1937 and 1942, 3) Graduated with a bachelor's degree on or between the years 1959 and 1964, 4) Not possess a doctoral or medical doctor degree, 5) Reside in Ingham County, Michigan, 6) Have an intact mailing address. A final sample of 102 subjects was selected by assigning a number to each individual in the six age groups (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 years of age), and through the use of a random numbers table, 17 subjects were randomly selected from each age group. This provided a random sample of 102 subjects, equally distributed across the six age groups from 40 to 45 years of age. It was assumed that this 43 sample represented a heterogeneous group of diverse levels of functioning of midlife alumni males living in mid-Michigan who graduated from Michigan State University. Administration of the Instruments After receiving approval from the Michigan State University Committee for Research on Human Subjects, selected subjects were mailed, first class, a hand stamped envelope containing a demographic questionnaire, Th3 Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation and the Mid-Life Crisis Scale. The instruments were photoc0pied on good quality paper of a yellow hue (Eastwood, 1940) with provision being made for the recording of responses directly on the instruments. An individualized letter on university stationery (Gay, 1981) explaining the purpose, importance and voluntary nature of the study, personally countersigned by the author and research committee chairman (Dillmar, 1972), was also included. A university key ring and pencil were presented as "premiums" (Robinson, 1952; Whitmore, 1976) for participating. Opportunity for requesting a summary of the study's findings was also offered. A hand-stamped and addressed envelOpe was provided for return postage to a Michigan State University mailbox. 44 The initial mailing of the instruments occurred during the first week in February, 1983. After two weeks 69 completed instruments, or 68 percent of all instruments had been returned. Subsequently, a personalized follow-up letter was sent to non-respondents, increasing the overall raw response total to 83, or 81 percent. Finally, three weeks after the initial mailing, a second instrument package was sent to the remaining non-respondents. This resulted in a final total of 92 raw responses, or an overall response rate of 90.2 percent. Distribution of respondents by age category is described in Table 3.3. Variance between the age groups, in part, reflects some unreliability in the computer birthdate records, in addition to differences in response rates. Table 3.3 Distribution of Returns by Age Group Below 40 40-41 42-43 44-45 Above 45 0 29 (31.5%) 28 (30.4%) 35 (38%) 45 Treatmenp_pf Data All returned instruments were checked for completeness and found to be intact. Their responses were then keypunched onto computer cards and prepared for tabulation. Scoring on all instruments was cumulative in nature and, in a general sense, linearly related to the respective construct being measured. A variety of pertinent descriptive statistical procedures were performed on The Survey of Actualization: Adaptation and the Mid—Life Crisis Scale while fundamental descriptive statistics were performed on the two change scales. For purposes of hypothesis testing, The Survey of Actualization: Adapatation, its three factors and the Mid-Life Crisis Scale, which variously served as independent variables, were divided into high, medium, and low groups. This resulted in unequal size groups as illustrated in Tables 3.4-3.8. Hypotheses and Data Analysis As previously discussed, the three principle objectives of this study were: 1) to investigate the relationship between adaptation as a personality construct and response to mid-life crisis; 2) to investigate the functioning of the adaptation construct's three factors as measured by The Revised Survey_of Actualization: 46 Table 3.4 Level of Adaptation ESL Med 1:932 Ls___w N 35 27 30 Mean 239.11 222.29 197.73 Standard Deviation 5.78 5.22 14.22 Table 3.5 Level of Adaptation: Factor 1 ' ._E£2H_ Medium Low N 30 35 27 Mean 106.90 98.31 85.55 Standard Deviation 3.14 2.97 6.24 Table 3.6 Level of Adaptation: Factor 2 High__ Medium Low N 30 36 26 Mean 70.33 64.89 55.88 Standard Deviation 1.88 1.95 4.92 Table 3.7 Level of Adaptation: Factor 3 High Medigp qu__ N 39 2’7 2 6' Mean 63.90 59.52 51.81 Standard Deviation 1.85 1.19 4.05 Table 3.8 Level of Crisis High Medium Low N ‘33 29"" 30 Mean 78.69 71.44 63.10 Standard Deviation 3.90 1.24 4.42 5‘ 47 Adaptation; and, 3) to consider the functioning of demographic change variables relative to measured levels of adaptation and midlife crisis. These objectives were expressed in the following hypotheses. H11: There will be a positive relationship between level of adaptation and level of midlife crisis. A three phase statistical analysis was conducted in the testing of hypotheses I, III and IV. This involved the testing of differences between the variables and their respective levels while also assessing the overall degree of relationship between them. A one-way analysis of variance test (Nie, et al., 1975) was computed to determine whether there was a signif- icant difference between high, medium and low adaptation groups on their respective crisis scores, as were planned comparisons (Nie, et al., 1975) contrasting all combina- tions of groups. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was also computed between adaptation and crisis level. Level of significance was set at .05 for all tests. Because The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation was composed of three factors representing different dimensions of the personality construct adaptation, it was possible that subjects scoring at the same overall level 48 might have relied on different combinations of performance levels on the factors in obtaining the score. For instance, might subjects measured to have high overall adaptation tend to score high on a certain two factors and low on another while subjects measured to have low overall adaptation tended to score low on all three factors or high on a certain factor and low on the other two? Or, would high overall adaptation be directly related to high levels on all three factors, and correspondingly, low overall adaptation directly related to low levels on all factors? Preliminary investigations were conducted with Pearson product-moment correlations, between the various factors and the overall scale to determine the levels of interrelationships between them. As indicated in Table 3.9, each factor was highly correlated with the other two factors (from .76 to .79) and the scale overall (from .89 to .95). 49 Table 3.9 Factor Intercorrelations »;L_ II III gygrall Factor I .79* .77* .95* Factor II .76* .91* Factor III .89* —— -‘—” *Significant at .001 Based upon the strength of the three factors' inter- correlations it seemed unlikely that significant fluctua- tions would occur across the factors of any one subject. Consequently, Hypothesis II was stated. H22: Subjects scoring at one level on a factor (high, medium, or low), on the average, will score at the same level on the other two factors. A three phase investigation was conducted of Hypothesis II. First, multiple regressions (Nie, et al., 1975) were performed, using the whole factors, with special attention given to possible contributions by any interaction(s). A .05 level of significance was set for 50 these tests. Second, a series of Pearson correlations were conducted between level of performance (high, medium, low) on each of the three factors with level of performance on the other two. Third, means for each level of performance for each factor were compared across the other two factors for trends and interactions. H33: There will be a positive relationship between level of midlife crisis and level of Change Recency experienced. The procedures used in testing Hypothesis III were the same as used in testing Hypothesis I. H44: There will be a positive relationship between level of adaptation and level of Change Initiative demonstrated. The procedures used in testing Hypothesis IV were the same as used in testing Hypothesis I. Reliability Estimates and Instrument Performancg A coefficient alpha (Hull and Nie, 1981) was computed for The Revised Survay of Actualization: Adaptation, each of its three factors and the Mid-Life Crisis Scale. A "high” coefficient would reflect a high degree of homogeneity and internal consistency among the items 51 comprising the scale. It thus served as a measure of reliability. A frequency distribution was also developed for each of the questions and their associated levels on the Mid-Life Crisis Scalg_to evaluate their performance, with particular attention given to the three new questions. CHAPTER IV RESULTS AND ANALYSIS This chapter begins with a summary of the samples' demographic characteristics. A report is then made on the reliability and performance of The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation and Mid-Life Crisis Scale for this sample. Available normative data, are also presented for these instruments. The chapter concludes by testing the four hypotheses designed to investigate this study's three principle objectives. (1) Examination of range of response to midlife crisis and the role adaptation, as a personality construct, played in effecting this range. (2) Comparing of performance on the three factors comprising the adaptation construct so as to identify factoral differences existing between persons relative to their overall level of adaptation. That is to inquire, was level of overall adaptational functioning associated with certain levels of functioning in its three factors? (3) Examination of demographic variables associated with change in the subjects' lives relative to measured levels of adaptation and midlife crisis. 