When does a Man’s Middle-age Begin?

It depends who you ask, where you originate from, and where you happen to live on the planet. Some say that middle age starts later in women than it does in men. After all, the life expectancy of a woman is, on average, 10 years longer than a man’s, although gender isn’t comprised in these studies. For this piece we’ll be looking at people residing in western societies.

Middle-aged Men are not ‘OLD’. They’re just older, than they used to be!

Men can often be heard griping about how old they look and feel during their middle years. This fear of ageing sometimes causes denial within certain men. It’s denial that can, and often does, trigger a male mid-life crisis or sorts as some poor chaps refuse to accept the inevitability of a ripening body.

But middle-aged men are not old per se, they’re just older than they once were, that’s all. Anyone doubting this should try complaining to someone over 90 years of age and watch their response.

Middle-age begins and Ends (Old Definition)

Middle-age is the period between early adulthood and old age. Most men consider that to be from ages 45 to 65 years, although this is not a globally recognized age range (see below). It’s also a time in life where we’re no longer young, but we’re certainly not old either. These years are often a epoch for reflection, projection and readjustment in attitudes and outlooks.

Our middle years is the period of time beyond youth but before the onset of old age. Needless to say that some men cope with this a lot better than others.

Global Definitions

• Starts at 40 ends at 60 ~ Collins Dictionary
• Starts at 45 ends at 60 ~ Oxford English Dictionary
• Starts at 35 ends at 44 ~ US Census (early middle age)
• Starts at 45 ends at 60 ~ US Census (later middle age)
• Starts at 40 ends at 65 ~ Prominent psychologist Erik Erikson

Middle-age begins and Ends (New Definition based on UK study)

According to a new UK study, middle-age in the twenty-first century now starts later than earlier beliefs. The suggested start point for mid-life is now considered to be age 55. Why? Because populations live longer, and so the goalposts begin to shift.

The Study

The study was compiled from a survey of 1,000 UK adults aged 50 and over. The averages indicate that middle-age now begins at 54 years and 347 days. The end of middle-age averaged out at 69 years, 277 days.

Fill in the blank and is gives us a middle-age that lasts for just 14 years.

A state of Mind

19% of those surveyed still carry the belief that a person is only as old as they feel they are. In other words, midlife is not so much a set number of years, but rather a state of mind. Obviously we can’t think our way into being younger physically, but the way a person carries themselves, behaves, and perceives the world, can have a huge impact on how their age is perceived by others.

Not worrying about growing older, and concentrating on living life to the full by being the best we can at the age we are, not only helps us to stay feeling younger, but it helps to keep both the body and mind in a healthy state too.

“A man is not old until his dreams become his regrets” ~ old English Proverb.

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More on Age Categories

There or course many other definitions from around the globe on when middle age starts and when it finishes. To end this piece, here’s the 50ish interpretation of not only the mid-life period, but the categories proceeding and following this age range.

• 1 year: The baby
• 2 – 3 years: The Toddler
• 4 – 12 years: The Child
• 13 – 19 years: The Teenager
• 20 – 34 years: The Young adult
• 35 – 44 years: Soft middle-age
• 44 – 65 years: Middle-aged
• Over 65 years: Old age aka ‘The Elderly’.

If you have something to say on this topic, please leave your comments 😉

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