Relationships in middle

Adulthood
AYESHA YOUNUS
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Two primary long term relationships in middle adulthood.

1- Cohabitation
 Unmarried people living together in a sexual
relationship. For example, be divorced and not
interested in remarriage.
 Two single people meet at a university and live together
to save on expenses and have a sexual relationship.
2- Marriage

 By middle age more than 90% of adults will have married at least once.
 People generally affirm that their marriages are happiest during the early years, but not as
happy during the middle years
 Marital satisfaction then increases again in the later years, once finances have stabilized
and parenting responsibilities have ended.
 Couples who stay together until after the last child has left home will probably remain
married for at least another 20 years.
 Divorce

50 percent of all marriages in United States end in divorce, with

the median duration of these marriages being about years.
Unfortunately, some marriages ultimately dissolve,
even when the spouses try to ensure that things work out.
 Reasons for divorce
• Lack of commitment
• Infidelity / extramarital affairs
• Distance in the relationship / lack of intimacy
• Communication problems between partners
• Realization that one’s spouse has different values / morals
• Substance abuse / alcohol addiction
• Marrying too young
• Lack of shared interests / incompatibility between partners
• Financial problems / debt
Forms of love in adulthood

1. Consummate love
2. Companionate love
 Consummate love
• Unselfish,
• Devoted,
• Associated with romantic relationships.
• Robert Sternberg said Achieving consummate love is similar to
losing weight. Getting started is easy; sticking to it is much harder.
 Companionate love

• Many middle adult couples find effective ways of improving

their abilities.
• Improve communicate ability.
• Increasing emotional intimacy.
• Rekindling the fires of passion.
• Growing together.
• Increase loving relationship.
• Take care of all conflicts and problems.
• Spouse decide to have a new start.
Relationships that last

• Love
• Expressing appreciation
• Admiration
• Emotional support to each other
• Being the best friend
Effective Communication

• Establishing intimacy
• understanding each other
• Feel connected and loved
• Active decision making
• Problem Solving
• Develops healthy relationship
 Friends
In all age groups, friends are a healthy alternative to family and acquaintances.
• Friendships provide affection, companionship, understanding, and social support
and therefore contribute to well-being.
• Friends can also affect the status, power, wealth, attitudes, behaviors, and values of
middle-aged people.
• Life responsibilities are at an all-time high, so having extra time for
socializing is usually rare.
• For this reason, middle adults may have less friends than their newlywed and
retired counter parts.
• Some of the closest ties between friends are formed and nourished during middle
adulthood.