52 53 Demographic Data Table 4.1 presents a summary of response frequencies for the various levels of the demographic questions (variables). Inspection of these data suggests, among other things, shows that most of the sample is married (85.9%) and that this marriage is their first. However, notable groups are either not married (14.1%) or have had multiple marriages (10.9%). Interestingly, while most of these men have fathered children (85.9%), most of them had done so six or more years ago (69.6%). Over half of the sample (51.1%) has lost at least one parent and 9.8% have lost both parents. With respect to change of occupations, over half of the sample reports having changed and fully 10.9% plan to change within two years. Nevertheless, 59% of the sample still have had the same job for 11 or more years. While 78.3% of these men deny any major physical ailments, 15.2% report having had major physical ailments within the past four years. Thus, although clear majorities are evident with regard to certain levels within most of these variables, considerable variation in range of response also occurs across these levels. 54 Table 4.1 Summary of Demographic Variables Variable with Its Item Respective Level Frequency Percentage 2. Marital Status Single 6 6.5 Married 79 85.9 Separated 1 1.1 Divorced 6 6.5 3. Time Divorced Not Divorced 83 90.2 During Past Year 4 4.3 2 Years 0 0 3-4 Years 3 3.3 5 or More Years 0 No Response 2 2.2 4. Number of Marriages None 5 5.4 One 76 82.6 Two 9 9.8 Three 1 1.1 5. Number of Children None 13 14.1 1 5 5.4 2 36 39.1 3-4 30 32.6 5 or more 8 8.7 6. Most Recent Child'syBirth ‘—During Past Year 1 1.1 2 Years 1 1.1 3 Years 4 4.3 4-5 Years 9 9.8 6 or More Years 64 69.6 No Response 13 14.1 7. Parents Living None 9 9.8 Mother 34 37.0 Father 4 4.3 Both 45 48.9 55 Table 4.1 Summary of Demographic Variables Item 10. 11. 12. Variable with Its Respective Level Frequency Most Recent Parental Death None 1 Year 2 Years 3-4 Years 5 or More Years When Change Occupationa Intend to Within 2 Years No Change 1 Year 2-3 Years 4 or More Years Ago Time at Present Job Unemployed 1 Year 2 Years 5-10 Years 11 or More Years Major Physical Ailments None 1 Year 2 Years 3-4 Years 5 or More Years Employment Level Blue Collar White Collar Professional Artist Self-Employed 44 5 2 5 35 10 41 34 Percentage 56 Instrument Reliabilities and Performance Reliabilities -- Coefficient alpha (Nie and Hull, 1981) was calculated as a reliability check and assesment of internal consistency for The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation and each of its three factors (Table 4.2). Table 4.2 Summary of Adaptation Factors' Alpha Coefficients Factqr 1 Factor 1; Factor III F911 Scale .81 .74 .67 .90 Items 31 20 18 69 To a large extent, what constitutes a "high" or "low" coefficient alpha are subjective evaluations. For purposes of this study, an alpha coefficient of +.80 (+1.00 being perfect homogeneity on a dimension) was regarded as suf- ficiently "high" to conclude that the items comprising the scale were measuring the same dimension. Thus, the homo- geneity of items comprising Factor I (.81) were sufficiently high for it to be a reliable measure of a dimension of adaptation, while Factors II (.74) and III (.67) were not. Because the homogeneity of the full scale was higher (.90) than each of the factors, it was concluded tlhat The Refined Survey of Actualization; Adappation was 57 one large scale with three highly-interrelated subsets. This was also confirmed by the intercorrelations presented in Table 4.12. The present coefficient alpha values are highly similar to those derived from the original norm groups. For factors I, II, III, the norm group values were respectively, .83, .75, .65, with an overall value of .91. A coefficient alpha of .60 was computed for the Mid-Life Crisis Scale. Using the .80 criterion for "high" reliability suggested that it was of only moderate homogeneity and its reported results should be interpreted remembering this limitation in reliability. Additonally, because only test-retest reliability was presented for the original sample, no solid conclusions can be drawn regarding the instrument's reliability through contrasts. Skewness -- Skewness determines the degree to which a distribution approximates a normal curve. A skewness of zero indicates a symmetrical bell-shaped distribution while a negative value indicates subjects are clustered to the right of the mean with most of the extreme values to the left. A positive value indicates clustering to the left of the mean. Table 4.3 summarizes skewness of scores for the iadaptation scale, its factors and the crisis scale. 58 Table 4.3 Skewness Factor 1 Factor II Factor III Overall Crisis Scale -.73 -.97 -.91 -.93 -.24 Examination of this table reveals that skewness for all of the measures is negative. This identifies the scores as being distributed above the mean of a bell-shaped curve. Kurtosis -- Kurtosis is a measure of the relative peakness or flatness of the curve defined by the distribution of cases. A normal distribution will have a kirtosis of zero. Positive kurtosis suggests a distribution that is peaked and narrow (leptokurtic). A negative value means the distribution is flat and broad (platykurtic). Measures of kurtosis for the adaptation scale, its factors and the crisis scale are summarized in Table 4.4. 59 Table 4.4 Kurtosis Fagpgr 1 Factor II Factor III Ovepall Crisis .59 .91 .42 .96 .17 The scores for the adaptation scales were leptokurtic with scores clustered around the means. The crisis scale was slightly leptokurtic, though less narrow and peaked than the adaptation scales. Table 4.5 summarizes other pertinent statistics desriptive of the adaptation scale, its factors, and the crisis scale. 60 Table 4.5 Sample Group Descriptors Factor 1 Factor 11 Factor III Overall Crisis Mean 97.37 64.12 59.19 220.68 71.32 Median 99.00 65.50 60.50 225.50 71.50 Mode 102.00 67.00 62.00 232.00 71.00 Std. Dev. 9.44 6.44 5.60 19.88 7.35 Std. Error .98 .67 .58 2.07 .76 Range 48 32 27 98 35 Norm Group Performance Table 4.6 presents norm group performances on the adaptation and crisis scales. Data are presented for each of three norm groups originally used in the deve10pment of the adaptation scale. One of these groups represented a random sample of 120 undergraduate level students. A second sample of 102 undergraduate resident hall advisers was taken in an attempt to establish a higher functioning norm group, relative to the criteria of General Adaptive Capacity. Finally, an elite group of 29 undergraduates was developed by nominations relative to the criteria of General Adaptive Capacity. 61 The crisis scale norm group was a non-random sample of sixty 40-45 year old volunteer males. Approximately 75% of these subjects attended college for an average of four years and all but one subject was married (Dragani, 1976). Table 4.6 Norm Group Descriptors Adap. Norm 1* Adap. Norm II Adap. Norm III Crisis Mean 223.09 209.25 231.00 70.05 Median N.A.* N.A. N.A. 71.67 Mode N.A. N.A. N.A. 72.00 Std. Dev. 17.89 21.85 14.47 8.04 Range 93 109 48 32 *Adap. Norm I = Resident Advisor Sample Adap. Norm II = Random Sample Adap. Norm III = Nominated Sample *N.A. = Not Available Mid-Life Crisis Scale Revisions It may be recalled that three questions (#4, 13, 21) on the Mid-Life Crisis Scale were problematic in the following ways: 1) syntatical unclarity; 2) insufficient "agree" ratings (Responses 1 and 2); and 3) at least 20 62 percent of the subjects scored "neither agree nor disagree" to them. As a result, three new items were written and substituted for the old ones. Examination of Table I-1 (Appendix I) relative to new questions 4, 13, and 21, level frequencies, shows that all had nearly as many or more "agree" responses than disagree responses. "Neither agree nor disagree" percentages for questions 4, 13 and 21 were 15.2, 18.5 and 10.8, respectively. Thus, improvement was seen for all three new questions on the two quantitative criteria. No comments were received regarding syntactical unclarity. It might be noted that question #3 (not a new question) performed poorly, relative to these criteria with few ”agree" responses and 21.7 percent responding ”neither agree nor disagree." Testing the Hypotheses Scores on The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation, Mid-Life Crisis Scale, and Change Initiative were rank ordered and divided into their respective groups by level where The Revised Survey of Actualizatiopi Adaptation functioned as the independent variable in Table H.1 (Appendix H). In Table H.2 (Appendix H) the Mid-Life Crisis Scale and Change Recency were rank ordered and divided into their 63 respective groups by level where the Mid-Life Crisis Scale functioned as the independent variable. H11: There will be a positive relationship between level of adaptation and level of midlife crisis. Table 4.7 presents the crisis scores when level of adaptation functioned as the independent variable for testing hypothesis I. As can be noted, the nature of their relationship was such that level of adaptation varied directly with level of crisis. Table 4.7 Midlife Crisis Means Organized By Adaptation Group Levels ___h___‘ __ __ ‘— Adaptation Levels Higp Mediup_ Low Means 73.94 70.70 68.83 Std. Dev. 5.95 8.26 7.22 A one-way analysis of variance test (Nie, et al, 1975) was computed to determine whether significant differences 64 existed between high, medium and low adaptation groups on their respective crisis scores (Table 4.8). A .05 level of significance had been established for rejecting the null hypothesis. With the attainment of .01 level of confi- dence, the null was rejected and statistical significance was confirmed for the hypothesized differences. Table 4.8 Analysis of Variance Between High, Medium and Low Adaptation Groups on Their Mid-Life Crisis Scale Scores Source S.S. M.S. D.F. F Between 436.53 218.27 2 4.33* Within 4485.68 50.40 89 Total 4922.21 91 *p < .01 Planned comparisons were computed to identify where between-group differences occurred. Table 4.9 presents these comparisons, all of which exceeded the set .05 level of significance suggesting that significant differences existed between all of the groups. Due to the potential 65 differences between variables on the two scales, the more conservative separate variance estimate procedure was used (Nie, et al., 1975). Table 4.9 Planned Comparisons Between High, Medium and Low Adaptation Groups on Their Mid-Life Crisis Scale Scores Comparison Yalue Std. Error __T__ Q;§;_ Significance Low vs Med, High -6.98 3.23 -2.15 56.7 .03 High vs Low, Med 8.35 2.88 2.89 83.1 .01 Low vs High -5.10 1.65 -3.08 56.3 .01 A Pearson product-moment correlation (Nie, et al., 1975) between all 92 subjects on Tpg_Revised Survey of Actualization:“,Adaptatioa_and the Mid-Life Crisia Scale produced a positive correlation of .28 which was significant at the .01 level of confidence suggesting the relationship between the two scales was significantly different from zero. And while this correlation was statistically significant it remains moderately small in 66 terms of power to account for much of the overall variance between the variables. Therefore, the strength of the relationship between these variables should be viewed as a moderately weak one. H22: Subjects scoring at one level on a factor (high, medium or low), on the average, will score at the same level on the other two factors. Before examining the levels within factors, a series of multiple regressions (Nie, et al., 1975) were performed with the three whole factors to ascertain the strength of relationships between the factors, particularly with regard to any role played by interactions. Absence of significant interactions would suggest that subjects' scoring at one level on a factor would be scoring at a similar level on the other factors. Table 4.10 summarizes the multiple regressions for Factors 2, 3 and the 2:3 interaction (independent variables) predicting Factor 1 (dependent variable). Inspection of the "B" column reveals regression coefficients which are measures of the influence of each independent variable upon the dependent variable with adjustment made for the other independent variables (DuBois, 1965). In this multiple regression, Factors 2 67 I'li'.'l' .. Po. wofiosmscwsm S. a. .8. c P. 3. NA. 3.8 an. 2. “348% SHUEEwa lei R. Q S . S m_. mF. S. S. i. 8. note 388$ lml iiI.III I 08388 n E m usuomm N pouomm $22.5, wanmwum>.ucmpcmawo mm p pouomm cu w>wumamm wmfinmwpm> ucmpcmgmch mm coHuomuwucH mum ppm m .N mucuomm pom newmwwpwmm wadfiuasz op.¢ mange 68 (.63) and 3 (.59) are substantially more related to Factor 1 than is the interaction term F2:3 (.13). Factors 2 and 3 also have greater levels of significance (.39 and .47, respectively) than does the interaction (.92), although none reach the set .05 level. However, the overall relationship of these variables to Factor I is highly significant with an "F" value of 66.74 at .01 level of significance. Due to the minimal level of relationship demonstrated by the interaction term, it was decided to conduct a second multiple regression with the interaction term deleted in order to ascertain its effect on the performance of Factors 2 and 3. If the relationship of Factors 2 and 3 to Factor 1 became stronger, it could be concluded that the interaction term was largely insignificant in predicting Factor 1, and in fact, unrelated to performance on Factors 2 and 3 relative to their predicting Factor 1. Examination of Table 4.11 shows that Factors 2 and 3 were indeed significantly related (both .01) to Factor 1 and that the overall "F" also increased (101.24). This would seem to confirm that performance at one level on Factors 2 and 3 is likely to be corresponded to by level of performance on Factor 1. Two other sets of multiple regressions were performed, contrasting Factors 1 and 2 with Factor 3 and Factors 1 and 3 with Factor 2. These 69 PC. muemodpmsm co. «c.m mo.© _o. ow.m_ mp. qw.pop Po. «P.PN m_. a 2896 mocmoflscwsm a a note Begum No.—— no. Pm. 6:3 808 m pouomm N nouomm meats, manmwum>.ucmpcwawe mm — nobomm ob m>fiumamm wwfipmwum>.ucmpcwdwch mm m can N muouomm pow scammmuwwm deHuanz pp.¢ anmH 7O contrasts' outcomes were highly similar to those just discussed for Factors 2 and 3 in relation to Factor 1. (To avoid redundancy, their raw data are not presented.) This would seem to support Hypothesis II, at least at the whole factor level of relationship. To further explore Hypothesis II, a series of Pearson product-moment correlations were computed to establish the degree of relationship existing between the subjects' level of performance (high, medium, low) on one factor with the same level of performance on each of the other two factors. In other words, how likely would scoring at a certain level on one factor result in scoring at the same level on the other two factors? As can be seen by inspection of Table 4.12, many of the relationships represented in each cell are highly significant suggesting that subjects seldom varied in their level of performance across the factors. The only exceptions to this were the high and medium levels for Factors II and III. However, these levels' moderately weak relationship apparently is offset by the strength of Factors II and III low level subjects. The same circumstances seem to have occurred between Factors I and II with their high level subjects and Factors II and III with their medium level subjects. The third phase of investigating Hypothesis II involved computation of the subjects' mean scores, in all 71 Table 4.12 Pearson Correlations Between Levels of Performance on the Three Adaptation Factors and Their Respective Significance Levels Fbrmat Correlation Factor I Factor II Factor III Overall Factor I High .ngf :353 .78* .03 .01 .01 Medium 99* 22* 161* .03 .01 .01 Law 332* _.5_1* 439* .01 .03 .12 Factor 11 High :22_ :92_ :35? .06 .30 .01 Medium ._3§* lie 32* .01 .19 .01 Low 182* see 192* .01 .01 .01 Factor III High .41* Igggf _;§Z? .01 .01 .01 lMedixni .34*‘ :3!) _g§§? .03 .14 .01 Low _-5_7* 31* 133* .01 .01 .01 *p < .05 Key: Correlation Significance Level 72 combinations, on the remaining two factors according to the level at which they had performed on one factor. In other words, for the subjects who had scored in the high group on Factor I and upon whose scores its mean was computed, means were also computed for these same subjects' level of performance on Factors II and III. Thus, in this particular case, Factor I and its three levels served to provide anchor or independent variable groups for whom mean scores were computed on Factors II and III, which provided dependent variable groups. This procedure permitted examination of trends, relative to consistency of performance across the factors. Table 4.13 summarizes these means. A schematic summary of Table 4.13 is demonstrated in Figure 4.1. It can be observed that subjects tend to perform at the same level across factors without significant interaction. Based upon the combined findings of the multiple regression, factor by level Pearson correlations and cell mean analyses, the null hypothesis is rejected in favor of Hypothesis II. H33: There will be a positive relationship between level of midlife crisis and level of Change Recency experienced. 73 Table 4.13 Adaptation Factor Level Means Independent Variables _I.a_v_el_s_ Factor I Factor 11 Factor III Factor I High 106.90* 69.10 63.26 Medium 98.31* 64.34 59.97 Low 85.55* 58.30 53.66 Factor II High 105.10 70.33* 63.53 Medium 97 .00 64.89* 59 .55 Low 88.96 55.92* 53.69 Factor III High 103.25 68.56 63.90* Medium 98.48 64.03 59.52* Low 87 .38 57.53 51 .81* * Independent variable means. All others are dependent variable means. 74 Independent (Anchor) variables Levels Factor I Factor II Factor III High: Factor I 100 Med 90 Low 80 70 \_§‘__-‘p§‘-“- 6O 50 Factor II 100 90 80 70 60 50 Factor III 100 90 80 7O 60 50 Figure 4.1. Plot of Adaptation Factor Level Means 75 Table 4.14 presents the Change Recency scores when level of crisis served as the independent variable. As can be noted, level of Change Recency varied directly with level of crisis. However, the range of Change Recency scores was extremely narrow. Table 4.14 Change Recency Means Organized By Crisis Group Levels Crisis Levels High Medium Low Means 7.70 7.45 7.00 Std. Dev. 1.71 1.86 .95 A one-way analysis of variance test (Nie, et al., 1975) was computed to determine whether significant differ- ences existed between high, medium, and low midlife crisis groups on their respective Change Recency scores (Table 4.15). A .05 level of significance had been established for rejecting the null hypothesis. With the attainment of .21 level of confidence the null hypothesis failed to be rejected. 76 Table 4.15 Analysis of Variance Between High, Medium and Low Midlife Crisis Groups on Their Respective Change Recency Scores Source 8.8. M.S. D.F. F Between 7.77 3.89 2 1.60* Within 116.14 2.43 89 Total 223.91 91 *p = .21 Although the analysis of variance failed to find significant differences planned comparisons were conducted to identify whether any between-group differences had occurred. Table 4.16 presents these comparisons, two of which exceeded the set .05 level of significance indicating that significant differences existed between these groups while one comparison failed to reach significance. Due to the potential difference between variances on the two scales, the more conservative separate variance estimate procedure was used (Nie, et al., 1975). 77 Table 4.16 Planned Comparisons Between High, Medium and Low Crisis Groups on Their Change Recency Scores Comparison Value Spd. Error T D.FL Sigpificance Low vs Med, High -1.14 .57 -2.00 85.9 .05 High vs Low, Med .94 .70 1.33 57.0 .18 Low vs High - .69 .34 -2.03 50.9 .05 A Pearson product-moment correlation (Nie, et a1, 1975) between all 92 subjects on the Mid-Life Crisis Scale and their Change Recency scores produced positive a correlation of .18 which reached the .05 level of confidence, suggesting the relationship between the two scales was significantly different from zero. And while this correlation was statistically significant it remains small in terms of power to account for much of the overall variance between the variables. Therefore, the strength of the relationship between these variables should be viewed as a fairly weak on. As a result, the null hypothesis was partially rejected. 78 H44: There will be a positive relationship between level of adaptation and level of Change Initiative demonstrated. Table 4.17 presents the Change Initiative scores when level of adaptation served as the independent variable. As can be noted, the nature of their relationship was such that level of Change Initiative varied directly with level of adaptation. Table 4.17 Change Initiative Means Organized By Adaptation Group Levels Adaptation Levels High Medium Low Means 9.49 8.70 8.17 Std. Dev. 1.54 1.24 1.57 A one-way analysis of variance test (Nie, et al., 1975) was computed to determine whether significant differences existed between high, medium and low adaptation groups on their respective Change Initiative scores (Table 4.18). A .05 level of significance had been established for rejecting the null hypothesis. With the attainment of a .01 level of confidence, the null was rejected and 79 statistical significance was confirmed for the hypothesized differences. Table 4.18 Analysis of Variance Between High, Medium and Low Adaptation Groups on Their Respective Change Initiative Scores Source S.S. M.S. D.F. F Between 26.13 13.06 2 6.07* Within 191.74 2.15 89 Total 217.867 91 *p > .01 Planned comparisons (Nie, et al., 1975) were computed to identify where between-group differences had occurred. Table 4.19 presents these comparisons, all of which exceed the set .05 level of significance suggesting that significant differences existed between all of the groups. The more conservative separate variance estimates were used. A Pearson product-moment correlation between all subjects on their adaptation and Change Initiative scores produced a positive correlation of .37 at the .01 level of 80 confidence, suggesting the relationship between the two scales is significantly different from zero. As a consequence of these findings the null hypothesis was rejected. Table 4.19 Planned Comparisons Between High, Medium and Low Adaptation Groups on Their Respective Change Initiative Scores Comparison Value Std.vError T D.F. Significance Low vs Med, High -1.72 .63 -2.56 51.6 .01 High vs Low, Med 2.03 .64 3.17 66.6 .01 Low vs High -1.25 .38 -3.23 61.1 .01 CHAPTER V SUMMARY, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS This chapter begins with a review of the underlying concepts and pertinent findings of this study. Discussion of these findings follows with particular attention given to the hypotheses tested and possible conclusions that can be drawn regarding personality structure and midlife crisis. Performance and limitations of the sample, instrumentation and norm groups is also discussed. The chapter concludes with an overview of the study and its findings. Review of the Study Midlife development remains a largely unexplored area to organized research, although there have been recent increases in conjecture and controversy surrounding it. The decidedly speculative tone of this controversy, undoubtedly, owes itself both to a dearth of knowledge as well as the seemingly enigmatic and often contradictory, ways midlife development manifests itself. While the relevant literature tends to be broad ranging in scope and style it often touches on the importance between personality characteristics or traits and variations in response to midlife developmental issues. As a result, 81 82 this study has focused on variations in responding to midlife issues, as defined by Levinson (1976), relative to the personality construct of adaptation. Review of the literature revealed the plausibility of a paradoxical relationship between range of response to midlife crisis and adaptation where greater capacity for awareness of one's own anxieties, emotions and surroundings, or level of adaptation, potentiated one for greater awareness and experiencing of midlife crisis (Rosenburg and Farrell 1976; Rockwell, 1980). The literature review also indicated a general lack of research in directly addressing these issues. This study developed a sample of 102 university graduate men living in Mid-Michigan, equally distributed by age from 40 to 45 years. Slightly over ninety percent of the sample responded to a mailed paper and pencil instru- ment package containing a twelve item demographic question- naire, the 21 item Mid-Life Crisis Scale and The Revised Survay of Actualization: Adaptation, a 69-item scale. Four Hypotheses were tested: H11: There will be a positive relationship between level of adaptation and level of midlife crisis. 83 No positive relationship will be found between level of adaptation and level of midlife crisis. An analysis of variance with planned comparisons and a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient were computed to test hypothesis I. All tests exceeded the set .05 level of significance and, as a result, the null hypothesis H22 was rejected. Subjects scoring at one level on a factor (high, medium and low), on the average, will score at the same level on the other two factors. No positive relationship will be found between scoring at one level on a factor (high, medium, or low), on the average, and scoring at the same level on the other two factors. The intent of hypothesis II was to investigate whether overall level of functioning might be inconsistent with the obtained level on at least one of the three factors comprising the overall score (i.e., might overall "high" functioning men not perform at that level on at least one other factor?). A series of multiple regression tests, Pearson correlations and comparison of means were conducted to test 84 hypothesis II. The results suggest that the three factors tended to vary in parallel with one another, both as whole factors and by high, medium and low levels. No significant evidence for interactive potential was found, while the multiple regression and majority of Pearson correlations exceeded the set .05 level of significance. Graphical analysis also confirmed these findings, resulting in the rejection of the null. A Change Recency score was developed for each subject, using the demographic questionaire to establish the subject's chronological proximity to life status changes. H33: There will be a positive relationship between level of midlife crisis and level of Change Recency. H03: No positive relationship will be found between level of midlife crisis and level of Change Recency. A one-way analysis of variance with planned comparisons and Pearson product—moment correlation coefficient were computed to test hypothesis III. The one—way analysis of variance failed to reach the set .05 level of significance (.208) while two of the three comparisons (low vs. medium, high and low vs. high) did, as did the Pearson product-moment correlation of .180. As a result, the null hypothesis was partially rejected. 85 H44: There will be a positive relationship between level of adaptation and level of Change Initiative demonstrated. H04: No positive relationship will be found between level of adaptation and level of Change Initiative demonstrated. A Change Initiative score was developed for each subject, using the demographic questionnaire to establish the amount of changes made during adulthood reflecting some level of initiative of choice. Those subjects making more changes would score higher on Change Initiative than would those making fewer changes. A one-way analysis of variance with planned comparisons and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient were computed to test hypothesis IV. All tests exceeded the set .05 level of significance and, as a result, the null hypothesis was rejected. A coefficient alpha was calculated as a reliability check and assessment of internal consistency for Epg__ Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation and each of its three factors. Only one of the three factors exceeded the set .80 alpha level for reliability while the full adaptation scale produced a .90 coefficient, suggesting that this instrument was one large scale, albeit a reliable one, with three highly interrelated subsets. 86 The Mid-Life Crisis Scale produced a coefficient alpha v—ww reliability value of .60, suggesting that it possessed only moderate homogeneity and that its reported results would reflect this limitation. Evaluation of three newly- created test questions indicated that they performed adequately relative to criteria used to detect their defective predecessors. Discussion and Conclusions The Hypotheses Because all of the null hypotheses were rejected, certain trends deduced from the literature seem to have received some validation. A range of response to midlife crisis appears to have been evidenced in the subjects responding to the Mid-Lifg Crisis_Sca1e and the change measures. What may be of importance about this range is not merely that its existence was confirmed, as might have been expected, but how individual differences occurred in relation to specific issues and the personality construct of adaptation. Thus, in spite of clear limitations presented by the instruments used to measure Levinson's midlife crisis issues and the change characteristics, statistically significant relationships were still detected in the hypothesized directions. With improvement in the reliability of these measures, increases in the 87 amplitude and detection of the range of response and concomitant individual differences could probably be expected. Consideration of the range of response in this manner seems to move beyond the old question of whether there is such a thing as midlife crisis to a consideration of the individual variations that comprise the possible range of responding to this developmental phase. What has been found in this study is that the variations in responding may be tied to personality structure in a way that runs counter to traditional or common sense thinking. This may, at least in part, explain some of the difficulties previously experienced in trying to apply simple logic, deduction, and all or none thinking to understanding midlife crisis. What has been found is that a healthy personality construct involving awareness of feelings, management of anxiety and sensitivity to the surrounding environment seems directly though moderately related to manifestations of experiences normally associated with troubled midlife men. Conversely, those men least fluid in their awareness of feelings, capacity for management of anxieties and sensitivity to the surrounding environment appear to experience less and may on many measures present or appear as normal or contented. These paradoxical 88 findings perhaps shed some light of why midlife crisis has remained so enigmatic and surrounded in controversy. Perhaps some of this controversy owes itself to those outdated perceptions of adult development which hold that not much really happens deve10pmentally to a person after adolescence. If this inert interpretation were the case then "healthy" personalities might be expected to lead lives and/or have experiences characterized by consistency, regularity, predictability, sameness, endurance and probably, rigidity and compulsivity. On the other hand, an unhealthy adult would have an evolving experience of himself and the surrounding world with concomitant fluctuations manifested in changeability, flexibility, adaptability and self-other evaluation. Research conducted from this premise would inevitably become muddled when confronted with subjects yet evolving in adulthood who are anything but pathological, or by subjects who seem ostensibly to be doing well at holding to a constant course who have nothing in particular to recommend their character or mental health. It is not a conclusion of this study that all changes, fluctuations, feelings and anxieties are directly related to either a healthy personality or productive adult development. Clearly, some changes can be made in place of experiencing the more painful aspects of adaptation. 89 Nevertheless, this study's outcomes suggest that healthy functioning was associated with the personality construct of adaptation, a construct associated with change in perceptions relative to Levinson's midlife crisis issues. It was also linked to changes made in adulthood, reflecting change in life structure, which have varying levels of social acceptability and pain or joy associated with them. Perhaps the key concept underlying all of these change initiatives was that each tended to represent an evolution or differentiation of self from one's pre- or early adulthood status. The adaptation involved seemed in the direction of ego differentiation that called forth changes in life view and structure. This would appear to contradict the inert views of adult development and speak to the potentiating aspects of adaptation, relative to crisis and change at midlife. Considerable discussion has occurred regarding the confluence and influence of change forces, externally imposed and otherwise, confronting the midlife man (Brim, 1976; Cytrynbaum, 1980). This study attempted to assess this by developing a Change Recency value for each subject and assessing how this impacted his awareness of Levinson's crisis issues. The question being, would these inpinge- ments cause an elevated level of awareness for associated midlife crisis issues? The outcomes suggested there was 90 some relationship. However, due to limitations presented by the instruments involved, the strength of this relationship may have been understated. It seems likely that, irrespective of personality structure, those subjects exposed to more midlife stressors would have a greater greater familiarity with them. However, this did not necessarily imply that they would have been able to process or organize them in some adaptive fashion. This, of course, would be determined by the individual's personality structure and capacity for adaptation. The Sample -- The random sample for this study was noteworthy for its very strong response rate (90.2%). A variety of factors might account for this, including the several strategies designed to increase response rate discussed in Chapter III. In addition, the timing of approaching subjects in February and early March may have coincided with a minimal level of competing events and holidays. It also seems reasonable to speculate that, because the subjects were approached for consideration of a study relative to mental health and adaptation, some adaptation aspects of their personalities were stimulated to process the tasks presented. However, this approach may have also suggested a response set to some of the subjects that was at variance with their true feelings. Review of Table 3.4 91 shows that the low adaptation group had a much larger standard deviation than did the high adaptation group. This means that low adaptation subjects were more variable or inconsistent in their reactions to the test items. While this may be an attribute of low adaptation personalities it might also, in part, be due to conflicts engendered by a desire to please, interacting with an uneasy or unclear awareness of self. High adaptation subjects might be expected to rely more heavily upon their own awareness of self in responding and, therefore, be less vulnerable to suggestion with its accompanying confusions and variance. It is also plausible that many college graduate midlife men today are more interested in midlife development and are willing to participate in research related to it. This appears to be confirmed by an 84 percent request rate for notification of the study's findings. In contrasting this sample's performance on Tap Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation, it is interesting to note that its levels are more similar to those of a selected higher functioning norm group than to a random sample norm group. An interesting aspect of these differences is that the norm groups were composed of undergraduate students at the same university from which 92 the subjects had graduated. Apparently, this study's sample either started out as a higher functioning group than the random sample norm group or it could be speculated that they had grown and matured and, in the process, enhanced their adaptational capabilities. If successful maturation in fact invokes a growing awareness of one's self with concomitant expansions in capacities for processing one's thoughts and feelings, then adaptational growth may indeed follow. Thus, it might be expected that a random sample tested at college age and retested at midlife might, on the average, be expected to compare favorably with a precocious group of college age subjects relative to adaptation. The rather clear parameters used in establishing this sample should provide guidance in generalizing this study's findings. Due to the strong response rate of this random sample, it may be highly representative of college graduate males not holding a doctoral degree who are presently between the ages of 40 and 45 and reside in an area similar to that of mid-Michigan. Instrumentation and Limitations -- Tables 4.10 and 4.13 summarize the relatively narrow range of scores obtained on the Change Recency and Change Intiative scales when they were organized by levels groups (high, medium and low) relative to the crisis and adaptation scales, respectively. 93 It should be noted that the Change Intiative scale produced the broadest range. The lack of significance obtained on the one-way analysis of variance testing of Change Recency by level of crisis, was probably affected by the narrow range of Change Recency values. It undoubtedly was also affected by the only moderate reliability of the Mid-Life Crisis Scale established for this sample. Reliability remains a limitation as it was not possible to directly compare this sample's reliability with that of the nonrandom norm group. The Change Recency scale and Mid-Life Crisis Scale demonstrated notable weakness. The Revised Survay of Actualization: Adaptation obtained strong overall reliability coefficient of .90. Only one of its three factors (environmental information) achieved a .80 reliability level. This seemed to suggest that the instrument was composed of three highly related factors or subsets which performed best when combined into a total scale. The Pearson correlations and multiple regressions showed there was little evidence for interfactor variations within individuals. Due to the similarity of performance on The Revised: Survey of Actualization: Adaptation by the random sample midlife men and high functioning college-age students, increased confidence seems warranted in both its reliabil- 94 ity and validity. The coefficient alpha obtained for the college age norm group of .91 compares favorably with the .90 obtained for the midlife sample. Thus, a qualified cross-validation may have been achieved due to the discussed real and theoretical similarities between this sample's deve10pmental characteristics and those of the norm group. Nevertheless, the lack of normative data for midlife males and the speculative nature of any comparisons made between midlife men and college age subjects must be viewed as a limitation. In any event, The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation demonstrated capacity for making discriminations between various aspects of functioning in the lives of mid- life male subjects. It thus demonstrated good potential as a research instrument of personality in these regards. Summary This study investigated the male midlife crisis and its relationship to a possible personality correlate and reported life structure change. It had three principle objectives. (1) Examination of range of response to midlife crisis and the role adaptation, as a personality construct (Hall, 1977), played in effecting this range. (2) Comparing performance on the three factors comprising the adaptation construct so as to identify factoral 95 differences existing between persons relative to their overall level of adaptation. (3) Examination of demographic variables associated with change in the subjects' lives relative to measured levels of adaptation and midlife crisis. A random sample of 102 university graduate men, ranging in age from 40 to 45 years, was developed. These men were mailed three paper and pencil instruments: (1) The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation, a 69 item instrument designed to measure adaptation as a personality construct. (2) The Mid-Life Crisis Scale, a 21 item instrument developed to assess awareness of Levinson's (1974) seven midlife crisis issues. (3) A 12-item demographic questionnaire. A 90% response rate was obtained. Two scales were deve10ped from the demographic questionnaire to measure changes experienced and initiated in a subject's life structure. Use of a one-way analysis of variance tests, planned comparisons and Pearson correlations provided statistical support for hypothesized positive relationships between level of adaptation and level of midlife crisis, as well as 96 level of adaptation and the amount of changes initiated in one's life structure. Partial statistical support was obtained for a positive relationship between level of midlife crisis and the amount of changes experienced in one's life structure. Pearson correlations and multiple regression tests confirmed that a person scoring at one level on a factor of adaptation will score at the same level on the other factors and on the test as a whole. The principle conclusions of this study are that there appear to be positive relationships between a personality construct, adaptation; level of midlife crisis and amount of change in one's life structure. Limitations relative to this study's sample, original norm groups and instrumentation are discussed. Recommendations for instrument improvement and future research are made. Suggestions of Future Reseach Suggestions for future research center on two general areas: I. Research design, and II. Instrument improvement. I. Research Design A. To ascertain the implications of age differences relative to the variables of this study, a cross- sectional study could be conducted using three age groups: 34-39, 40-45 and 46-51 years. 97 B. A similar study could be conducted focusing on women as research subjects. C. To consider adult development, cross sectional contrasts could be examined between a younger age group of subjects, and a midlife group, while controlling for as many variables as possible, with the exception of the variable of interest, such as adaptation. D. Develop two nominated groups of high and low adpatation midlife subjects. Use these criterion groups for the testing of hypotheses and the evaluation/validation of appropriate instrumentation. CU A study could be conducted using the adaptation and midlife crisis instruments/constructs in con- junction with masculine sexual identity concepts. These might include imagery associated with masculine heros or stereotypes, the duration and nature of friendship patterns with other males, trends for preferences of qualities in other males, desires and frustrations associated with intimacy/closeness in all relationships, etc. II. Instrumentation A. Further investigate The Reyised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation by comparing its per- 98 formance with other tests on samples of midlife males. Norms need to be developed for both The Revised Survey of Actualization: Adaptation and the Mid-Life Crisis Scale. A goal of such work would be the identification of specific measurement values relative to the presence or absence of the adaptation and midlife crisis constructs. Due to the lower reliabilities of Factors II and III in The Revised Surveyyof Actualization: Adaptation, which deal with sensitivity to internal feelings and management of anxiety, respectively, additional items need to be generated for each of them. These items should be internally consistent to the factor's underlying construct and remain uncorrelated with the other two factors. Consideration should be given to improving the reliability of the Mid-Life Crisis Scale. At least one of the items was demonstrated to be defective. Due to its present brevity of 21 items, an addi- tional three items could be generated for each of its seven underlying constructs, which would effec- tively serve to double its length and probably enhance its reliability. 99 More demographic items need to be generated to carefully target the dimensions underlying the Mid-Life Crisis Scale. They should also be focused on specific aspects of changes made in a subject's life structure. It would be particularly interest- ing to develop a bank of finely-tuned demographic items dealing with specific changes initiated during the midlife period. The role of ego differentiation, as measured by instrumentation, individual rating or demographic items, could be considered relative to the adapta- tion and midlife crisis constructs. APPENDIX A THE REVISED SURVEY OF ACTUALIZATION: ADAPTATION PLEASE NOTE: Copyrighted materials in this document have not been filmed at the request of the author. They are available for consultation, however, in the author's university library. These consist of pages: Appendix A pages 100-103 Appendix B Pages 104-107 Appendix D page 109 Universg' Micr ilms International 300 N. ZEEB R0,. ANN ARBOR, Ml 4810613131 76141700 100 SURVEY OF ACTUALlZATlON: ADAPTATlON This Is a survey of your cholces. There are no rlght or wrong answers. The Inventory 15 made up of statements about how a person feels, reacts, or behaves to a varlety of sltuatlons or problems. Read each statement carefully. Answer each statement In a way that most accurately descrlbes how you would feel, react, or behave 1n the sltuatlon or problem described. Answer all statements as honestly and frankly as you can. Only In thls way wlll the results be meaningful. lf "1" most accurately descrlbes how you would feel, react, or behave, clrcle "1" on your answer sheet; If "2" ls more accurate, clrcle "2". EXAMPLE: Response Cholces . . Item 1. 1 (:> 3 4 1. l have experlenced failure. This person marked the number "2" on the answer sheet whlch means that sometlmes he has experlened fallure or on occaslon has had the feeling that he has falled at somethlng. Never Sometlmes Frequently Always Responses - l 2 3 4 You wlll flnd these response answers reported at the tap of each page to help you remember them. Please do not sklp any statements. Work as rapldly as you can and do not spend too much tlme on any one Item. Remember, you are descrlblng how you would feel, react, or behave to the sltuatlon or problem In the statement. ifllb>PIflh never sometimes frequently always W l> 11. 12. 13. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 101 I enjoy d01ng difficult things. I enjoy working with a group. fi—fl worry and fret. I am confused about my feelings. I look forward to starting something new. I enjoy learning new things. [ feel gurlty when I behave inappropriately. I am frustrated when things don't go right. I like new experiences. I am a now person. I learn from new experiences. I feel my life has purpose. In the future I want to do things differently than I have In the past. horry makes me feel hopeless. I fret over problems which turn out to be triylal. I 90831p a little. Feelings make me realize my humanness. I choose how I will react to a Situation. Being afraid 1ncapac1tates me. I feel that the best part of my life is over. luning into the emotional experiences of others helps me grow. I have had excrttng and interesting experiences. I am a good, SOlld problem solver. I am responsible for my successes and failures. I feel that the best part of my life 18 now. hoii)ti- never H sometimes frequently always \N J.‘ 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. a0. 41. 42. a3. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 102 I am an active person. I feel I am responsrble for my actions. I express my feelings. When I make mistakes I try to understand why. If I were to relive my life, I would do it much differently than I have. If something IS really important to me, I know I will succeed at 1t. 1 have a deSIre to learn new things. Things turn out for me the way I expect them to. I am accurate 1n describing my past reactions. I feel hopeless. My friends comment on my high degree of energy. hhen I start an important task, I feel I will succeed at 1t. 1 put off until tomorrow what I ought to do today. I feel my life has meaning. I can feel good about myself even when fac1ng a difficult problem. I let other people make me feel gu11ty. It's hard for me to feel good about myself when I fail. I 11ke following a set schedule. My enthu31asm 18 contagious. I am ashamed of my feelings. I am a happy person. I work better alone than with a group. I change my way of thinking to please others. >~ m ~+ 01-1-1 E c -H w m HUD >~, (1)00”!!! > E <3 3 “JOHr-t own-i “3 I 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 I 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 I 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 l 2 3 4 Your Name: Address: 49. 50. 51. 52. S3. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 103 I feel hopeful about my future. I am pleased with my reactions to Situations. Past successes tend to fall into perspectiye. I want to be around when tomorrow comes. I look for pOSitiye elements in new Situations. H antiCipate how I will feel in a new Situation. 1 like to work on a problem eyen when I know there is no clear-cut answer. I haye a good general idea how I will react in most Situations. I like to fool around with new ideas, eyen if they turn out later to haye been a total waste of time. I am a creatiye problem solver. I welcome the opportunity to take responSibility and do things on my own. My perceptions of a Situation are accurate. I make my own major deCiSionS. It is important that other people accept what I do. My reactions to Situations are misunderstood. I seek out new experience. I would rather win than lose a game. Unusual ways of daing things turn me on. My imagination leads me to antiCipate solutions to future problems. I enjoy both sad and happy feelings. Getting too exCited can stop me from dOing something. REQUESI FOR SIUDY OUICUME'S APPENDIX B THREE FACTORS OF THE REVISED SURVEY OF ACTUALIZATION: ADAPTATION RANKED BY FACTOR LOADING VALUE (Hall, 1977) 104 FACTOR I Item # 27. 9. 33. 31. 36. 12. 43. 11. 32. 44. 41. 18. 17. 35. 10. 13. 34. 39. 38. 16. When I start an important task, I feel I will succeed at at. I like new experiences. Things turn out for me the way I expect them to. If something is really important to me, I know I will succeed at it. My friends comment on my high decree of energy. I feel my life has purpose. I like following a set schedule. I learn from new experiences. I have a desire to learn new things. My enthusiasm is contagious. I let other people make me feel guilty. I choose how I will react to a situation. Feelings make me realize my humanness. I feel hopeless. I am a now person. In the future I want to do things differently than I have in the past. I am accurate in describing my past reactions. I feel my life has meaning. I put off until tomorrow what I ought to do today. I gossip a little. Factor Loading Value .9236 .9178 .9171 .9054 .8933 .8903 .8833 .8796 .8788 .8756 .8685 .8511 .8452 .8267 .8078 .8035 .7922 .7780 .7460 .7269 15. 42. 40. 30. 69. 68. 59. 49. 55. 21. 47. 65. 64. 28. 53. 105 I fret over problems which turn out to be trivial. It's hard for me to feel good about myself when I fail. I can feel good about myself even when facing a difficult problem. If I were to relive my ife, I would do much differently than I have. Getting too excited can stop me from doing something. I enjoy both sad and happy feelings. I welcome the opportunity to take responsibility and do things on my own. I feel hopeful about my future. I like to work on a problem even when I know there is no clear-cut answer. Tuning into the emotional experiences of others helps me to grow. I work better alone than with a group. FACTOR II I would rather win than lose a game. I seek out new experiences. I express my feelings. I look for positive elements in new Situations. I am frustrated when things don't go right. I am ashamed of my feelings. I enjoy learning new things. I make my own major decisions. Unusual ways of doing things turn me on. .6653 .6635 .6279 .5983 .5653 .5390 -.5172 -.5063 .4913 .4632 .4001 -.7515 -.7339 -.7109 -.7109 -.6999 -.6873 .6725 -.6565 -.6188 7. 58. 50. 26. 4. 52. 48. 25. 57. 63. 22. 14. 27. 46. 54. 20. 19. 67. 106 I feel guilty when I behave inappropriately. -.5995 I am a creative problem solver. I am pleased with my reactions to situations. I am an active person. I am confused about my feelings. I want to be around when tomorrow comes. I change my way of thinking to please others. I feel that the best part of my life is now. I like to fool around with new ideas, even if they turn out later to have been a total waste of time My reactions to situations are misunderstood. I have had exciting and interesting experiences. FACTOR II I Worry makes me feel hopeless. I feel I am responsible for my actions I enjoy doing difficult things. I am a happy person I anticipate how I will feel in a new situation. I feel that the best part of my life is over. I look forward to starting something new. Being afraid incapacitates me. My imagination leads me to anticipate solution to future problems. -.5805 .5638 .5610 .5473 .5227 -.4538 -.4297 .4212 -.4134 -.6434 .6134 .6129 .5870 .5772 .5769 .5730 -.5495 24. 62. 29. 60. 51. 56. 23. 107 I am responsible for my successes and failures. It is important that other people accept what I do. I worry and fret. When I make mistakes I try to understand why. My perceptions of a situation are accurate. Past successes tend to fall into perspective. I have a good general idea how I will react in most situations. I am a good, solid problem solver. -.5423 .5371 -.5254 -.5189 .5029 .4896 .4333 -.4186 APPENDIX C LEVINSON'S MIDLIFE CRISIS CHARACTERISTICS 108 Generativity: During this period, the individual is concerned with those factors which concern generativity (relationship to future generations in general and to the next generation of adults in particular). This goes beyond caring about small children. The issue is now caring about adults. Goal-Motivation: Most of our subjects fix on some key event in their careers as carrying the ultimate message of their affirmation or devaluation by society, i.e., making vice-president, full professorship, writing a best-seller. Soul-Searching: The individual asks, "what do I reaIIy want?" He questions his life structure, and feels the stirring of powerful forces within himself that lead him to modify or drastically change the structure. The sense of Bodily Decline: The more vivid recognition of one's mortaIity -- need to confront illusions regarding one's sense of omnipotence (i.e., the capacity to determine fully one's own destiny). Sense of Aging: This means to be old rather than young (a psychological stateTT Masculine-Feminine Personality Components: The emergence and integration of the more feminine aspects of the self is more possible at mid-life. Efforts are directed towards freeing oneself more completely from the hold of the boy-mother relationship. Integration: The subject seeks to integrate those previously excluded components of the self. APPENDIX D TEE MID-LIFE CRISIS SCALE I: Q) U‘ (D (I) m 34 (1)0) U) 0‘ HQ) "'4 rd OH '0 mo >~ to Q) >4 v—l Hm (I) H 0‘ (DH 34 0‘ c: (1) .CU O’i :: O G) U «3 O L0 L4 «4&4 U) Li JJ 0‘ (DO H JJ U) (U 5.1:: '0 m l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 S l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 S l 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 I 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 109 Instructions: Following is a Zl-item attitude inventory. Please conSider each item carefully. If you can identify strongly with the statement. please Circle the number I, strongly agree. Each column is self-explanatory. Only if you have a distinct lack of feeling toward the item altogether, are you to circle (3), neither agree nor disagree. I. 10. ll. 12. 13. la. 15. l6. I7. 18. 19. 20. 21. I am not so quick to control all aspects of my life, and I can accept this. I have had to make changes in my life--changes that not everyone close to me could truly understand. Just when I think I know myself, I surprise myself. I have found myself questioning things about myself which I had previously taken as "givens." Often times I think about the approximate time I have left to do the things that are important to me. I feel like a matured adult, and have a solid sense of being my present age. If I know what a man has achieved, I can form my opinion of the man. I do not use my body and my strength as if they were permanent limitless assets. I am a goal-directed person, and I have strived to accomplish my goals. I can accept some things about myself now, which in the past I chose to ignore. I have given a great deal of thought to the conduct of my life, and have made some changes as to what I do, and think, and feel. I am now more willing and able to receive things, and more interested in the way others feel. I am now more doubtful of my inv1ncibility than I once was. It's important for a man to devote himself to work that may benefit others who are of his generation, as well as those of the next generation. I need to explain to others the things I have learned and why these things are important. What I want from life is not always clear and obvious to me. My accomplishments in life, because of their influences on others, can provide me a sense of existence beyond my physical death. I can't influence many of the events I would like to influence. I am in the process of attaining, or have recently attained, some Significant goal which has genuine meaning to me as a measure of my success. I am not uncomfortable when I am tender, warm-hearted, and compromiSing. My masculinity has been tempered with some softer, more nurturing tendenCieS. APPENDIX E DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONNAIRE 110 Please circle the number of response which best describes you. 1. Age: (1) 39 (2) 40-41 (3) 42-43 (4) 44-45 (5) 46 2. Marital Status: (1) single (2) engaged (3) married (4) separated (5) divorced 3. If divorced, how long? (1) not divorced (2) during past year (3) 2 years (4) 3—4 years (4) 5 or more years 4. How many times married? (1) never (2) once (3) twice (4) three (5) four 5. How many children? (1) none (2) 1 (3) 2 (4) 3—4 (5) Sor more 6. Most recent child‘s birth: (1) during past year (2) 2 years (3) 3 years (4) 4—5 years (5) 6 or more years ago 7. Parents living: (1) none (2) anther (3) father (4) both 8. Most recent parental death: (1) none (2) during past year (3) 2 years (4) 3-4 years (5) 5 or more years ago 9. Change of occupations, when? (1) intend to change within the next 2 years (2) have not changed (3) changed within the past year (4) 2—3 years ago (5) 4 or more years ago 10. Length of time at present job: (1) unemployed (2) 1 year, or less (3) 2-4 years (4) 5-10 years (5) 11 or nore years 11. Recent major physical ailments: (1) none (2) during past year (3) 2 years (4) 3—4 years (5) 5 or more years ago 12. Present category of employment (circle two if appropriate): (1) blue collar (2) white collar (3) professional (4) artist (5) self-employed APPENDIX F LETTERS TO RESEARCH SUBJECTS 111 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ' DEPARTMENT Of COUNSELING. LAST LANSING - MICHIGAN - 488244054 EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND SPECIAL EDl'CATION February 12, 1983 Dear Mr. ____‘__“_-“__‘__“__a.‘_: Have you ever wondered why so many studies focus on human limitations? we have. Mostly, we are surprised at how little is actually known about positive adult male adaptation. That is why, as a randomly selected M.S.U. graduate, we are requesting your help in filling out the attached dissertation questionnaires. It should not take much of your time but your voluntary participation will contribute to key data needed for better understanding adult male adaptation. Your responses will be held in the strictest confidence with individual anonymity assured in any reporting of results. Howe ever, aggregate results from the study will be provided to you upon your filling in the request for outcome‘s box. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (517) 351—3328. ‘Will you help us? Please return the completed answer sheets in the envelope provided. we would appreciate your returning the completed information to us at your earliest convenience. Please accept the enclosed "magic" key ring as a token of our sincere appreciation for your considerations. Thank you, Richard Johnson David Rockwell Professor Psychology Intern MSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution 112 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION - DEPARTMENT Of COUNSELING. EAST LANSING . MICHIGAN - 48824-1054 EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION February 25, 1983 Dear Mr. ‘__ : we are recontacting you in the event you are still considering participating in our study on adult male adaptation. YOu may recall that your selection to the study was made on an entirely random basis. YOu are probably also aware that while randomization serves to provide the highest quality sample, scientific convention prohibits replacement of non-participants with alternates. Thus, to insure success of this sample and research, we would be most appreciative to receive your responses. Please feel free to contact us at 517-351-3328 if we can provide additional materials or be of assistance in any way. If you have recently responded, please accept our sincerest thanks. Once again, thank you for your time and considerations. Sincerely, Richard Johnson David Rockwell Professor Psychology Intern Department of Counselling Psychology E’Sl Ill] an Affirmations Artinn ’Fnunl nhfinr'u-Ol'm 'nt'dfn'dn 113 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ‘ DEPARTMENT OI" COUNSELING. EAST LANSING ‘ MICHIGAN - 48824-1054 EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION March 4, 1983 Dear Mr. : - . -—--.-—- ------- We have been very gratified at the nearly unanimous response rate provided by your sample of adult, M.S.U. alumni. Such support, from a random sample, is just as unusual as it is crucial for unequivocal research. It is our hope that you are still considering becoming a part of this uniquely successful, and now possibly pivotal project. In the event our original instrument package is no longer easily accessible we are enclosing another. Once again, we thank you for your considerations and remind you that aggregate results will be forwarded by filling in the Request for Outcome box. Sincerely, Richard Johnson David Rockwell Professor Psychology Intern Department of Counseling Psychology Enclosure MSL ‘ is an Affirmative Action (’15qu Opportunity Institution APPENDIX G APPROVAL LETTER FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR RESEARCH ON HUMAN SUBJECTS 114 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY L'\I\ tRSIl'Y (()\l\lll III ()\ R151 -\R( II I\\()I \ ING EAST LANSING ' MICHIGAN ' 48824 HLNIAN SL H_II‘(.IS (L( RIHSI 235 AI)\II\ISI'RAII()\ BL 11 l)1\(. orifiiflmi January 26, 1983 Mr. David G. Rockwell I790 WOOdSide, #5 East Lansing, Michigan 48823 Dear Mr. Rockwell: Subject: Proposal Entitled, ”Adaptation and the Experiencing of the Male Midlife Crisis” 1 am pleased to advise that I concur with your evaluation that this project is exempt from full UCRIHS review, and approval is herewith granted for conduct of the project. You are reminded that UCRIHS approval is valid for one calendar year. If you plan to continue this project beyond one year, please make provisions for obtaining appropriate UCRIHS approval prior to January 26, 1984. Any changes in procedures involving human subjects must be reviewed by the UCRIHS prior to initiation of the change. UCRIHS must also be notified promptly of any problems (unexpected side effects, complaints, etc.) involving human subjects during the course of the work. Thank you for bringing this project to my attention. If I can be of any future help, please do not hesitate to let me know. Sincerely, )EWXLudfififi. Henry E. Bredeck Chairman, UCRIHS HEB/jms CC: Dr. Johnson APPENDIX H SUBJECT GROUPS FOR THE ADAPTATION AND CRISIS SCALES 115 MN excommmooomoxooNmmm-eqyowonnmoomcooxfimoxox —1—4 NNNNWNmNONNOOONNNQQNm m MdioNM-dOOmm-ddNN—uxqrxmmq o>dum~udcd m owcmso 00-4 'I" L: O on C od om «mm dd we Nmm dd no NMN m as umm m we Nmu and m ms mmm and o no mmN sud dd em mmw mmd od dm «mm mmd @ mm qu m dm mmm mmd o dw qu dd cm mmm wmd n no mdN od Nu mmm mod m mm mdN dd mm mmm mod m Rm odm o no emu cod 0 we odm w dm 0mm mod w Nm ndN o dw 5mm nod m an mdm od mu umm add m we mdN 0 mm mmm doN w mm odN m mm mmm dom o «m dNN dd mm ecu MON od du NNN o 00 Gem «ON o mo mum m we dqm mom dd mm «mm dd on dew mom m en mNN a mu New New o oo mNN od 00 new wow od mm oNN m Nu ¢¢N mom dd Mn own m mm «cu mow m as oNN m #0 new ooN m do NNN nd dn mew ocm dd dm NNN dd ms mcw odN a do NNN md nu “cm NdN a no wmm m Nm mew Ndm o no mNN a do mew mdm o co aNN od cw mqu mdN m no 0mm m on NmN codumodmc< o>domedcd mdmduo codumudmo< o>duo~odcd mdmduo coduwmmmv< owcmco owcmso mm H : mm u c muouoom codowummp< 30d muouoow coduwuamp< Sodom: muouoom coduwumnv< swdm museum uoomnomimooce or» use omcm d.= odpwh o ddipdz onu o>uom och co condom 3mm 116 m «u n on m an 0 mm od cm 0 mm 0 ac m on c on 0 ac dd mm m um c as 0 mm A Op 5 an m mm e do 0 On a on m we m dn od on N no m d5 n on 0 mm m dm od me e me 0 dm R mu m no cd du m mm s so a dn w us A so a dn m mm n co m du o mu n so 0 du e mm m go 0 mu 0 mm 5 mo w an m mm 0 mo m NA 0 ow m m@ a NA 9 dw m we a Nu dd dm 0 Ne w ms e mm m up w mm 0 mm e do w ms od mm e do 0 ms od cm m so a mm e um m do w mu m mm m me 0 me od mm m we dd mm e um chooom owcmcu mdmduo hwcooom owcmzo mdmduo waooom owcmno mdmduo am": mmuc mm": muoOOom mdmduo sod mpouoom mdmduo Esdcoz muouoom mdmduo :wdm madden ooompom smock one pod mocooom owcmco can admow mdmduo muddled: on» so monoum 3mm N.: odnmh APPENDIX I MID-LIFE CRISIS SCALE LEVEL FREQUENCIES 117 Table I-1 Mid-Life Crisis Scale Level Frequencies Question 1) 2) 3) *4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) *13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) *21) *New Questions 7 waom 13 12 25 12 17 11 22 13 13 11 18 38 41 18 31 37 50 33 57 48 55 54 54 45 48 43 40 36 27 42 60 54 17 10 14 13 13 12 10 26 1 26 42 36 24 11 35 1 11 15 10 14 19 24 12 19 32 23 35 24 9 19 OHWWQQWOWOONOWNNQQOQO REFERENCES REFERENCES Blum, L.S. 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